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01.13.07, 12:08 PM #1
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Beckham comes to America - to Join LA Galaxy
Beckham says U.S. soccer has 'huge potential'
Star speaks at news conference after $250 million deal with L.A. Galaxy
The Associated Press
MARINA DEL REY, Calif. - David Beckham may be a fading sports megastar, hoping to someday top a marquee on the Sunset Strip. Or he might still create magic with a soccer ball, trying to make his new team better and popularize the game in America.
Or perhaps he’ll make his mark in both gritty Carson, where the Los Angeles Galaxy play, and Hollywood.
Forgetting for the moment that Beckham’s wife, Victoria, is a former Spice Girl, that they rank Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes among their best friends, and that one of Hollywood’s premier talent agencies negotiated his Galaxy contract, Beckham tried to focus on soccer.
“I’m coming there not be a superstar,” the 31-year-old Beckham said Friday via satellite from Madrid. “I’m coming there to be part of the team, to work hard and to hopefully win things.
“With me, it’s about football. I’m coming there to make a difference. I’m coming there to play football.”
It’s all about football in Spain, too. Coach Fabio Capello said Saturday that Beckham will not play again for the Real Madrid team at which former England captain remains under contract until June 30.
“He is not going to play any more. He will practice, but he is not going to play,” Capello said at a news conference.
Reporters were not allowed to pose questions. Instead, a moderator did the asking.
Dressed in a black suit with white shirt and black tie, Beckham said he hopes to work with American youngsters and keep them interested in soccer when they are finished with youth leagues.
He’s joining a so-so team in Major League Soccer, considered sort of bush league by fans in the more fervent soccer countries around the world.
“I’m not saying me coming over to the States is going to make soccer the biggest sport in America. That would be difficult to achieve,” Beckham said. “Baseball, basketball, American football, they’ve been around.
“But I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t think I could make a difference.”
Tim Leiweke of AEG, the sports and entertainment company that runs the Galaxy, believes Beckham can make a huge difference.
“Certainly, he will bring an audience, a fan base and an intensity to our sport that we’ve never had,” Leiweke said.
The AEG president said Beckham is far from done.
“David is still a very good player,” Leiweke said. “Peyton Manning in football, the other football, Allen Iverson in basketball and Tiger Woods in golf are all the same age as Beckham.”
Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas, who was one of America’s best-known players, said the decision to sign Beckham “was based on soccer.”
“At the end of the day, this team needs to win on the field,” Lalas said.
Lalas said he did not think Beckham should be blamed for the lack of success by either Real Madrid or England’s national team.
“It’s an easy way out to blame David,” Lalas said. “And to be fair, he has a target on him. And that’s OK, that’s the pressure he plays under. But the mediocrity of different teams at different times and the blame that’s put on him, I think that’s unfair.
“He’s 31 years old and I think he has some of his best soccer ahead of him. And he’s facing a new challenge. What could be a fresher start for him than to come to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy?”
Beckham plans to fulfill his contract with Real Madrid before heading for the United States. He is not expected to join the Galaxy, whose MLS season begins in April, until August.
His five-year deal with the team, one of three MLS franchises owned by AEG, is believed to be for around $10 million a year. His representatives have said that outside endorsements could run the total worth of the package to $250 million.
Beckham mentioned that he has watched Cobi Jones play in the World Cup and now he will line up beside him with the Galaxy.
Jones, still a solid player at 36, believes Beckham will have a positive impact on his teammates.
“I know if I’m running around the field with a David Beckham, I want to impress him,” Jones said. “I want him to go, ‘Hey, this guy is good.’ I think it’s going to give us a credibility and a perspective.
“A lot of people don’t have a perspective of how good these guys in the MLS are,” he said.
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 friendship with Cruise and Holmes should make adjusting to life in Los Angeles easier for him and his wife.
“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.”
Beckham said his wife and their three children aren’t packed yet, and added with a grin, “It might take a while with Victoria.”
The former Posh Spice has been know for her varied and fashionable wardrobe.
© 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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01.13.07, 12:09 PM #2
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Your example of a man being faultlessly smart in every step he makes.
