When it comes to the value of European soccer players in the United States, one can argue that M.L.S. would have better luck ransacking and fostering players from nearby Latino neighborhoods in every major city in the United States. European soccer dinosaurs players usually come to the States to ensure a paid holiday stay. At least that’s what one, well-known, Los Angeles Galaxy GM is scared of.

Regardless of where a player comes from, said Alexi Lalas, who signed Beckham when he was the general manager of the Galaxy, he must be willing to work hard and adapt to a physically demanding style of play.

“If he says, ‘I’m coming to the end of my career and I want to finish it out in the United States,’ that’s a red flag,” Lalas said. “ ‘My wife likes the weather’ or ‘my wife likes the shopping’ — that’s another red flag.

“If their perception is that they’re coming on a extended holiday where they get paid, then you’re in for some real trouble.”

Look at Beckham, for example. All he’s managed to produce throughout his short-stint in LA is, um, a possible collaboration with Snoop Dogg and shooting thong ads. Didn’t he also manage to make some kids cry at some point? Anyway, D.C. United GM Dave Kasper has a simple answer:

“We certainly feel that we can find more players of value in South America.”

Latin players are what Kasper called “value players” — professional, highly skilled and relatively inexpensive. They are also eager to come to the United States. In Los Angeles, Lalas called it the “Baywatch effect.”

Apparently, one of these GMs believes in scouting reports and overall, oh what’s the word? You know, when you learn from experience? Oh, knowledge. The other still believes in unicorns and superheroes. Oh please don’t let us down this year, M.L.S.

M.L.S. Looks to Latin America to Lift Its Game [NYTimes]
Image [AP]