Bending It In Retirement

In most sports, the most popular players do not always win the most championships or score the most points.  There is a certain level of moxie, something that Hollywood agents call "IT".  No one had more of it in soccer over the past few years than David Beckham.

Beckham played his position well.  The job of a mid-fielder in soccer is not to score the goal, but to set of the forwards to score.  David Beckham did this as well as anyone.  He had an uncanny ability to "bend it" or curve the ball where the defenders were not expecting the ball to go.  Of course, it was also helpful that his forward knew where to be, or could get the ball in the back of the net before the defense had a chance to react to it.  Beckham would not have succeeded without a good team around him.

Beckham won championships in England, Spain, the United States and France.  Winning the top championship in four different countries is something that has never been done in team sports before.  I'm sure that feat may be equaled again in my lifetime, it used to be uncommon that players would transfer to different leagues in different countries.  It will likely become more common as Hockey, Basketball and Baseball become more popular.

Beckham is that rare personality that was not only a good athlete, but also handsome and articulate; a rare combination of talent that only people like Michael Jordan and Tom Brady have.  Beckham will continue his celebrity status long after his retirement from soccer, whatever his next step will be.  In that endeavor, I wish him luck.