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SOMETHING WILL HAVE TO GIVE FOR BECKS
</IMG> WIN 'EM OVER - Galaxy fans give David Beckham some stick back in July
England legend is a man with some serious responsibilities
</IMG>
COMMITMENTS - David Beckham
THE FA'S WORLD CUP BID TRUMP CARD IS UNVEILED
Prince William is the Ace up the sleeve as 2018 team target votes.
Read
By ANDY DUNN in Seattle, 21/11/2009
ON the one hand, you could say he looks lean. On the other, you could say gaunt.
Almost every sentence ends with a cough. Under his woollen hat, David Beckham is unwell.
The chill and rain of Seattle probably doesn't help but he has no option but to bear it.
And to bear the discomfort of another painkilling injection into an ankle injury that has been hanging around for weeks.
The Galaxy play in the MLS Final at Qwest Field and Beckham doesn't play for the franchise... he is the franchise.
In a press conference to publicise the event, Beckham greets every questioner with a familiar smile.
But it's not his million-dollar version. And between enquiries, he looks world-weary. Maybe it's his game-face.
And when we catch up later, his spirits seem fine. But Beckham is a man with some serious responsibilities, some heavy commitments.
And you wonder if it could become too much.
When his name cropped up during a recent interrogation of the FA chairman, Lord Triesman jumped on it as though it was a life-raft.
Beckham is the guy to deliver World Cup 2018 to England.
Oh, right.
That is in addition to winning the MLS Cup for Los Angeles, single-handedly attempting to turn soccer big-time in the States, buying his own club here, getting into the Milan team, earning a seat on the plane to South Africa 2010, looking after his three boys, satisfying his blue-chip sponsors.
There's even talk of him playing some role in the London Olympics. Captain of a Team GB football squad, maybe.
"Yep," he says. "There are a lot of commitments... but they are all worthy ones."
But something is going to have to give in Beckham world.
Especially if he is serious when he says: "As far as playing goes, I'd like to think I've got a good two or three, maybe even four years left in me. I feel good and really fit."
Those years will be in America.
Quashing suggestions that surface weekly, he dismisses the notion that he will end his playing days on Premier League fields.
He says: "Club-wise, this will be the place where I will finish my career. And I've always said I'm committed to the Galaxy. I signed a contract for five years and I will see that through. My family are happy living in LA - I've enjoyed this season and it's nice to be successful.
"My eldest son is 10 and they need to feel settled in school and they are settled. So there is no reason for us to move the family. That might change in the long-term future but at the moment and for a while we will be staying."
But to extend his career in a kit, Beckham must surely realise that sacrifice will have to come.
It's almost a stern rebuke when you suggest that World Cup 2010 will have to become his international swansong.
"It's not for me to decide when I'll stop playing international football," he says. "I'll always want to be available for England because I am so passionate about it.
"To be honest, I will do anything to extend my career to play for England - even after this World Cup."
But, actually, he won't do ANYTHING. When he talks about his forthcoming stint with Milan, Beckham says what you would expect him to say.
How much he is looking forward to another challenge. Assuming he is victorious tonight, he might even become the first Englishman to win leagues in four countries.
But it's almost as though he is heading to Italy on sufferance. On the express orders of Fabio Capello, certainly.
Leaving behind his wife and three children - putting a 6,000 mile-gap between him and his family - is certainly not a prospect he is looking forward to.
And it will be the last time he does it.
He says: "After this stint I don't know whether I'll go to Milan or not. Spending six months away from my family is not easy.
"But it's something I'm prepared to do this time because I need to give myself the chance to be involved in the World Cup."
So this will be the last time. And that, essentially, will mean the end of his England career. A player the north side of 35 operating exclusively in the league out here can hold little hope of extending his international tenure.
When not glad-handing FIFA grandees on behalf of the FA, he will become America's David Beckham.
It is clear he loves America and America loves him.
Well, American soccer does.
And even Landon Donovan does. It was Donovan - voted the Most Valuable Player in the MLS - who criticised Beckham in the wake of his first loan spell at Milan.
GLITZ - Becks celebrates a Galaxy win
Ahead of the final with Real Salt Lake on the West Coast, Donovan could not have been more gushing, saying: "You guys don't see what goes on every day. You guys see what happens when the lights come on on Saturday nights.
"But what we see every day in the locker room, on the road, when we travel, has been tremendous. When your most talented player is doing that, everyone else follows.
"The other thing you don't see is this guy has been hurt or sick for probably the last six or seven games. But he gets on with it. One of the things that has turned us around has been David's reaction to everything that has gone on.
"Life is about choices. He could have chosen to be something different than he has been. He chose to be a man. Without him, we're not where we are." Views echoed by every MLS executive you encounter in this city.
And Beckham will soon be joining them, confirming he intends to become a franchise owner.
