David Beckham to Leave Real Madrid, Join LA Galaxy (MLS)

[quote name='kill3r7'](please, don't tell me people won't come because I see it every summer at Giant Stadium when Chelsea, Man U or AC Milan is in town).[/QUOTE]

:drool:

[quote name='Duo_Maxwell']soccer (and yes that's what we call it here)[/QUOTE]

Is that the sports fans' version of "this is America, learn to speak English or get the hell out"? ;)
 
[quote name='ph33r m3']Beckham won't do anything, they tried this a long time ago with a better player, and bigger star. Pele, how'd that one work out?[/QUOTE]
Quite well actually:
In 1975 Pele signed a $2.8-million, three-year contract with the Cosmos. His presence in the NASL helped boost average attendance by almost 80 percent from 1975 (7,597) to 1977 (13,584).
Click to expand...

The Cosmos were one of the few very successful teams in the NASL.
 
[quote name='PKRipp3r']soccer is 'popular' in America

NBA is a national craze, even with the ratings being down

look at the TV audience for Basketball games or ANY other sport vs. Soccer


soccer may get there one day.. but not many people in L.A. will care two craps that he's coming here

seriously... MOST American sports fans actively dislike soccer[/QUOTE]

I live in LA and almost everyone in my dept was excited to have Beckham come to our city. Belive me, there are plenty of people who like Soccer here in LA.

LA like every large town is a sports town, we like all sports even football despite there being no team here. We just make the trek to San Diego to get our fix usually.
 
[quote name='mykevermin']Is it ultimately meaningless because fooball will never catch on in the US?[/QUOTE]

Probably correct.
 
[quote name='MadFlava']As a DC United supporter, I would love to see us counter the LA Galaxy by signing Zidane! I don't care that he got red carded in his last game for France but the man can still play and dominate. His overall performance in the last World Cup was amazing. Zidane can outplay Beckham any day of the week.[/quote]

QFT.
 
[quote name='mykevermin']

Is that the sports fans' version of "this is America, learn to speak English or get the hell out"? ;)[/QUOTE]

Maybe subconsenusly, but honestly it stems more from getting to know a guy from Ireland for the past 7 years and having a phone conversation with him about the football game he's watching/watched can alos be quite confusing.

Seriously though it's not a big deal, I just don't like two things having the same name. If american football was called chaz-wassums ball here then calling soccer football would be fine by me, but unfortunately that's not the case.
 
[quote name='Duo_Maxwell']Maybe subconsenusly, but honestly it stems more from getting to know a guy from Ireland for the past 7 years and having a phone conversation with him about the football game he's watching/watched can alos be quite confusing.

Seriously though it's not a big deal, I just don't like two things having the same name. If american football was called chaz-wassums ball here then calling soccer football would be fine by me, but unfortunately that's not the case.[/QUOTE]

I'm just kiddin'. I'll call it football, but make clear what the context is. Of course, from time to time I'll accidentally stumble over a "soccer" or two.

You've read enough of my posts that you know I'm a highfalutin' English-language type. Just be glad I'm not talking about beer, wine, or Jazz. ;)
 
[quote name='ph33r m3']Beckham won't do anything, they tried this a long time ago with a better player, and bigger star. Pele, how'd that one work out?[/QUOTE]

Here's how it worked out: the New York Cosmos sold out GIANTS STADIUM. More than once.
The league only went down when they got a little drunk on success and expanded too quickly, letting idiots of moderate "fame" ("Hi! I own two popular regional used car dealerships! I'd like to own a sports team too! What do you call this game again?") and means buy in without knowing what they were getting into. They didn't have the scratch to compete with the Cosmos, and no one wanted to come out to see the Cosmos bust a bunch of no-namers.
Not only that, average annual attendance continued to go UP for 3 years after Pele retired in '77.
Things didn't start falling apart for them until Warner Communications sold them off.
That was in the late '70s and early '80s when far fewer people knew about soccer. Say what you want about Beckham, but this can only increase MLS's presence on the world stage and - hopefully - revolutionize professional American soccer. If AEG doesn't screw it up too badly it's only going to grow from here.
 
