Beckham in MLS
Friday, 20 July 07, 06:34 AM · Comments(1)
Alright, let me say that I was at the very public unveiling last week in Carson, California for David Beckham and his introduction to the American media. The media is skeptical about Beckham's place in this because they continue to compare him to Pele and if the "greatest player who ever lived" couldn't make this a top sport in America then how can a 32 year old middling midfielder who isn't even captaining his homeland anymore? I say Posh, or at least ptui. He has already done what he intended to do.
Whether the American media believes it or not, Beckham-mania has already changed how the sport is perceived in this country. In talk radio, as conservative a place as any in this country both politically and socially, the anecdotal evidence is astounding for me. People are talking about the sport and the player, some hosts are coming around to the idea that this may be a future talking point, and even some diehard haters like Jim Rome apparently have softened their tone against the sport. All this has been happening before Mr. Golden Balls hit.
No, he won't save the league on the field, and he probably won't save his team on the field from making the playoffs. For one he's still nursing an ankle injury that he suffered on the last day of the La Liga season, and he's just not the sort of player that can change the game like Cristiano Ronaldo or Leo Messi can in open play, but what he brought to Real Madrid in the last 12 matches of the season was immense. Diarra, Higuain, Reyes, or Van Nistelrooy may have scored those deciding goals, but it was David Beckham that inspired them with his leadership. It is no fluke that their fortunes turned when Capello brought him off the bench and started him on the wing. His crosses were deadly, his passing was efficient, but in a team of primadonnas Beckham was the one thing that people misunderstand the most about him in that while he may look like a Galactico, his play on the field is not. He makes others play better.
And yet, off the field his impact on the sport will be immeasurable. He may not be the greatest player who ever lived, despite Pele himself calling him one of the top 50 who did, and he might not even be the best player in his own midfield for England, but he brings something that Pele never had. Media cache, Q rating, friendships with actors, politicians and studio moguls.
In that regard, no one in the sport has ever had what David Beckham has. Real Madrid have seen their exposure in China and Japan grow because of the Beckham factor and years later Manchester United are still drawing from that well. People who never heard of the Galaxy or MLS globally are now focusing their attention while most every other league is on summer hiatus.
No, he surely isn't Pele. He won't single handedly change the sport, he won't make the level of play in the MLS overall all that much better, but I wouldn't underestimate his impact on the United States.
Like this blog? Help spread the word: 
-
forzafutbol
Los Angeles, US
A better lens into the World's Game. We talk about UEFA Cup, Champions League and International matches, especially when they intersect with teams in Spain and Italy, we talk transfer rumours, gossip and everything else that revolves around the world's greatest game.
-
Pet Snakes said:Love your writing style and the design of your blog, its very original! Well do...
Mando said:I think you can get 3 for the price of what you'd pay for Kaka and Ronaldo. Aul...
trooper said:here is my squad list:
GK - iker casillas & codina
DEFENCE: maicon,ramo...
Keftbubpoet said:I don't like the colour.
---------------------------------------
signature:...
Twitted by realmadridtalk said:[...] This post was Twitted by realmadridtalk - Real-url.org [...]
1 Comments · Add yours
I am just hoping the Beckham exposure brings more "elite" players to the US.