Spice Girl comes full circle
January 11, 2007 9:23 AM   Subscribe

 
I misread this first as "David Beckam signs with LA Gallery" - my mind was sufficiently blown. I had no idea he painted.
posted by Peter H at 9:27 AM on January 11, 2007


Yeah, but that's before taxes.
posted by Cyrano at 9:27 AM on January 11, 2007 [1 favorite]


Who?
posted by interrobang at 9:27 AM on January 11, 2007


From Galactico to Galaxian.
posted by veedubya at 9:27 AM on January 11, 2007


Does he know hardly anyone over here watchs soccer?
posted by Big_B at 9:28 AM on January 11, 2007


Does he know hardly anyone over here watches soccer?

Probably why he chose you.
posted by matthewr at 9:29 AM on January 11, 2007


I hear he wants to break into the movie business, that's why he signed with Los Angeles.
posted by muddgirl at 9:30 AM on January 11, 2007


Didn't they try this once with Pele? Didn't work out so well then, as I recall.
posted by jonmc at 9:31 AM on January 11, 2007


Beckham gets one million dollars a weeks to play a game and there are children that go to bed hungry.
posted by therealshell at 9:31 AM on January 11, 2007


we have soccer in america?!
posted by cosmic osmo at 9:32 AM on January 11, 2007


So this is what it's like when Brits see posts about Jeff Foxworthy or someone, isn't it?
posted by Terminal Verbosity at 9:32 AM on January 11, 2007


Who's David Beckam? Do you mean Beckham?

Anyway, Real Madrid didn't resign him so he had to do something. But then, soccer? I'll watch a highlight reel from time to time but the idea of sitting and watching an entire game is about as enticing as Star Jones in a negligee (sorry for that imagery).
posted by fenriq at 9:34 AM on January 11, 2007


He says it's not about the money. How cute.
posted by 2sheets at 9:34 AM on January 11, 2007


Posh & Becks in the states?!?! I think I just peed my pants.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:35 AM on January 11, 2007 [1 favorite]


Oh yay! Now Posh can be closer to her plastic surgeon! How convenient!
posted by miss lynnster at 9:36 AM on January 11, 2007 [1 favorite]


Didn't they try this once with Pele? Didn't work out so well then, as I recall.

All kinds of big names played in the US in the 70s. George Best was another. They were pretty good though, and this guy's David Beckham.
posted by vbfg at 9:36 AM on January 11, 2007


Actually, jonmc, it worked quite well, albeit briefly. From the July 3, 2006 New Yorker:

Professional soccer has flourished only fitfully here since the founding of the New York Cosmos, in the early seventies, by the Warner Communications entertainment conglomerate. Steve Ross, the showboating chief executive, advised by Ahmet Ertegun, the music mogul, and Ertegun's brother Nesuhi, decided that America was ready to embrace soccer. From their experience promoting the Rolling Stones, among others, Ross and Ertegun knew that Americans loved superstars, so the Cosmos signed Pelé, the incomparable Brazilian, who was then thirty-four years old and in his dotage as a player. Pelé and the Cosmos began selling out Giants Stadium, with seventy-five thousand seats, and the infant North American Soccer League thrived, at least for a while.Then, in 1977, just twenty-eight months after he joined the Cosmos, Pelé retired, and the professional game in America seemed to retire with him.

Beckham's got close to Pele's star power, and a (potentially) longer career life. Could be interesting...
posted by saladin at 9:37 AM on January 11, 2007


Didn't they try this once with Pele? Didn't work out so well then, as I recall.

Well there's a genuine difference there in aesthetics.
My guess is that Beckam's the Great White Hope.
posted by Peter H at 9:38 AM on January 11, 2007


Beckham I mean.
posted by Peter H at 9:39 AM on January 11, 2007



Should have gone to Bolton. His game has not deteriorated THAT much -- not to the point where he would prolong his career by playing in the mediocre MLS.

Too bad Lamar Hunt is not around to see this happen.
posted by wfc123 at 9:39 AM on January 11, 2007


"we have soccer in america?!"

No, we have the MLS.

Like soccer, only lamer.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 9:40 AM on January 11, 2007


Also...

The Designated Player Rule, also known as the Beckham Rule, is the name used for a rule change in the Major League Soccer's salary cap regulations, implemented for the 2007 season. The rule will allow each of the MLS franchises to sign one player that would be considered outside of the teams' salary cap, estimated to be around US$1.9 million [1] in 2006 (the amount will be raised for the 2007 season), allowing U.S. teams to compete in the International soccer market for star players...^
posted by phaedon at 9:41 AM on January 11, 2007


the idea of sitting and watching an entire game is about as enticing as Star Jones in a negligee

If offered $80,000 to direct a 3-hour pornographic epic starring Star Jones and David Beckham (and you have to make a good-faith effort to make it as XXX as possible, no soft-pedaling), would you do it? You have to use your real name in the credits, and the title screen of the movie will read "She Shoots, He Scores! A [your name] film."
posted by COBRA! at 9:41 AM on January 11, 2007 [2 favorites]


I'd suspect that the level of interest in soccer since the 1970's has increased enough to make this a more likely venture.

What I see as interesting, is that perhaps MLS will turn into a retirement home for all the big names of world soccer. If I recall, weren't there rumors about Ronaldo considering coming over as well?
posted by Atreides at 9:43 AM on January 11, 2007


I'm a Michael Bolton fan. For my money, I don't know if it gets any better than when he sings "LA Woman".
posted by hal9k at 9:44 AM on January 11, 2007


"She Shoots, He Scores! A [your name] film."

