I’ll admit right up front that I’m not a soccer fan. Don’t misinterpret that to mean that I hate soccer. I just didn’t grow up with the sport, and it received virtually no national or local media coverage when I was growing up in the 1980’s. That being said, I felt compelled to post here and address some of the skeptics whose posts I’ve been perusing. I just can’t see a downside to this signing. Even I have heard of David Beckham (before yesterday, I mean), and even if it’s true that his skills have diminished, as some people here have argued, he has in one day given the MLS more publicity than it has received in every year since its inception combined. Look at it this way: who outside of dedicated soccer fans were even discussing the MLS at this time last week, or even last year for that matter? After all, like the old cliché goes, “There’s no such thing as bad publicity”, right? For however brief a time, the MLS is finally on the national sports radar. From where I’m sitting, that’s an achievement in itself. Virtually overnight the sport has acquired a level of social cachet that it lacked a few short days ago in the eyes of the sports media, so how is that a bad thing? In addition, to those who fear that this deal will bankrupt the league, that assumption appears to be unfounded. ESPN has been reporting all morning that season ticket sales for Galaxy games skyrocketed in just the first day alone, and that’s just one day. I’m sorry, but considering the level of free publicity this signing has generated for the Galaxy and the league as a whole, how can they possibly lose money on this deal? Am I missing something? Finally, even if Beckham is a monumental flop in the MLS, the negative publicity his failure will garner is still publicity. That may sound counterintuitive or counterproductive on the surface, but it’s not when you stop to think about it. As is the case with all other sports, I’m sure there have been more than a few players who failed to live up to expectations in the MLS over the years, right? How much national and worldwide media attention did their failures garner (insert crickets chirping)? Therefore, in the final analysis, and forgive me if this seems simplistic, but if Beckham succeeds, the league wins – and if he fails, the league still wins from a publicity standpoint. I simply don’t see a downside. Anyway, I apologize for the long rant. I’d like to contribute more, but I’m afraid I don’t know a header from a headcold.
Here's a conversation that occurred in my office today between me (soccer fan) and a female co-worker originally from South Dakota: Her: "Hey, did you know David Beckham signed with MLS yesterday?" Me: "Yes. I spent a lot of time on the internet reading about it." Her: "He was on Good Morning America this morning." Me: "Yes, I heard that. How was he?" Her: "WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" She knows little about soccer but does not hate it....
I agree. I love to go to a local bar around my house and chat people up about sports, but I've given up trying to talk about soccer with anyone (As I usually get a look like I have a d**k growing out of my forehead). Yesterday, I went in for a cold one. I had a twenty minute chat with a guy who'd never heard of David Beckham or MLS about soccer. Three other guys were listening in on the conversation with interest. That's absolutely amazing to me.
I'll second CyphaPSU, we appreciate your $.02. But the fact that you found and 'perused' BigSoccer at all suggests that you have more soccer interest/knowledge that absolute zero as you claim. Either way, welcome to the club, I hope you stick around. The future is bright. Also, does anyone else think there must be a publicity mastermind running all this. The way the recent news has been coming and building has been spectacular. Freddy Adu trade, then DC United sale, now Beckham, next ... (Ronaldo?) If the Beckham news had come first, would even BigSoccer have noticed the others?
CyphaPSU, zeusbrowne - Thanks for the kind words. Zeusbrowne, I never claimed to have zero knowledge about soccer, but I think 0.5 might be a fair assessment. The future is indeed bright for soccer in this country. I'm a huge baseball fan, but unfortunately our most internationally recognizable athlete, Barry Bonds, is a known more for his abuse of steroids than anything he has accomplished on the field. When the worst thing you can say about a sports' biggest star is that he's overpaid and married to one of the Spice Girls, as opposed to being overpaid and a cheater, that sport is headed in the right direction.
welcome and stick around. It's a great sport. But I gotta break it to you. Your local team is the Jets of the league. Only with more injuries.
this is what happened to me at work where I had a smiliar 30 min conversation with 3 dudes that all they can see id NFL or Florida State. It is amazing. Maybe this is the way it was always supposed to be..
LOL! I gotta tell you up front, as a long-suffering Jets fan, that's no incentive for me to become a soccer fan. Yes, as a previous poster pointed out, the Jets have won ONE Super bowl, but sadly that was way before my time. The Jets give me all heartache I need, coupled with the occasional "close-but-no-cigar" moment, that I can stand from a team. My quota is full. Thanks, but assuredly no thanks! Besides, I can't imagine myself ever uttering the words "I like Red Bull". You can only imagine the vulgar wordplay and teasing that would rightfully follow after making such an assertion.
Well, chances are the NY team will get someone interesting to respond to this. They were the ones everyone originally thought would spend the big money first. As to whether it's gonna work, my short answer is that the deal is so danged complicated it's hard to figure out (the Gals are certainly forking over less than the $50M being thrown about, but certainly more than the $10M of basic salary. Beyond that I just can't tell). But one benchmark: if by the time Beckham hangs up the jersey he's managed to transfer any part of his fame onto other players in the league that weren't famous when they got here, then it'll have at least done some of what they wanted it to do.
I have 2 countries. Why cant neither be Normal? One, the US...people think you are wierd if you like soccer and two in Brazil people think you are weird if you don't.
One could make the argument that Ronaldinho is, right now, the sport's biggest star. And the only knock on him I can come up with is that he needs a better dentist.
Stick around. At it's best, soccer tends to have the same nailbiting anticipation as baseball. Second half stoppage time is as exciting as the bottom of the ninth, both for the reason that you have no clue when it will finish. It's addictive. BTW, Mets or Yanks?
Welcome to the club! Remember that American football evolved from soccer(visit the NFL hall of fame) with the unskilled player starting to bump,push,and use his hands because he lacked the ability to keep up with the speed,agility, and foot skills of the more gifted athletes. It really is one of the more creative sports to watch.
I've heard that explanation, but I've also heard a different story saying that soccer and rugby split, then American football emerged from rugby. More likely than not, Naismith pull some ideas for basketball from soccer, too.
Maybe if MLS players become stars in the national landscape, they won't be able to export themselves as easily. One can only hope so.
early soccer was nothing like the game of today. "Passing" as we know it wasn't invented until a few years after the rugby split (and didn't exist in rugby either). Games used to be little more than a series of physical drives up the field, kicked forward with possession maintained or lost by pushing opponents out of the way. There were no athletic foot skills. American football is much more like the original "football" than soccer is, and probably more similar than rugby too. early soccer games even had touchdowns, which allowed you a free attempt to score at the goal from 18 yards or so. This evolved into the corner kick in soccer, but a try in rugby.
I disagree with you... Publicity is good only if it's positive, if Beckham failed the soccer bashers will jump to destroy the Beckham hype as quickly as they can... In fact this is a risky gamble that didn't deserve to take... Also, when Adu was drafted, MLS was in national radars too, and quickly disapeared... That's why I believe that if MLS wants to keep the american attention, they need to give more substance than just Beckham, which mean better AMERICAN players... Producing better young american talents is what keep interesting american people. Beckham won't hide the deficient level of play, the low attendances and poor TV ratings... The hype won't last long. American people are no stupid