Only in America...Only With Becks

First, I just have to say that only in America that a story like this one have to be published anywhere.

But thanks SI.com for informing all the ignorant ones out there what a "loan" means.

Seriously though, I don't get all this "surprise" or "negativity" laid towards the one that was supposed to elevate the status of football (soccer) in America. Yeah, I'm talking about That One. I'm talking about David Beckham.

Becks wants to go to AC Milan in the January transfer window on loan, so that he can stay competitive for his country and play in a few more World Cup Qualifiers. And that's perfectly fine with me.

I don't understand why there's such an outcry, especially from those cohorts of American soccer.

Why do people think that Beckham is going to shun MLS and leave forever? Why?

Why is it more important for Beckham to stay in America during the offseason and do what? Kick a few balls around? Make a few appearances?

And the people who are doing the crying are the ones who understand soccer the most, which makes all the negative attention given to Beckham the last couple of weeks so hard to understand.

In the world of football, playing for country and winning the World Cup is way more important than club glory. I bet you ask anyone who has raised the European Cup at least once in the last decade if they would give up their club medal for one that is shared with his country, the majority of those (if not all) players would gladly trade that Champions League medal for one that says "World Cup."

That's the way the game has been structured. That's the way FIFA want us to believe the game should be. And clearly, it is.

When FC Barcelona told Lionel Messi he couldn't play in the Olympics, what did Messi do? He (figuratively) said "Fuck off Barca, I've got a gold medal to win for Argentina." Messi didn't listen to his club (one of the most recognizable in the world) and instead competed in Beijing, where he led Argentina to the gold medal.

Country > club.

So, when Beckham says he's going to Milan to stay fit for England, I saw more power to him.

Sure, Beckham said he's going to bring soccer to America--that he's going to make it as popular as it is around the world. And maybe that's why there is so much of an outcry. People see Beckham turning his back on a promise; turning his back on America and turning his back on potential soccer fans in this country. He's also turning his back on his huge contract.

But for Beckham to not try to play for the Three Lions, to not try to play for his national side and try to win a World Cup, then he'd be turning his back on the game.

It is only a loan, for now. If (and when) he does transfer back to Europe, then we can all bitch about it.