Minnesota Thunder

David Beckham's inaugural season in Major League Soccer was something of a bust. Hobbled by a bum ankle, the English midfielder played in just five league games, watching helplessly from the sidelines as his Los Angeles Galaxy squad failed to make the playoffs. But in those fleeting moments on the pitch, Beckham showed hints of the spectacular, launching one of his patented free kicks into the top corner of the goal against D.C. United. Suiting up alongside the world's most celebrated sports icon will be U.S. player of the year Landon Donovan and retiring midfield dynamo Cobi Jones, who could be playing his last game on U.S. soil. The Thunder will field something of a First Division all-star squad, with league MVP Sebastien Le Toux (Seattle Sounders) and defender of the year David Hayes (Atlanta Silverbacks) joining Minnesota mainstays like striker Aaron Paye and defender Kevin Friedland.
Sun., Nov. 11, 5:30 p.m., 2007