This title, presumably, because Bend It Like Beckham is already taken?
posted by Peter H at 9:44 AM on January 11, 2007


You have to use your real name in the credits, and the title screen of the movie will read "She Shoots, He Scores! A [your name] film."

I assume there'll be [ahem] heading?

What I meant by it not working out well, is that even though getting somebody with marquee value like Pele or Beckham may briefly increase interest in soccer, it's still never been able to compete with baseball/football/basketball/hockey in terms of drawing spectators, and with an investment this big they're probably expecting a payoff on that level.
posted by jonmc at 9:45 AM on January 11, 2007


"She Shoots, He Scores! A [your name] film."

Nah.

"Bend It Over Like Beckham"
posted by mr_crash_davis at 9:45 AM on January 11, 2007


j-j-j-j-jinx!
posted by Peter H at 9:46 AM on January 11, 2007


Three points:

1. Fuck Real. BCN is true Spanish football.

2. Holy God, what a righteous gob of cash. Everybody is being a bit silly here: Real for signing him in the first place and dumping him when it was clear where his career was headed (which goes to show that Real signs players according to the Steinbrenner philosophy of sporting) and the LA Galaxy for paying such a silly amount. And Beckham, too, for being bounced around teams back and forth solely on star power and sticking with a team only until it's obvious he has little to contribute on the field. Although I can't fault him for taking the cash there.

3. At that price, I have a feeling the contract includes this clause, or a similar:

4. a. II. : The player shall henceforth, and so long as he has life and breath, refer to the game only and always as "soccer," and never as "football."
posted by koeselitz at 9:46 AM on January 11, 2007


If offered $80,000 ... You have to use your real name in the credits, and the title screen of the movie will read "She Shoots, He Scores! A [your name] film."

I accept! Beckham shall bend it like never before.
- Adam Smithy
posted by hal9k at 9:48 AM on January 11, 2007


I predict this will do nothing in the long term to make soccer/football a viable (read: profitable) sports industry in the US. You would think that if we really liked it, for all the kids that have played since the 70s (which, I'll wager, is greater than the combined total of kids playing baseball and football), the game would have caught on by now.

LA has Beckham, so if you have a team in your city you'll essentially be waiting to buy tickets for the 1 or 2 times they come to play so you can see what all the hype is about. Game over.
posted by DonnieSticks at 9:48 AM on January 11, 2007


Yeah, well I have an MLS player on my city rec league soccer team... and he plays for free. Take that Beckham.
posted by dead_ at 9:49 AM on January 11, 2007


Yeah, I really dropped the ball on the title. How about Bang Her Like Beckham?
posted by COBRA! at 9:51 AM on January 11, 2007


jonmc, perhaps they are hoping primarily to increase the value of the MLS in Europe for tv rights at least. Also Asia. And the branding/uniform licenses etc etc would likely bring in quite a haul: again, that's more probably going to come from the rest of the world. I imagine audiences at venues (although you'd have to expect they'll go up) are not particularly significant in terms of earning revenue for the backers.
posted by peacay at 9:52 AM on January 11, 2007


Didn't they try this once with Pele? Didn't work out so well then, as I recall.

There was a documentary about it last year. (trailer)

I find it kinda strange that after 10 years of trying desperately NOT to be the NASL, the MLS is turning into the NASL.
posted by dw at 9:52 AM on January 11, 2007


This is pretty confusing. Most sources say $250 salary for 5 years, except the LA Times which says "worth more than US$250 million in salary and commercial endorsements ". Since Beckham currently makes about $30 million per year in endorsements, are they just including that in the figures? That make his real salar $20 mil / year. And I'm not sure how the Galaxy would be involved in his endorsement contracts.
posted by smackfu at 9:53 AM on January 11, 2007


This is Bad for American Soccer.

Beckham, even in his prime, was never thought to be the best of the best. The Steinbrenner approach is bad enough when you sign players who have earned their fame through their accomplishments, but here, we've got a guy whose superstardom has more to do with his hairstyle.

So, the face of the MLS will be a massively overpaid non-superstar. Terrific.
posted by ibmcginty at 9:55 AM on January 11, 2007


Beckham, even in his prime, was never thought to be the best of the best.


Compared to what passes for soccer players in the MLS, Beckham is Roy Keane and George Best all rolled into one.
posted by wfc123 at 10:01 AM on January 11, 2007


ibmcginty, he's about the best passer and free kick taker in the world (oh yes, this is of course contentious, as it would be said about anyone, but his ability in these 2 areas are absolutely not pedestrian). That is not to say that such talents make for a great allrounder necessarily but the guy is definitely not a talentless hack.
posted by peacay at 10:02 AM on January 11, 2007


..and Maldini, for that matter.
posted by wfc123 at 10:02 AM on January 11, 2007


Like soccer, only lamer.

