When it comes to targeting a mainstream message to an appropriate, receptive and responsive audience, how can you possibly do any better than the suburban soccer market?

What do Manchester United, AFC Ajax and the University of North Carolina women's soccer teams have in common? They have each developed a distinctive, entertaining and successful style of play for which they are famous.

Even if it didn't come out quite right, many in the U.S. soccer industry understood exactly what Los Angeles Galaxy President/General Manager Alexi Lalas was trying to get at when he recently defended MLS against some critical Brits: Beckham is a great signing - but the league is not in need of a savior.