David Beckham
- Thread starter Spike
- Start date
The deal includes endorsements. He is being brought in to be the face of the league. I think he's probably worth it IF it pays off by generating interest in the MLS.
The way MLS consistently allows one or two franchises (LA and DC) to get far better talent than any other team in the league is pretty shady though.
*shallow comment alert* I only thought Posh was 3rd best of all the Spice Girls, but it looks like she's had a lot of work done and is a bit scary now, way too plasticy on the highligh video ESPN just showed.
The way MLS consistently allows one or two franchises (LA and DC) to get far better talent than any other team in the league is pretty shady though.
*shallow comment alert* I only thought Posh was 3rd best of all the Spice Girls, but it looks like she's had a lot of work done and is a bit scary now, way too plasticy on the highligh video ESPN just showed.
Am I really having this discussion? Umm, ok... I actually prefered Sporty, Scary and Ginger to Posh now that I think about it. Posh was just a little plain for my tastes, I like them a little more exotic for lack of a better term.
xyrin
Bench
Of course he is worth the 50 million a year price tag. Sure, he is a great football player in his decline, but he is probably one of the most famous and popular football players in the world. The MLS is doing this for popularity; they want the US to open their eyes to football again, and so far its working. Its been all over the place today, the day of the signing. Just imagine the attention it will receive tomorrow.
People who follow soccer are going to pay attention. People who don't aren't going to start watching because of some guy who happens to be married to one of the Spice Girls. It's really that simple...
xyrin
Bench
In reality, Beckham is only being paid 10 million a year by the LA Galaxy. The other 40 million is from sponsors. I still think it's a great move by the Galaxy, and could help all of the MLS.
I could see people going to games just to see what is so great about Beckham, and maybe a few of them will enjoy what they see and start going to more games.
I could see people going to games just to see what is so great about Beckham, and maybe a few of them will enjoy what they see and start going to more games.
KINGSFAN-FROM-L.A.
G-League
dudes overrated, ronaldhino as well... the best players in the world are ronaldo and zidaine... and no hes not worth 50 mil a year endorsements included or not.
Odoylerules
Prospect
actually....ronaldo is overweight and has spent quite a few minutes on Real's bench. ronaldinho is anything BUT overrated.
good move for LA....I hate the MLS, but Becks will bring in double his contract in advertising, TV deals in asia, and worldwide jersey sales alone. he doesnt have to have a single assist or goal to justify the deal....
supamari0
Bench
Are you kidding? Beckham sucks, that's why he's in America. Great at free kicks, bad at everything else, but ronaldo and zidane are the best?
Ronaldo is FATTTT and out of shape. No one wants him either. He looked dreadful in the world cup and is a shell of himself. Zidane turned it on in the world cup until the headbutt incident but in europe, he hasn't been good for a while now. The guy is on his last legs like the other two.
Ronaldinho on the other hand is the real deal. I wish he'd try and work harder but there's no player in soccer with that kind of talent and ability right now. There's a reason why he won player of the year. He's better than that fatso Ronaldo and Zidane.
As for actually being worth the money, time will tell. The MLS needed a spark. I like the way they've managed the sport and now ESPN is picking them up and devoting a show just for MLS and a lot of games. Also the introduction of soccer specific stadiums is a plus as well. If LA comes to Houston, I'll definitely make it out and watch, just to see Beckham get schooled by a bunch of American nobodys.
This is the genius of the deal, as far as MLS marketing goes.
If dude comes here and blows up the league, MLS has its first mega superstar.
If dude comes here and stinks up the joint, it shows that American soccer has arrived.
Its can't lose. I wish Portland would get a team.
KINGSFAN-FROM-L.A.
