Beckham to MLS

[VANFLAMESFAN]

http://tsn.ca/soccer/news_story/?ID=191771&hubname=

Not shocking news, but interesting nonetheless.

[troutman]

Becks and Posh could not spell MLS if you spotted them the M and the L.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhvSFWvfMrk

[The Goon]

That's great! I was thinking of going to LA on vacation later this year, now I'll schedule it around a Galaxy game.

Fantastic news.

[edn88]

Did I read this right - $50Million a year for a guy that was benched from his National and league teams?

I know his name is big time, but wow. What are those MLS guys drinking?

[BlackEleven]

I didn't know there was that kind of money in the MLS. Wow.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Did I read this right - $50Million a year for a guy that was benched from his National and league teams?

I know his name is big time, but wow. What are those MLS guys drinking?


I'll bet MLS is funding part of this - it's going ot be like Mansell Mania when Nigel Mansell came over from F1 to CART. Packed houses everywhere the Brit shows up. Might make MLS a legit destination for other soccer plaers to come over. Could be considered an investment because of this - unless Becks does something really stupid to ruin his "image".

[liamenator]

Wow.. That is a ridiculous amount of money thrown at a guy who is way past his prime. I get that he is a brand and that he will very likely give the MLS a level of exposure it has always craved but... wow.

Beckham is still a useful player.. and in the MLS he will obviously stand out.

But he never became the Messiah he was proclaimed to be. He was never among the World's elite. I'd say he had 0 years of elite play and maybe 3 years of "great" play... The rest was just... good. Sometimes very good.

No fault against him, he was never the one making the outrageous claims, but I have never understood the international love affair with the guy.

George said it Best:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/618154.stm

[VANFLAMESFAN]

It is a lot of money, but you know what?? the guy is gonna put butts in the seats and provide good press for this league. I was in Seattle when he was here as part of the Real-madrid-DC United game and the crowd went nuts when he was introduced and everytime he touched the ball. And the people that were sitting by the corner flag when he was about to kick a corner kick, ALL ON THEIR FEET, the cameras flashing like crazy, it was a surreal scene.

[Sylvanfan]

Looks like they're basically paying for the name in hopes of getting the league some interest and press. IIRC Lamar Hunt was a founder of the MLS, and he also founded the AFL. The AFL did some pretty odd things in it's day to try and get in the spotlight. After floundering for a lot of years the NFL eventually took them seriously and let those teams in. Perhaps they figure one guy who's well known may put some folks in the seats and that it could eventually lead to them attracting other big players down the road.

[Mango]

Bizzare. I thought he re-sign to stay with Real Madrid. I guess he and his wife are going to leave the British tabloids behind and give it a try with People and US.

Crazy. I almost can't believe this is true. Attendence is going to sky rocket in his first season. I definitely think he's going to do a lot for the league. Five years certainly is a long time and the money is outrageous...but will the pros out weigh the cons? In any case, Hollywood is just around the corner.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Should be good for NA football (soccer). Crazy price, but they're basically paying him for branding and very little of it is for performance.

He still is a decent player and should help his team. I'm excited to watch an LA game now. This and Toronto getting a team has certainly peaked my interest.

[bluejays]

I'm not a huge soccer fan by any stretch, but nobody really comes close to passing it consistantly accurate like Beckham. That price is unbelieveable though. Anyway, is the LA team going to be playing Toronto this year? This has peaked my interest a bit now to watch my first ever live game.

[Resolute 14]

It will be interesting to see if Beckham can do for soccer what Gretzky did for hockey.

[Igottago]

I've always wanted the MLS to succeed and this is great news for the league and soccer fans in North America. As much as I think Becks is and always has been overrated, this is a great marketing opportunity for the game on this side of the pond. Good news too for Toronto FC, Becks should be a draw to every stadium he plays in next season.

[edn88]

Attendence is going to sky rocket in his first season.

Only if Posh shows up naked.:w00t:

[KevanGuy]

ROADTRIP!!! I imagine it's probably going to be pretty tough to get Galaxy tickets this year but I'm going to do what it takes to see him live. Pretty unique opportunity for us on this side of the pond.

[The Goon]

ROADTRIP!!! I imagine it's probably going to be pretty tough to get Galaxy tickets this year but I'm going to do what it takes to see him live. Pretty unique opportunity for us on this side of the pond.

I completely agree.

Apparently, there was a spike in calls today to Toronto FC, the newest addition to the league.

[SpitFire40]

Where do the Galaxy play? What venue? I'd love to see a world class athlete like Beckham play.

