David Beckham (and family)

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 10:37 am

Just picked this up on SKY...........

Beckham to quit Real for LA Galaxy

.http://msnsport.skysports.com/list.aspx ... +LA+Galaxy

Uncle Kram · Post by **Uncle Kram** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 10:42 am

He will be a megastar over there. Good for Brand Beckham too I would imagine. Kerrching

SuzyB · Post by **SuzyB** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 10:44 am

Can't blame him for wanting to move on, he hasn't been getting many games with Real and things show no signs of changing. He just wants to do what he loves, and I have no complaints seeing more of him out playing in them shorts as long as he doesn't talk....ruins the effect for me :sneaky:

Galbally · Post by **Galbally** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 10:51 am

I dunno what this is gonna be like really, I mean Americans are kinda bemused by our passion for proper football at the best of times, I don't think many of them over there would even know who he is, what he does, or that he is the most famous young bloke in the world (except in North America). Still apparently he is going to get $250 million over the next 5 years for having a bit of a kick around in LA while his wife goes shopping, its not bad is it? It will be fascinating to see what they make of him, or if they are interested at all. I suppose he is also a good looking lad, so they will at least be able to market him for stuff, but it aint football is it?

ShawnG · Post by **ShawnG** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 12:06 pm

Galbally;512707 wrote: I dunno what this is gonna be like really, I mean Americans are kinda bemused by our passion for proper football at the best of times, I don't think many of them over there would even know who he is, what he does, or that he is the most famous young bloke in the world (except in North America). Still apparently he is going to get $250 million over the next 5 years for having a bit of a kick around in LA while his wife goes shopping, its not bad is it? It will be fascinating to see what they make of him, or if they are interested at all. I suppose he is also a good looking lad, so they will at least be able to market him for stuff, but it aint football is it?

I'm an American soccer fan (football) so I do have some perspective here. I would say that the average American sports fan knows only a few players, but Beckham is one of them already, He's already got his face on TV and ads over here all the time, even if most of us refer to him as "that guy who married the Spice chick". As for the MLS, it's not the Premiership or La Liga, but its a long way from horrible, and it's gotten better over the years (And we seem to beat top English clubs fairly regularly in friendlies) I don't really like this all that much, as it seems to be a return to the days of the New York Cosmos and Pele, which didn't end well for the league, but it will be interesting. Football over here is a dichotomy, absolutely hated by the majority, but there are several million of us who follow with a passion.

Post by **spot** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 12:29 pm

ShawnG;512785 wrote: Football over here is a dichotomy, absolutely hated by the majority, but there are several million of us who follow with a passion.
Shawn, if there's any area of American life of which I know less about than US soccer I'm unaware of its existence. How on earth does it work with such distances involved? How many leagues are there, do teams get promoted at the end of each season, do they play in the summer, do they have their own stadium or do they share other sports arenas?

buttercup · Post by **buttercup** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 12:34 pm

Im deleriously happy they are not coming back here. I think your right Kram, they will turn into megastars, just what Victoria has always wanted :rolleyes:

Chookie · Post by **Chookie** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 1:26 pm

What's more, you can keep them both too.

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 2:15 pm

Galbally;512707 wrote: I dunno what this is gonna be like really, I mean Americans are kinda bemused by our passion for proper football at the best of times, I don't think many of them over there would even know who he is, what he does, or that he is the most famous young bloke in the world (except in North America). Still apparently he is going to get $250 million over the next 5 years for having a bit of a kick around in LA while his wife goes shopping, its not bad is it? It will be fascinating to see what they make of him, or if they are interested at all. I suppose he is also a good looking lad, so they will at least be able to market him for stuff, but it aint football is it?

I think he's already set up a football academy for youngsters in LA.

Good luck to him I say....people may not like the way he speaks, but lets face it....his skills are in his feet.