G-League
I judge players based on what i see on the field especially on the biggest sports stage in the world cup... ronaldo played phenominal(not just this year but years past as well) and zidaines played phenominal over the last 3+ world cups... so i will gladly take that "fatso" that you like to refer to ronaldo as and i'll go watch him score some goals in the world cup unlike that dissapointment that mr. "best skilled player" in the world in ronaldhino and that overhyped beckham....
peace
Odoylerules
Prospect
so basically you're a world cup soccer fan. i guess an NBA equivalent in another country would have Robert Horry as a first ballot Hall of Famer, due to his performance on the "big stage".....
Yes, Ronaldinho is the most skilled player in the world, and he is fresh off leading his club to the Champions League title. Your "overhyped" Beckham brings in about 100 times the income of any other soccer player. You seem to be missing the point entirely, but judging on your posts, you are also missing quite a bit of soccer as well. I can't blame you for your lack of knowledge on the subject if all you watch is world cup soccer.
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uolj
Starter
Without arguing or (knowing about) Beckham's footballing abilities, I just don't see this having a permanent impact on U.S. soccer. This is a good move for everybody, and he'll probably earn his $250 million, but that's about it. I don't see the league or the sport sniffing the major sports leagues in popularity in this country. Both Nascar and golf have had huge bumps in recent years, I just don't think this will be enough for the MLS to follow suit.
Now if several of the world's best and most famous players came to the U.S. to play, it might be another story. I'm not optimitsic that will happen any time soon.
Now if several of the world's best and most famous players came to the U.S. to play, it might be another story. I'm not optimitsic that will happen any time soon.
Double-K
Starter
So did Real Madrid.
Odoylerules
Prospect
true, and Real Madrid made serious money off the deal....
This wasnt their choice, Beckham wanted to come here....
I think a lot of people are missing the point. Honestly, there is no way DB can justify this on the pitch. If it were that alone, plus the increased popularity of the MLS, it would be a horrible investment.
Breaking it down:
International TV contracts + Increased merchandise sales + advertising revenue from the front of the jerseys (MLS now advertises on their jerseys)
The above 3 things will more than likely EASILY produce double the 50 mil a year Becks is getting in revenue for the Galaxy and the MLS.
Any on pitch improvement, plus increased ticket sales league wide, plus concessions and parking, PLUS bridging the gap for more international stars to come here......that's all icing on top. The investment already pays for itself before anything happens in this paragraph....
It is an ABSOLUTE no-brainer when you break it down....
supamari0
Bench
The World Cup is an awful determinant of skill because its such a tiny sample size. Zidane played with tons of emotion because it was his final go around, but you can't count on that for regular league play. The same goes for Ronaldo (who sucked in the world cup if you look beyond the stats)
Ronaldinho had a bad world cup but a great season in champions league. Hell, Barcelona won the champions league and Real Madrid sucked *** as usual. He is the best player in soccer and one bad world cup doesn't mean he's "overrated"
Zidane and Ronaldo WERE good. They're not anymore. Watch some games outside of the world cup and you'll see how they'll play on a regular basis (in other words bad) Believe me, I'm a big Zidane fanboy but you have to recognize that his time is up, as is Ronaldo's. The same goes for Beckham who at one time was a pretty good soccer player.
The World Cup doesn't mean squat when it comes to evaluating players. It's such a short span of time that people can just get caught in a down period. Watch more international soccer and you'll see how bad those 3 are and how good Ronaldinho is.
KP
Starter
Ronaldo and Zidane? Great players... but Maybe 5-10 years ago. Beckham may be overhyped and overated by some, but he still is a fine player with a lot of talent and even on the downward side of his career he is going to be way better than most of his competition in the MLS. He's going to get paid a lot of money, but hey, he's doing all of us in the US a service if he can increase exposure for soccer, it's a great game. Vamos Barca.
piksi
Hall of Famer
Beckam is washed up player and if he could have - he would have stayed in Europe and played competative soccer. No one wanted him. I am not sure what idiot is paying him 250 mill but I am kinda glad the he is getting paid more than many other athletes playing quasi sports like football and baseball. Soccer is and always will be world's #1. Am I going to watch MLS because of Beckam - hell no. That is like watching middle school basketball.
