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

mykevermin

mykevermin

CAGiversary!
Feedback
34 (97%)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601079&sid=agBjAPlCjEXg&refer=home

Beckham to Leave Real Madrid, Join Los Angeles Galaxy (Update1)

By Alex Duff and Sam Sheringham

Jan. 11 (Bloomberg) -- David Beckham, who last year lost his position as soccer's highest-paid player, said he's leaving Real Madrid for the Los Angeles Galaxy after failing to win a title in 3 1/2 seasons with the Spanish club.

The 31-year-old former England captain will sign a five-year contract worth as much as $250 million, according to Sky Sports. He'll join the Major League Soccer team in August, Beckham said in a statement today.
Click to expand...

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?
 
i know this is big news, but i have trouble caring about euro football at all

i even tried playing FIFA and Winning 11 to get excited about soccer, but i failed miserably

what i really wanna know is... is the spice girl coming with him?
 
[quote name='Ugamer_X']I think the bigger question is, where in the hell did they get $250 million from?[/quote] QFT. If none of that is from endorsements, I do believe that would make him the highest paid athlete in the US and most likely the world by a large margin. As for the original question, the one where America doesn't care enough about soccer (or football, if you must).
 
When Beckham joined Real Madrid his jersy was sold out very quickly. People worldwide will also pay to see him play in just exhibition games.
 
[quote name='Genocidal']QFT. If none of that is from endorsements, I do believe that would make him the highest paid athlete in the US and most likely the world by a large margin.[/QUOTE]

What kind of yearly salary does Daisuke Matsuzaka get from Boston?
 
His soccer academy is in LA so it makes sense for him to be out here. Although yeah where is the 250 mil coming from. You can probably buy a couple of MLS teams for that much money.
 
[quote name='mykevermin']What kind of yearly salary does Daisuke Matsuzaka get from Boston?[/QUOTE]
six year, $52 million
 
[quote name='Xevious']Good luck to him. I don't think he can turn the tide though. Soccer is underappreciated here.[/QUOTE] No, it's just horribly overappreciated by the rest of the world. :lol:
 
i don't know if there is enough revenue potential to meet the price they paid. I know during the world cup though I was hearing some even crazier numbers for rinaldino (sp?), the big star from brazil. Supposedly the NY team wants him bad.
 
[quote name='sblymnlcrymnl']No, it's just horribly overappreciated by the rest of the world. :lol:[/quote]

Yep, everyone is wrong but us Americans...It's nice always being so right with everything we do!
 
[quote name='62t']six year, $52 million[/QUOTE]

I always add in the $51 million for negotiation, so that's around $8.5 million per year, and approaching $17 million per year if you count that extra money.

So...um, yeah, Beckham is getting a royal fuck ton of money.
 
Beckham's been wanting to get over here for a while.

I've got a feeling he's just going head back to Arsenal or New Castle after the season, provided they can meet his wage.
 
...and so it was that women in the western hemisphere swooned, legs quivered, and a change of undergarments was initiated.
 
[quote name='nesfan8222']His soccer academy is in LA so it makes sense for him to be out here. Although yeah where is the 250 mil coming from. You can probably buy a couple of MLS teams for that much money.[/quote]

Probably more like the whole league.
 
I hope this means Go Go Beckham will come to the states now:

B000066JQF.03.LZZZZZZZ.jpg


I hear this game is the best athlete-starring platformer since Michael Jordan Chaos in Windy City
 
I'm glad he's not playing for Red Bull, or else I would have to relinquish my season tickets, I can hardly stand watching him play for one match, let alone a season, but then that's just the Gooner in me talking..... Up The Gunners!
 
A) Matsuzaka doesn't see a dime of the negotiating fee. That went to his former club's owners. So don't count that as his salary.

B) I predicted this at least four months ago, even before the MLS lifted it's cap numbers. It's a great move for him, he gets to start again. He also gets his name plastered all over LA. You thought Kobe was the most popular in LA? Becks just took that spot and it's not even going to be close.

Good for the MLS, this paves the way for Ronaldo (Barcelona is not letting Rohnaldino go anywhere) and others to come over, too. If for some reason the Galaxy can't come up with the $250m (which in marketing they probably will - hell, the Rangers paid it to Err-Rod), it'll probably default over to part ownership when he retires in five or six years. I'm tired of our national league being the red-headed stepchild of football. I also want a team in Atlanta, dammit.

BigDirty - your turn to start the new footy thread.
 
[quote name='atf487']Yep, everyone is wrong but us Americans...It's nice always being so right with everything we do![/quote]

QFT
 
[quote name='sblymnlcrymnl']:rofl:[/QUOTE]

You just watch and see. They may not sell the jerseys that Kobe does (because for some reason it's 'fashionable' to wear NBA jerseys), but he'll get the ad dollars Kobe doesn't. $10 right now he appears on a footy game for '08 (FIFA '08 or WE).
 
