Beckham to the US

[uscheese]

250 million 5 year deal...geez...for a league that nobody cares about.

Really strange.

[bigred]

We'll see if it does something.

[gingerwizard]

Anyone remember Linekar killing his football career in the same style?

He'll be presenting countdown in no time

[ensign_lee]

Ridonkulous pay figure. The league's not even profitable yet, is it? Damn!!!

Well, hopefully that'll get peopel interested in soccer.

GO HOUSTON DYNAMO!!!!!!!!!!!

[mcatdog]

What a waste of money. "Soccer is finally about to catch on in the US" is my favorite headline that gets recycled every few years and never comes true. We saw it when the World Cup was played here, and when the women's team won, and we'll probably see it again now, but still no one cares. Soccer in this country is mainly played by 12-year-olds.

[bigred]

Soccer in this country is mainly played by 12-year-olds.

Pretty dumb statement but oh well.

I think it would be money better spent at slowly upgrading the league then a quick addition of a superstar. I really don't see him drawing much attention besides the first few months. Who knows though.

[Da GOAT]

its not about football no more, all about branding. so why not go to the country where brandings huge.

USA ppl probably think he is still a great footballer (those who dont regularly keep an eye on european football), guys won nothing since 1999/2000 as far as im aware. great deads ball kicker no doubt but very very poor player all round

[swiggidy]

soccer will not be successful here because no one wants to watch 20 guys run around for 90 min with like 4 shots that have a real chance of scoring and an end result of 0-1.

Hockey has the same problem, it's just not watchable on TV for the general fan. NHL had a hole when the NBA was fucking up but blew that. Hockey will never have a chance either.

[AHiltz]

Anyone remember Linekar killing his football career in the same style?

He'll be presenting countdown in no time

Beckham's career went down the shitter when he moved to Spain. This is just another turd in the water.

[drmcboy]

I like soccer, I wish it would catch on here.

soccer will not be successful here because no one wants to watch 20 guys run around for 90 min with like 4 shots that have a real chance of scoring and an end result of 0-1.

given baseball is the 'national pastime' this arguement has always struck me as silly. Baseball is 3 hours of boredom with a few exciting ABs thrown in, just like soccer (I like baseball too). I think it's just what you get used too, like eating certain types of food, what music you like, etc.

[Miffed22001]

The two major US sports, baseball and football (ugh) are based on the repition of set plays over and over again to create perfection.
Soccer (ugh) is totally the opposite. Its a bout a 90min battle to create an opening to win the game in one shot.
No wonder it doesnt catch on, ice hockey isnt exactly huge is it in america? its the canadians that like it.
fwiw, i watch a lot of US sport and still cant understand how you can sit for 3hours at a game where nothing happens for 95% of it, and start rattling off about stats all night long.
Just a totally different culture i guess.

[WildBobAA]

250 mil is sick.

[ihategnomes]

I would rather see Rugby take off instead of soccer. I've tried to give soccer a chance. Its fun to play, but I would rather slit my wrists in a warm pool of water than watch another soccer game.

[drmcboy]

ooh I would be game for Rugby too.

[nutsinho]

I'm biased as I've played and been a fan of soccer all my life but soccer is thrilling to watch when both intensity and skill are present. However, I only see this when watching European and South American soccer, particularly in the EPL, Champions League, and big international competitions. I absolutely hate watching the MLS on TV because they don't play attractive soccer at all and it feels like there's nothing at stake, because who cares about the MLS??

Also, soccer is definitely the most enjoyable team sport to play, and it's not close. Individual sports like tennis, badminton, and ping pong can be more fun but playing popular team sports like baseball and football can definitely be boring because there is so little action.

[Da GOAT]

I'm biased as I've played and been a fan of soccer all my life but soccer is thrilling to watch when both intensity and skill are present. However, I only see this when watching European and South American soccer, particularly in the EPL, Champions League, and big international competitions. I absolutely hate watching the MLS on TV because they don't play attractive soccer at all and it feels like there's nothing at stake, because who cares about the MLS??

Also, soccer is definitely the most enjoyable team sport to play, and it's not close. Individual sports like tennis, badminton, and ping pong can be more fun but playing popular team sports like baseball and football can definitely be boring because there is so little action.

just to add that in europe it NOT JUST soccer, rivalry is HUGE. its crazy how big it is. brag rights are huge.americans will find it hard to adopt and fully support a european team. MLS is absolute balls, please do not refer to it as soccer. its for guys who couldnt make it in english conference league or for old timers/burnouts

[bigred]

Let's go Gunners!