Odoylerules
Prospect
Not true. He had several offers waiting for him in the EPL alone, not to mention several other leagues. How can you say no one wanted him?
piksi
Hall of Famer
because once You played for ManU and Real - You can not go back and play for West Ham United.
bozzwell
Starter
Correct me if I am wrong but pro leagues in US and Europe make large chunk of their profits from merchendize/sports gear, not just ticket sales and TV deals. When you consider that soccer is the largest participation sport in US (by far, if for no other reason that all kids can play it) even though it is not a popular TV/stadium sport. So, just think of all those kids chosing adidas over nike/reebok because of Beckam and suddenly glamorous LA Whatevers and 250 mil is a chump change to the few well positioned sponsors.
As for MLS, I don't see a major uptick in interest in US, other then the usual suspects (Cosmos in the 70's was more like a rock band then a soccer team). If however, MLS squeezes out a major TV deal with favorable time slot, who knows. I believe that NLS went under not just because they over-spent (see Cosmos) but because their ABC deal sucked to high heavens - Saturday noon games or something like that?
As for Becks, he ain't what he used to be and even when he was something his failures with England were spectacular, not his play (damn you, you stupid clown). But for some reason media just loves him and his wife even though neither mattered for years in soccer or music. Figure that...
As for MLS, I don't see a major uptick in interest in US, other then the usual suspects (Cosmos in the 70's was more like a rock band then a soccer team). If however, MLS squeezes out a major TV deal with favorable time slot, who knows. I believe that NLS went under not just because they over-spent (see Cosmos) but because their ABC deal sucked to high heavens - Saturday noon games or something like that?
As for Becks, he ain't what he used to be and even when he was something his failures with England were spectacular, not his play (damn you, you stupid clown). But for some reason media just loves him and his wife even though neither mattered for years in soccer or music. Figure that...
Iggy
Bench
He is washed up as a player however he win earn his money becuase he is a World superstar. There are temples devoted to him in Asia. He will make the LA Galaxy money back with the shirt sponsorships, shirts sold etc. They will do a tour of Asia etc. They were;nt stupid when they signed him.
However I don't think he will generate more soccer parcipation in this country. A lot of women will be watching though
However I don't think he will generate more soccer parcipation in this country. A lot of women will be watching though
Double-K
Starter
Thing is........ the guy wasn't even THAT great from the get go. His best years were when he was in ManU and the english team plays fast and long pass relying game. It's more about how well the team execute the strategy rather than how well a couple player's personal skills are. It's a perfect style for him. Real Madrid, on the other hand, relys on star's personal skill more and play a lot slower than ManU. It was strictly a business transfer for Real and Beckham. Even with the sky high transfer fee, Real Madrid was able to make most of it back from all the sponsorships and just plainly selling his jersey!
baiarri
G-League
dude, zidane withdrew. Ronaldo is meatball.
You guys are WAY underrating the play of Beckham. The guy was, and still can be on occasion, unreal. Dangerous with the pass from anywhere. . .without Beckham there would be no Ruud Van Nistelrooy. And with Beckham on the pitch any freekick becomes a scoring opportunity. I am very excited to see him pair with Landon Donovan. With service from Beckham, and the kind of European and Asian tours the Galaxy are talking about, we will get to see whether Donovan is an overrated prima donna or a star lacking any midfield help on his national side.
Londonking
Believer
I dont know the degree of 'quality' in MLS. But i have followed the career of Beckham hfairly closely (the media gave me little choice). All I can say is that if you think Beckham is going to be able to make cetain players arond him shine, then MLS must be a bit 'lightweight' on talent.
Beckham may still show flashes of genious (especially from set pieces around the box when he can get the ball over the wall and back down again quickly and with accuracy), but in open play....I wonder if he still has the legs.
That isnt to detract from his achievements with Man Utd. - but of course there, he had some wonderful players along side him.
Anyway, good luck to him, there are certainly worse ways to see out a career.