[quote name='mykevermin']Thoughts? Can such "star power" help or harm MLS? Does it matter since he'll be 36 at the end of his MLS contract? Is it ultimately meaningless because fooball will never catch on in the US?[/QUOTE]

It's completely nuts. I can't believe they're spending that kind of money to bring a has-been (and wasn't-even-that-good-when-he-was) like Beckham. If you're going to spend that kind of big bucks, get someone who can still play or several young someones who can play. Surely for $250 million we could get one player per team or a star in his prime.

I know many big-name players are not going to play in MLS for any reasonable amount of money given it's not the best career move for them, but surely we can find some promising young players instead of a lumbering dinosaur like Beckham. He's probably the most overrated player in the last 15 years.

Ah well, one more reason to hate LA Galaxy. Come on, anyone who has ever watched them, you know you hate them. Even more than Metroscum...I mean *guffaw* Red Bulls---
 
[quote name='Soodmeg']There are a ton of soccer clubs,camps,teams etc etc. About the same as football and basketball.[/QUOTE]

Actually, more than both. Basketball is probably close. The strange thing is how American football is so popular when so very few people play it.
 
[quote name='PKRipp3r']look at the TV audience for Basketball games or ANY other sport vs. Soccer[/quote]

MLS games get similar ratings to NHL games...you just don't know what you're talking about, plain and simple.

[quote name='PKRipp3r']soccer may get there one day.. but not many people in L.A. will care two craps that he's coming here

seriously... MOST American sports fans actively dislike soccer[/QUOTE]

Spare us your ignorance. Plenty of people in LA will care. And most of the people who actively dislike football (soccer) are those who are older and never were familiar with the sport growing up, or spiteful people who feel somehow threatened on a personal level with football becoming more popular and perhaps their favorite sport (mostly baseball) losing popularity.
 
[quote name='PKRipp3r']i agree that MLS needs stars, but I've been to a Galaxy game in L.A. and it was kinda pathetic[/QUOTE]

That's because it's Galaxy. You should wait until DC United comes to visit next season and sit with the DC traveling supporters, who will make more noise than the entire Galaxy "fan" base.
 
[quote name='elprincipe']MLS games get similar ratings to NHL games...you just don't know what you're talking about, plain and simple.
[/quote]

NHL can't really be considered an american sport since a fifth of the teams are located in Canada and there isn't a single team on the US west coast.

I think soccer would do better in the US if they found a way to increase scoring and cut it into quarter play. At the moment it's similar to golf, enjoyable to play but really boring to watch.
 
[quote name='zionoverfire']NHL can't really be considered an american sport since a fifth of the teams are located in Canada and there isn't a single team on the US west coast.

I think soccer would do better in the US if they found a way to increase scoring and cut it into quarter play. At the moment it's similar to golf, enjoyable to play but really boring to watch.[/quote]

What? Just because there are teams in Canada the NHL isn't American? Consider last I remember, Canada was in North America, and San Jose, Los Angeles, and Anahiem are all in California, you have no idea what you're talking about. This will be good for MLS, hopefully they can now get other players to come here. And what MLS needs is more advertising, I wouldn't even know if they still existed if I didn't follow it somewhat.
 
[quote name='Thongsy']What? Just because there are teams in Canada the NHL isn't American? Consider last I remember, Canada was in North America, and San Jose, Los Angeles, and Anahiem are all in California, you have no idea what you're talking about. This will be good for MLS, hopefully they can now get other players to come here. And what MLS needs is more advertising, I wouldn't even know if they still existed if I didn't follow it somewhat.[/quote]

Please don't tell me you're stupid enough to believe that North America and America are the same thing.

And I meant to write the North West Coast, although the more I think about it our market share is rather pitiful.
 