He says: "I want to be involved in the game when I finish. Owning a franchise is something I'm thinking about - and I think will happen eventually.
"But I've always said since I came here that I want to be an ambassador of the game and an ambassador of the MLS and be involved in making this sport bigger here."
But before embarking on another grandiose project, Beckham has the small matter of a final to deal with.
And the prospect of another league winners' medal to add to his English and Spanish versions.
He says: "Success never gets old. I've been able to play in great leagues and play for big teams and winning championships and cups is always exciting. And so is this. This is the first time I've been in the play-offs and the first time I've been in the MLS Cup. I'm proud to be on this team."
But as the bone bruising in his ankle stubbornly refuses to leave, success won't be without pain on the artificial turf.
"I haven't been able to train but, after five, 10 minutes of the game, I'm sure I'll forget it," he says.
"I'll definitely have an injection. It's part of sport. If you want to be involved in certain games then you have to make certain sacrifices."
With so much success, adulation and wealth, it jars to suggest Beckham makes too many sacrifices.
But that is how his time at Milan could be interpreted and that is how his commitment to the World Cup bid could be interpreted.
GOAL - David Beckham and Landon Donovan
He will fly out to Cape Town next week to schmooze with the 24 FIFA members who will decide the destination of the 2018 tournament.
England's bid team are mapping out a hectic schedule of photo opportunities, media events, dinners and community visits.
Again, he justifies the consumption of his time with some force, explaining: "To be involved in the World Cup bid is something I'm very passionate about and very committed to.
"It's not as easy for me to fly all over the world but I'm out there for five days and will do everything possible to give us a chance of winning this bid.
"It's a hell of a responsibility but there are a lot of other people doing good work for this bid.
"It's not a given that we will get it - we are not a bid team that is expecting to get it just because we are England and just because we are the nation of football.
"But if we were to be given a World Cup next week then, as a nation, we'd be ready for it."
Beckham had been scheduled to go to Germany with the Galaxy this week before heading to South Africa for the circus that surrounds the World Cup draw.
That trip has been cancelled, allowing him to have a Thanksgiving vacation with his family. He can probably use one.
After we finish talking, he heads back to his hotel, presumably for some sleep in Seattle, having been excused duties at another ceremony to mark the staging of the MLS Cup in this city.
This one, believe it or not, involved the tossing of fish.
Beckham, as always, has bigger ones to fry
</IMG> WIN 'EM OVER - Galaxy fans give David Beckham some stick back in July England legend is a man with some serious responsibilities
</IMG> COMMITMENTS - David Beckham
THE FA'S WORLD CUP BID TRUMP CARD IS UNVEILED
Prince William is the Ace up the sleeve as 2018 team target votes.
Read
By ANDY DUNN in Seattle, 21/11/2009
ON the one hand, you could say he looks lean. On the other, you could say gaunt.
Almost every sentence ends with a cough. Under his woollen hat, David Beckham is unwell.
The chill and rain of Seattle probably doesn't help but he has no option but to bear it.
And to bear the discomfort of another painkilling injection into an ankle injury that has been hanging around for weeks.
The Galaxy play in the MLS Final at Qwest Field and Beckham doesn't play for the franchise... he is the franchise.
In a press conference to publicise the event, Beckham greets every questioner with a familiar smile.
But it's not his million-dollar version. And between enquiries, he looks world-weary. Maybe it's his game-face.
And when we catch up later, his spirits seem fine. But Beckham is a man with some serious responsibilities, some heavy commitments.
And you wonder if it could become too much.
When his name cropped up during a recent interrogation of the FA chairman, Lord Triesman jumped on it as though it was a life-raft.
Beckham is the guy to deliver World Cup 2018 to England.
Oh, right.
That is in addition to winning the MLS Cup for Los Angeles, single-handedly attempting to turn soccer big-time in the States, buying his own club here, getting into the Milan team, earning a seat on the plane to South Africa 2010, looking after his three boys, satisfying his blue-chip sponsors.
There's even talk of him playing some role in the London Olympics. Captain of a Team GB football squad, maybe.
"Yep," he says. "There are a lot of commitments... but they are all worthy ones."
But something is going to have to give in Beckham world.
Especially if he is serious when he says: "As far as playing goes, I'd like to think I've got a good two or three, maybe even four years left in me. I feel good and really fit."
Those years will be in America.
Quashing suggestions that surface weekly, he dismisses the notion that he will end his playing days on Premier League fields.
He says: "Club-wise, this will be the place where I will finish my career. And I've always said I'm committed to the Galaxy. I signed a contract for five years and I will see that through. My family are happy living in LA - I've enjoyed this season and it's nice to be successful.
"My eldest son is 10 and they need to feel settled in school and they are settled. So there is no reason for us to move the family. That might change in the long-term future but at the moment and for a while we will be staying."