[Winsor_Pilates]

I'm not a huge soccer fan by any stretch, but nobody really comes close to passing it consistantly accurate like Beckham.
I don't know about that. In fact I think it would be hard for Becks to break the top 50 passers in modern soccer.
In his best years, he was top 10 but he's no wear near the top anymore.

[socalwingfan]

The Home Depot Center where the Galaxy play is a very cool place. I've been there a couple of times with a friend who is hard-core soccer fan and I was very impressed with the layout. Very fan friendly

[liamenator]

I don't know about that. In fact I think it would be hard for Becks to break the top 50 passers in modern soccer.
In his best years, he was top 10 but he's no wear near the top anymore.

Agreed. I'd go so far as to say that Beckham won't even be the best player on the LA Galaxy if Landon Donovan stays there - at least not by as wide a margin some people are expecting.

[Dion]

The signing of Beckham is being comapred to the New York Cosmos signing of soccer legend Pele back in the 70's. David views this as a challenge and hopes to increase interest in soccer in North America. He says it's not about the money but one has to wonder when you look at the money he is to be paid.

[edn88]

The signing of Beckham is being comapred to the New York Cosmos signing of soccer legend Pele back in the 70's. David views this as a challenge and hopes to increase interest in soccer in North America. He says it's not about the money but one has to wonder when you look at the money he is to be paid.

I am being cynical when I say this, but I think that the only way you will increase soccer's poplularity in the USA is to move everyone from Europe over here. American TV will want to have a ball that glows when it is kicked or something equally stupid.

[Dion]

I am being cynical when I say this, but I think that the only way you will increase soccer's poplularity in the USA is to move everyone from Europe over here. American TV will want to have a ball that glows when it is kicked or something equally stupid.

I tend to agree. They tried the ill fated NASL with Pele in the 70's and it didn't do much for soccer in the States. It isn't going to happen IMO.

From what i'm hearing Beckham is going to be a marketing bonanza.

[Jagger]

I've seen Beckham play live many times, usually playing for Man U against Liverpool at Anfield. Good crosser, great deadball specialist, great image and agent, pretty pedestrian for most of the game however.

He is getting paid an obscene amount of money simply due to his image, and good luck to him. He is well past his prime now but will bring much needed focus to the MLS. This might put the MLS above the NHL on the national scene in the US, given that ESPN will likely show much more interest now. Good move by the MLS but what a ridiculous amount of money it took. I don't see this as being the saviour of soccer in NA though.

[OilersBaby]

cant wait to check him out. i remember watching donovan play for SJ a few years ago, that was awesome. Those soccer games are so much fun to watch:) ...almost as much fun as hockey. YAY!

[MLSfan22]

Where do the Galaxy play? What venue? I'd love to see a world class athlete like Beckham play.

Home Depot Center in Carson, California

http://www.homedepotcenter.com/venues/soccer.sps?iType=4176&icustompageid=6726

[MLSfan22]

Good move by the MLS but what a ridiculous amount of money it took.

Much of it is for the image rights which Beckham himself controls now. The Galaxy will only pay about $9 mil a year, half of which will come from their new jersey sponsors. They will make the rest back with extra ticket and merchandise sales. Even if they somehow lose couple of million dollars in this deal it would not be the end of the league. The amount would be a drop in the bucket for a billionair like Phil Anschutz.

[MLSfan22]

Good move by the MLS but what a ridiculous amount of money it took.

Much of it is for the image rights which Beckham himself controls now. The Galaxy will only pay about $9 mil a year, half of which will come from their new jersey sponsors. They will make the rest back with extra ticket and merchandise sales. Even if they somehow lose couple of million dollars in this deal it would not be the end of the league. The amount would be a drop in the bucket for a billionair like Phil Anschutz.

[troutman]

I am being cynical when I say this, but I think that the only way you will increase soccer's poplularity in the USA is to move everyone from Europe over here. American TV will want to have a ball that glows when it is kicked or something equally stupid.

Not Europe. There is a large Mexican and Hispanic population in the US now. This demographic is growing and loves soccer.

[White Snow Bear]

Where do the Galaxy play? What venue? I'd love to see a world class athlete like Beckham play.

Here's the soccer forum


www.bigsoccer.com/forum/index.php

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Aww crap. Becks has his tin foil hat on to communicate with Tom Cruise apparently.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/soccer/01/12/beckham.cruise/index.html?cnn=yes

[Table 5]

Aww crap. Becks has his tin foil hat on to communicate with Tom Cruise apparently.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/soccer/01/12/beckham.cruise/index.html?cnn=yes

Well he's definitely not being paid for his intelligence.

