Wife and I went to our 1st MLS game last night...

[xpress34]

Not much of a Soccer fan, but we had a really good time last night at our 1st MLS Game:

LA Galaxy vs Colorado Rapids (defending MLS Champs!)

The wife got a great offer on tickets and we sat right behind the goal 4 rows off the pitch.

Got to see Beckham and Donovan play and it was actually more exciting than I expected... will it convert me from baseball? Not a chance. Just wanted to share some pics from the game:

Our Tickets:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/xpress34/Ticket1.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/xpress34/Ticket2.jpg

Beckham coming onto field:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/xpress34/DSCF3578.jpg

Beckham free kick:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/xpress34/DSCF3588.jpg

Beckham through the goal:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/xpress34/DSCF3602.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/xpress34/DSCF3604.jpg

Galaxy won 2-1.

I have to give MLS credit for sportsmanship. After the game, players from both teams clapped for the fans and each other... Beckham walked around the stadium and waved and clapped for the fans and then threw his shirt up into the stands to a lucky fan - hence the last pic that my wife insisted on:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v738/xpress34/DSCF3605.jpg

as Beckham left the pitch.

I do have a question if anyone here follows soccer. We noticed that Beckham was the only player (besides Goalies) wearing a long sleeve top. Is it because of his tattoos? Does MLS have a rule prohibiting the display of tattoos?

All the best -

Smitty

[coxfan]

At 63 I'm old enough to recall when soccer was almost non-existent in the U.S. at any level, even in colleges. In the late 60's there was an attempt to introduce it to the U.S. from the top down by forming a major league. The Braves' owners (pre-Turner) formed the Atlanta Chiefs in that league and I went to a few of their games. ( I was then a UGA student).

But the soccer league was widely-ridiculed as a"liberal" thing that "true" Americans shouldn't support! That league died from poor attendance, and a plan was announced to try to introduce soccer to the US from the bottom up ( in schools) before trying major-league soccer again. That was more successful. It also had the nice effect of bringing in another women's sport at a time when there was limited opportunity for women to play any sport.

Now I go to one or two soccer games (men or women) with the South Carolina Gamecocks each season. It's fun, but it will never replace baseball, football, fast-pitch softball, or women's basketball as my favorite spectator sports.