For some reason the on-going "where does his future lie" saga surrounding David Beckham reminds me of the age-old musing all first-year philosophy students are forced to address in 500-word, single-spaced essay form:

If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it does it make a sound?

Yes, it makes a sound. In fact it makes a loud, crashing sound and likely takes down a few other trees on its way to the forest floor.

(One of those falling-branched bystanders might be Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber.)

There exists an opinion that Beckham staying in Italy beyond the agreed-upon date of March 8 is a non-issue; meaning, let him stay in Milan as we do not need him in North America. I have to believe that this opinion is a product of simply reading too many overrated headlines in the fan forums. As a footballer, yes, he may be at the overrated stage. But as an on-field ambassador in a league that makes the global headlines maybe three times a year, he is underrated.

In the last two years Beckham has not saved soccer in America, which somewhere along the way became the justification behind his $250-million move from Real Madrid in January of 2007. But what he has done is place soccer into the lexicon of a generation that might otherwise have gone without the subtle sport. Like Wayne Gretzky in another era and another sport did in the very same city, he didn't save the sport, but simply made it relevant where it previously was not.

TEAM ATTENDANCE REPORT
HOME GAMES ROAD GAMES
DATES TOTAL AVERAGE DATES TOTAL AVERAGE
LA Galaxy 15 390,132 26,009 15 421,978 28,132
Toronto FC 15 301,793 20,120 15 211,654 14,110
The table to the right presents all the evidence needed to support the claim. The modest numbers the Galaxy enjoyed at home were actually eclipsed by the numbers the team drew on the road. If Beckham does not return to the MLS as scheduled in March, the league needs to deal with the fact that the road numbers will be more like the ones seen when Toronto FC come to town.

I get the feeling Beckham will be back in Los Angeles come March for the final year of his deal, but it won't be of his own volition. The £4.5m offer made by AC Milan to keep the on loan player is missing a digit. If the missing 1, 2 or 3 shows up before the March 8 deadline then the situation may change; but until then the MLS will not stand to lose future income on its biggest investment and only ambassador.