Honestly, it's better than it used to be. It's mid-table English Championship level now. The all-star team beat slightly depleted Chelsea in a friendly last year. I think if you put the best 22 in a squad and stuck them the Championship, they'd look a lot like Watford. Great team in the Championship, cannon fodder in the Premiership.
posted by dw at 10:03 AM on January 11, 2007


While I do love me some World Cup...I can do w/o another "richer-than-god" over-rated player. Hes' no Pele for sure. Also, I do enjoy seeing his wife, just not at that price tag.
posted by winks007 at 10:03 AM on January 11, 2007


not gonna do much for the talent level of America's MLS, or world cup (I don't know if he would qualify for the American team or not, yes/no?). And other than soccor/football nuts, and a few movie hounds just how well is he known here anyway?
a mill a week? absurd, where the hell is the LA team getting this money, and don't you think the other players will be a bit miffed?
posted by edgeways at 10:04 AM on January 11, 2007


We have lots more footballers you can have. For example; please take them all.

Overpaid, self important, nuevo riche, pompous, sods the lot of them.

I happen to live near Manchester Uniteds Phil Neville and his wife, Judy Killelea - and some mornings on my way to work I have the extraordinary pleasure of having to share the road with Mr Neville or one of his entourage. Who seem to have the impression that they are divine, or from some other greater power. They have no manners, no respect and no concept of normal life. Sure he may have a fleet of cars including a Bentley Flying Spur, BMW X5 and with number plates like "2000PN" but non of this money bought him style or class. Or, as it seems, indicators on his cars. You'd have thought £100,000+ worth of car would have indicators.

Side note. Their house has big gates. On each gate resides an initial of the couple, a "P" and a "J". The locals now call them "Punch and Judy". Gotta love "local people".

And if it wasnt for the associated entourage I would have been the man to have spat, scratched, shat on - or at least thrown some insults to. But the one time I got really wound up by Phil Nevilles driving enough to say "right fine - its worth going to jail for the acts I want to commit" it wasnt Phil driving but a bloody big body guard, which did cripple my new found bravery a bit. He was though sat in the back. And I still blame him.

A friend of mine once tried to run Phil off the road in his X5 because when it wore "2000PN" as Phil cut my mate up 3 times in 10 seconds.

I dont like Phil Neville

He should aplogise to me and the valley

Or fuck off!

So. Where was I. Oh yeah. We have plenty more footballers you can have.

They'll fit right in over in the US.

And if not. You guys have guns....
posted by 13twelve at 10:05 AM on January 11, 2007 [2 favorites]


The Los Angeles Galaxy? The Chicago Fire? The New York Red Bulls? Are they serious?
posted by Partial Law at 10:07 AM on January 11, 2007


Anyway, Real Madrid didn't resign him so he had to do something.

He was offered another two year contract at Real Madrid, but chose not to take it. The issue was how much time he'd get in the first team. That, and he wanted full control of his image rights. Real Madrid was insisting that they get 50%.

One of the reasons he wanted to go to LA is because it has one of the two Beckham Academies. The other is here in London. My eldest son went to the one in London last summer, and it's an amazing place, with fantastic staff. It has two full-size pitches inside.

Incidentally, I saw Beckham play last year at Real Madrid, and those here claiming that he's not a great footballer are just plain wrong. He was playing alongside Zidane and Ronaldo, two of the greatest players ever, and he never looked second best compared to them. Granted Ronaldo's now a bit fat and slow, but he's still got a magic touch, and Zidane proved how good he was at last year's World Cup.
posted by veedubya at 10:07 AM on January 11, 2007


I didn't see this coming. Not with the fact that his academy is in L. A. and the fact that they've recently changed the MLS to allow someone like Beckham to come in, oh and the fact that it's L. A. and that they want to get into movies. Still it'll be interesting to see what happens...
posted by ob at 10:08 AM on January 11, 2007


So, that's the end of his career.
posted by dov3 at 10:11 AM on January 11, 2007


I dont like Phil Neville

I don't either but you seem to have good reason. Me? I just don't like the cut of his jib
posted by ob at 10:12 AM on January 11, 2007


I don't know if he would qualify for the American team or not, yes/no?

No, you have to be American for that. Maybe he'll take citizenship, but it'll take him so long that his playing days will probably be over. That plus the fact that he's played for England for years means that he won't ever play for the American team...
posted by ob at 10:14 AM on January 11, 2007


Oh yay! Now Posh can be closer to her plastic surgeon! How convenient!

And the Scientologists!
posted by John Shaft at 10:15 AM on January 11, 2007


What peacay & wfc123 said.

And no, edgeways he wouldn't qualify for the American team. Even if he did, putting the onus on one player to single handedly raise the talent level of an entire squad is a bit much.

It would take at least two: Buffon & Cannavaro

/WC 06 cheery snarkery
posted by romakimmy at 10:16 AM on January 11, 2007


I predict this will do nothing in the long term to make soccer/football a viable (read: profitable) sports industry in the US. You would think that if we really liked it, for all the kids that have played since the 70s (which, I'll wager, is greater than the combined total of kids playing baseball and football), the game would have caught on by now.

according to wikipedia, LA Galaxy is already profitable. The league isn't but that one team is.

also, in terms of quality, the MLS is becoming better and better. US soccer is no longer the craptastic sport it use to be.
posted by Stynxno at 10:20 AM on January 11, 2007


1. Fuck Real. BCN is true Spanish football.

I couldn't agree more
posted by ob at 10:21 AM on January 11, 2007


Yeah, I really dropped the ball on the title. How about Bang Her Like Beckham?

How about just plain old Bend Beckham?

