Major League Soccer's newest stadium opened Saturday when the New York Red Bulls beat Brazil's Santos. Amazingly, the Red Bulls won (AP Photos).

By all accounts, Red Bull Arena surpasses Home Depot Center as the finest soccer-specific facility in the United States, although considering it cost twice as much as the Carson stadium that's to be expected.

But as writer Michael Lewis points out (in this piece written before the canceled March 13 international youth game that was to act as a "soft" stadium opening) the venue owes a a massive debt to the Anschutz Entertainment Group-built (and paid for) edifice.

Here's more on Saturday's opening:

HARRISON, N.J. (AP) -- On a picture-perfect night many fans longed for, the New York metropolitan area finally got its own soccer stadium Saturday.

The long-suffering Red Bulls even got a win, and Major League Soccer ensured five years of labor peace by signing a new collective bargaining agreement before the match.

The sky was cloudless blue, and the first evening of spring felt more like early summer. A sellout crowd of 25,000, many in shirt sleeves on a 73-degree night, filled long-discussed and much-delayed Red Bull Arena and watched the Red Bulls roll over Brazil's Santos -- Pele's old team -- 3-1 in a chippy exhibition.

Joel Lindpere scored off the rebound of his own free kick in the 11th minute, Mike Petke added a goal in the 43rd and Dane Richards made it 3-0 two minutes later. Germano headed in Santos' goal in the 90th, just before the lights were cut and a fireworks display was shot off from the center circle.

Fans filled the $200 million, two-deck oval, and league officials immediately proclaimed the nation's eighth soccer specific stadium its finest. The arena had been planned for a decade, but construction repeatedly was pushed back.

"It was six weeks away, six weeks away," said Petke, the Red Bulls' captain. "These last 10 years have been the longest six weeks of my life."

Franz Beckenbauer, a World Cup champion for Germany as a player and coach, was on hand to mark the moment along with Olympic gold medal skier Lindsey Vonn. When Der Kaiser played for the Cosmos from 1977-80, they filled up Giants Stadium in nearby East Rutherford with crowds of nearly 80,000. But with MLS mostly lacking the biggest stars, the Red Bulls averaged just 12,491 fans for league home games last year, 12th among 15 teams.

And they were forced to play on artificial turf that was slightly too narrow. Now they're in a gleaming stadium that looks as if it could have been transplanted from a wealthy regional club in central Europe, with a translucent glass roof over the seats to protect fans from rain.

"Thirty or 40 years ago, almost no one in the country played the game, and it takes time," Beckenbauer said. "Also, it's a question of tradition. So it takes time to get used to, to compete with the best teams in world, which you are doing now."

In a league that will miss its biggest draw, Los Angeles midfielder David Beckham, for most if not all of this season because of his torn Achilles' tendon, the Red Bulls hope to add a star later this year. Barcelona's Thierry Henry and Real Madrid's Raul Gonzalez often are mentioned as possibilities.

"It should be the beginning of a new era in New York soccer," said Dietmar Beiersdorfer,
sporting director of parent Red Bull. "For sure we are also working on one other player maybe to strengthen our team."

The biggest stars were missing from this match because of injury -- Santos' Robinho and New York's Juan Pablo Angel. Beiersdorfer knows what sells, especially in the Big Apple.

Neymar, the biggest star on the field for Santos, gave his jersey to Red Bulls defender Jeremy Hall at the half. Many fans wore yellow Brazilian national team jerseys, and Santos coach Dorival Junior called it "a party atmosphere" even though he was disappointed with the result."

"We could feel the love from the crowd," Neymar said through a translator.

The field needs a little work -- sand kept kicking up.

"We've always talked about getting away from the turf at Giants Stadium and how bad it was," Petke said. "What I played in tonight, you could put concrete down, to be honest with you and I would have been, you know, thrilled."

While PATH commuter trains go directly to the stadium, allowing fans to travel in the same manner as most European supporters do, those who took shuttle buses from Newark's Penn Station were caught in a 45-minute bottleneck to the nearby stadium, which looks like a silver spaceship on the shore of the Passaic River.

"We would have been better off walking," said Suzanne Becker of Bethlehem, Pa.

Now that there won't be a strike, up ahead is the first official match, New York's MLS opener against Chicago next Saturday. The Red Bulls were 5-19-6 in the league last year and 6-21-7 overall.

