Coming to America

JansenFan · Post by **JansenFan** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 1:39 pm

Beckham will play for MLS' L.A. Galaxy in $250M deal

LONDON (AP) -- David Beckham agreed to a five-year deal with the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer, leaving the Real Madrid club at which he enjoyed worldwide popularity but experienced disappointment on the field.

Beckham, the former English captain who also starred for Manchester United, will join the Galaxy after his contract with Real Madrid expires on June 30. Los Angeles opens its season April 8 in Houston.

"I am proud to have played for two of the biggest clubs in football and I look forward to the new challenge of growing the world's most popular game in a country that is as passionate about its sport as my own," he said in a statement released Thursday.

The move was announced following the end of talks on extending the 31-year-old English midfielder's contract with the Spanish club. MLS recently changed its rules on salary caps, clearing the way for Beckham to sign a lucrative deal. British news reports put the Galaxy deal at $250 million.

"This week, Real Madrid asked me to make a decision regarding my future and the offer to extend my contract by a further two seasons," Beckham said in the statement. "After discussing several options with my family and advisers to either stay here at Madrid or join other major British and European clubs, I have decided to join the Los Angeles Galaxy and play in the MLS from August this year."

Beckham has soccer academies in London and Los Angeles. His wife Victoria, a former Spice Girl, was recently photographed househunting in Los Angeles.

"David Beckham will have a greater impact on soccer in America than any athlete has ever had on a sport globally," said Timothy J. Leiweke, president & CEO of Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns the Galaxy. "David is truly the only individual that can build the bridge between soccer in America and the rest of the world."

Beckham joined Real Madrid in 2003 after a hugely successful run with Manchester United, where he won six league titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League title. But Beckham did not win a single major trophy with the Spanish club, and his spell coincided with Madrid's worst slump since the early 1950s.

Real Madrid has had six different coaches and three club presidents during Beckham's stay, but the club has made a fortune -- in part because of the star's position as a cultural icon for soccer fans and non-fans alike, including men, women and children of different ethnic and racial groups.

Beckham's Career Path
Years Club Country
1993-95 Manchester United England
1995 Preston North End* England
1995-03 Manchester United England
2003-07 Real Madrid Spain
2007-?? Los Angeles Galaxy U.S.

* On loan

His marketability was emphasized by the hit movie "Bend It Like Beckham," even as his skills deteriorated with age.

Beckham's contract included a clause in which half his image rights would go to Real Madrid. That helped earn the club millions, allowing the Spanish team to overtake Manchester United as the biggest earner in world soccer.

Beckham led England to the quarterfinals of the World Cup 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. Then, on Aug. 11, England coach Steve McClaren dropped Beckham from the team altogether, signaling the end of his international career.

Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 1:49 pm

"David Beckham will have a greater impact on soccer in America than any athlete has ever had on a sport globally," said Timothy J. Leiweke, president & CEO of Anschutz Entertainment Group. . .

I know it's just a PR move, but that quote makes me want to :puke:

As far as sports go, I'm glad to see Beckham in the U.S., though. Anything to help bring up soccer's popularity in the States. Of course, he's going to be a valuable addition to the celebrity gossip in LA. . .which I'm not looking forward to. I happened to be in England a few years ago when the scandal broke out with his affair . . . :puke:

redskins12287 · Post by **redskins12287** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 2:27 pm

YES!

David and Landon, this is going to be awseome.

JansenFan · Post by **JansenFan** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 3:12 pm

Except when they play DC United. I think Wes Unseld took over the team. All the young talent is leaving and we're keeping all the old guys.

InsaneBoost · Post by **InsaneBoost** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 3:14 pm

I will still continue to hate soccer, whether he is here or not.

UK Skins Fan · Post by **UK Skins Fan** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:29 pm

LA + David Beckham + Victoria Beckham = marriage made in heaven. Can't imagine a more appropriate place for this couple to go to.

Extraordinary amount of money to spend on a player well past his best. But then, if he wasn't well past his best, he wouldn't be interested in going there anyway. He'll sell a huge amount of replica kit, and he'll be in the papers a lot, but don't expect to see him pulling up trees on the pitch.

