Watch David Beckham Get Laid Out: All the Hardest Tackles of His MLS Years

When the 2011 season comes to a close, David Beckham will be out of contract with the LA Galaxy of Major League Soccer, amidst dozens of rumors of a return to Europe.I, for one, think the legendary midfielder deserves a tribute.But this isn't quite the sort of tribute that glorifies Beckham's greatest moments in a Galaxy jersey. This is more true to the nature of his stay in the United States (and perhaps more of a testament to our character in this country).These are David Beckham's greatest hits. Or, at least, the greatest (and hardest) hits he endured in his MLS years.To some, this will serve as evidence of the many reasons people believe the league will never reach a stature great enough to attract the world's top talent to come to America. It will lend credibility to the idea that the league is too dangerous and full of thugs for the truly magnificent players to ever respect Major League Soccer.For the rest of us: Sweet! Videos of David Beckham getting laid out!Begin Slideshow

Seattle Sounders FC: Watch the Kasey Keller Quadruple Save That Amazed 64,000

Every major football league in the world is playing at some capacity during this particular stretch of the year. So why was the fourth-largest football crowd on Earth over the weekend located in America's Pacific Northwest?To honor an American goalkeeping legend, that's why. Typically, the Seattle Sounders put a cap on ticket sales around 37,000 per match (a limit that they've never failed to reach in Major League Soccer play).But Saturday night was special. It was the night that the club was honoring it's All-Star goalkeeper, four-time World Cup participant and former Millwall, Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham man, Kasey Keller. As far as club officials were concerned, no fan would be turned away if they could help it.And none were, as Seattle fans poured in to see the legend in his final regular-season home match of his career.Despite allowing a first-half goal to the visiting San Jose Earthquakes, it was Keller who kept the Sounders in the match and kept the crowd fired up, providing save after save to keep the deficit manageable. But fans could sense that there was something even more special in store for them that evening. They could smell it in the air.And then, ...

Did Thierry Henry Deserve the Straight Red Card? Watch and Decide

Another match week in Major League Soccer brings with it yet another controversial officiating decision.This time around, it is splitting American soccer fans into two evenly divided camps with very different opinions.For the second time this season, French international star and former Arsenal and Barcelona forward, Thierry Henry, was sent off in a questionable decision by MLS referees.In the first incident, in a June match at Portland, Henry was sent off after he and Adam Moffat appeared to be engaging in relatively civilized conversation during a stoppage of play.After convening with the sideline officials, the referee approached Henry and held up what seemed to be the most randomly decided red card of the season.Replays of the incident revealed Henry and Moffat discussing an on-field incident and appearing to respectfully separate to allow play to resume.But Henry, with his arm around Moffat as they walked along, clearly tapped the Portland defender twice on the back of the head before they separated.Critics of the call howled that the gesture was clearly respectful in nature, resembling a friendly pat on the back more than anything. Those who supported the decision insisted the tap must have been harder than it looked, citing the fact ...

Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup: Watch the Goal That Won It for Seattle

In the 78th minute of Tuesday night's Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final, Seattle Sounders forward Fredy Montero scored an iconic goal that sealed the club's place in U.S. Soccer history forever, as the first organization to win the competition three years in a row since 1969.The Open Cup is the longest-running football (soccer) tournament in the nation's history, and among the oldest in the world. Similar to England's popular FA Cup, the knockout competition allows both professional and amateur teams to enter and try their luck at becoming the champions of the dozens of sides that compete for the title.The 2011 final was the third consecutive time the Sounders secured their spot in the final round, and the third consecutive time that they hoisted a new piece of silverware for their trophy case and secured a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League.The goal that won it for Seattle—Fredy Montero's soft nudge-in during the 78th minute of play—was far from spectacular. But it came after nearly two full agonizing halves of brilliant opportunities that just wouldn't get through for Seattle in a match that they dominated offensively by out-shooting the Chicago Fire, 27-8.Wave after attacking wave came and went for ...

New England Revolution vs. Seattle Sounders: Watch All the Goals and Highlights

The Seattle Sounders hit the road this weekend in Major League Soccer action, visiting the New England Revolution in a match to keep their Supporters' Shield hopes alive.The Sounders have already clinched their spot in the MLS playoffs, while the Revolution sit second-to-last in the standings with no hopes of postseason soccer. Still, despite knowing that their MLS Cup knockout round ticket has already been punched, the Seattle side had plenty to fight for with their eyes still on the league's top honor: the MLS Supporters' Shield.Despite their hopes of catching the LA Galaxy in the race for the Shield, the Sounders made the most changes they've made all season to their lineup between two MLS matches. The team fielded nearly a full squad of non-starters with the intention of resting players for a hugely important U.S. Open Cup final against Chicago on Tuesday.Oddly enough, one of those many changes included moving Seattle striker Roger Levesque to the right-back position for regular starter James Riley.The lack of experience became evident early on for the Sounders, conceding their first goal of the night in the 35th minute to a hard-attacking New England squad that hoped to take advantage of the situation. ...