I would make that video, but only if it could also have a Fwi-Song and the Eaters scene. Also, all of the fucking, and there would be a lot of it and most of it would feature Beckham as the catcher, would take place on a mattress stuffed entirely with clippings from Mel Gibson's beard, in order to imbue their efforts with his essence.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 10:21 AM on January 11, 2007


Meanwhile...
posted by ob at 10:29 AM on January 11, 2007


"the idea of sitting and watching an entire game is about as enticing as Star Jones in a negligee"

Jesus, I never thought about it like that. Metafilter is at its best when you read a comment out of left field and it totally changes/rejiggers/challenges your perspective and preconceived notions.

Damn... I can see my big dark Star covered in cocoa butter... sliding up and down the arm of my leather couch...so slowly. I have to go to the bathroom now, I'll be back in a minute.
posted by hatchetjack at 10:31 AM on January 11, 2007


Can't wait to see the movie he makes with Bugs Bunny.
posted by Kronoss at 10:31 AM on January 11, 2007


The $250 million is a (probably wildly inflated) estimate based on licensing, marketing and a bunch of other ancillary revenue streams. The annual salary will be much less than that, reportedly about $9 million a year worked through some combination of MLS, the Galaxy, AEG and adidas (and who knows, maybe Disney, since ESPN will for the first time be paying a rights fee for MLS broadcasts this year).

There is some good soccer in MLS and I'm happy to see Beckham coming, but it will be weird to the world's most recognizable player trotting onto the pitch in front of 8,000 fans in a cavernous and empty Arrowhead stadium.

The problem is that even as the league contemplates bringing over these slightly washed-up international players it's losing the likes of Deuce, a player who might actually appeal to the kind of demographic MLS should want to cultivate.
posted by stargell at 10:35 AM on January 11, 2007


A subject near and dear to my heart: I was a season ticket holder for DC United from the birth of the league until last year, when I moved out of the DC area.

The level of play in MLS has improved greatly. It is not regularly on the level of European Soccer, but it's getting there. I've seen the United play Tottenham squarely, and beat numerous Central and South American clubs.

Beckham signing is a good move for publicity, but the money makes me worry about the morale of other great players. It was only 3-4 years ago that Freddy Adu was the highest payed player in MLS at 500K/year. I believe Landon Donovan (definitely a world-caliber player) is now the highest payed at right around a million a year. How will Beckham's deal square with other deserving players? Is it going to be bad for the league as far as morale, and ticket prices, and growth?
posted by Benny Andajetz at 10:39 AM on January 11, 2007


the idea of sitting and watching an entire game is about as enticing as Star Jones in a negligee

Your loss. On both counts.
posted by stargell at 10:39 AM on January 11, 2007


The Los Angeles Galaxy? The Chicago Fire? The New York Red Bulls? Are they serious?

In their first year, the Kansas City team was the Wiz. Their advertising slogan that year? "You gotta go!"

The Red Bulls were sold to that company. They also own Red Bull Salzburg.

And keep in mind, too, that while British sport clubs grew out of neighborhoods and towns, Professional American sports have always had a greater association with cities and the leagues that run them. And the US has always had greater professional sports diversity than the UK and the rest of Europe.

College sports basically have the same sorts of local-regional associations as European sports. March Madness has been called the closest American analogue to the FA Cup.
posted by dw at 10:41 AM on January 11, 2007


1. Fuck Real. BCN is true Spanish football.


Actually, BCN is real Catalan football. They just happen to play a lot of Spanish sides.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 10:42 AM on January 11, 2007


So does he play on the next US World Cup team?
posted by poppo at 10:42 AM on January 11, 2007


I think this is going to seriously hurt MLS. I can't prove it on short notice, but I'm certain that the MLS didn't spend $50 million on players last year -- that is, on *every* player in the entire league.

They've just doubled -- at least -- the player cost line, just as they were becoming solid. MLS's moves to dedicated (and smaller) stadiums was really paying off, and needed to continue.

The real problem is the MLS structure. Players don't contract with teams, they contract with the league -- in effect, LA -- one of exactly two profitable teams after the 2006 season, just cost every other team $3.84 million a year, for the next five years. Teams on the edge of profitability (like the Chicago Fire) aren't going to like this. The rest are now in deeper holes. They were all looking happy at the new TV contract and at the Shirt sponsorship rules, which were worth easily a million a year to each club. Now, all the shirt money is Beckham bound.

Worse: the escalation has started. There aren't that many Beckhams out there, but you can bet a few teams may be paying $10m/year to someone. Suddenly, player costs per year are well over $100 million and rising. The Galaxy might do well -- but you know, it isn't a league if everyone folds.

I'm afraid MLS isn't going to be long for this world, unless the TV contract makes them serious amount of cash -- we're talking $200 million plus a year.
posted by eriko at 10:45 AM on January 11, 2007


I know that they're Catalan, but they're in La Liga, so that's Spanish football...
posted by ob at 10:45 AM on January 11, 2007


The problem is that even as the league contemplates bringing over these slightly washed-up international players it's losing the likes of Deuce, a player who might actually appeal to the kind of demographic MLS should want to cultivate.

But the national team is more important in the short term than the MLS. Dempsey needs the experience of playing top-caliber ball. You have to move him along in his development, and he's done as much as he can in the MLS.

