feh... go back to Ungland
Posted on 12/01/2012 7:03:52 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
David Beckham's move to Los Angeles was supposed to transform the status of American soccer. He and his wife Victoria arrived as the UK's biggest celebrities. Now he has played his last US game, did Americans really fall for the allure of Brand Beckham?
As he sat on the tarmac at Los Angeles International Airport one evening in July 2007, David Beckham knew what was expected of him.
His new employers, the LA Galaxy, had committed a huge sum - reportedly $32.5m (£20m) over the next five years - for the benefits of his footballing services.
But it wasn't just his playing skills that made him such a valuable commodity.
The then-32-year-old and his erstwhile pop-star wife Victoria were among the world's most recognisable faces. Back home in the UK, they were by far the country's biggest celebrities.
The expectation was clear - as the Beckham glitter entranced the US, Major League Soccer (MLS) would be elevated from minority sport status to become a national game on a par with American football, baseball and basketball.
Beckham had said as much himself at a press conference during his unveiling as a Galaxy player-to-be six months previously. "Soccer is huge all around the world apart from America, so that's where I want to make a difference with the kids," he told reporters.
Back in the UK, the Daily Mirror proclaimed that he was on a "one-man mission" to be a "success in a country where even Pele had failed". The Brazilian legend had proved unable to win the US over to the Association code despite his signing by the New York Cosmos in 1975.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
No. Take it back to Europe or perhaps the third world.
There is football(the real kind) baseball hockey. And most important the shooting sports
In the words of Cole Younger (Cliff Robertson ‘the Great Northfield minnesota raid). “The national pastime is shooting, and always will be”.
Soccer is for GIRLS !!
Women’s soccer is gritty and tough. Men’s soccer is effeminate, with metrosexuals faking injuries and falling down with wails.
I don’t like Hockey much... women’s hockey would be interesting on an intellectual level....
feh... go back to Ungland
Kind of like basketball?
no hockey this year, lol
The problem is that compared to the English Premier League, the MLS is like watching Single-A league baseball.
Plenty of hockey. One of my technicians plays it all the time. You mean no NHL. LOL.
But No I don’t follow Hockey and forgot it was locked out or on strike or whatever happened.
Yup.
Methinks Galaxy got robbed. Soccer is SO BORING. Now with all the illegals in the country, I imagine in 15-20 years we’ll be hearing all about it though.
Refuse to watch a game that features under-clothed Brits and Europeans. Yuck and shiver.
Soccer is boring and is filled with Eurowussies flopping all over the “pitch”
Rugby is a tough sport. Soccer is for europhags.
Similarly, I doubt American sports like American football will ever take hold in Britain or other countries. Canada is the only foreign country that likes American-style football. When I pass sports fields in the area and I see young kids who aren't Hmong playing pickup soccer, then I'll know soccer has gained a foothold. But not before that.
Who?
I’ve heard of Beckham, but so far as I know he wasn’t playing to sellout crowds, or does MLS even have a TV contract? Maybe on some cable station?
Is the ticket and TV revenue large enough to justify a $32.5 million contract over 5 years?
I have watched an occasional World Cup game if Team USA was in it....that’s about it.
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