Toronto vs. New York Red Bulls: All Highlights and Late Thierry Henry Heroics

It was a Major League Soccer Eastern Conference classic on Saturday as the New York Red Bulls visited BMO field to take on Toronto FC, with a potential spot in the MLS playoffs on the line.After maintaining an envious position in the Eastern Conference standings for most of the first half of their 2011 campaign, a midseason slump saw New York fall down the table. The team have just barely held on to the last wildcard position as the end of the season looms on the horizon.They hoped to strengthen that hold on a playoff berth this weekend, while trying to recapture the offensive spark that made their early season such a success. However, more defensive worries and continued frustrations with their finishing saw the match end in a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes.The home side opened the scoring early in the second half, thanks to a beauty of a shot from a wide angle from Toronto striker Danny Koevermans (assisted by Ryan Johnson).Toronto then settled back to defend a series of strong New York attacks that just couldn't find their way through. It looked as though the visiting side would suffer a loss that would cause them to fall out ...

Houston Dynamo vs. Chicago Fire: Watch All the Goals and Highlights

Major League Soccer rivals Houston Dynamo and Chicago Fire took to the pitch on Saturday at Robertson Stadium in Texas, battling to a 1-1 draw in an explosive first half of action.While Chicago entered the match with little lingering hope of earning an MLS postseason berth, the home side had plenty to fight for while still desperately maintaining a position within the playoff wildcard zone in the standings.They set out to show that they meant business when it comes to achieving MLS Cup glory, applying heavy pressure in Chicago's defensive half in the early going. Their efforts paid off in the 33rd minute, when Brad Davis sent a well-placed corner kick into the box. The ball fell to the feet of Colin Clark, who buried the shot to give Houston the lead.Their offensive victory would make way for a defensive failure just 10 minutes later, as Dominic Oduro chased a through-ball that was placed brilliantly by teammate Baggio Husidic. The forward then used sheer speed to beat the defensive line and put away the equalizer.With all the opportunities enjoyed by Houston throughout the match, they surely would have hoped for a better result with the regular season finale just a couple ...

Seattle Sounders FC: Fredy Montero Finds His Form with Playoffs on the Horizon

With the end of the MLS regular season beginning to draw near, the Seattle Sounders' designated player at the striker position, Fredy Montero, is finally beginning to find his groove—only 31 games into the season with three left to be played.Just two weeks ago, Montero was suffering through the most underwhelming season of his career thus far, with only seven goals to his name and a frustrated fanbase constantly criticizing everything he did as a result. He led the league in shots taken and shots on goal for most of the 2011 campaign, but simply found himself unable to capitalize on his opportunities.Luckily for Seattle, the Sounders have found goals from the feet of many other rave-green players. Fourteen different Sounders, in fact, have scored to help the Sounders achieve the most successful regularly season in their history so far, despite Montero's slumping production.Thanks to the club's overall success, one would expect the Colombian striker to mostly find himself free of criticism for his own performances on the pitch. But an executive decision from Seattle's managing bodies prior to the season naming Fredy Montero as one of the club's highest-paid presences in the lineup have made his failings nearly unforgivable ...

Colorado Rapids V. San Jose Earthquakes: Watch All the Goals and Highlights

MLS Western Conference rivals Colorado Rapids and San Jose Earthquakes took to the pitch on Saturday at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Colorado, playing to a 1-1 draw.Last season, both sides earned their way into the 2010 MLS playoff bracket, with Colorado eventually going all the way to win the league title. This season, only Colorado seems set to make the cut, as San Jose trails a full 11 points behind with only four matches left to play.The home side didn't appear terribly prepared to defend their playoff position as the season's end begins to draw near, allowing an early first-half goal from the visitors when goalkeeper Matt Pickens failed to gather a powerful shot from Khari Stephenson, giving Chris Wondolowski an easy-effort goal off the rebound.The defending Golden Boot winner almost brought his tally to two on the night in the 35th minute, when a sleeping Colorado defensive line allowed him to sneak through, only to be stopped by Pickens in the resulting one-on-one opportunity.Colorado's second-half equalizing goal came from an unlikely source, as defensive player Drew Moor took advantage of some chaos in San Jose's box in the 71st minute to score his third of the season.The goal ...

Sporting Kansas City vs. Philadelphia Union: Watch All the Goals and Highlights

Two MLS Eastern Conference rivals, Sporting Kansas City and Philadelphia Union, went head-to-head on Friday as both sides battled to keep their playoff hopes alive with the season end drawing dangerously near.Prior to the match at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park in Kansas City, the two sides were separated by only one point in the standings, with Kansas City maintaining the third-best record in the conference and the automatic playoff position that comes with it.Philadelphia hoped to take that position for themselves on the road, after falling to fourth in the conference, despite enjoying immense success and spectacular results early on in the 2011 campaign.The opening period of the match was full of opportunities for both clubs, though neither side managed to capitalize on their chances. Philadelphia came close to opening their account early, however, when Sebastien Le Toux found space in the box, but sent his shot wide of the net.Later in the half, a powerful header from Sporting midfielder Kei Kamara was skillfully put on frame, if just a bit high. The header bounced off the crossbar to preserve the 0-0 scoreline well into the second 45 minutes.In the 56th minute, the home side struck first when Kamara's cross found Omar ...