The Red Bulls — the former MetroStars — signed former U.S. captain Claudio Reyna and the Chicago Fire added 34-year-old Mexican star Cuauhtemoc Blanco, who was left of his country’s roster for last year’s World Cup. Like Beckham, Blanco will report in July.

Beckham, who will turn 32 in May, was dropped from England’s national team following the World Cup.

“I certainly wouldn’t call it a gimmick,” Lalas said. “Is it a statement on where we’ve come? Without a doubt, a very positive statement. I think when you are able to entice a player still in the prime of his career who has played for two of the best clubs in the world and is also one of the most famous people in the world, that’s not a gimmick.”

Even so, MLS is doing all it can to take advantage of a Beckham’s arrival. It backloaded the Galaxy’s schedule with road games to maximize his exposure nationally, even though it will put his own team at a competitive disadvantage during the homestretch of the season. It’s hard to imagine the NFL or NBA going to such an extreme for one player.

With all the fuss, the league can only hope that Beckham doesn’t break a leg in his first game. Or that fans won’t become disenchanted when they realize he’s a midfielder who usually doesn’t score a lot of goals.

“I will tell you right now,” Lalas said. “I don’t think it’s ever going to be possible for David Beckham to live up to the expectations that have been put out there.”

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Yes, said Lalas, Beckham will make the Galaxy better, but the league is too competitively balanced for him to make Los Angeles an instant title favorite. In many ways, Beckham’s U.S. adventure will have much to do with managing expectations in the context of the American soccer culture.

“I fully recognize that there will be people in the stadiums this year that may have never been to an MLS game or don’t follow soccer,” Lalas said, “And it’s unrealistic for them to come in a stadium and expect that they’re going to see the most famous footballer in the world and expect him to score three goals and bend it here and there and do all that.

“He is, if anything, a role player — a very important role player — but he finds a way to fit into the team. He’s not the type of player who’s going to dribble through everybody or be a speed demon, he is a player that’s going to work his butt off, first and foremost, and be a part of the team.”

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