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 2:18 pm

ShawnG;512785 wrote: I'm an American soccer fan (football) so I do have some perspective here. I would say that the average American sports fan knows only a few players, but Beckham is one of them already, He's already got his face on TV and ads over here all the time, even if most of us refer to him as "that guy who married the Spice chick". As for the MLS, it's not the Premiership or La Liga, but its a long way from horrible, and it's gotten better over the years (And we seem to beat top English clubs fairly regularly in friendlies) I don't really like this all that much, as it seems to be a return to the days of the New York Cosmos and Pele, which didn't end well for the league, but it will be interesting. Football over here is a dichotomy, absolutely hated by the majority, but there are several million of us who follow with a passion.

Good on ya !!!!

My sister who lives in San Diego is a qualified football (soccer) referee....when she was younger she tried to do as much as she could to promote the sport in the US

ShawnG · Post by **ShawnG** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 2:56 pm

spot;512804 wrote: Shawn, if there's any area of American life of which I know less about than US soccer I'm unaware of its existence. How on earth does it work with such distances involved? How many leagues are there, do teams get promoted at the end of each season, do they play in the summer, do they have their own stadium or do they share other sports arenas?

We have the MLS and the USL. The MLS is the top tier and has no promotion/relegation within the lower leagues there is promotion and relegation. Season runs from March to October (much like baseball) and the teams just fly everywhere. Attenddance can be sparse, but in some areas (LA, New York, DC is fairly popular. For the MLS there is a trend towards having their own stadiums, but some teams still share with Baseball/Football LA, Columbus Ohio, and Chicago have Soccer specific stadia, and they are very nice. It's very hard in some of the NFL stadiums, a good crowd for the MLS might be 25,000 and that looks absolutely puny, when the stadium seats 100,000!

Galbally · Post by **Galbally** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:19 pm

ShawnG;512785 wrote: I'm an American soccer fan (football) so I do have some perspective here. I would say that the average American sports fan knows only a few players, but Beckham is one of them already, He's already got his face on TV and ads over here all the time, even if most of us refer to him as "that guy who married the Spice chick". As for the MLS, it's not the Premiership or La Liga, but its a long way from horrible, and it's gotten better over the years (And we seem to beat top English clubs fairly regularly in friendlies) I don't really like this all that much, as it seems to be a return to the days of the New York Cosmos and Pele, which didn't end well for the league, but it will be interesting. Football over here is a dichotomy, absolutely hated by the majority, but there are several million of us who follow with a passion.

Oh I realize that shawn, and I'm not knocking american soccer or anything, just giving an honest assessment. I did see the LA Galaxy players talking on British TV and of course they are delighted as he is still a very good player, and obviously he will give the club a big profile (at least for a while) and now all of us know about LA Galaxy, which I admit I didn't before. There are quite a few very useful american players actually, and of course its huge as a youngsters sport over there. But like you said, soccer is just not liked by the majority of US sports fans, they love their own games, which is cool, different strokes and all that. There does seem to be more awareness now though of how massive soccer really is in the rest of the world (and therefore of course the potential money involved if the US developed a really good league and national side), but its gotta come from the fans over there, a big stadium game like top level football is only as good as the followers it can generate. It will be interesting to see what happens alright.

Bill Sikes · Post by **Bill Sikes** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:22 pm

Bez;512682 wrote: Just picked this up on SKY...........

Eurgh. Football.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 8:47 pm

He still has lots of talent left and he will be beyond rich from this move.

I'm a Football nut also have been for decades when the first Soccer recreation teams started in the US and I coached and my daughter played.

Now I have a Niece who plays for Stanford and the Women full National team and is one of best defensive women players in the world so it is big in the US but it will never be as big as it is in Europe because of the other Football (NFL).

[QUOTE]I think he's already set up a football academy for youngsters in LA.