"Even friendly games are important games," new coach Hans Backe said.

Now that they have a top ground, they need to build an equal team.

"There really is no excuses," Petke said.

It was almost exactly 10 years ago - and I know because I wrote the story - that the Daily Breeze became the first newspaper to break the news AEG were looking to the South Bay to build a new stadium for the Galaxy.

Just for fun, here's that story as it ran on Feb. 28, 2000:

The campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills, has emerged as one of "three leading contenders" the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer is considering as the site for a new 30,000- to 35,000-seat soccer stadium, the Daily Breeze has learned.

"They actually brought an architect out here last week, so I know we are one of the three," said George Pardon, the university's vice president for business and administration. "They're going to do some renderings and sketches to know whether we have enough buildable room."

The other two sites being looked at are a vacant parcel in Carson near the Kmart store off Torrance Boulevard between Figueroa and Main streets and an unidentified tract in Los Angeles, said Sergio del Prado, the Galaxy's general manager.

But the campus near Carson may be the preferred site for what del Prado describes as a $50 million to $70 million soccer complex that would include a stadium, soccer academy and practice fields suitable for the Galaxy and U.S. national teams.

"That's the one that gives us the easiest ability to do all those things," he said Friday of the Cal State Dominguez Hills site. "We'd like the one that gives us the most opportunity to really succeed."

In other signs the campus may have the inside track, del Prado said architects are looking at the design of the 70-acre tract at the university before other potential stadium sites. And the weekly magazine Soccer America reported last month that billionaire Galaxy owner Philip Anschutz particularly liked the campus parcel after taking a Jan. 14 helicopter tour of possible locations.

The Galaxy plays at the 92,000-capacity Rose Bowl in Pasadena but is seeking to construct a smaller venue more suitable for the average crowd of 18,000 it attracts to its 16 home dates annually.

At Cal State Dominguez Hills, the soccer facilities would be built at the site of the cycling velodrome constructed for the 1984 Olympics. The cycling facility, although considered a world-class venue, has little connection to the university and in the past has been a money-losing endeavor.

On the other hand, a soccer stadium would be an ideal fit, Pardon said.

The university needs a stadium large enough to accommodate the 16,000 people who attend graduation ceremonies; last year the university spent $70,000 to rent chairs and erect temporary bleachers for commencement, he said.

The Galaxy would lease rather than buy the land needed for the stadium so the university would retain control in what Pardon called a good example of a public-private partnership.

Moreover, becoming a major center for soccer with its widespread and growing appeal, rather than a niche sport like cycling, is attractive to an institution redoubling efforts to reach out to the community.

"One of the main thrusts of our new president is for this campus to be more widely known as a `communiversity,' " Pardon said. "We have a really strong soccer program and it really fit with what we are doing educationally."

Area has broad appeal

For the Galaxy, the South Bay and the campus have several appealing characteristics, said del Prado, a former Parks and Recreation commissioner in Hawthorne who lives in El Segundo.

For one thing, Cal State Dominguez Hills is accessible for spectators with its proximity to the Harbor (110), San Diego (405) and 91 freeways, he said. And the area has the right demographic mix, ranging from the Latino communities in cities like Carson and Hawthorne that the Galaxy has traditionally relied upon for the bulk of its support to the middle-class soccer hotbeds of the South Bay and Orange County.

"We're looking for a site that attracts both the youth soccer suburban crowd as well as our Hispanic hard-core soccer fans," del Prado said. "Sometimes that's a challenge, but I think to maximize the potential for the MLS in Los Angeles you need to appeal to both fan segments."

Cal State Dominguez Hills has become a serious contender for the stadium with surprising speed.

The Galaxy has long sought a soccer-specific stadium of its own -- the Rose Bowl doesn't even have adequate practice fields.

But the project has received renewed attention following the completion of the Staples Center that Anschutz's corporation owns in addition to such properties as two other MLS teams, the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey league and the Forum in Inglewood.

In recent weeks more than a dozen potential sites in the Los Angeles area have been winnowed to three.

It was the university that extended feelers to the Galaxy initially, Pardon said, adding that the school was not interested in being a site for an NFL stadium and the hassle of having 100,000 people flood the campus and surrounding neighborhoods. But officials did make preliminary overtures about locating a possible training facility for the franchise on campus, he said.

