we all play soccer as kids but we grow out of it and go on to play other sports. soccer is just not a game that americans identify with. football is a perfect american game. soccer is european and south american.
A bust is a bust is a bust. He didn’t do what they wanted him to do. And really some of that is his fault. Part of a player growing a sport is being an ambassador for it, that’s why Gretzky had such an impact on hockey’s popularity in the US. Gretz gave a lot of interviews, was highly approachable, and always friendly. When Beckham came over he really didn’t do that.