But to extend his career in a kit, Beckham must surely realise that sacrifice will have to come.
It's almost a stern rebuke when you suggest that World Cup 2010 will have to become his international swansong.
"It's not for me to decide when I'll stop playing international football," he says. "I'll always want to be available for England because I am so passionate about it.
"To be honest, I will do anything to extend my career to play for England - even after this World Cup."
But, actually, he won't do ANYTHING. When he talks about his forthcoming stint with Milan, Beckham says what you would expect him to say.
How much he is looking forward to another challenge. Assuming he is victorious tonight, he might even become the first Englishman to win leagues in four countries.
But it's almost as though he is heading to Italy on sufferance. On the express orders of Fabio Capello, certainly.
Leaving behind his wife and three children - putting a 6,000 mile-gap between him and his family - is certainly not a prospect he is looking forward to.
And it will be the last time he does it.
He says: "After this stint I don't know whether I'll go to Milan or not. Spending six months away from my family is not easy.
"But it's something I'm prepared to do this time because I need to give myself the chance to be involved in the World Cup."
So this will be the last time. And that, essentially, will mean the end of his England career. A player the north side of 35 operating exclusively in the league out here can hold little hope of extending his international tenure.
When not glad-handing FIFA grandees on behalf of the FA, he will become America's David Beckham.
It is clear he loves America and America loves him.
Well, American soccer does.
And even Landon Donovan does. It was Donovan - voted the Most Valuable Player in the MLS - who criticised Beckham in the wake of his first loan spell at Milan.
GLITZ - Becks celebrates a Galaxy winAhead of the final with Real Salt Lake on the West Coast, Donovan could not have been more gushing, saying: "You guys don't see what goes on every day. You guys see what happens when the lights come on on Saturday nights.
"But what we see every day in the locker room, on the road, when we travel, has been tremendous. When your most talented player is doing that, everyone else follows.
"The other thing you don't see is this guy has been hurt or sick for probably the last six or seven games. But he gets on with it. One of the things that has turned us around has been David's reaction to everything that has gone on.
"Life is about choices. He could have chosen to be something different than he has been. He chose to be a man. Without him, we're not where we are." Views echoed by every MLS executive you encounter in this city.
And Beckham will soon be joining them, confirming he intends to become a franchise owner.
He says: "I want to be involved in the game when I finish. Owning a franchise is something I'm thinking about - and I think will happen eventually.
"But I've always said since I came here that I want to be an ambassador of the game and an ambassador of the MLS and be involved in making this sport bigger here."
But before embarking on another grandiose project, Beckham has the small matter of a final to deal with.
And the prospect of another league winners' medal to add to his English and Spanish versions.
He says: "Success never gets old. I've been able to play in great leagues and play for big teams and winning championships and cups is always exciting. And so is this. This is the first time I've been in the play-offs and the first time I've been in the MLS Cup. I'm proud to be on this team."
But as the bone bruising in his ankle stubbornly refuses to leave, success won't be without pain on the artificial turf.
"I haven't been able to train but, after five, 10 minutes of the game, I'm sure I'll forget it," he says.
"I'll definitely have an injection. It's part of sport. If you want to be involved in certain games then you have to make certain sacrifices."
With so much success, adulation and wealth, it jars to suggest Beckham makes too many sacrifices.
But that is how his time at Milan could be interpreted and that is how his commitment to the World Cup bid could be interpreted.
GOAL - David Beckham and Landon DonovanHe will fly out to Cape Town next week to schmooze with the 24 FIFA members who will decide the destination of the 2018 tournament.
England's bid team are mapping out a hectic schedule of photo opportunities, media events, dinners and community visits.
Again, he justifies the consumption of his time with some force, explaining: "To be involved in the World Cup bid is something I'm very passionate about and very committed to.
"It's not as easy for me to fly all over the world but I'm out there for five days and will do everything possible to give us a chance of winning this bid.
"It's a hell of a responsibility but there are a lot of other people doing good work for this bid.
"It's not a given that we will get it - we are not a bid team that is expecting to get it just because we are England and just because we are the nation of football.
"But if we were to be given a World Cup next week then, as a nation, we'd be ready for it."
Beckham had been scheduled to go to Germany with the Galaxy this week before heading to South Africa for the circus that surrounds the World Cup draw.
That trip has been cancelled, allowing him to have a Thanksgiving vacation with his family. He can probably use one.
After we finish talking, he heads back to his hotel, presumably for some sleep in Seattle, having been excused duties at another ceremony to mark the staging of the MLS Cup in this city.
This one, believe it or not, involved the tossing of fish.
Beckham, as always, has bigger ones to fry
Brothers in arms: AC Milan's David Beckham congratulates Ronaldinho after the Brazilian scored in their 5-2 win over Genoa Photo: REUTERS 
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