Soccer a better fit

When the idea collapsed along with the NFL proposal, it was resurrected when officials heard the Galaxy was searching for a new home.

The idea quickly evolved into a serious proposal after Anschutz's January helicopter tour when several high-ranking executives with the corporation visited the site and asked for a copy of the university's master plan, its blueprint for growth, Pardon said.

On Friday del Prado called the campus location one of the three leading candidates. The team needs to move quickly because the team's lease at the Rose Bowl expires at the end of this season. Ideally, the team wants a new home by the start of the 2002 season, del Prado said.

"Mr. Anschutz is committed to doing whatever he can to make soccer work here in Southern California," del Prado said, adding that no commitments have been made. "Hopefully within the next two to three months we'll find out one way or another."

A soccer stadium that would provide an appropriately exciting atmosphere -- something often lost in huge stadiums designed for football -- is seen by most observers as essential if the game is to progress.

Galaxy officials consider it no coincidence that the team finished second in league attendance last season to the Columbus Crew, which opened the nation's first large stadium -- capacity 22,500 -- designed specifically for soccer.

Positive influence

Carson officials have responded positively so far, noting as they did with the NFL proposal that the soccer stadium would help put the city on the map.

"I don't know of any problems associated with the site itself," said City Manager Jerry Groomes. "The concern would be to try to minimize traffic impacts on the surrounding residential area."

University officials believe that can be done, since the proposed site in the center of campus would help shield surrounding neighborhoods that contain some of the city's most expensive homes from what would be relatively modest crowds compared to the NFL.

But an environmental report that would include a traffic analysis would have to be performed, Pardon said. And adverse community reaction would quickly kill the idea.

"If the city doesn't want it here we're not going to push it," Pardon said. "That would run right in the face of our whole communiversity objectives."

But for now, officials with the Galaxy, city and university believe the idea of a professional soccer team in Carson is worth investigating further.

"It's an opportunity for (Carson) to get a lot of recognition not only in the city, but around the country and even internationally if we do build a new stadium and it does become the West Coast home of U.S. soccer," del Prado said.

The Galaxy's Landon Donovan and MLS Commish Don Garber shake hands after the league and the players reached agreement Saturday on a new labor agreement (AP Photo)

Said Donovan:

"We have a deep appreciation for the commitment shown by the owners both historically and through this process to make MLS one of the top leagues in the world."

It appears the players got rid of some of those rules that, frankly, resembled feudalism.

The first game is Thursday, when the Seattle Sounders and Philadelphia Union open the season; Chivas USA opens at home Friday against the Colorado Rapids and the Galaxy play Saturday at Home Depot Center.

Details here.

And the new agreement means Galaxy player reps Donovan, Chris Klein and Todd Dunivant are expected to play Sunday in the friendly against El Salvador's CD Aguila at 5 p.m. at Home Depot Center, the Galaxy announced today.

Chivas USA lost 3-1 to the Houston Dynamo this evening in Santa Barbara. Center back Yamith Cuesta, one of four subs Chivas USA sent on in the 64th minute, got the lone Goats goal, heading home a Gerson Mayen corner in the 83rd minute.

Attendance: 1,657.

Chivas USA lineup: Jose Miranda, Ante Jazic, Jonathan Bornstein, Michael Umaña, Mariano Trujillo (Yamith Cuesta '59), Jorge Flores (Gerson Mayén '76), Marcelo Saragosa (Chukwudi Chijindu '67), Sacha Kljestan, Michael Lahoud (Blair Gavin '59), Osael Romero (Jesus Padilla '59), Maykel Galindo (Justin Braun '59).

A punishing schedule at my other (non-related soccer) job the last couple of days (combined with a nasty attack of grunge-like spring allergies) has kept me away from the blog for a couple of days.

But if you're ready for some soccer, both Chivas USA and the Galaxy are in action this weekend ahead of next week's (alleged) start of the MLS season, presuming the players don't go on strike Monday as has been rumored if there's no new labor deal strike.

So here's run-down of where and when to get your soccer fix:

*Chivas USA plays the Houston Dynamo Sunday in their final preseason game up in Santa Barbara.