But why did it have to be Fulham? Reading really needs help in the middle....
posted by dw at 10:47 AM on January 11, 2007


dw: Two reasons: Firstly Fulham have been in the Prem longer than Reading. Secondly McBride and Bocanegra being Fulham players might have convinced him.
posted by ob at 10:59 AM on January 11, 2007


*Sniffs* Smells kinda like Lothar Matthaeus in here.
posted by Otis at 11:03 AM on January 11, 2007


Good move, but too much money.
posted by danb at 11:04 AM on January 11, 2007


in the sense that any publicity is good publicity this is probably a good p.r. move for MLS; becks is alot more interested in the post-soccer opportunites moving to SoCal offers than in playing soccer for the Galaxy. i would be pleasantly surprised if he actually took *playing* soccer here seriously.

that is a fucking astronomical amount of money, though. although it does make the new tv deals MLS recently signed look like a pretty good deal for the networks now. i would rather have seen the money spent on drawing in 'purer' soccer players - like the 'next ronaldinho', whoever that is. you know, since MLS suddenly discovered it has tens or even hundreds of millions to spend on players now.
posted by the painkiller at 11:16 AM on January 11, 2007


Just a thought: wouldn't this move really bring out the Latino population? Granted that Beckham's obviouisly not Latino, but is the Galaxy banking on increased revenue and attendance from football fans wanting to watch a world-caliber star? Shit, if Morrissey can have a huge Mexican fan base, why not Beckham?
posted by solistrato at 11:22 AM on January 11, 2007 [1 favorite]


This could really make stars of some of the young MLS stars. If some nobody shows up and schools Becks, you bet it will get global coverage. He may not be the 3lions captain, but folks are still paying attention.
posted by jmgorman at 11:23 AM on January 11, 2007


The Galaxy might do well -- but you know, it isn't a league if everyone folds.

I'd be very surprised if newcomers Toronto FC doesn't do well, Toronto always goes crazy with every World Cup; and MLSE (owners of the Maple Leafs and Raptors) has usually been very financially prudent.
posted by bobo123 at 11:26 AM on January 11, 2007


I think that he and Posh want to conquer the USA. That'd be a major achievement for them, I bet that they believe.

He built a training facility of some sort in LA last year as well.

I went online to see about buying tickets - they aren't as cheap as they used to be.
posted by k8t at 11:26 AM on January 11, 2007


Fuck Real. BCN is true Spanish football.

Wouldn't BCN be true Catalan football?
posted by kalimotxero at 11:42 AM on January 11, 2007


The Los Angeles Galaxy? The Chicago Fire? The New York Red Bulls?

Three words: Real Salt Lake.
posted by sveskemus at 11:44 AM on January 11, 2007 [1 favorite]


As I said above:

I know that they're Catalan, but they're in La Liga, so that's Spanish football...

Or to be more precise both are correct...
posted by ob at 11:44 AM on January 11, 2007


TheWhiteSkull: "Actually, BCN is real Catalan football. They just happen to play a lot of Spanish sides."

Catalonia is part of Spain. This is an obscure fact for many, but it's true. Franco's legacy did nothing to change this; and most free-thinking Catalans, while proud, agree that they're Spanish, too, and work hard to embrace that heritage, as difficult and storied as it may be. Basques and Catalans and Galegos are Spanish, too; and one of the problems of modern Spain is making it possible for those people to have something they can value in the common history, as it doesn't leave them much room for bonding with speakers of Castilian Spanish.

Also, as ob points out, they're in La Liga. As such, they are a Spanish team, in every sense. Which is why Real Madrid's general attitude, and the attitude of their fans, burns me up so much. I was in Madrid last summer, and, as always, the sports papers were full of talk about how 'estamos la cada cierta de los Futbol Clubs de España.' Knowing, as the entire universe does, who's been winning recently, this sort of claptrap strikes me as (a) disengenuous, (b) pretentious in a silly way, and (c) unhealthy for a nation still reeling from the effects of a sick dictatorship.

But maybe I'm reading too much into a mere game. In any case, Ronaldinho, a regular badass, is now a Spanish citizen, at least according to Wikipedia.
posted by koeselitz at 11:50 AM on January 11, 2007


Don't forget that the Cosmos also had Franz Beckenbauer, not just Pele!
posted by cell divide at 11:50 AM on January 11, 2007


Just a thought: wouldn't this move really bring out the Latino population? Granted that Beckham's obviouisly not Latino, but is the Galaxy banking on increased revenue and attendance from football fans wanting to watch a world-caliber star? Shit, if Morrissey can have a huge Mexican fan base, why not Beckham?

Man, you cannot underestimate the power of blocs of knowledgeable fans in soccer. I saw it first-hand when DC United traded away Raul Diaz Arce. He was a very talented striker that was huge fun to watch but, more importantly, he was a god to the rabid Salvadoran contingent of United fans. When he left, DC lost about a third of their hardcore fans. Not only that, when the Revolution (the team Diaz Arce was traded to) would come to DC, the Salvadorans would return en masse to root against the United.

Know thy market, especially in soccer.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 11:55 AM on January 11, 2007


please oh please let this to be a sign to come of soccer gaining in the states!
posted by Kudos at 12:12 PM on January 11, 2007


Somebody joked about taxes, but I can't imagine Becks and Posh won't be naturalizing in the US for precisely that reason.
posted by bardic at 12:15 PM on January 11, 2007


Three words: Real Salt Lake.

Two more: Sheffield Wednesday.
posted by stargell at 12:16 PM on January 11, 2007


Soccer will probably be even less popular now.
posted by owillis at 12:20 PM on January 11, 2007


dw: Two reasons: Firstly Fulham have been in the Prem longer than Reading.

