Bleacher Report - Articles by DJ

David Beckham-Cristiano Ronaldo: Not As Different As You May Think

DJ — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 00:34:43 -0500

Okay, before you start ripping me about the headline, please read the article. This in no way has anything to do with there soccer abilities. Here it is plain and simple. Beckham: Great, not good player. Ronaldo: One of the greatest players ever. I am a fan of both players and faithfully have been following both careers.

Here is my dilemma with soccer fans and the media. Both players have contracts with Los Angeles and Manchester United respectively. Both want to play for another team and have expressed there desire publicly. Yet it seems like Becks is the one getting eaten alive by anyone who can speak or type.

Beckham wants to stay in Milan past his loan deal. Ronaldo wants to, dreams to, play for Real Madrid. Beckham has a couple of years left on his contract, while Ronaldo just got an EXTENSION to his current contract about a year or two ago. Both want out, yet only one seems to get all the criticism.

My personal opinion is that I wish both could've ended their great careers with United, but that's not the way sports work anymore. Both have won all that there is to win with the Red Devils and I completely understand if they want different challenges in their sporting careers.

According to many online reports, Ronaldo already has an "agreement" reached with the Spanish club for a summer transfer, so maybe he may get his shots then. Look, Ronaldo won't lose any fans or sleep if he makes the move to Madrid. The guy is still young and will continue to light up the soccer world.

Beckham on the other hand is on a short time frame to continue playing football at the highest level in Europe. If big clubs in Europe want to have him on their squads then more power to him.

He wants to continue playing for his country and in the next World Cup. He's given enough to the game and has earned the right to do what he wants.

So before you go on bashing Becks and eventually Ronaldo for leaving their clubs while still on contract, ask yourself this question: If I was in that situation, what would I do? And lets not forget they aren't the first nor will they be the last players to do this in their respective sports.

That's the nature of the beast these days.

So with all due respect....GET OVER IT.

David Beckham May See UEFA Cup Action Despite Injury

DJ — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:48:32 -0500

With AC Milan due to face German side Werder Bremen in the UEFA Cup on Wednesday, recent reports indicate that David Beckham is included in the roster. This coming a day after the England international was substituted after 56 minutes with a hamstring injury.

The Milan midfielder picked up the knock during his side's 2-1 loss to hated inner city rival Inter. Beckham was noticeably limping when he was substituted early in the second half and was immediately attended by the physios on the Rossoneri's bench.

Beckham himself tried to down play the injury.

"I had a kick on it on Wednesday (with England) which never really cleared up," Beckham said. "I got another kick on it tonight. It's one of those things."

It is still uncertain if Beckham will start the match, but it is certain that The Rossoneri will be without the services of star playmaker Kaka, who is still out injured. A positive result is needed to soften the pressure for their second leg tie at the San Siro.

In other Beckham related news, earlier today SkySport24 reported that the Galaxy and Milan have reached an agreement for the 33 year old midfielder. All that is needed to finalize the deal is for Beckham and Milan to come to terms with an agreement.

And the saga continues.

And the Truth Will Set You Free: Only Time Will Tell for A-Rod

DJ — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 01:05:07 -0500

Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Roger Clemens we are waiting. Clemens and McGwire, you both have World Series rings, shouldn't you as "champions" step up and admit your faults? Barry, you're the home run king (place asterisk here), you want to take a swing at it? One, two, three strikes you're out, too late. Sammy Sosa, last I remember you forgot how to speak the English language so there's no hope there.

Say what you will, "he wouldn't have admitted it if they hadn't released the test results." Maybe not, but the results did come out and he owned up to it. He sat there in front of ESPN's Peter Gammons and admitted to taking banned substances. "I was young, I was stupid, I was naive...I did take a banned substance. For that, I'm very sorry and deeply regretful," Rodriguez said in the interview.

I don't expect this incident to be a quick after thought like Jason Giambi or Andy Pettite's confessions due to the fact that unlike those two ball players, A-Rod was considered one of if not the greatest baseball player of his generation.

Now do I believe everything Alex said in his interview, no of course not, but I will give him the benefit of the doubt. He didn't have to do the interview, he could've gone the "I can't comment on this now" route, but he didn't.

I'm not a huge baseball fan, it's like basketball, it only really gets good during the playoffs. I just hope that the NFL, America's real pass time, is taking a good look at the embarrassment Major League Baseball has allowed itself to become. This could be you if you aren't careful.

Whatever consequences Alex faces from here on in he may deserve, but in my opinion his actions yesterday may have kept some of his legacy in tact. A legacy that I still feel should end in Cooperstown.

David Beckham Gets England Call Up for Spain Friendly

DJ — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 20:51:31 -0500

Earlier today, England manager Fabio Capello gave David Beckham the opportunity to reach his 108th England cap by selecting the AC Milan midfielder for the upcoming friendly against European champions Spain.

“Beckham is a very important player and David's form is okay now,” Capello said, "and now he is fit." And when fit, there is no one in England who can supply golden balls—no pun intended—better than an "in-form" Beckham.

With Steven Gerrard, Theo Walcott, and Joe Cole out injured, Becks may also get a starting nod from the manager. This wouldn't be a bad idea because with the way Beckham is playing for AC Milan, he can give some problems to the Spanish defenders.

Not only is David becoming a quick fan favorite at the San Siro, but also one of Milan's best players and according to Carlo Ancelotti (Milan manager), "indispensable".

Now, the Spain friendly could be another historic night in the career of David Beckham, but if he wants to keep making history and continue playing for his country, he has to stay in Milan.

According to recent reports, The LA Galaxy rejected a bid from Milan, but apparently Milan will come back with a bigger bid to keep Beckham's services on a permanent basis.

As a soccer fan in the States, having someone of Beckham's stature playing here was incredible. I'll admit I'll hate to see him go, but no matter what soccer experts may say or the MLS, if Becks stays, his England career will surely be over.

I'm sorry, but the MLS is nowhere near being in the conversation with the English Premier League, La Liga, or Serie A. European managers just aren't going to follow a league they deem inferior to find national team squad members. Maybe in time—but that time is quite a bit away.

So if Beckham wants to continue earning England call-ups and adding to his cap total, he has to play top tier football at a top tier club. Where else can he do that but Milan?

Then it will be all up to him to prove he can warrant a place in England's 2010 World Cup qualifiers and eventually the 2010 World Cup squad.

So here's to 108, and counting.