I love soccer, I played in middle school High School and was good enough to have it pay half my way through college. God damn soccer is a great sport.

Anyway.....Beckham coming here is both a huge and meh deal. He was really fallen off alot while playing with Real Madrid. Hell he doesnt even start anymore, thats why i think its not such a huge deal...Real Madrid replaced beckham with their very young talent. (Rabino I am looking at you...fucking god like speed) plus they still have R.Carlos, Ronaldo (fat or skinny that guy is a monster) and other star players.

Its a going to be a big deal here because beckham at his worst is still 90X better than anyone in the MLS at their best. So that will be sick to watch.

Meh either way...i never really liked him anyway.
 
A lot of that money includes his image rights fee. There is no possible way he can make $50 million per year on salary alone, even though Anschlutz (the owner) can easily afford that.

Guess I'll have to make sure I get my TFC tickets!
 
[quote name='CocheseUGA']You just watch and see. They may not sell the jerseys that Kobe does (because for some reason it's 'fashionable' to wear NBA jerseys), but he'll get the ad dollars Kobe doesn't. $10 right now he appears on a footy game for '08 (FIFA '08 or WE).[/QUOTE] This is America. 99% of us don't give two shits about FIFA or Winning Eleven (no matter how good it's supposed to be). The fact is a football star, even one of his extreme caliber, isn't going to sell shit here unless he's wearing a helmet.


Hell, in this country more people care about what Victoria's wearing on any given day than about who wins the World Cup. :lol:
 
[quote name='sblymnlcrymnl']This is America. 99% of us don't give two shits about FIFA or Winning Eleven (no matter how good it's supposed to be). The fact is a football star, even one of his extreme caliber, isn't going to sell shit here unless he's wearing a helmet.


Hell, in this country more people care about what Victoria's wearing on any given day than about who wins the World Cup. :lol:[/quote]


Seriously...that not true at all. You really dont know what you are talking about. Soccer is a very popular sport in america.

Just because you dont seek it out doesnt mean everyone here could care less about it.

There are a ton of soccer clubs,camps,teams etc etc. About the same as football and basketball.
 
[quote name='Soodmeg']
There are a ton of soccer clubs,camps,teams etc etc. About the same as football and basketball.[/QUOTE]

And we're not counting immigrants in this either. They have their home clubs, but they'll go see what's local as well.
 
[quote name='CocheseUGA']And we're not counting immigrants in this either. They have their home clubs, but they'll go see what's local as well.[/quote]
What the hell are you talking about?

I am american...so were my college teammates (all except 2). So were my high school teammates.

Man you people dont know what the fuck you are talking about.

Meh doesnt really matter. No matter how many american clubs i can show you..you will always say there are none.
 
[quote name='Soodmeg']What the hell are you talking about?

I am american...so were my college teammates (all except 2). So were my high school teammates.

Man you people dont know what the fuck you are talking about.

Meh doesnt really matter. No matter how many american clubs i can show you..you will always say there are none.[/QUOTE]


Dude...I'm agreeing with you. Read my posts. Check my av.
 
[quote name='Soodmeg']Seriously...that not true at all. You really dont know what you are talking about. Soccer is a very popular sport in america.

Just because you dont seek it out doesnt mean everyone here could care less about it.

There are a ton of soccer clubs,camps,teams etc etc. About the same as football and basketball.[/QUOTE]

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 name='CocheseUGA']Dude...I'm agreeing with you. Read my posts. Check my av.[/quote]

No first part of the post was to you.....second part was to the rest of the world.


I knew you were but i didnt understand what you were saying.
 
[quote name='PKRipp3r']
seriously... MOST American sports fans actively dislike soccer[/QUOTE]

- No true venues (besides possibly the Home Depot Center.
- No good TV coverage
- No real stars

The NBA is not a national craze. It has a TV contract, but people could care less. Why do you think Feb-March is the dullest period in pro sports?


The MLS needs these stars to bring the fans and the TV deals, to build the proper venues and expand. I also wish they'd play the proper season, but we won't have that until we stop sharing NFL stadiums, maybe never.

As for my comment earlier, most non-soccer fans don't even think of the people of other cultures who have loved the game all their lives. 'They don't count' because they don't think of them. I guarantee these people if we got America or Boca Juniors to play one of our squads, we'd have to book a 60k+ venue.
 
[quote name='Soodmeg']Seriously...that not true at all. You really dont know what you are talking about. Soccer is a very popular sport in america.[/QUOTE] Yeah, for kids. [quote name='CocheseUGA']Why do you think Feb-March is the dullest period in pro sports?[/QUOTE] Because they know better than to try and compete with college basketball. :lol:
 
[quote name='CocheseUGA']- No true venues (besides possibly the Home Depot Center.
- No good TV coverage
- No real stars

The NBA is not a national craze. It has a TV contract, but people could care less. Why do you think Feb-March is the dullest period in pro sports?


