TORONTO - With an injured David Beckham watching from the sideline, Toronto FC and the Los Angeles Galaxy battled to a well deserved 0-0 draw.

Soccer enthusiasts and curious onlookers alike hoped that this weekend would mark the MLS debut of David Beckham. But with the England international still struggling to recover from an injured ankle, there was little chance that he would make anything more than a perfunctory appearance in Toronto. And though he travelled with the Los Angeles Galaxy to Toronto, Beckham didn’t even make the substitutes bench for Sunday’s match.

Beckham first injured the ankle while playing for England on June 6 in Estonia, only to further aggravate the injury during Real Madrid’s final match on June 17.  Since joining the Galaxy, MLS’s best paid player has been on the field for all of 16 minutes. With the reality that Beckham’s injury is far worse than the Los Angeles Galaxy care to admit, soccer fans are left wondering when Beckham will make his debut.

Lost amongst the ‘will he or won’t he’ pre-game drama is the fact that, economically, Toronto FC has quickly established itself as a force within MLS. Toronto FC’s jerseys sales rank 2^nd in MLS, trailing just the Los Angeles Galaxy and on game day, while David Beckham jerseys were seen throughout the city, it was nothing like the presence of Toronto FC jerseys.

If the early success of Toronto FC is any indication, MLS may have found the right mixture to create a successful league.

A great deal of the club’s success can be chalked up to its stadium, the breathtaking BMO Field. Situated just outside of downtown Toronto, the stadium offers fans an uninhibited view into the city and adjacent waterfront. With all the 14,000 season tickets sold out, the club has enjoyed playing each of its eight home games before soldout crowds of just above 20,000, a fact few MLS clubs can boast. Since opening, BMO Field has played host to the FIFA Men’s Under-20 World Cup, two international friendly matches. On top of this, BMO Field is slated to host the 2008 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game in July 2008.

Of course, the financial success of Toronto FC wouldn’t be possible without the club’s loyal supporters. The fans at BMO Field have quickly established themselves as boisterous, loyal and extremely loud.  Even with David Beckham on the sideline, the match began with a primal scream that only grew in intensity as the match progressed.

To describe Toronto FC’s fans as enthusiastic would be a gross understatement. To mark the team’s first ever MLS goal, the fans tossed complimentary seat cushions on the field in celebration, delaying the match for several minutes. Opposing players lining up a corner kick can expect a shower of streamers and screams.

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In the weeks following the great cushion tossing, BMO Field became one of the league’s most unfriendly stadiums for visiting teams, and Sunday’s match was no different. The stadium was rocking, literally, as the Toronto FC fans jumped, sang and screamed. As the match progressed, each controversial call, strong shot and agonizing miss brought the supporters to life. With an atmosphere reminiscent of a European soccer match, Toronto FC has made an indelible mark on the culture of soccer in North America.

But it isn’t all roses for Toronto, who, despite their off the field success, have experienced a roller coaster season on the field.  Toronto FC are second to last in total shots and after Sunday’s match, haven’t scored a goal since their 1-1 draw at the Chicago Fire on July 7. Toronto FC is languishing in last place in the MLS' Eastern Division  

But if fans are to take anything from David Beckham’s absence, it is this. Major League Soccer is here to stay, David Beckham or not. Whenever the England international suits up for the L.A. Galaxy, be it in two weeks or four, the league is sure to benefit. But do not refer to the Beckham era as a recovery effort; soccer in North America is in no need of a savior. What it does need is someone who is willing to cultivate what we already have. Thanks to clubs like Toronto FC, the seed for the future has been planted and now the task of cultivation falls upon David Beckham.