It took four-and-a-half years, but David Beckham and the LA Galaxy finally got the perfect, Hollywood ending that had seemed like it would never come.

Our No. 1 Story of the Year is, of course, the Galaxy’s blitz through the playoffs that culminated with Beckham, Landon Donovan, Robbie Keane, Bruce Arena et al hoisting the MLS Cup in front of 30,000 wild fans at the Home Depot Center on a cold and wet Southern California night.

“The biggest pressure-cooker was having the championship in LA, because all year we’re reminded by our owners that it better be us, it better be us here,” a champagne-drenched Mike Magee said after the game. “Having that in the back of your heads … we knew we had to be in this game and we knew we had to win it. It’s surreal.”

Full Story