To be fair, I'm pretty sure that he'll give the team 100% when he's out there - one thing that can never be questioned about Beckham is his work ethic on the pitch. But his legs don't work all that well anymore, and he's lost the golden touch.

I'd expect him to start off well, make a big initial impact on the pitch, and then gently fade away. He's nearer his peak than Pele and Beckenbauer were though, when they went to the US.

Good luck to him.

Cappster · Post by **Cappster** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 5:31 pm

InsaneBoost wrote:I will still continue to hate soccer, whether he is here or not.

ditto......imitation football (soccer) = ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

UK Skins Fan · Post by **UK Skins Fan** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 3:20 pm

So why comment in this thread? Go away, and leave the rest of the world to discuss association football.

Fios · Post by **Fios** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 3:28 pm

I can understand not finding soccer exciting (though I disagree) but who HATES it? How can you hate a sport? Did it attack you?

JansenFan · Post by **JansenFan** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 3:37 pm

I think people who hate soccer, or hockey, or any other sport that isn't football, just don't understand what they are watching. If you don't know what you are watching, don't have a basic understanding of the strategy and rules, it could be considered boring. If you just think it's about goals, then you are going to leave disappointed. If you enjoy watching the crisp passes to set up runs at the goal. If you like the strategy and teamwork that make a good team great, then you are more likely to be interested in it. Plus, I'd bet that most who hate it have never played it or seen it live.

UK Skins Fan · Post by **UK Skins Fan** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 3:37 pm

In any case, the sport is irrelevant. This is a business story, not a football story.

air_hog · Post by **air_hog** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 3:46 pm

Hey, I for one can say that I WON'T watch any more games than I normally do, and at this point in time, I have never watched an MLS game on TV.

Nonetheless, I do not hate soccer, but like JansenFan said, I don't understand how the game works therefore I don't get excited watching the sport.

However, I WILL actually watch the highlights now of Beckham on SportsCenter (though I don't know why).

But now if say Ronaldhino (spelling?) came to America, that would be a different story.

Like I said, I don't understand the nitty-gritty stuff of soccer, but watching Ronaldhino is just a whole nother story. Seriously, he is Juga Bonita!

JansenFan · Post by **JansenFan** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 3:55 pm

UK Skins Fan wrote:In any case, the sport is irrelevant. This is a business story, not a football story.

Very true. From what I've read this morning, it seems that most of the 250 mil i set to come from endorsement deals. He'll be making less than 10 mil a year playing. The salary cap is 1.8 mil for all 18 players a year, so they had to make an exemption whereby every team gets one player that can be paid more without salary cap ramifications.

Should be interesting. He was seen as having lost a step in European Leagues, but he'll probably still be the best player in MLS. :lol:

redskins12287 · Post by **redskins12287** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 1:54 am

I think he will have a lot of fun and do very well. There is no pressure on him, he knows this is the last step in his soccer carrer, he's no longer playing on the international level, he's in LA. Not to mention that him playing in MLS after playing in the most competitive leagues in the world will be a like a man playing amongst boys.

Either way, I hope galaxy comes and plays United.

Post by **admin** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 10:48 am

I'd slag Becks for selling out, but at a million bucks a day, who could blame the guy?

Apparently Victoria was sick of shopping in Europe. Maybe someone could get her a couple of hamburgers while she's state-side before she blows away. :shock:

He WILL be an embassador for the league though.

Personally, I just see this as an investment in another possible future World Cup for the Americans. Why else would you throw away a quarter of a billion dollars? It's not like the team is likely to MAKE that much money in the next 20 years, let alone the next 5. It'll have to be made up in endorsements because gate receipts wouldn't make a dent in a decade.

I'll break out one of my favorite sports signs of all time...

You think prices at Fed Ex are bad?
Look how much the Los Angeles Galaxy paid for their hot dog. :-)

I do wish David luck though... I'd just be happier if he'd left the wife in Spain. :shock:

UK Skins Fan · Post by **UK Skins Fan** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 10:54 am

I don't suppose we could send the rest of the Spice Girls over to LA, could we? Please? Pretty please?

JansenFan · Post by **JansenFan** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 10:55 pm

No. They are your fault, so you're stuck with them.

