When he plays Freddi Adu, I may actually watch it.

Adu is probably going overseas

This is without a doubt THE most important day in the history of the MLS. Becks might not be the best player in the world, but what the Galaxy got is the Beckham brand, and it's a license to print money. He's the most popular athelete on the planet, and he might just be the most popular person in the world.

 

If this doesnt break soccer into the US, I dont think anything ever will.

Hopefully this will bring more players over this way...soccer is a fun sport to watch, but when you have second rate players no one wants to watch. This is a step in the right direction

MLS should use that money to increase its overall talent level and performance and to market itself.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id...520&cc=5901

 

Edgar Davids to the MLS?

I think MLS will eventually catch on in America especially if you bring in superstars like Beckham. I think its just that American soccer doesnt have that many standout world known studs adding these will bring in more fans. Think about were hockey would be if they didnt have alot of foreigners

I just want to know if they will show the games on ESPN or ABC or something so I can watch some? I really would like to.

Where the hell does that money come from? No one cares about the MLS. Americans couldn't care less about soccer.

 

 

 

Right there is NO ONE in America who likes soccer.

 

 

 

Think about what your saying. Doesnt the MLS have the right to try and promote their league (sport). Im not saying it will work but at least they are giving it a shot. And who's to say that other stars won't follow his lead?

 

If you think they won't have sellouts everywhere the Galaxy are playing you are dead wrong.

You're infatuated with the wording rather than the message.

how in the world can an MLS team afford this??

 

seriously, can anyone answer?

because that figure isn't the actual salary he's going to be paid.

 

they lumped in his money from worldwide endorsements.

 

lol headline

I thought I heard it was $250m in "salary and endorsements" so it doesn't sound like the Galaxy is writing him a check for 50 million bucks a year.

The Galaxy are paying him 51 Mil. Rest is from sponsors. 10 Mil year isn't as sexy sounding

Where the hell does that money come from? No one cares about the MLS. Americans couldn't care less about soccer.

 

I think thats the main reason they are paying him. Soccer and the MLS need to show they are legit. If a few more stars start coming over then maybe in a few years their might be some interest. I like soccer, but I couldnt tell you who won the mls cup or whatever its called last year.

Ok, Miami needs to get a MLS team so we can have a chance to see him.

 

My thoughts exactly.

 

People dont even support a 2 time world series champion baseball team, yet now they want a soccer team???? What is Miami coming too....

Where the hell does that money come from? No one cares about the MLS. Americans couldn't care less about soccer.

 

 

 

Right there is NO ONE in America who likes soccer.

 

 

 

Think about what your saying. Doesnt the MLS have the right to try and promote their league (sport). Im not saying it will work but at least they are giving it a shot. And who's to say that other stars won't follow his lead?

 

If you think they won't have sellouts everywhere the Galaxy are playing you are dead wrong.

You're infatuated with the wording rather than the message.

 

you are infautuated with ignoring what was actually said. they sold 2000 season tickets yesterday after the announcement and will no doubt sell more. chances are the road games will be sold out as said as well. this move will definitely get the league more press and fan support. just look at all the discussion here already. maybe part of the reason not many americans are soccer fans is because this country lacks a lot of soccer talent and history? the teams in europe have all the big names and all the history from over a hundred years of play. it takes time to build something and getting one of the biggest names in the sport regardless of he is as good as he once was can only help. maybe you don't care about soccer and never will but don't speak for everyone

Maybe it's just me, but isn't it hard to get excited for the MLS if the best players in your country don't play here. Until Donovan and Adu (comes back) the MLS is still just a side show.

BTW I just found out that toronto has an MLS team. Also I had no idea where Chivas USA was from, and found out its LA.

Maybe it's just me, but isn't it hard to get excited for the MLS if the best players in your country don't play here. Until Donovan and Adu (comes back) the MLS is still just a side show.

maybe I misunderstood, but arent Adu and Donovan in America right now?

Maybe it's just me, but isn't it hard to get excited for the MLS if the best players in your country don't play here. Until Donovan and Adu (comes back) the MLS is still just a side show.

maybe I misunderstood, but arent Adu and Donovan in America right now?

I think Adu is supposed to go play for Man U. but another would know better.

Adu was traded from D.C. United to Real Salt Lake. He says he is excited with the trade. So maybe he will stay.

 

And under MLS's Beckham rule, Real Salt Lake could also keep him state side by signing him to a bigger contract.

 

Manchester can't sign him until he turns 18, so we'll know then if he is going to stay here or not.

and arod stays on top

Maybe it's just me, but isn't it hard to get excited for the MLS if the best players in your country don't play here. Until Donovan and Adu (comes back) the MLS is still just a side show.

 

Donovan does play in the US -- in fact he'll be Beckham's teammate. Adu leaving is all speculation at the current moment. But the US did lost arguably it's best player, Clint Dempsey. I don't care where American players go, just as long as the grow as players. Country before Club.

any plans for it to be on espn, regular tv etc etc?

any plans for it to be on espn, regular tv etc etc?

 

They have a weekly game on ESPN. I know all Reb Bull games are on MSG.

any plans for it to be on espn, regular tv etc etc?

