Interview with David Beckham (part 2): How he would change MLS

September 18, 3:26 PMSports ExaminerPaula Duffy

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Beckham against FC Dallas. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

In part one of the interview with Beckham, he talked about his first playoff run with the LA Galaxy  and the team's chances for an MLS championship. You can find that here.

Both divisions of the MLS have very tight playoff races with four teams sitting within four points of the Galaxy in the West and three teams in the East within striking distance of division leader the Columbus Crew

Beckham doesn't think that kind of parity is necessarily a good thing. In fact, he's never played in a league with teams so close to each other at this point in the season. "As a player, I'd rather be in front and not worried. It's unbelievable. You can go to fifth from second in a weekend or two. But in this league with the way they make player moves, it ends up this way." He added, "Things could change though."

What would he change? "Ideally I'd bring in more international players. But the wage cut they'd have to take makes that difficult. That has to change at some point." If it does, Beckham believes the MLS' insistence on assigning players to teams to achieve parity, wouldn't be necessary.

But more important is a grass-roots effort that would look very different from the approach taken by soccer aficionados in this country. "In Europe there are youth teams and youngsters are brought up in those teams from the age of seven or so. They then sign youth contracts and ultimately those turn into pro contracts. The players get to know the entire national system and end up wanting to be pro players, just like kids in American want to play football or basketball."

With two years left on his contract with the Galaxy, he looks forward to being an owner or part owner of an MLS team and continuing to improve the American soccer scene. "I am committed to MLS and soccer in this country and I definitely wanted to prove that by owning a team and having an amazing experience. I have that in my contract to demonstrate how serious I was about it."

While whispers abound about a team being put in Montreal with Beckham as owner, he said that talks are ongoing about a team in a U.S city. "I can't say who or where it will be at this point."

Beckham added that he fully intends to fulfill the remaining two years of his contract with the Galaxy. But his time with the team, at least in 2010 will be dictated by the dates of the World Cup. His English national coach made it plain that without his participation in European soccer, a spot on that team might not be his for the asking.

Does he see progress in increasing fan support for the American soccer league? "Absolutely. Attendance is up. I can see new franchises come into the league and be successful. If you have the talent, that is the draw. The Seattle Sounders are sold out for two years and have a good fan base."

That has to be good news to Tim Leiweke, president and CEO of AEG, which operates the Galaxy and other teams in the MLS (as well as being the sister company to Examiner.com). Beckham speaks highly of Leiweke. "Tim has always been a huge supporter of mine and he was behind me going to Milan. He's a soccer person and understands my reasoning."

And while he acknowledges he will be back in Europe for the start of that season it isn't easy for him to be there with his family living in Los Angeles. "It's not an ideal situation when I play in Europe. I am away from my family, not seeing them for weeks or a month at a time. Milan is a preferred option for me. I enjoyed my time there and they've made it plain they want me back, although it hasn't been finalized."

It sounds to me like David Beckham firmly believes that becoming an owner and a change agent in MLS, while a bit off in the distance, could be one more step towards what soccer fans in this country want: a league with homegrown players that can garner respect from the likes of Beckham himself.

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