The MLS needs these stars to bring the fans and the TV deals, to build the proper venues and expand. I also wish they'd play the proper season, but we won't have that until we stop sharing NFL stadiums, maybe never.

As for my comment earlier, most non-soccer fans don't even think of the people of other cultures who have loved the game all their lives. 'They don't count' because they don't think of them. I guarantee these people if we got America or Boca Juniors to play one of our squads, we'd have to book a 60k+ venue.[/quote]


That is what i have been saying to people for years. There are literally thousands of pro soccer teams in the world. You cant say that about any other sport on the planet. Yet all these people seem to never accept that their are BILLIONS of soccer fans in the world.
 
[quote name='CocheseUGA']- No true venues (besides possibly the Home Depot Center.
- No good TV coverage
- No real stars

The NBA is not a national craze. It has a TV contract, but people could care less. Why do you think Feb-March is the dullest period in pro sports?


The MLS needs these stars to bring the fans and the TV deals, to build the proper venues and expand. I also wish they'd play the proper season, but we won't have that until we stop sharing NFL stadiums, maybe never.

As for my comment earlier, most non-soccer fans don't even think of the people of other cultures who have loved the game all their lives. 'They don't count' because they don't think of them. I guarantee these people if we got America or Boca Juniors to play one of our squads, we'd have to book a 60k+ venue.[/QUOTE]

i agree that MLS needs stars, but I've been to a Galaxy game in L.A. and it was kinda pathetic
 
[quote name='Soodmeg']That is what i have been saying to people for years. There are literally thousands of pro soccer teams in the world. You cant say that about any other sport on the planet. Yet all these people seem to never accept that their are BILLIONS of soccer fans in the world.[/QUOTE]

in the WORLD, yes... nobody disputes that

we're discussing the U.S. though
 
I wasn't surprised that he was coming, as it was mentioned during the world cup that he would like to finish off his career in the MLS. I'm more surprised at the amount of money he's going to be paid. I don't know how those LA owners can pay that, but I read that there wasn't a salary cap in MLS anymore, so that helps.

As for increasing the mainstream popularity of MLS, I think his arrival will help (the paycheck is sure to intrigue some of the Euro players), but it won't come close to matching the NFL, MLB, NBA, or even Nascar.
 
[quote name='sblymnlcrymnl']Yeah, for kids. Because they know better than to try and compete with college basketball. :lol:[/QUOTE]

It's very hard to compete with the dullest sport in the world, it's true. That's why my TV won't leave FSC from Feb 8th until April 1.
 
College basketball, the dullest sport? What about baseball, golf, women's tennis, volleyball, and, oh yeah, soccer? ;) [quote name='Soodmeg']That is what i have been saying to people for years. There are literally thousands of pro soccer teams in the world. You cant say that about any other sport on the planet. Yet all these people seem to never accept that their are BILLIONS of soccer fans in the world.[/QUOTE] There are BILLIONS of people living in poverty in the world, too. Americans don't give a shit about that either. :lol:
 
[quote name='sblymnlcrymnl']College basketball, the dullest sport? What about baseball, golf, women's tennis, volleyball, and, oh yeah, soccer? ;) [/QUOTE]

You, know, I think I'd rather watch all of those before I watched college basketball. Women's volleyball can be nice to watch. :)

Yes, I love footy. To me:

CFB>NFL>EPL>MLB>golf>watching dirt grow>NBA>CBB
 
[quote name='sblymnlcrymnl']There are BILLIONS of people living in poverty in the world, too. Americans don't give a shit about that either. :lol:[/QUOTE]

funny... and true

:lol:
 
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?
 
250 million is not for him to just play soccer. MLS is investing in a player to be the face of the league. It's essentially, buying a Wayne Gretzky or Michael Jordan recognizable player to market. I believe that Beckham is pasts his prime, this essentially ends his career with the England national team because McLaren won't be able to assess how well he is playing, not to mention MLS news is never reported in Europe. But for the MLS, hopefully more storied clubs will come to the USA and play our teams. I hope this paves the way for the LA Galaxy to play Manchester United. I think it would be a great idea for Man Utd to hosts a testimonial game for Beckham and have him play one half of the game with his new LA Galaxy team and the other half with his first club Man Utd. Imagine the exposure that will give the MLS. Unfortunately, I don't see players in their prime leaving Europe to play in the MLS. But for players like Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Figo could be potential targets.

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.
 
This is a great PR move on the part of MLS. Beckham will help bring about an increase in TV coverage and if nothing else people will show up to the game just for the novelty factor (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).
 
i was just listening to sports radio, and a scottish caller said he heard that addidas was going to become the main sponsor of the la galaxy, and that is where the bulk of the money is coming from
 
Meh, this won't do anything except maybe increase the MLS's popularity in other countries. Even though I played and enjoy watching soccer I have to admit, soccer (and yes that's what we call it here) will never be a popular sport in the US unless Jesus himself uses his second coming to play for the Kansas City Wizards, but even that maybe stretching it...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
bread's done
Back
Top