Asking if anything can stop the New York Red Bulls' slide into oblivion is akin to Yogi Berra's favorite comment about if fans don't want to go to the ballpark, there's no way to stop them. This team is a walking double negative. There's always hope with Juan Pablo Angel up top, but not much. When David Beckham begins his comeback tour on Thursday for the Los Angeles Galaxy against the Bulls, not likely is a repeat of the 5-4 thriller these teams played in The Swamp two years ago.

THURSDAY, July 16
NEW YORK (2-13-4) vs. LOS ANGELES (5-3-9), 8 p.m., FSC, FSE

Asking if anything can stop the Red Bulls' slide into oblivion is akin to Yogi Berra's favorite comment about if fans don't want to go to the ballpark there's no way to stop them. This team is a walking double negative. There's always hope with Juan Pablo Angel up top, but not much. Not likely is a repeat of the 5-4 thriller these teams played in The Swamp two years ago.

David Beckham will be at the Meadowlands, as he was for that nine-goal game, though he's only trained with his estranged team a few days. The Galaxy has smashed three straight opponents by 1-0 scores, so he might be limited to a cameo, if that. T&T midfielder Chris Birchall, signed last week, may play a bigger role, keeper Josh Saunders has posted two straight shutouts in place of Donovan Ricketts, and Landon Donovan is due for a blinder.

Prediction: Red Bulls 1, Galaxy 2.

Last week: 4-2. Season: 60-64.