Good luck to him I say....people may not like the way he speaks, but lets face it....his skills are in his feet.[/QUOTE]

ShawnG · Post by **ShawnG** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 9:45 pm

My main problem is his paycheck. 250 MILLION DOLLARS FOR 5 YEARS!!!!! Now, that's great for him, and more power to him and all that, but just how, in the name of all that is holy, can the MLS which hasn't made a profit yet that I'm aware of afford it? He has instantly become, by a HUGE margin, the highest paid athlete in the history of all U.S. sports! almost double what the next highest paid athletes in America make! Who is footing the bill? Nike? As I said, I'm an American soccer fan, and I don't want my sport to go bankrupt just to get some attention!

ShawnG · Post by **ShawnG** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 9:50 pm

jesse b;512861 wrote: over paid over styled and now over there poor old USA ya have to take posh too

Actually I'll take Posh myself, and send Becks back

ShawnG · Post by **ShawnG** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 10:04 pm

Galbally;513136 wrote: Oh I realize that shawn, and I'm not knocking american soccer or anything, just giving an honest assessment. I did see the LA Galaxy players talking on British TV and of course they are delighted as he is still a very good player, and obviously he will give the club a big profile (at least for a while) and now all of us know about LA Galaxy, which I admit I didn't before. There are quite a few very useful american players actually, and of course its huge as a youngsters sport over there. But like you said, soccer is just not liked by the majority of US sports fans, they love their own games, which is cool, different strokes and all that. There does seem to be more awareness now though of how massive soccer really is in the rest of the world (and therefore of course the potential money involved if the US developed a really good league and national side), but its gotta come from the fans over there, a big stadium game like top level football is only as good as the followers it can generate. It will be interesting to see what happens alright.

No offense taken sir!

The problem with Soccer "catching on" in America has to do a lot with the social strata. In your part of the globe Football is (was?) seen as a gritty working man's game, and is part of the fabric of life. Here, soccer is seen as an elitist "college" sport and even effeminate. David Beckham is not going to change this. To be honest, for attracting the attention of Joe Lunch Pail, we'd be better served by Roy Keane, or (fifteen years ago) Paul Gascoigne.

The biggest difference since 1994: The USA now watches the World Cup much more actively-- It's now a big deal here, even when we suck. I'd like for more of our sports fans to watch Top level European club football- that's the good stuff, but I am of course, dreaming

Galbally · Post by **Galbally** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 6:13 am

ShawnG;513540 wrote: No offense taken sir!

The problem with Soccer "catching on" in America has to do a lot with the social strata. In your part of the globe Football is (was?) seen as a gritty working man's game, and is part of the fabric of life. Here, soccer is seen as an elitist "college" sport and even effeminate. David Beckham is not going to change this. To be honest, for attracting the attention of Joe Lunch Pail, we'd be better served by Roy Keane, or (fifteen years ago) Paul Gascoigne.

The biggest difference since 1994: The USA now watches the World Cup much more actively-- It's now a big deal here, even when we suck. I'd like for more of our sports fans to watch Top level European club football- that's the good stuff, but I am of course, dreaming

Yes, Roy, I get to see him play you know, he was quite something in his day alright. Yes, I know that in America soccer is not a "street" game like it is here, despite the good looking lads, and the south american gigilos, and the aston martins and the footballers wifes, its essentially the poor peoples game and always was. Its actually called "The People's Game" around the world cause kids from Liverpool to the slums of Rio, and the backstreets of Bejing, and Nairobi all play the same game. Of course now there is a lot of money and glamour and all that, but the game remains essentially the same as it always was, a simple contact sport involving 2 goals and 22 players that anyone can understand and play, almost anywhere as long as you have a ball.

I remember USA 94, when Ray Houghton put that ball in the back of the Italian net in Giants stadium, its something most irish people will always remember, a special moment. There really is nothing like the world cup, its just fantastic.

Chookie · Post by **Chookie** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 3:48 pm

In actuality, he didn't "quit " Real Madrid - they have not renewed his contract.