[quote name='zionoverfire']And I meant to write the North West Coast, although the more I think about it our market share is rather pitiful.[/QUOTE] Hey, you're close enough to be a Canucks fan. :lol:
 
[quote name='elprincipe']MLS games get similar ratings to NHL games...you just don't know what you're talking about, plain and simple.
[/QUOTE]

I played the sport when I was younger and in HS and I enjoy it for the most part still, but you are just in denial mode here. First off, you for some reason cite the only sport in the last 5 years to lose a major TV contract and fall out of TV viewing availbility for many people as a good thing to be equal to in ratings. Compare those ratings before the NHL players/owners blew it for the fans and I'd wager your depiction of events incorrect (for a quick comparison, note how many years the NHL lasted on ESPN compared to the MLS).
 
[quote name='Duo_Maxwell']I played the sport when I was younger and in HS and I enjoy it for the most part still, but you are just in denial mode here. First off, you for some reason cite the only sport in the last 5 years to lose a major TV contract and fall out of TV viewing availbility for many people as a good thing to be equal to in ratings. Compare those ratings before the NHL players/owners blew it for the fans and I'd wager your depiction of events incorrect (for a quick comparison, note how many years the NHL lasted on ESPN compared to the MLS).[/quote]

MLS games are still televised on ESPN today.......when was the last time NHL had a game on ESPN?? The only station I ever watch NHL games on are Comcast sports net when the blackhawks play away and then OLN.

On another note, anyone that thinks soccer isn't huge here in America, go out to a playoff game and you will be amazed by the followers. The fans are so much better than any other sport imo.
 
[quote name='zionoverfire']NHL can't really be considered an american sport since a fifth of the teams are located in Canada and there isn't a single team on the US west coast.

I think soccer would do better in the US if they found a way to increase scoring and cut it into quarter play. At the moment it's similar to golf, enjoyable to play but really boring to watch.[/quote]

Uh when was the last time a Canadian team won the Stanley cup? Oh it was in 1993 when the Montreal Canadians beat the LA Kings. So it's been 12 times in a row that the Stanley Cup championship has been won by an American team. I guess the NHL isn't really a Canadian league anymore.
 
[quote name='MadFlava']Uh when was the last time a Canadian team won the Stanley cup? Oh it was in 1993 when the Montreal Canadians beat the LA Kings. So it's been 12 times in a row that the Stanley Cup championship has been won by an American team. I guess the NHL isn't really a Canadian league anymore.[/QUOTE]

And where do the last two (and hopefully next) Stanley Cups reside? Tampa, FL and Raleigh, NC. To say the NHL is a Canadian sport is ridiculous.

MLS just expanded to Toronto as well. What I didn't know is that nine clubs either play, or are planning to play in soccer-specific stadiums. That's great news, and the Home Depot Center is a world-class facility from what I hear. 2000+ season tickets have been sold since the announcement.

What's more, is that Beckham is a media goldmine. More press passes were issued at his Real Madrid signing than at the 2003 Oscars. He's friendly with Hollywood stars. While some of you may scoff, shots of Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Tom Cruise and others will be music to ESPN's ears, which will start a 8-year contract with them this season.
 
[quote name='Prepster']MLS games are still televised on ESPN today.......when was the last time NHL had a game on ESPN?? The only station I ever watch NHL games on are Comcast sports net when the blackhawks play away and then OLN.

On another note, anyone that thinks soccer isn't huge here in America, go out to a playoff game and you will be amazed by the followers. The fans are so much better than any other sport imo.[/QUOTE]

When? If you can dig up a schedule of ESPN games for me from last season I'd love to see it. And my point was, he said the ratings were about equal. Equal to a dwindling market with no major TV coverage... wow that's awesome. Yeah soccer sure is rising in popularity now. You have to admit that if all soccer can egual ratings wise is the NHL then it's not exactly a booming market even if the very rare and occasional game trickles onto a major network. When poker gets more live coverage on a major sports network than soccer over the past 5 years or so I don't think you can make the argument the sport is thriving on pure popularity. Just watch sportscenter on given days to see how many hockey highlights there are vs. soccer (when either or boht is in season). Also for the record, the only networks I've seen MLS on in the past 2 years has been Fox Sports and HDNet. Incidently, the games look amazing on HDNet, I heard they exteneded their contract with them but every game should be on there IMO. Soccer and american football are two sports that really impress in HD.

