Beckham Mania

No matter how tacky it is Beckham mania makes me smile. As a soccer fan since I was little I am excited to watch the post-Beckham era unfold in the USA. While it is clear that he won't make soccer a top tier sport in the USA overnight - his arrival and short term presence may indeed nudge soccer over an imaginary barrier here.

Of course Beckham's success will not be measurable until near the end of his contract in 2012. At that point if the MLS is not profitable it might well be a bust.

But up until then I am going to enjoy the excitement generated by his arrival - regardless of whether my excitement makes me cringe a little too. The fact that it makes me want to cringe makes me wonder if I am becoming an urban elitist - one of my own personal nightmares.

So basking in Beckham (and soccer)'s glow right now makes me thankful for popular culture and all of its trappings.