COMMERCE CITY, Colo. -- David Beckham is a diplomat, all right. He's the kind of diplomat who would start World War III.
A crowd of 18,277 soccer fans gathered Saturday night at Dick's Sporting Goods Stadium to watch Beckham play for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Beckham, as you probably know, ranks among the world's dozen most famous sports personalities, even if he's not among of the world's top 1,000 athletes.
Beckham, 36, couldn't be bothered to make the trip. He remained at his $18.7 million mansion in Beverly Hills, where he's -- allegedly -- nursing a sore back.
This is the second time Beckham has insulted Colorado Rapids fans. He also relaxed at his mansion during the Galaxy's 2007 trip.
When Beckham signed with the Galaxy in 2007, he was sold to America as an ambassador for soccer. The world's most popular game has struggled to catch on in the United States, largely because of a lack of star power.
Beckham was supposed to change all that. He's married to the glamorous, perilously thin Victoria, an international celebrity in her own right. He has great hair. He once played for powerhouses Manchester United and Real Madrid.
It was a fantastic idea, or so it seemed. Beckham would finish his distinguished career in the Land of the Free while converting millions of Americans from soccer agnostics to soccer lovers.
One problem:
Beckham has been more interested in his hair and collection of tattoos and endorsements than he is in playing soccer. His on-field apathy immediately inspired rage from Galaxy star Landon Donovan, who is obsessed with building the game in America and adding to his collection of MLS titles.
So it's no surprise Beckham never has won an MLS title. Oh, he's added to his mind-boggling fortune and traveled to Prince William's and Kate's wedding and inspired a few hundred thousand American women to swoon.
But he never delivered on the soccer field. I have a strong inkling he never will.
He's a shadow of what he once was. He's a diva. He's a phony.
Don't blame the Rapids for the extremely late announcement that Beckham had failed to travel to Colorado. No one associated with the Rapids knew Beckham had skipped the trip until immediately before Saturday's game.
Please, do blame Bruce Arena. You might remember Arena. He's the grumpy, befuddled coach who led the United States to a disastrous performance in the 2006 World Cup. This was only the most humiliating American sports performance of the 21st century.
Arena has known since at least Friday that Beckham would not play against the Rapids, but he chose to keep the news secret. I know all about gamesmanship and competitive edge and all that other trash.
I also know about the need -- the requirement, really -- to sell soccer in the United States. Arena has no clue. Yes, he won Saturday's game, but he lost the larger battle. He alienated, with no good reason, thousands of fans who paid good money to see Beckham.
There is a glimmer of good news about Beckham's no-show. It won't happen again.
Following this season, Beckham almost certainly will conclude his failed soccer adventure in America. He'll return to England.
Thank God.
Soccer needs a new American diplomat, one who actually cares about the game.
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