As for the attendence arugement, well yes that's a plus. However, the Arena Football League had very high attenedence numbers for a long time. Would say it was very popular? My whole point here is that soccer may have the ability to become more popular given time in America, however it will be at least a lifetime or two (or five) before it becomes one of the "major" sports here in America. I'm not trying to be a dick or anything, but that's just the way things are.
 
[quote name='Duo_Maxwell']When? If you can dig up a schedule of ESPN games for me from last season I'd love to see it. And my point was, he said the ratings were about equal. Equal to a dwindling market with no major TV coverage... wow that's awesome. Yeah soccer sure is rising in popularity now. You have to admit that if all soccer can egual ratings wise is the NHL then it's not exactly a booming market even if the very rare and occasional game trickles onto a major network. When poker gets more live coverage on a major sports network than soccer over the past 5 years or so I don't think you can make the argument the sport is thriving on pure popularity. Just watch sportscenter on given days to see how many hockey highlights there are vs. soccer (when either or boht is in season). Also for the record, the only networks I've seen MLS on in the past 2 years has been Fox Sports and HDNet. Incidently, the games look amazing on HDNet, I heard they exteneded their contract with them but every game should be on there IMO. Soccer and american football are two sports that really impress in HD.

As for the attendence arugement, well yes that's a plus. However, the Arena Football League had very high attenedence numbers for a long time. Would say it was very popular? My whole point here is that soccer may have the ability to become more popular given time in America, however it will be at least a lifetime or two (or five) before it becomes one of the "major" sports here in America. I'm not trying to be a dick or anything, but that's just the way things are.[/QUOTE]

No idea where this data comes from, but...

http://www.kenn.com/soccer/tv/ratings/mls_summary.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/04/AR2006060400897.html

According to those numbers, MLS 2006 = 0.6 average rating all year, NHL (playoffs) 0.4, but in 2004 on ESPN they were 0.7. So given those numbers perhaps you were a bit rash in attributing the numbers to the NHL's decline, especially considering MLS had an 0.9 average in 2004.

But anyway, we can argue ratings till the cows come home, the only point was to say that NHL is considered one of the four "major" sports by people (and especially media) while MLS is not, but with MLS getting the same or higher ratings on TV. A large part of this is because American sportswriters and sports personalities are not very familiar with football, especially not very familiar with it as a spectator sport.

If Beckham can do something about this, I think that would be great...although LA will still suck of course.
 
[quote name='zionoverfire']I think soccer would do better in the US if they found a way to increase scoring and cut it into quarter play. At the moment it's similar to golf, enjoyable to play but really boring to watch.[/QUOTE]

No no no, no commercials for 45 minutes and then 45 minutes is a big part of what the game is about. Football is a game that has to ebb and flow, and more interruptions (quarter breaks or even more disgustingly timeouts) would be a very, very bad thing. In fact, I would favor getting the coaches back to where they used to be when coaching from the sideline was more strictly controlled. I don't want the coach having timeouts or ability to instruct players in pre-planned plays when the greatest beauty of the game is obtained through spontaneity and creativity.

I do agree with you on scoring because the reason scoring is lower than everyone would like is because of the way the rules are interpreted. I'd like to see referees be a lot better with the offside rule (this would almost always be favorable to the attacking side), quicker to clamp down on foul play (including straight red cards when necessary for professional fouls), and to be more willing to give penalties when action in the penalty area descends into the shirt-grabbing/holding/obstructing/etc. that typically accompanies free kicks and corners in the more recent modern game. I think if those changes in interpretation were implemented there would be a lot less incentive for some of the very defensive play we saw at World Cup 2006 (especially the idiotic 4-5-1 formation).
 
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