Beckham to play for U.S. Club

[herrmag]

Aside from the obligatory "soccer sucks" posts, do you guys think he's nuts to leave the world stage like this? Obviously this is huge for the MLS, as well as soccer in the United States overall.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=2786923

David Beckham Expected to Sign With U.S. Team

Jan. 11, 2007 — International soccer superstar David Beckham is expected to come to America to play for a U.S. Major League Soccer team.

"I've played now for two of the biggest clubs in the world. I've played at the highest level for 15 years, and now I think I need another challenge," Beckham said.

The announcement has the sports world buzzing.

"David Beckham coming to the United States is … [like] Tiger Woods meeting Brad Pitt on the red carpet," said USA Today sports columnist Christine Brennan. "This transcends sports. This is a big, big deal."

Outside the United States, Beckham is not only the world's biggest sports star, but also a certified sex symbol. His moves off the field are followed just as closely as his moves on the field.

He is married to former Spice Girl Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham, and the couple is a favorite target of the British paparazzi.

And companies know that. He's received $20 million a year to push Pepsi and Adidas, and his Adidas cleats fetch $450 a pair.

[Major Harris]

wow. why? will it help his soccer career? no. does he really think he'll be more marketable here where not many people give a rats ass about soccer? i think he's mistaken.

maybe this is a step towards a career change....i really don't understand this move for beckham. is he done? can one of the soccer nuts enlighten us here?

[Om]

Maybe we can bring him in to push Suisham in training camp.

[EersSkins05]

"David Beckham coming to the United States is … [like] Tiger Woods meeting Brad Pitt on the red carpet," said USA Today sports columnist Christine Brennan. "This transcends sports. This is a big, big deal."

David Beckham is nowhere NEAR as good in his sport as Tiger Woods is in his.

Exciting news though, I'd like to see the MLS take off. (Even though I admittedly don't watch or attend soccer games until the World Cup.)

[Gallntfox]

This has been rumored for some time. I really hope to see it happen.

[Mr. S]

he is older and has dropped off is what I've heard. It will generate some interest for US soccer, but not much more than it already has.

[Kilmer17]

It's simple, his shoes (boots) sell for 450.00 apiece overseas, yet none are sold in the US. He signs with a team in LA or MAYBE NY, and he instantly has an untapped market for his wares.

The real question, is will this help MLS? I think it will. He will be the first, but certainly not the last big name player to come to the US. He will already be the best player on whatever team he joins (note, there are a few guys who MIGHT become better than he is) and will immediately increase the gate a few thousand people.

What happens next? A few more aging International stars (Zidane, Ronaldo et al) do the same thing.

But the ultimate advantage will be those players going back to their friends and teammates at home and telling them about younger Americans. So instead of the 17 year old wasting time on the junior squad for DC United, he gets a call a goes to Europe to play with a junior side for one of the big clubs.

Which ultimately makes the USMNT better.

[Zen-like Todd]

Um, I really couldn't care less. And I'm not saying that to dig on soccer... I'm really not. Who cares if Beckham plays here? It's not like MLS teams are anywhere near the top teams in Europe. He's getting old, he probably feels like hanging out in the U.S. for awhile, probably wants to get into TV/Movies, so he's coming over. Good for him, but other than that, who cares?

And that Tiger Woods/Brad Pitt analogy is seriously, seriously, seriously awful.

[Beaudry]

He is doing this because in the U.S. he is not a big star that will draw the insane amount of attention he gets everywhere else he has lived. To top it off, he gets to live in the greatest country in the world. I mean, seriously, they haven't even released the PS3 in the UK yet. Damn cavemen.

[skinsngibbs4life]

wow, this comes a day after Madrid supposedly offered him a new contract. I for sure thought he would be back in Europe for at least one more year.

[Blighty Skins]

I said this would happen ages ago in a thread. Beckham has a soccer academy in LA and his wife likes Beverly Hills. So an LA team. He's still a very valid player, but he's going to the US to pick up his pension. Not that he really needs it...

[Major Harris]

I mean, seriously, they haven't even released the PS3 in the UK yet. Damn cavemen.

[Thanos]

The global impact is massive.To those of us who've lived overseas its almost as if Micheal Schumacher left Ferrari to drive for the IRL or Champ Car.
ESPN said his contract could pay him upwards to 250 million.I think that was his motivation right there.

But I thought the MLS had some sort of cap on salaries.Real keeps the income that stars generate and maybe Beckham felt slighted.That team has lost Figo,Zidane,Micheal Owen and will lose Rolodino and Beckham within a year .the accountants must be running the show.

I remember in August Real played DC United in Seattle and sold out Quest Field.Best beleive when he starts for the Galaxy the MLS will increase ticket prioces across the board to capture the hype.

[Gallntfox]

So there it is...LA Galaxy

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slu...ters&type=lgns

MADRID (Reuters) - Former England captain David Beckham will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season and sign a five-year deal with MLS side Los Angeles Galaxy, he told Reuters on Thursday.

"This week Real Madrid asked me to make a decision regarding my future and the offer to extend my contract for a further two seasons," Beckham told Reuters.

After discussing several options with my family and my advisors to either stay here in Madrid or join other major British and European teams I have decided to join LA Galaxy and play in the MLS from August this year.

[tizzod]

The global impact is massive.To those of us who've lived overseas its almost as if Micheal Schumacher left Ferrari to drive for the IRL or Champ Car.
ESPN said his contract could pay him upwards to 250 million.I think that was his motivation right there.

But I thought the MLS had some sort of cap on salaries.Real keeps the income that stars generate and maybe Beckham felt slighted.That team has lost Figo,Zidane,Micheal Owen and will lose Rolodino and Beckham within a year .the accountants must be running the show.

I remember in August Real played DC United in Seattle and sold out Quest Field.Best beleive when he starts for the Galaxy the MLS will increase ticket prioces across the board to capture the hype.

I don't think he can singlehandedly sell out stadiums. This is still MLS we are talking about. The screaming teenage girl demographic will definitely go up, but I don't know about putting 20,000 butts in seats.