Look, just because it took Reading 130 years to get to the top division doesn't mean you should hold it against them. They're in 9th right now.

Secondly McBride and Bocanegra being Fulham players might have convinced him.

I was hoping that Convey and Hahnemann would be a greater lure. Too much to hope for, I guess.

And I guess having Fayed's money (detestable as he is personally) is a better guarantee of opportunity and compensation than dealing with Madjeski trying to sell to Royals.
posted by dw at 12:25 PM on January 11, 2007


Sell THE Royals.

D'oh.
posted by dw at 12:25 PM on January 11, 2007


dw: Frankly Reading are one of the few clubs that Fulham can say that about! I'm not knocking Reading; they've done extraordinarily well this season.

Anyway, I'm glad to have met a Reading fan an MeFi. There are only two of us Fulham fans on here (that I know of) but you may be even more of a rare bird, so to speak.
posted by ob at 12:31 PM on January 11, 2007


most free-thinking Catalans, while proud, agree that they're Spanish, too, and work hard to embrace that heritage,

HA HA HA HA! You are totally on drugs! Ask these guys or these guys, or hell even these guys what they think.

Let me repeat: HA HA HA HA! You are totally on drugs!

Anyway the original comment about it being Catalan soccer was a joke. Sheesh. Who knew that Aznar commented on Metafilter...!
posted by sic at 12:31 PM on January 11, 2007


Look you're right, most Catalans would never say that they're Spanish, but BCN are in La Liga, and La Liga is a Spanish League so it is Spanish football as well as Catalan football. I don't see why this is controversial. It's got nothing to do with my feelings about Catalanisme, indeed quite the opposite.

Anyway the original comment about it being Catalan soccer was a joke.

How do you know? You didn't make it...
posted by ob at 12:37 PM on January 11, 2007


sic: "HA HA HA HA! You are totally on drugs!"

The statute passed, didn't it? And, if I recall, of the parties you link, only Esquerra were against it. Catalans are for autonomy, but they quite often accept their place in Spain and in Europe as a whole, and are eager to, being relatively cosmopolitan.

Notice I referred to 'free-thinking Catalans;' I don't pretend to speak for all of them, but it's easy to misunderstand the demographic. The nationalism of the Catalans is neither militant nor uncompromising; it is generally a leftist and democratic nationalism, and, as such, it's very open-minded. As anybody who's ever been to Navarra can probably tell you.

Make no mistake: it seems to me that the rest of Spain is damned lucky to share a land-mass with the Catalans. But this silly argument over the name is just stupid, and, what's more, it obscures the particular nature of the nation of Catalonia.

But, meh. I'm not from there, I've just spent some time there and love it. I only spoke up because I think it's stupid when people lump the Catalans together with other militantly nationalist European states. Really, to Catalans, pride is important, but not as an end unto itself.
posted by koeselitz at 12:57 PM on January 11, 2007


I am possessed of little soccer knowledge and I know nary a thing about the state of MLS, but I do know one thing: Americans love money. That's pretty much what this is all about, right? Not introducing a premier talent to American Soccer, but introducing a premier paycheck.

People in and around LA won't be watching Galaxy games because they want to watch Beckham play good soccer, inspire his teammates, and win championships (that would merely ice the cake). Americans will watch because they want to see what the hell $250 million is worth, kicking a ball around whilst surrendering use of hands. And then they'll have a fine time judging his relative worth. That's the real American pastime, isn't it? And his wife thrown in, too? That's the sound of People magazine busting a nut all over InStyle's face.

Not to mention that they can raise the talent level in the MLS by creating a bigger talent pool. Again, not by signing Beckham, but by signing a check with lots of extraneous zeros. Now that someone (anyone) is making $250 million playing soccer in the US, we'll get all kinds of new interest in the sport. Look what Michelle Wie did to golf - you'd think the putting green was daycare these days with the number of parents trying to raise the next big endorsement deal.
posted by krippledkonscious at 1:05 PM on January 11, 2007


All I was arguing about was the pedantry of saying "Don't you mean CATALAN football". I know that Barcelona is in Catalunya, and therefore BCN are a Catalan team. My mother is from Barcelona and my family live there and they're all rabid BCN supporters. The point was that koeselitz was comparing Real to BCN and both clubs play in La Liga, (the Spanish league) the last time that I checked...
posted by ob at 1:09 PM on January 11, 2007


The whole reporting of this is off, no one is asking how much Beckham's atually getting. The $250m includes endorsements! Which have nothing to do with his actual paycheck. I wonder what the real amount is. As Krippled says above, money talks so it's not surprising they're making up this number.
posted by cell divide at 1:25 PM on January 11, 2007


Some guy writing for the Guardian pointed out that Beckham might be good for MLS. His point was that that Beckham is not actually very good, so he won't dominate games or unbalance his team. He will, however, provide a steady trickle of spectacular free kicks and passes that will fit nicely into 30-second soccer segments on American TV, which is what people really want from MLS.
posted by nowonmai at 1:33 PM on January 11, 2007


MLS sources say his annual playing income is only in the "single figure millions."

