Buzz Watch: Soccer Star David Beckham Recruited To Los Angeles Galaxy!

Authored by Jay Baage on January 11, 2007 - 3:36pm.

David Beckham, the most recognized soccer player on the planet - also a fashion icon, tabloid fixture and all over marketing giant - announced a deal on Thursday to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer. For a 5-year contract reportedly worth $250 million, Beckham is expected to do for American soccer what the Beatles once did for pop music or Survivor did for Reality TV. I believe the US is ready to finally adopt the world’s biggest sport and Beckman might very well be the catalyst, so this is a very interesting development.

"There are so many great sports in America," the 31-year-old former England captain said according to the International Herald Tribune. "There are so many kids that play baseball, American football, basketball. But soccer is huge all around the world apart from America, so that's where I want to make a difference with the kids."

The recruitment of David Beckman to the US Major League Soccer (MLS), means that he turned down a two-year contract extension from his current club Real Madrid, which perhaps is good timing because his performace on the grass has faded a little lately, which left him on the bench for most of this season, but his celebrity status around the world is still top-notch.

"David Beckham is a global sports icon who will transcend the sport of soccer in America," said MLS commissioner Don Garber in a statement.

Beckham will start for the Galaxy when he joins them in August of this year on a contract worth $250 million in salary and commercial endorsements over the five years of his contract. This means roughly $1 million a week!

The deal was negotiated over 10 days by major entertainment industry players Simon Fuller, creator of "American Idol," and Creative Artists Agency (CAA), home to some of Hollywood's biggest actors. Beckham and his wife, former Spice Girl Victoria, will likely try to bridge into more than sports and pop-stardom when they move to Los Angeles and Hollywood.

"It's not lost on them that it's the entertainment capital of the world and they know many people in the entertainment industry here," commented Tim Leiweke, president and chief executive officer of Galaxy owner AEG and a personal friend of the couple.

Joakim Baage

Related Links:
Beckham looks like a perfect fit for Los Angeles (IHT)
Major League Soccer Official Website

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Comments

"America Just Doesn't Get It" Redux

Submitted by Rich Biotches Go Home!!! (not verified) on January 12, 2007 - 5:13am.

This is more about Beckham trying to launch his Hollywood career - afterall Major League Soccer is not American Idol.

Didn't we already go through this with Pele years ago? What happened then - New York wasn't big enough or influential enough? Pele wasn't likeable or talented enough? No - soccer is simply not a top entertainment option for a vast majority of Americans. (Sure this could easily change if US immigration policy continues on a "look-the-other-way" path - but would that really be worth it, just to see soccer finally succeed economically in the US??? I think not. Note: The previous comment was sarcasm for those dimwitted lunatics (e.g. anti-law, pro-soccer "hooligans") reading this).

With sufficient capital for marketing purposes, professional lacrosse has a greater economic future than soccer. Why? Simply because it is more exciting to watch.

No offense Beckham, but your name will always be a reference to the title of a great movie that just happened to be related to soccer.