 

They have a weekly game on ESPN. I know all Reb Bull games are on MSG.

 

 

Fox Soccer Channel should also carry a bunch of MLS games for anyone who gets it and is interested.

MARINA DEL REY, Calif. -- David Beckham insisted he's coming to Los Angeles to play soccer, not build a Hollywood career.

 

 

 

"I'm coming there to make a difference. I'm coming there to play football," Beckham said Friday via satellite from Madrid. "I'm not saying me coming to the States is going to make soccer the biggest sport in America. ... But I think soccer has a huge, huge potential. I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't believe in this project. This could create something that we've all never seen before."

 

Wearing a black suit with white shirt and black tie, Beckham shared his thoughts a day after agreeing to a five-year contract with the LA Galaxy that could be worth $250 million.

 

Beckham to U.S.

David Beckham talks about leaving Real Madrid for the Los Angeles Galaxy and MLS.

Watch

 

Galaxy GM Alexi Lalas says David Beckham will help bring MLS and soccer in America to the next level. Listen

 

Is it a good deal for all sides? Jonathan Harris-Bass has all the reaction with ESPNsoccernet's Dom Raynor. Listen

 

 

Those who orchestrated the deal are convinced Beckham not only will raise soccer's profile in America but help the Galaxy win.

 

"David is still a very good player," said Tim Leiweke of AEG, the sports and entertainment company that runs the Galaxy. "Peyton Manning in football, the other football, Allen Iverson in basketball and Tiger Woods in golf are all the same age (31) as Beckham.

 

"Certainly, he will bring an audience, a fan base and an intensity to our sport that we've never had."

 

The Galaxy didn't say exactly what they'll pay him. Their $250 million figure includes salary and commercial endorsements over the length of Beckham's contract. In other words, his move could be worth $1 million a week.

 

"I'm coming there not be a superstar," Beckham said. "I'm coming there to be part of the team, to work hard and to hopefully win things."

 

He'll show up in August as the most recognizable soccer player in the world who just happens to be married to the former Posh Spice of The Spice Girls and counts Tom Cruise among his closest friends.

 

"That's going to be a big help to us, to have friends when we arrive in L.A.," Beckham said. "I talked with him for about an hour last night and an hour the night before.

 

"I told him there might be an announcement, and asked him for his advice as well. He's a very wise man and a very good friend of mine. To have his experience and have him explain some things to me, that's a big favor. He couldn't speak any higher than what he was saying about LA."

 

Though he won't immediately be besieged as he is in Europe, he has been gaining attention in the United States since the movie, "Bend It Like Beckham."

 

"I came to L.A. about four years ago, and I was walking around and I got a few people coming up to me and recognizing me," Beckham said. "But then I went back about a year ago, and when I looked out the window in the house I was staying in and there were forty-five paparazzi cars outside.

 

"I realize I'm not as recognized in the U.S. as I am around Europe, around other parts of the world. But hopefully, playing for the Galaxy will change that."

 

His mandate calls for raising the profile of an average team in a soccer league that has little respect overseas and less recognition than the University of Southern California football team.

 

On Friday, Beckham returned to his daily routine training with Real Madrid for nearly two hours. The British player smiled to reporters upon his arrival and left the training ground in the outskirts of Madrid before his global news conference.

 

In Los Angeles, the Beckham effect was felt immediately: The Galaxy sold 1,000 new season tickets Thursday morning. Their season begins April 8.

 

The team averages 22,000 to 24,000 fans in its 27,000-seat stadium in suburban Carson, although attendance was down last season when the Galaxy missed the playoffs.

 

"They know we Latinos are filling the soccer stadiums. That's why they want to bring stars here," said Juan Munguia, a 30-year-old Mexican hotel cook. "I will go just to see Beckham."

 

Already in the works is a 2008 Galaxy tour of Asia, where Beckham is wildly popular. A new team logo will be unveiled this summer and the Galaxy's owner is nearing a deal to slap a prime sponsor's name on its jerseys.

 

"We will absolutely market the Galaxy as a global brand," Leiweke said.

 

Beckham will become the biggest star to play U.S. professional soccer since Pele and Franz Beckenbauer were in the now-defunct North American Soccer League in the 1970s.

 

"David Beckham is a global sports icon who will transcend the sport of soccer in America," gushed Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber.

 

But Beckham hasn't won a major trophy since joining the Spanish team Real Madrid in 2003 from Manchester United, where he won six league titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League title.

 

Beckham started only five of 25 matches for Real Madrid this season. He turned down a two-year contract extension from Real Madrid, where his fading skills left him on the bench.

 

Last Aug. 11, the former England captain was dropped from his national team altogether, signaling the end of his international career.

 

It came after a dismal 2006 World Cup. He led England to the quarterfinals last summer, scoring from a free kick in the second round to beat Ecuador 1-0. But he was taken off the field early in the second half against Portugal with ankle and Achilles tendon injuries, and then watched as his team was eliminated in a penalty shootout.

 

A day after the game, Beckham stepped down as captain of the team -- a post he had held for 58 of his 94 international appearances.

 

But he'll start for the Galaxy.

 

"He's coming here to make a difference," Galaxy coach Frank Yallop said. "He's not coming here on vacation."