A study in contrasts
Okay. I've kept my mouth shut about Beckham, as everyone and their mother was already saying plenty. I changed my mind today, though not because of anything he did. Sebastian Deisler retired today, at the ripe old age of 27. Who is he?
If you'd ever seen him play, you'd wonder if he really was German. He had a natural flair, nice dribbling touch, and an eye for crosses. If he was healthy, Germany's offense was going to run through him at the last World Cup. He cited repetitive knee injuries as the main reason for his retirement. I have my doubts.
When he was 18, the coach at Hertha Berlin, desperate to sign him, had to take him hiking in the woods for 4 hours to convince you could still escape the city in Berlin. He never wanted to do commercials or sponsorships, or many interviews. Just a kid who wanted to play football, and that's it. But people wouldn't leave him alone. So he went to Munich, figuring if he was surrounded by other celebrity footballers at "FC Hollywood", as Bayern Munich was known, he could be just another fish in the pond. It didn't help. He's still the only athlete I know who missed a year because of depression (which the German press ridiculed him for mercilessly). I saw one the the games where he hurt his knee after that. I'm not sure he didn't look RELIEVED.
Last year, once the spotlight on him died down, it looked like he was having fun again, and he was owning defenders. Dribbling by them if they marked him tight, passing over them if the gave him room. Then he had another injury, Bayern Munich let Michael Ballack go, Oliver Kahn declared his imminent retirement, and Munich declared Deisler was their new key player once he returned from injury.
While 27-year-olds CAN obliterate their knees, I strongly suspect the kid just wanted to play football, not be a celebrity, and just couldn't. He was too talented for his own good.
Beckham, on the other hand...NEVER wanted to "just play football". He had that (im?)famous deal with Brylcreme in his first year, married a Spice Girl, and would take helicopters to practice! Anyone who tells you this was about getting a great player is wrong. Oh, I think he has the talent to be quite good in MLS, but to quote the great Best - "He can't dribble, he's slow, he can't use his head, he can't tackle, he can't use his left foot. Other than that he's okay".
This was a marketing move. Much needed for attracting attention to a sport most Americans don't care about, granted. But I wish people would stop pretending they landed this generation's footballing messiah (he's still in Barcelona). Sam Eto'o once said "he's better looking, but I'm a better footballer", and he was right.
That being said, I'm excited about Beckham coming here, but because it will open the door to other players who can and will raise the standard of play, not because cute model-guy is here to kick things.
So remember the queit German kid who was just as skilled, when you're seeing Becks in commercials, or games being listed as "Beckham vs. Dallas". And remember that sometimes playing should be about playing. Not that such a notion would ever work in this country.
Oh, and please comment if you took the time to read this, if only to say "you suck". I'm thinking of submitting something similar, but MUCH lengthier and more detailed, to a publication or two...
If you'd ever seen him play, you'd wonder if he really was German. He had a natural flair, nice dribbling touch, and an eye for crosses. If he was healthy, Germany's offense was going to run through him at the last World Cup. He cited repetitive knee injuries as the main reason for his retirement. I have my doubts.
When he was 18, the coach at Hertha Berlin, desperate to sign him, had to take him hiking in the woods for 4 hours to convince you could still escape the city in Berlin. He never wanted to do commercials or sponsorships, or many interviews. Just a kid who wanted to play football, and that's it. But people wouldn't leave him alone. So he went to Munich, figuring if he was surrounded by other celebrity footballers at "FC Hollywood", as Bayern Munich was known, he could be just another fish in the pond. It didn't help. He's still the only athlete I know who missed a year because of depression (which the German press ridiculed him for mercilessly). I saw one the the games where he hurt his knee after that. I'm not sure he didn't look RELIEVED.
Last year, once the spotlight on him died down, it looked like he was having fun again, and he was owning defenders. Dribbling by them if they marked him tight, passing over them if the gave him room. Then he had another injury, Bayern Munich let Michael Ballack go, Oliver Kahn declared his imminent retirement, and Munich declared Deisler was their new key player once he returned from injury.
While 27-year-olds CAN obliterate their knees, I strongly suspect the kid just wanted to play football, not be a celebrity, and just couldn't. He was too talented for his own good.
Beckham, on the other hand...NEVER wanted to "just play football". He had that (im?)famous deal with Brylcreme in his first year, married a Spice Girl, and would take helicopters to practice! Anyone who tells you this was about getting a great player is wrong. Oh, I think he has the talent to be quite good in MLS, but to quote the great Best - "He can't dribble, he's slow, he can't use his head, he can't tackle, he can't use his left foot. Other than that he's okay".
This was a marketing move. Much needed for attracting attention to a sport most Americans don't care about, granted. But I wish people would stop pretending they landed this generation's footballing messiah (he's still in Barcelona). Sam Eto'o once said "he's better looking, but I'm a better footballer", and he was right.
That being said, I'm excited about Beckham coming here, but because it will open the door to other players who can and will raise the standard of play, not because cute model-guy is here to kick things.
So remember the queit German kid who was just as skilled, when you're seeing Becks in commercials, or games being listed as "Beckham vs. Dallas". And remember that sometimes playing should be about playing. Not that such a notion would ever work in this country.
Oh, and please comment if you took the time to read this, if only to say "you suck". I'm thinking of submitting something similar, but MUCH lengthier and more detailed, to a publication or two...