Beckham's playing contract falls well short of the big deals signed in Major League Baseball, where Alex Rodriguez is being paid $252 million and Derek Jeter $189 million, both over 10 years.
posted by smackfu at 1:35 PM on January 11, 2007


Cardiff City FC aren't based in England, but they compete in English Football. Perhaps this analogous situation is something you hotheaded Catalan separatists could consider.
posted by nowonmai at 1:36 PM on January 11, 2007 [1 favorite]


Here's what the BBC are saying about his earnings.
posted by ob at 1:41 PM on January 11, 2007


Re: Catalan football

My original post was sort of tongue-in-cheek. One could easily argue that BCN plays Catalan/ Dutch/ Brazilian/ Cameroonean/ Spanish football.

I'm actually a die-hard Gooner (French/ Dutch/ Catalan/ Brazilian football), but I respect Barca, their legacy and their style of football (the events of last spring notwithstanding).

Actually, with international transfers now commonplace at the top of most leagues, it's interesting to see which sides (or leagues themselves) retain some sort of unique character (national or otherwise) and which simply become collections of overpaid, underperforming hacks (I'm not looking at you Chelsea. I'm thinking at you).

Somehow, I question the degree to which Becks will bring the "magic" of current English football to his new home in LA.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 1:44 PM on January 11, 2007


collections of overpaid, underperforming hacks (I'm not looking at you Chelsea. I'm thinking at you).

Ha! Yes there does seem to be trouble in paradise doesn't there?

Yeah, and I don't think that Beckham will do that well at LA. His pace is off and it strikes me as classic big-name-footballer-last-stop-before-retirement move
posted by ob at 1:50 PM on January 11, 2007


I wonder if he has an injury or something that isn't public knowledge yet. I would have thought he had a few more years in him before it was time to retire to the elephants' graveyard that is MLS.

I think it's a coup for the league, to get him now, but, ouch, that's a lot of money. It's feeling very much like the Cosmos to me right now, and we all know how that worked out.

OTOH, I don't care any more since my team got turned into a bunch of soda cans...the league'll never see another dime from me, Beckham or no Beckham.
posted by bink at 1:55 PM on January 11, 2007


About Cataluña, I can only suggest that you guys spend more time there and really get to know more than one or two Catalans before you make you decide if the majority think of themselves as Catalan or Spanish. By the way, I don't defend or reject the attitude of Catalan nationalists, In fact I'm not at all emotionally invested in this topic, I just call it as I see it.

By the way BCN is the acronym for Barcelona, FCB is the acronym for the great Catalan/ Dutch/ Brazilian/ Cameroonean/ Spanish football team that plays there ;)
posted by sic at 2:15 PM on January 11, 2007


Only $80K to have to not only watch but direct Star Jones? Add another 0 or two and we'll talk.

I hear Beckham can't even get hard unless there's $50k on the table.

I think the real impact of this signing is whether or not non-soccer watching folks will now watch. I almost certainly still will not watch. But if it the coverage is split 50-50 between soccer and Posh Spice doing aerobics and yoga naked, I'm there!
posted by fenriq at 2:18 PM on January 11, 2007


13twelve: Erm, it's not Manchester Utd's Phil Neville. He's Everton's. Either way, he's still a tosser though.
posted by MrMustard at 2:21 PM on January 11, 2007


And who's Star Jones? Is it her?
posted by MrMustard at 2:25 PM on January 11, 2007


About Cataluña, I can only suggest that you guys spend more time there and really get to know more than one or two Catalans before you make you decide if the majority think of themselves as Catalan or Spanish.

I think we're talking at cross-purposes here but, as I said, I agree with you, half my family is Catalan (so I know plenty of Catalans and I've spent a lot of time there) and most Catalans do not see themselves as Spanish, but the biggest team in Catalunya and the focus of Catalan pride during the Franco era still plays in the Spanish league. Anyway, it's true that FCB (and you're right about that too) are, like most big clubs, an international outfit.
posted by ob at 2:30 PM on January 11, 2007


MLS LOL
posted by matteo at 2:54 PM on January 11, 2007


He'll break his foot again and that'll be that.
posted by dopamine at 3:06 PM on January 11, 2007


Anyway, I'm glad to have met a Reading fan an MeFi. There are only two of us Fulham fans on here (that I know of) but you may be even more of a rare bird, so to speak.

I'm probably about the closest thing to an ivory-billed woodpecker -- an American fan of Reading. But I lived in Reading for the better part of a year when I was trying to "find myself."

I mentioned Beckham-to-LA to the wife, and she immediately asked if MLS was trying to turn into Japanese baseball by buying old stars to prop up attendance.

But usually the Japanese teams buy cheap quad-A guys like Tuffy Rhodes, so I don't think it's the best comparison (though there was a rumor recently quashed that Yokohama was talking to Sammy Sosa).
posted by dw at 3:41 PM on January 11, 2007


I'm amazed by the number of people who think Beckhma isn't a very good player. I have to wonder how many of them actually watch a lot of football? As a lifelong Liverpool fan I have to say that he is irritatingly good, particularly at pulling off last minute victories. Man U dominated UK soccer for a long time and Beckham was a big part of that.
posted by fshgrl at 4:05 PM on January 11, 2007


Soccer may not be one of the biggest spectator sports in the U.S. but it is second only to basketball in participation by adults and youths in team sports. It is way ahead of baseball/softball and football.
posted by JackFlash at 4:55 PM on January 11, 2007


Beckham was a big part of that

keyword: "was".

Sad to see giants of the 1990s such as Beckham and Figo leave the game, but this is life, they're not getting any younger.

