From the Goal Line

I had the amazing opportunity this afternoon to go to the LA Galaxy press conference following their team practice at Qwest Field after both Real Salt Lake and LA arrived in town yesterday for the MLS Cup on Sunday.
Galaxy team members, Landon Donovan, recently named the league’s MVP, and soccer legend David Beckham were on hand to answer press questions about Sunday’s match-up, the league, what Seattle has meant to the sport and their careers in general.
Beckham, who seemed very laid back, although sporting a bit of a cough, said playing this season in the MLS has been a great experience, and later on in the press conference said after England makes a run in the upcoming World Cup he plans to be back next season.
“I think it’s been a great experience for myself and for the whole team this season. You know, always helps when you have a certain amount of success, and we’ve had that so far,” said Beckham. “But we’re not happy. We still want to win this game on Sunday. Hopefully we will. We deserve to be here. Real Salt Lake deserves to be here. Two good teams with good players in it. It’s gonna be a good game. I hope it’s an entertaining game for the fans.”
Donovan said he was very excited for Sunday and that he wants to make sure the team knows this opportunity, while fantastic, is rare.

“I think the message that we want to remember and get across to all our guys is that these opportunities are rare,” said Donovan. “You want to take advantage of it. I don’t think anyone’s gonna remember in a few years if we got to the final and lost. They’ll remember if we won. We want to take hold of this and grab it and win it.”
Overall Donovan said this season, getting to the finals, has meant more to him than any other he has played in.
“For me, personally, this has been more rewarding than any other other trips to this point in the season. It’s been challenging. It’s been difficult for a few years here. To put everything you have into something and then to be successful is very rewarding. I think we’ve all done that as a team.”
For Beckham as well, playing for the Cup is meaningful, for him and the team as a whole.
“These occasions don’t come everyday year, so you have to make sure you enjoy them. We’ve got a lot of young guys in our team that are excited, but we need to stay focused. That’s the biggest thing for us,” he said. “But, of course, you play in a Cup final, it’s exciting, the whole experience. You have to enjoy it, because the day goes past so quickly. So you have to enjoy the moment.”
Beckham, who has said in the past when he retires he would be interested in being a big part of the MLS in some way, whether it’s owning a team or in some other form, echoed that statement.
“I love the game, so I want to be involved in the game in some way when I finish. Owning a franchise is something that’s definitely possible and something that I’m really thinking about, and I think will happen eventually,” he said. “But, you know, I’ve always said since I cam over here that I want to be an ambassador of the game and an ambassador of the MLS and to be involved in making this sport, which is the No. 1 sport everywhere else in the world apart from the U.S.”
Friday afternoon was actually Beckham’s first practice because of a bone bruise to his foot that has been plaguing him this season. He said it continues to be an issue, but it’s part of the game.
“It’s been frustrating, but I’m sure it’ll be find for Sunday. Definitely be fine for Sunday. It’s one of those things you just have to get through. After five, 10 minutes of the game I’m sure I’ll forget all about it.”

I’ll post more of their thoughts from the press conference, as well as a post Cup piece, which I’ll be attending Sunday evening, next week.