SoccerReturn stop for Beckham, stop start for MLS

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Had the tie still been alive, the reception might have different - though somehow I doubt it. The biggest cheer of the night was not reserved for one of  Manchester United's four goals. It was saved for a member of the opposition.

For the first time in seven years, David Beckham was back at Old Trafford.

A bittersweet return

His introduction five minutes after United's third goal had ended the game as a contest, was met with thunderous applause. Beckham briefly appeared close to  tears before spending the remainder of the match as Milan's best player.

His teammates failed to connect with a series of trademark dangerous crosses, but no one could accuse Beckham of not trying in a lost cause at his spiritual  home. He knew it was over before setting foot on the field, but his competitive spirit would not allow him to simply go through the motions.

Beckham was naturally "disappointed" to be on the wrong end of such a one-sided scoreline. But he also had the good grace to say "thank you" to the fans for  the ovation while hailing Wayne Rooney as an "exceptional talent." A dozen years ago, they used to say the same thing about Beckham.

From June 12th onwards, they will be reunited as England colleagues in South Africa.

Misery for Madrid

Money can't buy you love, nor it seems a path to Champions League glory. The millions invested by Real Madrid last summer was good enough to give Toronto FC a footballing lesson, but insufficient to navigate a route to the quarter-finals for the first time in six years.

Cristiano Ronaldo couldn't wait to trade Manchester for Madrid and a pot of gold and spearhead the Spanish giants return to Europe's summit. In all fairness, he did his best. Ronaldo scored seven goals in the Champions League, but not even his efforts were enough to see off a dogged and determined Lyon.

I am sure the powers that be at UEFA were desperate for Madrid's involvement to continue, but their French opponents were the better team in the second half  and deserved their goal. It doesn't say much about Madrid's collective work ethic or the influence of their (under siege) coach Manuel Pellegrini.

Ironically, this year's final takes place in Madrid. If United makes it, I wonder if Ronaldo will go.

Stop start for MLS

We're beginning to get down to the wire in the Major League Soccer labour dispute. Two more days of talks between the league owners and the players' union in  the presence of a federal mediator have produced nothing but a hardening of stance by the employees.

Nick Garcia, TFC's union rep, insists the union is united and, if necessary, the players will strike in support of an improved collective bargaining  agreement. The 2010 season is due to kick off in just two weeks time, but Garcia is doubtful that will happen.

MLS is playing Russian roulette with the players. While claiming it will not impose a lockout, it is also prepared to begin the new season with the old CBA  still in place - something the union will not agree to.

The two sides are deadlocked over a form of free agency and a higher percentage of guaranteed contracts. The clock is ticking and if the league believes the  union will buckle as the deadline approaches, it may have to think again.

The players do not want to withdraw their labour. They have been training hard in pre-season for more than a month and, like all professional athletes, are  anxious for the real competition to begin. I am sure they see strike action as a last resort and are desperate to find a solution.

Predictably, both sides are claiming to have made major concessions in search of common ground, but perhaps both are losing sight of the bigger picture. MLS  needs to showcase itself - this year of all years - as a credible, professional, affordable form of entertainment capable of producing players for the World  Cup.

According to MLS, it's business as usual. Its official website has a story proclaiming: "The official 2010 MLS jerseys are here!" Nothing wrong with peddling  the product, so long as there is a product to peddle. Not surprisingly, the website makes no mention of the latest state of play in the CBA negotiations.

To this point, I can only think of one 'winner.' He already has a guaranteed contract and he doesn't want to come home. If MLS goes on strike, Everton gets  to keep Landon Donovan for the foreseeable future, which should at least keep the Blue half of Liverpool smiling.

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