Beckham coming to America ...

[Dodoubled]

Soccer fiends, sound off!

[melioris]

It is ultimately very good for American soccer. The long-term consequence of this (hopefully) will be that more foreign talent will consider MLS as a viable option and as a way to live the “American Dream.” Also, talent in Central and South America will hopefully start to view MLS as a proving grounds for Europe, as hopefully Beckham grants the league some level of credibility (esp if Ronaldo comes this summer as rumored).

And the number $250 Million is so huge because Beckhams gets a piece of the marketing. The Beckham brand name made Real Madrid (his last team) $44 million in marketing last year alone. Just him. MLS is paying 400k a year, the team is kicking in 3-9 million (depending on source) and the rest is all marketing. MLS has worked really hard to learn the lessons from NASL (yeah, I just dated myself) and I don’t think they are making a mistake here.

[drewjax]

Who



















Cares

[omahilo]

I agree... who cares.

Im not going to start watching soccer.

[X-Longshot-X]

No















Body, now Posh......thats a nice addition to america

[Defendant]

Look jackasses, just because YOU dont care about soccer doesnt mean nobody does.

As far as the Beckham effect goes, well, lets wait and see. How many international superstars have tried the same thing?

Beckenbauer, Romario, Lothar Matthaeus...to no avail.

[New Guy]

Im sure at first it will cause a stir here.Being I live in los Angeles and Im familiar with all kinds of big hype situation whats going to happen is it will draw at first then fade into a huge mistake.He isnt what he once was and once the hype is gone so will the LA fans.Lets face it ,it's not like its Gretzky comming to the Kings. La needs fast action results and even if he does well (a goal every other game) thats not enough to keep LA's attention.Its alot of money and the stadium is kinda far away from where the people with lots o money live.

[omahilo]

it will be a bust... I guaranteed it.

[melioris]

either you do care and have an opinion, or you don't care and should be disregarded.

I am not trying to convince you to like soccer, just be a little consistent.

[Tony Cheval]

Owned.

[Tony Cheval]

Also, fuckin LA.

[eejit101]

that can only do good things for the state of the MLS and US "soccer".

He may be 31 but his time at Madrid has improved his ability to run with the ball, and he has, since the age of 20, been the best crosser and free kick taker in the world.

He also did it for $250mil over 6 years. He is reported here to, after all marketing and wages added together, be getting $1mil a WEEK.

What can you possibly spend that on? $1k/$2k NL? More drugs than columbia produces in a year?

He should be forced to donate some of that, i know he does, but him and his Mrs are worth well over $200mil, do they need more money? no.

but, its his right foot, gl to him.

[Defendant]

Roberto Carlos what?

[melioris]

I rep you again for this but it won't let me.

[Dodoubled]

Whoever neg-repped me for posting a NEWS story and not an actual OPINION, I wish you a lifetime of chronic cock-in-ass disease.

To the rest of you, God bless.

[melioris]

of all the people responding in this thread, my rep brings the most heat. So I + repped you and you should be better for the exchange.

[Boobie Lover]

This is going to have very little effect nationally for the soccer cause in the US. Having ESPN give a weekly spotlight on the top European leagues would have more effect than this.

[Dodoubled]

Gracias, Melioris.

Anyhow, I have no idea what the Beckham signing will bring to the U.S. soccer scene. However, I do believe that the main reason we don't embrace soccer here is simply because the best in the world don't play here.

Think about it. Major League Baseball, The National Basketball Association, even the National Football League (for those who play it) --- all are the marquee destinations for the people associated with those sports. The MLS, quite simply, isn't. The English Premier League, or whatever the hell it is, is (correct me if I'm wrong), and I think Americans don't give a shit because we know we're not the best. If we did, we'd watch it. It's purely an ego thing. I've seen plenty of 0-0, 1-0 soccer games with more excitement and action than Saturday's Colts-Ravens game.

I'm in no means a big, BIG soccer fan -- only once every four years, I suppose. But if you can't understand why three-quarters of the world views this as their main sport, I suggest you take a serious look at what makes you a fan of anything.

Take soccer for what it is. But, I can't think of any other sport here that gets you to the bar at 7 a.m. on a Tuesday to drink.

P.S. -- It's 4 a.m. Long night of drinking. I apologize for any typos or misconstrued thoughts.

[eejit101]

You are joking yes?

Carlos runs half a mile, smashes the crap out of it, and on average scopres 1 out of every 32 attempts.

Beckham has a little stroll up tot he ball, swings his foot a little, and it goes beautifully into the top or bottom corners 1 out of every 7 times on average.

Also roberto carlos cannot cross a ball 79 yard onto a marker the size of my foot, beckham can.

While you may remember CArlos for that ONE freak free kick vs FRance in 1997 in a friendly, which swerved round my house before going in, it doesnt happen often, compare the stats and beckham wins hands down.

[melioris]

ah dude, your credibility is a little thin around here, so reference your numbers or I call bullshit. While it is probably true that Beckham has a better average, not one of Beckham's goals is more spectular than the top 6 or 7 goals of Roberto Carlos.

While Beckham has incredible placement, he just doesn't have the power in his leg like Roberto Carlos, and thus, ultimately, most of Beckham's free kicks are savable with better goal keeping positioning and/or without the wall breaking down. Compare vs