Beckham/Donovan Feud Is No Shaq/Kobe
Family Feud has more tension than Beckham/Donovan.
You call this a feud? Family Feud has more tension.
Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber has a league desperately in need of a attention — and if a feud between his league’s two biggest stars is the only way he gets it, he’ll take what he can get. Odds are it will be the only topic discussed at Beckham’s first practice with the Galaxy today and you can bet Garber will be ready to milk the situation.
That’s why last week he compared the current little spat between Landon Donovan and David Beckham to the ultimate sports feud in Los Angeles — Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.
Not even close, Garber. Put down the comparison and slowly step away, just step away.
First, the Lakers are the biggest team in LA and sell out virtually every game — despite ticket prices most of the Galaxy players couldn’t afford — and they are a huge television draw. More fans here could tell you when the Lakers play their next Summer League game than can tell you when the next Galaxy regular season game is. The Laker feud carried weight with the fans.
And that's because Shaq and Kobe actually won something. Three NBA titles in a row together. Beckham and Donovan couldn’t even make the playoffs together last year.
Finally, Shaq and Kobe were a real at-your-throat soap opera. Kobe misses some of training camp dealing with a rape charge, Shaq tells the media the entire team is in camp anyway, then when Kobe does come back Shaq says the kid should pass more. Kobe responds by saying Shaq doesn’t know much about playing guard. Then Shaq said he could say whatever he wanted, the Lakers were his team. Kobe called out Shaq’s leadership. It went back and forth all season — and that was just one of the seasons they played together. The tensions were palpable for years.
Beckham did what, exactly? Not pick up the dinner tab? Not do enough rah-rah stuff for Donovan’s American tastes? And Donovan finally spills his guts to a reporter for a book, then next says he regrets it? Beckham calls him unprofessional?
That’s it? That’s two fifth-graders on the schoolyard. Family Feud has more tension.
Maybe it’s the best the MLS can do. But if so, don’t compare yourself to the big boys.
