Beckham goes hollywood

[TacoBoy]

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/6358544

[boomboom]

problem is, not many people in the US really follow Soccer...it will turn into the New York Metros of the 70's,80's...

[TacoBoy]

It will be interesting to see how it turns out. He is more of a celebrity than he is good player. He isn't even a starter on his own team in EPL. But he brings a certain buzz that MLS has never seen. LA better hope he doesn't get hurt.

[TacoBoy]

I also heard he will get to keep up to 50% of his jersey sales. That is unheard in proffesional sports...

[boomboom]

well, Pele, and his co-star brought a lot to the table in the 70's. I don't think that will matched...

Remember: Beckham was benched on his Real Madrid team...he brings some star power, as for talent, he is way past his prime...and no longer even one of the top 10 players in Soccer in the world...will bring fanfare, wins...probably not.

[TacoBoy]

Yeah it is almost a desperation move by MLS. But most casual US fans believe him to be the Michael Jordan of soccer. Since he is in the media so much. He is past his prime but he should be a great player in MLS, since MLS is kinda like a AA league as far as soccer is concerned.

[nuzzy62]

problem is, not many people in the US really follow Soccer...it will turn into the New York Metros of the 70's,80's...

It's actually the New York Cosmos :-) My friend randy Horton used to play for them - was league MVP once too.

[FRENCHREDSOX]

It's actually the New York Cosmos :-) My friend randy Horton used to play for them - was league MVP once too.

Correct,my friend I still have a jersey of theirs ! the NASL howver wasnt a bad league at the time (Beckenbauer/Best & other stars also played) the problem was (1 still is) that the USA wasnt ready for Soccer.Even today it is a marginal sport with limited TV access.

The Beckham deal will,however,be interesting as he is the FIRST star to be signed by a MSL team (I dont count Djorkaeff in NY cos he was way past his prime & never a real star in Europe) - if the MSL has decided that Soccer is ready for the NEXT level then he will be a good ambassador.It is also of note that his wife is a "singer" & the USA will be a possible prelude to her come back into the Music industry

[TacoBoy]

Thats an intersting point, but I'd be hard pressed to see a musical comeback for her. But stranger things have happened. Just look at paris Hilton.. But I think one of the reasons for moving to the U.S. is him and his wife gettin away from the publicity and paparazzi in England. He is the most scrutinized athlete in Europe but in the U.S. 80% of the people prolly wouldn't even recognize him walking down the street.

[nuzzy62]

They will be the new Hollywood power couple.

You're talking about George Best right, and not the former great West Hammer Clyde Best?

[FRENCHREDSOX]

They will be the new Hollywood power couple.

You're talking about George Best right, and not the former great West Hammer Clyde Best?

The greatest player ever (talent wise) yes sexy GEORGE BEST

-1976 - Los Angeles Aztecs: 24 games, 15 goals (NASL Season only)

1977-1978 - Los Angeles Aztecs: 37 games, 14 goals (NASL Season only)
1978-1979 - Fort Lauderdale Strikers: 33 games, 7 goals (NASL Season only)


1980-1981 - San Jose Earthquakes (NASL team): 56 games, 21 goals (NASL Season only)

who had these superb quotes:
# "I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars - the rest I just squandered."
# "I used to go missing a lot...Miss Canada, Miss United Kingdom, Miss World..."
"If I had been born ugly, you would never have heard of Pelé"
# "In 1969 I gave up women and alcohol. It was the worst 20 minutes of my life."
# "Pelé called me the greatest footballer in the world. That is the ultimate salute to my life."
(On Éric Cantona) "I'd give all the Champagne I've ever drunk to be playing alongside him in a big European match at Old Trafford."
(On the blood transfusion after his liver transplant) "I was in for 10 hours and had 40 pints - beating my previous record by 20 minutes."



Diego Maradona has frequently named Best as his all-time favourite player and Pelé once stated that Best was the best player he ever saw play. He also named him as one of the 125 best living footballers in his 2004 FIFA 100 list.

[TacoBoy]

you mean George "somebody give me a liver" Best...

[FRENCHREDSOX]

Beckham will,cos the kid is PR smart,"revolutionize" US soccer - I think that thanks to him &possibly 2 or 3 other signings (Shevchenko for the Russian community/Raul for the Hispanic population/golden boy Maldini for Italo-Americans) then MSL will get a REAL TV deal which is necessary to promote the sport amongst the youth & even non-soccer fans (to be)

Also the Major deciders will be Adidas - Beckham is their ambassador - if they allow BECKHAM to play in the US then other Adidas men will come over & try to beat Nike on their home turf

[FRENCHREDSOX]

you mean George "somebody give me a liver" Best...

When I was a kid I saw him play for Fulham (he was 30 ish) mostly drunk & over weight BUT he was SENSATIONAL still then !! He played 60 odd minutes per game cos he could nt play more but those minutes were good enough to get them promoted -Best scored some amazing goals for The Cottagers and is particularly remember for tackling his 'old drinking mate' Rodney Marsh in a FA Cup game against Hereford United (despite both being on the same team!). Best stated later in life, that he enjoyed his time most while at Fulham F.C. despite not winning any honours.

He was a Football GOD & would have had real recognition is he was English/German/Brazilian or whatever ... being Northern Irish he was never ever able to show his skills in the World Cup - life can be cruel sometimes!

[Red Sox Fan 734]

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/6358544
Wow, thats a lot of green!

[FRENCHREDSOX]

Wow, thats a lot of green!

:D ;)

[michaelg123789]

Green is good!

[michaelg123789]

ALOT of green is even better though.

[jgurney]

I don't think Beckham will revolutionize US soccer. He is a good player with huge name recognition, but he is not a spectacular player. He isn't going to score 40 goals in a season, and I doubt he will turn his team into a dominant one. It's probably good for the league to have him, as he definitely will draw some new fans, but he isn't going to change the quality of the soccer very much.

There is already some resentment among other MLS players over his huge wages (MLS had a very strict salary cap in the past), and I think he will not be able to stand up to the physical abuse he will surely get. If he is injured 5 games into the season, how much will he help MLS?