Game time is 7 p.m. at Harder Stadium on the UCSB campus and it's for a good cause: proceeds from the game go to nonprofit group Direct Relief International to help aid their efforts for the earthquake victims in Haiti and Chile. Tickets are $10 for children under 12 and students with valid ID, $15 general admission, $20 reserved. The high in Santa Barbara Saturday: 74 degrees. Lovely.

Also, Chivas USA Coach Martín Vásquez will appear on Fox Football Fone-In Monday. The show begins at 7 p.m. on Fox Soccer Channel.

*The Galaxy plays their final preseason game 5 p.m. Sunday at Home Depot Center against Salvadoran side CD Aguila, but if you go just before game time you'll miss half the fun.

A free fan fest runs from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in parking lot 13 that includes speeches from Galaxy President of Business Operations Tom Payne at 2:45 p.m. and Coach Bruce Arena at 3 p.m. who will tell the assembled horde how little the team will miss David Beckham (and that you should all go buy tickets anyway) at the annual State of the Galaxy address.

Also on tap: a beer garden, dunk tank (featuring mascot Cozmo, unfortunately, not your least favorite Galaxy player), interactive soccer-related games, "special vendor carts from Don Chow Tacos and Fishlips Sushi on site" (no word on the availability of bacon-wrapped sausages) tons of other stuff and did I mention the beer garden. Yes, I did, but it's worth mentioning twice with the temperature expected to hit 78 degrees.

The club will also host its annual equipment sale outside of the northwest entrance benefiting the Galaxy so you can buy Beckham's old sweaty jockstraps (or something) from last year.

Tickets to the game start at $15.

*If you prefer to stay pinned to the armchair, games on TV this weekend include Aston Villa-Wolves at 5:30 a.m. Saturday on ESPN2 HD and Blackburn Rovers-Chelsea while Real Zaragoza plays Barcelona at 1 p.m. Sunday on GOLTV. Clink the link at top right for comprehensive listing of games.

Which reminds me: thanks to webmeister extraordinaire Chris Berry for culling and updating the list of links to the right.

Junked were many of the links I don't believe were used much (including to local college programs) and of course the Sol and WPS are now a thing of the past locally. If I'm missing anything, let me know.

*Finally, thanks to those who responded via e-mail, telephone, in person or commented on the blog to this week's intentionally provocative column about the aforementioned Mr. Beckham.

Some thought me more than a tad vitriolic (including my wife), but I was trying to make a point: by the end of this season Beckham will be four years into his $6.5 mill a year contract and will have probably played, what, 10 MLS games or so a year when you average it out.

If you think that's worth the hype, the expensive tickets and the likely damage done to the team via the salary cap (will the Galaxy solve their issues in front of goal without a new striker or two?) I suggest applying for a job as an AEG PR flak.

Yes, it's a shame everyone's favorite cuddly Brit won't go to the World Cup, dashed dreams, lost glory and all that.

But wasn't this guy supposed to be this country's soccer saviour, not England's? Instead, I'm betting he alienated more people here than he won over.

I'll print a couple of e-mails with a different view a little later, but at least I know the folks at my own newspaper not only read my column, but agree with it. And when was the last time you saw an editorial devoted to soccer?

Hmm, and who's the influential one here anyway?

All of a sudden El Tri's World Cup hopes have a bright new spark - Chivas striker Javier Hernandez.

Javier Hernandez celebrates his game winner Wednesday against North Korea (AP Photo).

The nickname?

Chicharito, 21, is a third generation CD Guadalajara player following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.

At the other end of the age spectrum, veteran Cuauhtemoc Blanco, 37, opened the scoring for Mexico in their 2-1 win.

Game story.

Check out Chicharito's goal:

Incidentally, England will play their penultimate World Cup warm-up match May 24 against Mexico at Wembley Stadium, officials announced today.

Landon Donovan scored twice in the Galaxy's 8-0 scrimmage win this morning over Hollywood United (AP Photos).

More here on Landon Donovan's first scrimmage back with the Galaxy since returning from his loan deal with Everton in England.

Updated: 10:50 p.m. Highlights:

It sounds like Donovan (rightly) believes his successful stint in England lets his critics know he can cut it playing at a top class level.

Here's some additional quotes from Donovan via reporter Phil Collin who was out at the press event today, but the most important one that will endear him to Evertonians is this:

"If I ever went back to England, I would only want to play at Everton."

