Though Becks left the match before Madrid came-back to beat Mallorca and clinch La Liga title at least he leaving the team on a high note. Like many players have before him he is nearing the end of his career and coming to play association football in North America — not North American football though.

He is joining the L.A. Galaxy and the MLS. Over the years many people I talk to scoff at the MLS, but I think it is important to support soccer on this continent. A strong league will help develop talent and further the success of the US national team.

With Toronto F.C. and the domestic player rules we now have a place for Canadian players to play at a high level in our own country. Once Toronto start a youth program and with other domestic teams running youth programs, like Whitecaps F.C. in Vancouver (which competes in the United Soccer Leagues first division) young talent can develop here.

So, though I much prefer to be a sport participant than a spectator I boost for soccer here in the new world. There are some silly things MLS though. I started thinking about them recently when Hiro pointed out one — the name Real Salt Lake.

Real means royal in Spanish. Madrid is called that because the king granted them the title. Before that they were called Madrid FC.

Salt and lake are English words and refer to Salt Lake City in Utah. There is no king of Utah. The team is actually named after Real Madrid.