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01.13.07, 12:11 PM #3
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“I’m coming there not be a superstar”"is this a good show tonight, or fuckin' what?" - DLR, Montreal, 11/10/07
Toronto 10/7...Cleveland 10/10...Toronto 10/12...Montreal 11/10
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01.13.07, 12:32 PM #4
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The single most overrated footballer, and sportsman, of all time.
'The whole world is watching you tonight!'
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01.13.07, 12:41 PM #5
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Nay, I disagree. The's the only English footballer to enter the World Cup hall of fame, does that count for anything?
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01.13.07, 01:18 PM #6
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If they think it's going to put soccer on the map in America, they are dead wrong. Where do they think they will recoup that kind of ca$h?
And David; it's Soccer, not football. Welcome to America.
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01.13.07, 02:34 PM #7
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'The whole world is watching you tonight!'
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01.13.07, 03:07 PM #8
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Well none of us have a gift of forthsight, let's just see what happens. I don't see what's wrong with soccer growing up in the States, yet another form of entertainment to contribute to both economy and international scene. You guys have enough population to get involved in any sport possible.
He calls it soccer when addressing to the US public. I just pasted the article from british source.
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01.13.07, 03:39 PM #9
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I hear you talking, and agree with what you say, but it isn't going to happen. They have been trying for years to make it popular here in the states. I personally don't think there is enough scoring to maintain my interest for very long, and i played the game growing up. Maybe they should adjust some rules, such as off-sides. I often kid about the lack of scoring being the reason for riots at soccer matches. 100,000 people agonizing for hours over a scoreless game, and when one team scores all hell breaks loose because it's basically over.
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01.13.07, 03:59 PM #10
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Soccer has exploded recently.
If arena league football can outdraw the NHL in viewership, then there's certainly room for a new "top-5" sport.
Nothing is going to dislodge the NFL as America's #1 television sport. Period. I think baseball and basketball will always be #2 or #3, although they may alter positions as the decades go by.
But soccer is the ONLY sport that is growing every single year, not only in participation, but in viewership. Yes, I know they tried a professional soccer league in the 70s, and it failed.
And the MLS may fail. But each time they make an attempt, they get BETTER at it!!
Another thing to consider is that football participation is dying. That isn't going to change viewership, or dislodge it from the #1 position, not at all. BUT, it is interesting that each and EVERY YEAR, there are fewer & fewer highschool football teams. Many, MANY leagues are already 7-on-7 football. Schools are simply STARVED for money. For every school in Texas that wouldn't even CONSIDER switching to 7-on-7, I'll find you 20 other schools that can't even afford another lunch lady.
The equipment costs are too high, and the amount of players required is too high for many, many schools. This isn't the case with soccer. It grows, and grows, and grows EVERY year, and has been since the 70's. It can't hurt soccer's future viewership....I'm talking 20-40 years from now.....if more people are playing soccer, even if it's still 4th banana, or even 9th or 10th banana at your local highschool.
If soccer ever supplants the NHL in American viewership, I'd be VERY impressed, even if it takes 30 years.
I'm not predicting anything. I'm just throwing some tidbits out there.
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01.13.07, 04:23 PM #11
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Who the hell this guy and why should I care again?
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01.13.07, 05:16 PM #12
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He might be next lead singer for VH
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01.13.07, 05:20 PM #13
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'The whole world is watching you tonight!'
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01.13.07, 07:00 PM #14
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Probably the most famous football player on the planet.
Just as you may not (or may) be able to name any footballers, I would be hard pressed to name a single NFL, MLB or NHL player.
So you're right, why should anyone care?
I've always preferred rugby and cricket anyway, even though we have been performing like a bunch of retarded stray dogs on crack recently.
Don't worry though. If they're paying Becks a million a week you can bet his name will be all over the media as they try to recoup this ridiculous investment.
And don't even get me started on his fucking wife. (puts gun to head)
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01.13.07, 08:18 PM #15
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We think alike on this one. My first thought when I saw major news coverage about this was a nice Chris Farley/Matt Foley type "Whoop-De-Freakin'-Doo!". He is married to Posh Spice though. Isn't she about due to show up in Playboy, or did he sign the big contract to keep her clothes on?
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