*On the reception he received in England and the Everton locker room:

"The people in general in England are pretty witty, humorous, seemed to make jokes and be kind of lighthearted. The biggest difference for me was the locker room from the minute I walked in the locker room for my first training session I could feel the energy was different. You could feel that this was a real team that cared about the team. There were no individual, no ego that overshadowed the team. It's just a different culture to be in and when you feel that way it makes you better as a player. You want to fit in."

*On the stability of the Galaxy this season:

"I'm looking forward to playing again with these guys and it's been very helpful immediately to have almost the same team here. This is my first time in all the years I've been here that we've had almost the same team back and I think it makes a big difference."

Donovan: EPL sharp.

Updated
And here's Donovan on returning to Everton, MLS labor negotiations, etc.:

CARSON (AP) -- Landon Donovan will attend the resumption of Major League Soccer bargaining and says he might return to Everton if players go on strike next week.

Donovan had two goals and three assists in 13 games during an impressive 10-week loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy to Everton that ended Saturday, helping the Toffees beat Manchester United and Chelsea, the top two teams in the Premier League. He rejoined the Galaxy on Tuesday ahead of their March 27 opener against New England.

"There's nothing concrete set up," Donovan said at a news conference Wednesday. "I think we've all been very clear about the possibility that I could go back if something happens. It's crossing that bridge when we get to it, right now."

Negotiators for MLS and the MLS Players Union met Tuesday and talks are set to resume Thursday in Washington, D.C., More than 20 players were expected after the union accepted an invitation from the league to have a large group of its members attend the session.

Players want greater free agency and a higher percentage of guaranteed contracts. MLS owns all player contracts and restricts movement within the league when deals expire.

"Nobody wants to go on strike if it can be avoided," Donovan said. "We've made it very clear from the beginning that we're not trying to bankrupt the league and ask for tons of monetary increases. But we need basic rights if we're going to continue playing. We want rights afforded other players in other countries that we don't have. We're very unified on the way we think."

The union said last week that it will strike if an agreement is not reached by March 25, when the expansion Philadelphia Union plays the league opener at Seattle.

The league notified the union that medical, dental and vision insurance would expire March 31 in the event of a strike, and players would have to continue coverage under the federal COBRA program. Life insurance would end on the start date of a strike, and players could covert to individual coverage.

If and when the Galaxy start the season, Donovan said his role would not substantially change because of David Beckham's Achilles' tendon injury. The English midfielder was hurt Sunday while on loan to AC Milan and will be sidelined about six months, causing him to miss the World Cup. Beckham, starting the fourth season of a five-year contract with the Galaxy, was not due back until July.

"Where I play might tweak slightly," Donovan said. "But I know what my role is and what I need to provide for the team, regardless of who's on the field."

Donovan speaks at Wednesday's news conference.

Donovan called Beckham's loss "devastating" for the Galaxy.

"He's sacrificed, I think, more than anybody in the world to have a chance at playing in a
World Cup," Donovan said. "When you do that and something like this happens, it's awful."

Lew Wolff of the San Jose Earthquakes became the latest owner to speak out Thursday, saying his team's "plans for a new venue and expansion of our youth program will be set back for a period that certainly does not benefit the current or future players."

Wolff, who also owns baseball's Oakland Athletics, said he was "at a loss as to how to
respond" to players' statements that the rules of the expired five-year labor contract are
unfair and asked the union to continue bargaining without a strike.

"The Earthquakes and the majority of MLS teams did not generate a profit in 2009, nor do they expect to generate a profit in 2010," Wolff said in a statement. "I am hopeful that the players and their representatives will carefully measure the importance of having labor peace and recognize the negatives to the sport that a work stoppage will cause."

From the Finnish clinic where he was operated on for his torn achilles tendon.

Here's an actual picture of David Beckham's actual legs and his actual crutches getting in an actual airplane to take an actual flight back to London. Apologies to Monty Python. (AP Photo)

Here's the full story (and by the way, don't you just love it's AC Milan rather than the Galaxy commenting on Beckham's rehab plans in this story; just which club does he supposedly belong to anyway?):

LONDON (AP) -- David Beckham arrived in London with his wife Victoria on Wednesday after flying in from the Finnish clinic where he had surgery for a torn Achilles' tendon.

