In our (usually) weekly peek around the league: Volkswagen goes United, Ben Olsen faces the prospect of retirement and David Beckham hangs out with Elmo.

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Los Angeles Galaxy star David Beckham teamed up with one of Sesame Street's most famous denizens, Elmo, to introduce a new word to the program's millions of young viewers. The father-of-three - who is married to Spice Girl Victoria - chose the word 'persistence' and went on to explain why it was so important to him.

Said Beckham on his blog, "I can remember watching the program when I was young, so I was delighted to be asked on to appear as a guest.

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The playing days of longtime DC United midfielder Ben Olsen could be coming to an end due to persistent ankle problems. "It's not great," the 2006 US World Cup man told the Soccer Insider on Friday. "It's a situation where we are going to wait another couple months, see if there is any relief, and if not, we are going to have to go back in with some reconstruction type stuff."

"It's a little grim right now," Olsen continued, "(Doctors) said, 'Look, the percentages of you playing again are not good. There's a possibility you won't play again. So just prepare yourself for that'. But if that's the case, I will deal with it. It's not the end of the world."

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Columbus midfielder Adam Moffat will miss at least the next two games with a meniscus tear in his right knee. Moffat has been instrumental in the Crew's early success, scoring two goals as they currently top the MLS standings.

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The Houston Chronicle reports that the Dynamo are interested in the possibility of bringing back forward Joseph Ngwenya. The former Dynamo forward left the club in the winter to pursue an opportunity in Austria.

"There's been relatively limited contact (with Ngwenya)," Dynamo president Oliver Luck said on Monday. "There's been a little bit of e-mail traffic back and forth, but there is no indication that he is interested in coming back. But if he does express interest, that's certainly something we would consider seriously."

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The New York Red Bulls have signed former Toronto FC defender Andrew Boyens. The New Zealand international was waived earlier in the year as he was seen as surplus following the drafting of Julius James and the signing of Ivory Coast defender Oliver Tebily.

Boyens could make his Red Bulls debut as soon as Saturday when New York heads to Los Angeles to face the Galaxy.

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DC United is the latest MLS club to add a jersey sponsor. The four-time MLS champions announced this week that Volkswagen will be their primary sponsor. The deal will pay United $14 million over five years. DC will debut their new kits when they play the Chicago Fire on ESPN's Primetime Thursday.

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Real Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis will be fined by Major League Soccer for comments he made to Deseret News on Monday. "After three successive weeks of game-changing decisions, it's time we vent a little bit and put things right," said Kreis.

"I have a team doing their best to reward fans through a frustrating time and a frustrating few years. I feel the players are doing what they need to, the coaching staff is doing what they do, but being wronged by critical referee decisions is unacceptable."