David Beckham Dons The Scarf Of Protest

Manchester United fans hate, hate, hate the Glazers, the family owners of both Man U and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. (Bucs fans: you're nodding. We see you.)  This hatred stems from their monetization of every single aspect of the Man U fan experience, a sort of Daniel Snyder-ing of the franchise, but you know, with winning and stuff. The Glazers have also driven the club deeply in debt, and are struggling to pay off just the interest on the money borrowed to purchase the world's most recognizable soccer brand.  

A protest movement has emerged against the Glazers, and their symbol is the green and yellow club scarf, a nod to Manchester United's original colors. Someone tossed one to David Beckham, now on loan to Milan, during his return to Old Trafford in a 4-0 Milan loss last night. He picked it up, and now let us parse words carefully. 

"I'm a Manchester United fan and when I saw the scarf I wanted to put it round my neck," Beckham explained. "It's the old colours of United but, to be honest, it's not my business. I'm a United fan and I support the club. I always will, but it's got nothing to do with me how it's run. That's all to do with other people. I just support the team. I will always support the team."

I'd never figured David Beckham to have the deft skills of a politico in terms of selective speech, but on second look: well-struck, Becks. He just managed to pay tribute for the fans who helped make him an international superstar, steer clear of the controversy, and withhold support from the cretins who've leveraged his former club into Debt-purgatory. That is bending it properly. Underestimate his political skills at your own risk, because we may be looking at a future MP in the works.