With his left leg in a cast, Beckham flew in on a private jet. He injured his foot on Sunday
and will be sidelined for about six months, forcing him to miss the World Cup in South
Africa.

The Beckhams, who have yet to speak publicly since the injury, are expected to spend a few days at their home in England before returning to Los Angeles.

"I did say that perhaps it would not be wise to fly straight off to Los Angeles ... that he
should stop somewhere first," said Sakari Orava, the orthopedic surgeon who performed the operation.

Orava said Beckham was "well and in a good mood."

"He has to take it easy for about a month -- that's how long it will be in a cast -- and then week-by-week he can move the foot and use it more," Orava told The Associated Press.

When the Beckhams left the clinic in Turku, Finland, on Thursday, police pushed back dozens of shouting fans as the couple got into a silver Volkswagen van. Escorted by two police cars, they were taken to the local airport.

The 34-year-old Beckham tore his left Achilles' tendon when playing for AC Milan and underwent surgery in Turku on Monday.

Before Beckham's departure, Orava and medical teams reviewed a rehabilitation program he had planned for the midfielder.

Beckham, who flew to the Mehilainen Clinic in Turku on Monday, was joined a day later by his wife, who also spent the night at the clinic.

Orava said they ordered pizzas and watched soccer on a large-screen TV on Tuesday evening but that he left the couple just as the Champions League match between Chelsea and Inter Milan started.

"They looked happy," he said.

Orava, who has operated on several international sports stars, including runners Frank
Fredericks, Merlene Ottey and Haile Gebreselassie, said Beckham was an exemplary patient.

"He was a very easy and good patient. Even the nurses said they wished that all their patients were like him," Orava said. "He was very satisfied and didn't complain about anything and thanked everyone."

Orava said Beckham's tendon was totally torn, ruling out his hopes of playing in his fourth World Cup. The tournament starts June 11 in South Africa.

AC Milan said Beckham would begin rehabilitation right away.

"The plan includes a complete recovery in six months, at the end of which he can play again," the club said.

Apparently.

Britain's poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy was inspired by David Beckham's Achilles' tendon injury to write this verse titled "Achilles."

"Myth's river -- where his mother dipped him, fished him, a slippery golden boy flowed on, his name on its lips.

"Without him, it was prophesied, they would not take Troy.

"Women hid him, concealed him in girls' sarongs; days of sweetmeats, spices, silver songs...

"But when Odysseus came, with an athlete's build, a sword and a shield, he followed him to the battlefield, the crowd's roar,

"And it was sport, not war, his charmed foot on the ball...

"But then his heel, his heel, his heel..."

As one wit wrote, can't wait to read the poem about Toger Tiger Woods.

Galaxy players reacted Tuesday to Beckham's injury; Coach Bruce Arena sounds like he's taking it in stride, however:

CARSON (AP) -- David Beckham's prolonged absence because of an injury suffered in Europe will affect the Los Angeles Galaxy profoundly, Galaxy players said Tuesday.

"With this team, it's massive," said Galaxy defender Gregg Berhalter, who played for the
United States in the 2002 and 2006 World Cups. "He's a huge part of this team. It's (a matter of) trying to figure out what to do next."

Beckham tore his left Achilles' tendon Sunday while playing for AC Milan during his second offseason loan to the Italian club from Major League Soccer's Galaxy. He underwent surgery in Finland on Monday and will be sidelined for about six months.

The Galaxy's season ends in October so Beckham will miss most of the MLS season.

"He's an important part to AC Milan, he's an important part to England and he's a vital part to us," Galaxy midfielder Chris Klein said. "On the field, the leadership, the quality he brings, you don't replace that."

Beckham was trying to earn a place on England's World Cup roster. Had he done so, he would have been the first English player to appear in four World Cups.

"I know he's very down about this," said Klein.

Galaxy midfielder Bryan Jordan said Beckham provided a positive example for young players.

"I look at how he does things, how he keeps the ball, where he loses the ball, how he gets his crosses in," Jordan said. "I've looked up to him even before playing with him."

Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said he had no idea when Beckham would return.

"I don't think I've ever had a player with an Achilles' tendon tear," Arena said. "When they say 'six months,' it's probably accurate. That might even be aggressive. You don't know how the player reacts to the surgery, therapy, rehab, all that stuff."

