Soccer 101?

World Cup 2014 (Getty Images)

What do you get when you take a dyed in the wool soccer club supporting Brit, drop him into the early-formation chaos of Major League Soccer and then sit back and watch millions of new fans around the country scrambling to understand the "so-called" beautiful game and its nuances? You get Club Soccer 101, a new and very unique guide to the world's elite soccer clubs, written by Luke Dempsey for the American Soccer fan who loved the 2014 World Cup but is still struggling to understand the difference between Notts County and Notts Forrest.

The book takes most of the elite soccer clubs from around the world and breaks down the team's colors, traditions, business structure and the success or failures of each club in an easy to read primer. It's the perfect companion for the many USA-bred, sport-minded adults left wondering who their kids are following on the video game FIFA 2014 and a welcome resource for the millions of others now tuning into Premier League every weekend on NBC Sports Net.  The book comes just in time as the Champions League kicks-off in mid-September and international futbol returns to regular season play after a near month-long break for international play.

Club Soccer 101 will provide great insight into the history of Chelsea or the traditions on Manchester City, while also providing some much-needed explanations for MLS clubs like the Seattle Sounders, the LA Galaxy, the Houston Dynamo and even the New York Red Bulls, who Dempsey has been a season ticketholder for since they were the MetroStars toiling around in the vastness of Giants Stadium back in the day.   

The book is a very easy read and never gets bogged down in useless overstated terms, it is written with the knowledge that Americans want to understand more, but need the clubs explained in simple terms. Whether you are a loyal supporter of Arsenal or still discovering Sporting Kansas City, Club Soccer 101 has something for every sports fan, and for all the newfound soccer fans just discovering "The Beautiful Game" across America.

Back to Mr Beckham ...

Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan put it all in perfect perspective this morning with his take on the on-going story of David Beckham, the 32-year old footballer from England that has been sidelined with injury as the MLS trumpets his role as savior to American 'soccer.'

Beckham managed to get off the LA Galaxy bench for some second half minutes the other night and now is hoping to get some time on a huge soccer stage that is home pitch for the NE Revs. (Note: Forty minutes before the game, the Galaxy announced that Beckham would not suit up).

Ryan seems to get to the root of most issues. Although highly opinionated, as he should be, Ryan also has the ability to boil a story down to its simplest points. Click above and enjoy his work.

"Bench it Like ...Beckham?"

We, meaning 'we the people of the United States of America,' are often accused of lacking substance. We are 'results oriented.' We lack patience. We are said to like 'high scoring' sports results.

Why?

An NBA team has to score 100 for a game to be viewed as exciting or good? Ice Hockey suffers in the ratings because of lack of scoring? C'mon now, give us some credit. American Football (NFL) owns the landscape because of the action packed thrill of human competition, yet a viewer with Direct TV's NFL Sunday Ticket might find himself staring at 8 TV screens of commercials during that constant action.

So, it brings us to Football. Regular football, that we the people refer to as Soccer.

David Beckham was thrust upon us as the 'answer to US socccer.' He would be the $250 million dollar man that would grab all the headlines and teach Americans all there is to know about the nuances of the game.

Problem #1. His $250 million dollar contract was 'a bit' inflated. (The 'a bit' needs to be translated in the Monty Python accent of Michael Palin). The contract, upon further Wall Street like review was worth $1.95.

Problem #2. Beckham's debut was a bit delayed. The MLS season started and the star was nowhere to be found. We were told he was playing in Spain and that it was all good. But, it seems he was spraining his ankle and getting an injection the size of Roger Waters' 'pin prick' to The Wall.

"Just a little pin prick?"

Problem #3. When Beckham and his posh spice of a wife finally made it to LA for the big game, the TV lenses focused on a perfectly attired soccer star parked on the sideline in his adidas practice warm-ups. At some point late in the game, he was summoned to run up and down the sideline to prove that he might enter the game. The suspense was just killing us.

What did the American sports fan do at that point in time?

"Click"

Next stop?

Canada? Dream on MLS.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Toronto FC said that "ticket buyers should be aware that the standard policy for sports and entertainment events as it pertains to scheduled appearances remains in effect.

"Consistent with all sporting events, we are not in a position to guarantee that any player will appear in a match. Those decisions are determined by the coaching staff with advice from their advisors. As with any other player under contract with either club participating in the game, should Mr. Beckham be unable to play in the game no refunds will be issued for tickets purchased."