We trounced liverpool.

[Da GOAT]

Let's go Gunners!

We trounced liverpool.

lets see now;

Arsenal First team beat Pool first team 3-1
Arsenal Reserve team beat Pool first team 6-3
Arsenal Womens First team beat Pool First team ?-? (TBA)

[bigred]

LOL @ womensportaments

[DaNutsInYoEye]

soccer.... lol

[gingerwizard]

Let's go Gunners!

We trounced liverpool.

Yes a fellow Gunner!

[Miffed22001]

Let's go Gunners!

We trounced liverpool.

Yes a fellow Gunner!

lolgunnersareoveratedments.

Im a blade and i know arsenal arent going to win the premiership for the next ten years, behind Man Utd, Chelsea and even Liverpool and Tottenham.

[UG]

sorry, I'm not going to read this entire (lame ass) thread about MLS Soccer and David OMFG Beckham, but I will make a post....sorry if anyone else has said this, but:


1) 250 million for five years or whatever.....is a complete farce, something MLS and the media had "leaked" to give this story more hype. Just think about it, no way they're paying that guy *that* much money to play in the MLS...franchises aren't even worth half of what Beckham would make in a year.

2) This will provide a temporary "shot in the arm" to soccer here in the United States.....but that's it. Soccer will never be mainstream here, forget about it.

[bigred]

Let's go Gunners!

We trounced liverpool.

Yes a fellow Gunner!

lolgunnersareoveratedments.

Im a blade and i know arsenal arent going to win the premiership for the next ten years, behind Man Utd, Chelsea and even Liverpool and Tottenham.

Yeah, Arsenal certainly doesn't have a lot of young talent. I know Theo Walcott, Fabregas, and RVP are all 40 year olds.

[Eric]

The news is still sinking in. This is quite odd.

[kevster]

USA ppl probably think he is still a great footballer (those who dont regularly keep an eye on european football), guys won nothing since 1999/2000 as far as im aware. great deads ball kicker no doubt but very very poor player all round

A little harsh Goat. I gather he's been playing pretty well but he just doesn't fit into Capello's plans at Madrid as he's intent on breaking up the (admittedly failing) 'Galatico' regime.

That said, the money quoted seems like insanity. Where did they find the money from? Given that he seemed keen on the move surely he'd have agreed to less?

[kevster]

Im a blade and i know arsenal arent going to win the premiership for the next ten years, behind Man Utd, Chelsea and even Liverpool and Tottenham.

Quite a statement. And almost certainly untrue.....

Chelsea - Currently stumbling, Mourhino quite possibly on his way out, who knows what will happen when he goes

Man U - A good revival at the mo but Ferguson will not go on forever and Van Der Sar, Neville, Scholes, Solskjaer will need replacing soon. I'd guess that he'll leave and the team will need rebuilding by the new man. Folowing this they're practically guaranteed to struggle for a couple of years.

Arsenal - Inconsistent at times but some fantastic young players and a good team unit. CL finalists anyone?? They're too far off the pace this season but I'd expect them to mount a serious challenge next year.

Tottenham - Don't make me laugh.

N.B. I'm not a gooner.

[Da GOAT]

That said, the money quoted seems like insanity. Where did they find the money from? Given that he seemed keen on the move surely he'd have agreed to less?

Well they get him for free anyway. but i do think its crazy but im sure the club can cream off a lot of profits.

i dont care about whether he is doing it to get paid. basically he won it all in england and europe bar spain. id go!!! just look at those who go off to qatar to play for the shikes!!! Batistuta, Okocha to name a few

[kevster]

An interesting article on the Beckham deal by the BBC shows that he's not being paid as much by the club as it first appears. For some reason, his sponsorship deals are included in the $250m figure.

Clearly, it's still a lot of cash but not as much as it first appears.

[biondino]

There is a huge market for soccer among loads of the sizeable immigrant groups in the US, and the use of someone like Beckham as a face of the game in the US will cause many of the young people who now play the game take a much more active interest in the commercial side. There's no guarantee it'll succeed in the long term (see Pele coming to the Cosmos), but MLS is established nowadays and isn't going to collapse any time soon, and this deal gives it a chance to move up a discernible level.

It's also absolutely the right move for him.