There's a helluva difference.

Although i am not (obviously) au fait with the details of the discussions between himself and Real, I suspect he wanted more than they were willing to pay.

Galbally · Post by **Galbally** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 5:00 pm

Diuretic;514360 wrote: Long way from (Sir) Stanley Matthews jumping off the bus with his boots in his hand toddling into the stadium to play on a Saturday afternoon.

It sure is, but you can't go back can you? Somethings are gone forever I am afraid, other things are still around that should be gone are still around unfortunatly.

Galbally · Post by **Galbally** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 6:45 pm

Diuretic;514549 wrote: Oh I'd never advocate going back. I mean if a footballer can make zillions good luck to them, they might be filthy rich chavs but someone values their skills enough to play them massive amounts of money so it's not for me to decry that. I suppose I have my head in the past though, the names that come to mind for me are not those of today.

It's a little like cricket in Australia. International players for Australia were paid a pittance and treated like crap until the late Kerry Packer came along and commercialised the game. They might be fainting over at Wisden's but at least the players make big money now. As I said, good luck to them. Personally I think our values are well out of whack when we pay someone like Wayne Rooney huge amounts of money but that's because I don't like boofheads. Oops, that slipped out.

Thats showbiz diruetic, its not very edifying sometimes I completely agree.

Marie5656 · Post by **Marie5656** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 11:28 am

Yep, he and his wife, Soccer Spice have been all over the news here....because they are shopping for a gazillion dollar house over in california.

Le Ferat · Post by **Le Ferat** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 10:39 am

Now that hes been given the boot by both Madrid and England because hes utter rubbish. he will turn out for exhibitions for dumb Yanks who have no idea what the game is about and his wife will be happy in plastic land where she can always get boob refills.........lol

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 12:53 pm

Well it's a shame if you ask me, because although the MLS might not be the worst league you have ever seen, Beckham certainly is going to end his football career on a relative low than what he could of done, but then he has always been about more than just football, so for his wealth, (not that he needs anymore, I mean a million pounds a fortnight come on!!) and his celebrity status than this will be a good move.

I heard many sports pundits and sport columists say that he will not be remembered as an England great which I have to say did surprise me. Hopefully his football or soccer school will be a success though, as helping new future stars of the game can only surely be a good thing!

dubs · Post by **dubs** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 7:26 pm

ShawnG;513526 wrote: My main problem is his paycheck. 250 MILLION DOLLARS FOR 5 YEARS!!!!! Now, that's great for him, and more power to him and all that, but just how, in the name of all that is holy, can the MLS which hasn't made a profit yet that I'm aware of afford it? He has instantly become, by a HUGE margin, the highest paid athlete in the history of all U.S. sports! almost double what the next highest paid athletes in America make! Who is footing the bill? Nike? As I said, I'm an American soccer fan, and I don't want my sport to go bankrupt just to get some attention!

I'm Afraid I'm a bit cynical about this Beckham deal, I just can't see US business going into something that looks like a loss maker. I'm no number cruncher, so you'll have to work it out yourselves. Fox Soccer store, is selling Beckham Galaxy strips, home and away, at $65 each, training ground shirts and kids sizes, about 40 bucks, baseball caps 20 dollars! I can't remember if it was Shawn who mentioned in another thread, about Soccer being the #1 participation sport for kids, but think for a second, about who Becks is pitching this to while he does the round of chat shows. He bangs on about his academy! Will there be just the one? Will he franchise a lot more, all over the states? That's a lot of kids with a lot of pester power for a Becks shirt. And if it's anything like the UK, six months down the line, they'll change the design..You just HAVE to have the latest one! Hey! if at the end of it Soccer IS more popular in the States....Well that's just a bonus....Am I being cynical?.....After seeing some of the goings on in the EPL, in the last few years(They will literally take the shirt off your back!...

As long as they can sell you a new one) I don't think so!