Nevertheless, Arena said Beckham's absence will not alter the Galaxy's basic approach to offense.

"We're not going to change anything," Arena said. "We were going to be playing without him up until July, anyway. We won't need to be making any adjustments if he's not back in July."

Incidentally, Landon Donovan will meet the media Wednesday for the first time since returning to the Galaxy from Everton.

As Michael Jackson showed yet again today, dying is a great career move.

I doubt the same applies to David Beckham's torn achilles tendon (at least in the U.S.).. (Mrs. Beckham has now arrived in Finland, BTW).

As much as the injury is a personal tragedy for Beckham, one writer Monday observed it was merely "inconvenient" for England given his limited role on the national team these days.

And for the Galaxy, the injury is virtually irrelevant.

Except, of course, for the fact the Galaxy won't make money this year. Wonder how much is due to the ridiculous amount of money showered on a part timer (if that) like Beckham?

Agree? Disagree? Too cynical? Or realistic? Have at it in the comment section.

More on David Beckham's injury in Tuesday's column.

Also noted today:

*The U.S. plays Australia June 5 in South Africa, one week before its World Cup opener. ESPN2 airs the game at 5:30 a.m.

*Chivas USA officially presents new central defender Michael Umaña Tuesday at Costa Rica Restaurant in Anaheim.

*Galaxy striker Alan Gordon is still rehabbing a bone bruise to his left knee he suffered shortly before the club's 10-day camp in Arizona, while Jovan Kirovski sprained the MCL in his left knee in training at the start of this month. Neither played in last week's friendly in Fullerton. Clint Mathis remains out for at least another four weeks with a torn meniscus in his left knee.

*MLS labor negotiations from a legal perspective. Essential reading. Tip of the hat to du Nord for the link.

Galaxy GM and Coach Bruce Arena released this statement Monday morning regarding the career-threatening Achilles tendon injury David Beckham suffered Sunday in AC Milan's 1-0 win over Chievo Verona:

"Injuries are an unfortunate part of our game and they are even more disappointing when they happen to a player who was so close to realizing his dream of representing his nation at this summer's World Cup. We will give David our complete support to make sure that he is able to get himself back to full health before he returns to the field. David remains an important player for the Galaxy and we look forward to welcoming him back to the club and assisting him in his recovery."

Beckham went under the knife today in Finland.

And here's confirmation Beckham will miss the World Cup.

David Beckham is stretchered off in tears Sunday, his World Cup dream over (AP Photo).

Full story here.

Updated Monday

More here.

Also:

* Galaxy 0 Chivas USA 0

Galaxy lineup: Josh Saunders; Todd Dunivant, Leonardo, Yohance Marshall, A.J. DeLaGarza, Chris Birchall, Eddie Lewis, Michael Stephens, Chris Klein, Mike Magee, Bryan Jordan

Chivas USA lineup - Dan Kennedy, Mariano Trujillo (Gerson Mayén 76), Michael Umaña, Jonathan Bornstein, Ante Jazic (Jesús Padilla 55), Michael Lahoud, Blair Gavin, Marcelo Saragosa, Sacha Kljestan, Maykel Galindo (Justin Braun 54), Osael Romero (Emilio Viades 46)

*Landon Donovan's "life experience."

David Moyes (AP Photo).

Surprise, surprise:

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) -- Everton manager David Moyes says a possible Major League Soccer players' strike could enable Landon Donovan to extend his loan at the Premier League club.

Everton's match against Birmingham on Saturday is expected to be the last of Donovan's 10-week loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy.

But MLS players voted Thursday to strike if a new labor contract isn't agreed on before the season opener on March 25.

Moyes said Friday that if the players do strike, "we can keep" Donovan.

But Galaxy coach Bruce Arena expects his captain back after this weekend, saying Thursday "we're proceeding ahead like we do a couple of weeks before any season."

Moyes says he's not sure if Birmingham will be Donovan's last game with the team.

"There is still a chance that there could be a players' strike in the US and that could give
us the chance of having him a bit longer," Moyes said. "He has done really well. He settled in very quickly and he has had an impact on the club in the short time he has been here, so we couldn't have asked for more from him.

"We have never talked about a permanent deal. But I think he will return to the States and say, 'Wow, the Premier League is where I want to be.'"

