http://espn.go.com/espy2004/s/04malesoccernominees.html ....David Beckham. For what? Having an affair? I guess if by being the best you mean creating negative publicity for yourself (nice affair, becks; may I say Dumbass?), than Becks sweeps the award away. Oh, by the way Dave, nice spot kickin'. I especially like how you immediately looked at the spot as if to say "Shame on you, Mr. Spot. You made me miss!" How Thierry did not win escapes me. But, I guess winning Footballer of the Year is more important. I also would think that actually winning some silverware means just a little more. Congrats, David. You finally won something in 2004. gp
um, this is espn. you have to remember that. and its america. more people know who david beckham is in america than henry, zidane or even usa's own donovan.
ANd do we really think that Beckham cares about this award? ESPN should try covering the game on something other than a time-buy basis before they waste our time with this rubbish.
I've always referred to it as ESPN's way of congratulating/pleasuring themselves over another year as "the Worldwide Leader". Ever since Michael Jordan's comeback from baseball beat Mario Lemieux's comeback from cancer back in '95 (I think), I have refused to watch the show because I realized how much they suck up to the big stars. Just to further my rant (I'm in a ranting mood tonight...must be the lack of sports talk radio here), I absolutely can't stand the way that network has changed from a great source of sports information to the most self-absorbed network on television, especially since the Disney merger. The day that I saw Freddie Prinze, Jr. on "SportsCenter" talking about his favorite baseball players was the day I stopped watching "Sportscenter". I almost threw up last year (as did Digger Phelps) when they had Nick Lachey (Jessica Simpson's husband) on the NCAA Tourney Selection Special. About the only two shows I was able to watch on a regular basis before I left were "Around the Horn" and "Pardon the Interruption". I also find it really funny how, now that ESPN has the NBA, that seems to be the only sport that exists. Everything (including the Pistons winning the title) took a backseat to the Lakers. That's also why I kept praying that Fox Sports Net would get big enough to really challenge ESPN, just so they could maybe force the crew in Bristol to remember that they're there to report sports news, not to promote themselves and their corporate brethren. EDIT: And don't even get me started on "Dream Job"!
for more chat on this see a thead started a few days ago... https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123810
The ESPY's are a joke. The George Weah piece where he received the Arthur Ashe award was not, however. I enjoyed the fact that so many millionaire athletes from the US were sitting there, guys who make zillions more than George, and they barely do anything for anyone other than themselves. If there were a few George Weah's in the NBA then the league wouldn't be such an f'ing joke.
If there also weren't eight different franchises per state diluting the talent, the NBA wouldn't be such a joke either. Greedy bastards.
It was voted by the fans and most americans only know who David Beckham is. Thats why he won ESPN had nothing to do with it.
Where is that little scamp, anyways? I've been going to airports for three days, logging in only for housecleaning, and I haven't got to bop him on the head in a while.
As I said in another thread, it must have taken ESPN's research team about a week to come up with two other names to fill out the category. Becks and Donovan were a lock because that's the only 2 they know outside of Adu.