RAPID CITY - The United States Mens National Team began competition in the

Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football Gold Cup on Wednesday.

This area competition is taking place in the U.S. between now and June 24.

All U.S. games will be televised.

The U.S. has also been invited to compete in Copa America, the South American championship, when it begins at the end of June. The U.S. will meet Paraguay on July 2. All games will be live on GolTV.

- David Beckham is moving to the United States this summer to play soccer for the LA Galaxy. For those who have been in a cave for the past 10 years, England's Beckham is a mega-soccer star currently finishing his contract with the Spanish club, Real Madrid.

Real Madrid's coach decided late last fall to drop the star from the starting lineup and Becks sat watching game after game. The English National Team did not call him for appearances early this year because of his lack of playing time. The media began to call him a "has been" at 30. European soccer media is merciless, but to his credit, Beckham never bought into the scenario.

Beckham trained harder and longer than teammates. He was respectful and non-critical in interviews with the media. He never complained and often complimented the coach who announced in January, after Beckham signed with the MLS, "Beckham will never play another day for Real Madrid."

Fortune deserted Real Madrid, and there were injuries and losses. The fans were furious with the coach and demanded that Beckham be restored to the lineup. In his first return to play, Beckham scored once and set up another goal yet was gracious to his coach in the post-game media questioning.

In a time when we have become accustomed to superstar athletes throwing super tantrums and dictating orders, David Beckham was a class act. He is playing some of the best soccer of his career, has been recalled to the English National Team and has launched youth soccer academies in England and the U.S.

There is something for young players to learn from this Beckham scenario.

Even the best players in the world have tough times. The solution demonstrated by David Beckham was to re-double his efforts to improve his game rather than give in to anger and retaliation. He had confidence in himself despite what the press was reporting and his coach was saying. He certainly demonstrated what it means to be a winner.

-Congratulations to all coaches, players and parents returning from the South Dakota Kohl's American Cup. This state tournament signals the end of the recreation season that impacts more than 2,000 Rapid City kids alone. There are more than 15,000 players throughout the state.

-Registration for fall soccer is available online at www.rcysl.com. Do it now before you forget.