And Moyes would like Donovan back next year during the MLS offseason.

"If Landon was available again next January, I would probably try to bring him back here," Moyes said. "Everyone wants to be somewhere that they are loved and cherished, which he certainly is in the U.S.

"But there is a different situation when you can be playing in the best league in the world
against the best players. And if you want to be recognized at that level, Landon would
probably want to have the opportunity to give it a go."

Fox Soccer Channel airs the Birmingham City-Everton game at 7 a.m. Saturday.

The move was expected as 100 Percent Soccer blog readers knew, with Chivas USA Coach Martin Vásquez pleased with the showing of the 27-year-old Costa Rican central defender in camp.

"Michael has impressed us throughout preseason, and we're excited to have him join the team for 2010," Vásquez said. "He is a versatile, talented and experienced defender who is going to be an important part of our success this season."

Umana made six starts for the Galaxy in 15 appearances for Steve Sampson's 2005 MLS championship-winning side; he did not appear in the MLS Cup final that year.

Chivas USA needed central defenders after the loss of Shavar Thomas and the potential retirement of 40-something former Mexican international Claudio Suarez.

From the Chivas USA press release:

Umaña has made 40 appearances with the Costa Rican National Team, including playing 90 minutes in all three matches the team played at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. He also played the bulk of Costa Rica's matches in 2010 World Cup Qualifying, has played in three Gold Cups with the squad, and was a part of Costa Rica's Olympic Team in 2004. Umaña joins the Red-and-White after playing for Liberia Mia in Costa Rica for the past three years. Prior clubs in Costa Rica include CS Herediano, Brujas, and AD Carmelita, which was Umaña's first professional team, joining in 1999 as a 17-year-old.

Updated:

Meanwhile, former Chivas USA and currnet Galaxy striker Alecko Eskandarian, who hasn't played since suffering (yet another) concussion last season, Tweeted this today:

"As some of you have already heard i haven't been medically cleared to play pro soccer and am forced to step away from the game at this time."

Which is probably the closest thing you can get to a retirement without actually saying you've retired.

If this is the last we've seen of Esky on a soccer field,the eight-year MLS veteran will be missed.

Two Three for Thursday:

*Chivas USA midfielder Michael Lahoud has the chance to become a regular in the Chivas USA midfield. Also in this piece by reporter Phil Collin, meet the Chivas USA co-captains.

*An MLS players strike edges closer.

*Should Landon Donovan return to the Galaxy or stay in England? Soccer America took a poll.

It appears SA readers are thinking along the same lines as some readers of this blog. Here's an e-mail from reader Stephen Gordon that expresses some of those thoughts:

I wanted to weigh in on Landon Donovan and his status for the MLS this spring.

I hope the Galaxy grants him an extension to stay in the Premier League, because our future depends on it.

Here's why...

*The World Cup and matchup with England. The need for players with European experience is at a premium, particularly those who understand the rugged English style of play, which often resembles a rugby match. Americans who play in England (and play regularly) understand the English mentality: physical prowess, work rate, long balls and crosses, and aggressive surges across midfield involving the entire swarm.

I've seen England overwhelm opponents who weren't prepared for the onslaught, but I've also seen England neutralized by teams with players who know how to counter the surge through smart tactics, namely ball control and counter attacks via their skill players. Nevertheless, this England team had a great qualifying campaign, and last week they scored a resounding victory over Egypt while we were outplayed by the Dutch.

*Weather. This year's World Cup will take place in chilly weather, and yes, it will be very cold in South Africa. European players thrive in cold conditions, at the expense of their warm-blooded counterparts in other parts of the globe. The MLS season begins and ends at the winter thaw, and Los Angeles has none, so forcing Donovan to return will not bolster his mental preparation, especially after his strong second-half performance with Everton last weekend.

*We need to make sure Donovan stays at Everton, where he must fight for playing time. The MLS doesn't need Donovan to survive. It needs World Cup success. The NHL can attest to this, thanks to a fine Winter Olympics.

Do you agree or disagree with Stephen? Do you fear what will happen to the Galaxy this season without Donovan? Or are you more worried about U.S. chances at the World Cup and believe American chances will benefit from Donovan staying in England?

Feel free to speak your piece in the comment section.