Beckham made a smart decision, he has already won all he could win in actual football (he'll never touch that shiny World Cup but, whatever, it's not like England wins it all the time anyway, and he always performed horribly there -- the little crying tantrum in Germany was the perfect, pathetic farewell from Beckham to the sweet, golden trophy) and he's now free to make a shitload of money as a circus curiosity. He never would have made the same amount of cash had he waited one or two more years. And L.A. is certainly livelier for a "celebrity couple" than some Arab emirate, with all due respect.

I doubt that he'll ever become a movie star but L.A. is the perfect destination: "seminars" at Scientology Celebrity Centers, Kabbalah bracelets, disfiguring plastic surgery, high-speed paparazzi chases in Malibu and daily shopping sprees at Kitson are the perfect endgame for the "beautiful couple".

Next: Ronaldo. He'll go to Saudi Arabia or something, spend more time with his Big Macs.
posted by matteo at 6:53 PM on January 11, 2007


Beckham made a smart decision, he has already won all he could win in actual football

He did win a few Premierships and the European Cup with Man U.....

....but Real Madrid have won zero trophies since he arrived in 2003.
posted by FieldingGoodney at 7:18 PM on January 11, 2007


Now Edgar Davids may be on his way to the Dallas club.
posted by wfc123 at 7:45 PM on January 11, 2007


Catalonia is part of Spain.

Part of Catalonia is part of Spain. The rest is in France.
posted by vbfg at 1:46 AM on January 12, 2007


What's hilarious is that Posh thinks this will get her away from the tabloids. There was an interview somewhere with her last week (I think?) where she said that Americans wouldn't be nearly as nasty as the British tabloids. Honey, that sounds like a dare! :)
posted by antifuse at 3:36 AM on January 12, 2007


By the way, "only" 1/5 of that published salary is guaranteed.

The rest is incentives.
posted by wfc123 at 8:08 AM on January 12, 2007


As for Posh- being thin seems to be a crime in America. So you will see a ton of accusations that she is "sick" and "anorexic".

I realize some of the British tabloids went that same route with her, but here in the U.S. anorexia-baiting has become an industry.
posted by wfc123 at 8:16 AM on January 12, 2007


fshgrl, I don't think people are arguing that Beckham is not a good player; I was arguing above that he's not a dominant superstar.

He's more Steve Kerr than Michael Jordan-- a sharpshooter, not a guy who's going to take over games all by himself. Never was. Now, as scoring happens less frequently in soccer than basketball, his value is obviously way higher than Kerr's ever was, but you get my point.

My brother argued that I'm wrong about Beckham on the grounds that he will score a ton of exciting goals against MLS competition. I hope he's right.

JackFlash wrote: Soccer may not be one of the biggest spectator sports in the U.S. but it is second only to basketball in participation by adults and youths in team sports.

True enough; also, in the 1920s, horse racing was a major sport. What has that got to do with Beckham?
posted by ibmcginty at 10:26 AM on January 12, 2007


Erm, quite a lot. The sports people play often end up being their favourite sports. Not many people can easily participate in horse racing (which is still a major spectator sport), but the more people that play football, the more are likely to be interested in watching it.
posted by MrMustard at 4:15 PM on January 12, 2007


It doesn't really work like that here, MrMustard. People play it but don't watch. Hell, I like playing soccer, but find it incredibly boring to watch, and I think you'll find that a common sentiment.
posted by dame at 6:03 PM on January 12, 2007


dame: I see what you're saying. I lived in the States for 18 months and played football (yes, I am going to insist on calling it that) 2 or 3 times a week with a bunch of incredibly enthusiatic Americans. However, when it came to watching the sport, it was the non-Yanks (various Europeans, central and south Americans) among us who were up for it.
posted by MrMustard at 12:37 AM on January 13, 2007


Three words: Real Salt Lake.
Two more: Sheffield Wednesday

As a Wednesdayite, I have to protest. As silly as the name may be, it's been so since 1867. Many of the MLS team names are just a cheap homage to legendary teams abroad. Hi ho Sheffield Wednesday!

As for Becks... I'm not too fussed. People keep asking me about my opinion (especially since I just got back from a trip to the UK to see my beloved Owls), but who knows what it will mean for the MLS and if he'll do well. I'll probably go see one game and that's it. I don't like LA much, but it'd be worth a drive down. Besides, I can boo one of the most overrated players in the country- Landon Donovan- which is a plus.

I will say that he wasn't very good during the World Cup this summer, but then neither were any other English midfielders (save Hargreaves). I want Scholes to come back to international play.
posted by kendrak at 1:26 AM on January 13, 2007


As for Posh- being thin seems to be a crime in America. So you will see a ton of accusations that she is "sick" and "anorexic".

Umm, it has nothing to do with being thin as a crime, and everything to do with the fact that a ton of Hollywood starlets are actively starving themselves. It's not like these starlets started out thin, and the tabloids just said "OMG, thin girls, anorexia!" - the girls started out a normal weight, and starved themselves down so that they have no breasts, you can see every rib on the front AND back, and their arms look like the arms of concentration camp prisoners. *Then* the tabloids started with the "OMG, anorexia!" - and rightly so. Nicole Richie, Kate Bosworth and Keira Knightley are just three of the offenders that come to mind, but there are more. These aren't the women who should be role models for young women, they have enough body issues as it is.
posted by antifuse at 7:21 AM on January 18, 2007


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