Makes sense though, considering Victoria Beckham says she wants to be an actress in an upcoming scientology movie that Cruise is making.

[@theCBE]

Interesting article about who is really paying Beckham's Monster salary

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=399597&root=mls&cc=5901

[Displaced Flames fan]

Home Depot Center in Carson, California

http://www.homedepotcenter.com/venues/soccer.sps?iType=4176&icustompageid=6726


Wow, I wasn't aware they had built a stadium there. I was out in LA for a couple of years in the early '90's and worked at a refinery about a mile west of there.

Not the greatest neighborhood...Carson borders Compton on the north and is a hotbed for Samoan and Hispanic gangs.

[mrdeeds]

Interesting article about who is really paying Beckham's Monster salary

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=399597&root=mls&cc=5901


Good article.

[MLSfan22]

Beckham signing is already starting to pay dividend. The Galaxy sold more than 5,000 season tickets within 3 days of the announcement. Toronto FC sold another 3,500 which pushed TFC's total to over 10,500, and Beckham will play there only once.

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=462467

[KTown]

Where do the Galaxy play? What venue? I'd love to see a world class athlete like Beckham play.

I'd love to see Beckham do this again. I could not stop laughing after this kick, when it happened. Definately the highlight of Euro 2004. Nothing better, than watching England choke on the world stage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7kCIemwhsA

[liamenator]

Nothing better, than watching England choke on the world stage.


Umm.. Do you, he of the Czech flag flying in his signature, really want to be bringing up recent footballing chokes?

the Czech Republic suffering one of the shock defeats of the tournament. A 2:0 loss to Ghana. The score would have been far more lopsided had it not been for a stunning Petr Cech - the only Czech player on Saturday displaying brilliance on the pitch. Had he not stopped four or five clear chances, it would have been a blow-out.
http://www.radio.cz/en/article/80216

The Czechs entered as the team ranked second highest in FIFA, the world's soccer governing body.... The country's "best-ever soccer selection," as they were repeatedly labeled in local media, further boosted optimism after they swept away the U.S. squad in the first game.
But, surprisingly, that was it for stunning performances.
Instead of celebrating advancement to the playoff stage, the Czech players fell on their knees after the game against Italy.

http://www.praguepost.com/articles/2006/06/28/czechs-fall-from-world-cup.php

[Thunderball]

I'm really not a fan of Beckham, but if he can elevate the MLS into the Big 4, prompt a serious soccer league in North America, and bring the prospect of Calgary getting a team in the next 15 years, then I'll be extremely happy.

The MLS is ran infinitely better than NASL was (owners like Skalbania, anyone?), and this one is gonna last. I just hope the TV theory works out in our favor... (Toronto gets team, team is heavily televised, popularity grows throughout country, league desires expansion, other Canadian markets (Van & Mtl) ante up, boosters and big money types in Calgary say us too, league expands to Calgary, team is heavily televised due to Toronto factor and league popularity in States, team actually succeeds)

Big reason teams fail in Calgary (hockey notwithstanding) are perception of inferior league, lack of proper facilities, and perhaps the biggest, lack of live TV coverage/media reports.

[KTown]

Umm.. Do you, he of the Czech flag flying in his signature, really want to be bringing up recent footballing chokes?


http://www.radio.cz/en/article/80216


http://www.praguepost.com/articles/2006/06/28/czechs-fall-from-world-cup.php


yes we failed at the world cup but I wouldn't neccesarily call the Czechs chokers. Every major tournament all I hear is this is Englands year, yet they always find a way to choke.

The Czechs appeared in the semis of Euro 2004 and the finals of Euro 1996. In 1996, the Czechs weren't suppose to even move out of the qualifiers that year.

The amount of times England actually chokes compared to the Czechs is far and between.

It's all good we all know England chokes every tourney, until they prove me wrong then I will keep calling them chokers. Like I did with the Colts. However they finally made it to the big game.

[MLSfan22]

Beckham scored the game-tying goal for Madrid today with a beautiful bender. The goal, combined with Nistelrooy's winner probably saved Capello's job and Real's title hope.

http://www.as.com/multimedia/player_video.html?p=jornada&xref=20070210dasdasftb_1.Ves#

[mrdeeds]

Beckham scored the game-tying goal for Madrid today with a beautiful bender. The goal, combined with Nistelrooy's winner probably saved Capello's job and Real's title hope.

http://www.as.com/multimedia/player_video.html?p=jornada&xref=20070210dasdasftb_1.Ves#

Great job Becks, obviously he hasn't lost it all.