Jake · Post by **Jake** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 11:20 pm

JansenFan wrote:No. They are your fault, so you're stuck with them.

I'll tell you what I want. What I really really want.

.... for Beckham to go back to Europe. I can't stand his voice. He reminds me of Jeremy Shockey. I'm gonna get tired of seeing him on TV all the time very quickly.

Overpaid and overrated.

UK Skins Fan · Post by **UK Skins Fan** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 6:58 am

Jake wrote:
JansenFan wrote:No. They are your fault, so you're stuck with them.

I'll tell you what I want. What I really really want.

.... for Beckham to go back to Europe. I can't stand his voice. He reminds me of Jeremy Shockey. I'm gonna get tired of seeing him on TV all the time very quickly.

Overpaid and overrated.

I guess that you haven't heard his dear wife speak then? Because her voice is really going to wind you up.

I'll make you a deal - you arrange for the omnipresent repeats of Friends to be taken off UK TV, and I'll get Beckham brought back over here.

Oh, and whilst he may be overpaid, I really don't think he's overrated by any football fans in Europe. We all know that he's got one good foot, no pace, and his legs have gone. But his capacity to make money should not be underestimated!

Jake · Post by **Jake** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 10:16 am

UK Skins Fan wrote:
Jake wrote:
JansenFan wrote:No. They are your fault, so you're stuck with them.

I'll tell you what I want. What I really really want.

.... for Beckham to go back to Europe. I can't stand his voice. He reminds me of Jeremy Shockey. I'm gonna get tired of seeing him on TV all the time very quickly.

Overpaid and overrated.

I guess that you haven't heard his dear wife speak then? Because her voice is really going to wind you up.

I'll make you a deal - you arrange for the omnipresent repeats of Friends to be taken off UK TV, and I'll get Beckham brought back over here.

Oh, and whilst he may be overpaid, I really don't think he's overrated by any football fans in Europe. We all know that he's got one good foot, no pace, and his legs have gone. But his capacity to make money should not be underestimated!

Oh, I know all about his wife. She used to be my favorite Spice Girl. All I have to do is mute the TV if I see her and I'll be fine.

And no, if we have to suffer with Friends, so do you Brits. ;-)

tcwest10 · Post by **tcwest10** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:02 am

Soccer is not, technically, a sport.

Cappster · Post by **Cappster** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:54 am

JansenFan wrote:I think people who hate soccer, or hockey, or any other sport that isn't football, just don't understand what they are watching. If you don't know what you are watching, don't have a basic understanding of the strategy and rules, it could be considered boring. If you just think it's about goals, then you are going to leave disappointed. If you enjoy watching the crisp passes to set up runs at the goal. If you like the strategy and teamwork that make a good team great, then you are more likely to be interested in it. Plus, I'd bet that most who hate it have never played it or seen it live.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

But really though......Its not that I don't understand the rules, its just that I don't care for the sport itself. I will agree that sports that you watch while in the stands are a lot different than watching them on tv. I think baseball is boring but it is much better when I see it live.

I think it is just about personal taste to whether you think a sport is boring or not. You can understand the rules and not like a sport. You can understand the history and not like a sport. I think because we (most of us on these boards) live on the North American conitnent, we have many choices of sports that we can like and dislike. Does supply and demand work in this case? :-k

UK Skins Fan · Post by **UK Skins Fan** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 2:21 pm

When did this thread become about the merits of the sport anyway?

Honestly, LA and David Beckham deserve each other. And after all the plastic pop stars you guys have sent over here to pollute our airwaves, I don't think anyone has a right to complain when we send you one measly footballer. :wink:

Cappster · Post by **Cappster** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 10:20 pm

UK Skins Fan wrote:When did this thread become about the merits of the sport anyway?

Honestly, LA and David Beckham deserve each other. And after all the plastic pop stars you guys have sent over here to pollute our airwaves, I don't think anyone has a right to complain when we send you one measly footballer.

He is no longer a footballer but a soccer baller :!:

Fios · Post by **Fios** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 9:05 am

UK Skins Fan wrote:When did this thread become about the merits of the sport anyway?

Valid question