How do Americans feel about David Beckham coming over to LA to play football (sorry "soccer") for ...

Question

...$1 000 000 A WEEK !!! (£500 000 UK sterling)
Is he well known over there?
What do you think about his 5 year contract?

I'm from UK
Please say wether your from the UK or America - it will make sense then...

Answer 1

I'm really struggling with the idea of someone making 250 million. I know, he's not the only grossly overpaid athlete and there will be others. But my God. 250 million.

I work in a urban hospital and the things we could do with 250 million...........

Sorry, that wasn't your question.

I think it's disgusting how much athletes are paid. I don't care if they play football (yours or mine), baseball, basketball, hockey, whatever.

That being said, yeah, he's known here but I thnk it is also because of who his wife is.

PS: I am an American.

Answer 2

Like I said on the UK site. Leave the guy alone and let him live his life. He has charissma and talent. What people seem to forget about Becks is that he has been playing soccer USA (football uk) since he was a wee mite and for Manchester Untied since he was 14 years old..so tell me why would the wise and the powerful employ such a person if he were not worth his salt.

Other wills benefit from others faith in Becks. He will plow his own money into soccer in the USA you watch and see.


Pure Jealousy on the asker part.

Answer 3

I'm an American, and I say whatever. Most of the professional athletes who play in American leagues are grossly overpaid, so it doesn't surprise me that Beckham's getting that kind of money. I think he might not be worth the investment since he's been playing for so long and will probably retire after his five years are up, but oh well it's publicity for American pro soccer, a sport which basically nobody watches. I just watch the NHL, no other sport for me!

Answer 4

i'm a die-hard soccer fan, but i don't think Beckham's arrival will help MLS and US Soccer in general. It will, surely, be a boost initially, but once the novelty wears out, it won't really matter. As far as i'm concerned the US is all about hype (i'm talking about US and Soccer, nothing else ...) Football and Baseball are so engrained in the US culture, even myself as a Canadian and die-hard soccer fan will choose to watch an NFL game over any MLS game, no matter who is playing. I'm all about European or South-American soccer. MLS never caught on with me and i do not think it ever will. Look at what happened with Adu. You had to be naive to think he was going to "rescue" soccer. Adu is simply a product of media hype. Ferguson even said he wasn't as good as everyone made him out to be. There are thousands of 15-16 year olds in europe, asia and south-america that are better than Adu, it's just that Adu stood out in a market where there were no such young and good players.

I won't watch MLS because Beckham is there. I'll keep watching Serie A, Champion's League, the Argentine Apertura/Clausura and Spanish Primera.

North America, particularly the US, should stick to Football and Baseball ... they're doing a crazy and amazing job. Unless they signed several stars, in their prime (Beckham is not in his prime ... if he ever had one) Ronaldo from the mid-nineties, Ronaldinho, Kaka, Maldini and Baresi from the early-90s, Baggio, Bergkamp and so on would, in my eyes, make the MLS competitive with the NFL and Hockey.

If the MLS does infact explode because of this, hey, all the better ... good for them. I'll be happy. It will be hard though, like i said. I see both sides. I'm a die hard soccer fan, but also love the NFL and US culture for sports (college sports) and Hockey in Canada. I don't think Soccer will pick up here enough to dislodge the popularity of the other sports. In Canada, we have more registered soccer players than hockey, but Hockey is still light years ahead of soccer. Soccer is cheaper to play.

That said, i grew up watching Milan, champion's league and the italy teams of the 90s ... soccer is in my blood.

Answer 5

IM SO EXCITED. Im on the east coast (maryland) where we have a damn good team (DC UNITED) and i can't wait for la galaxy to play dc united. i think hes well known to those who have seen that gorgeous got milk ad, kids who play soccer, and anyone else that cares. His 5 year contract is a long time, but whatever. im just happy that we finally have a big name and maybe now people in america will pay attention.

Answer 6

I'm from America, but I'm a loyal Man U supporter. I am excited for Beckham to come to the US, but i think it is a colossal waste of his talent. The MLS is a complete joke, and not even the best Americans play here. Becks better be making $1,000,000 a week, because he it literally flushin a five-year chunk of his career down the drain. Coming from the Premiership and the Liga, MLS is like going back to a high school league.

Answer 7

Hey if A-rod (an over-rated baseball player in America) can make that kind of money, I don't see why Beckham can't make that money.

I think Americans here are excited, even though they know deep down they are not abadoning their sport here - football, basketball, baseball and hockey.

I think only time will tell.

Answer 8

m from the us and i hate all the people that are saying that americans hate soccer, not true
im american and im obssesed with soccer
sure the majorty of the country like stupid sports like football or baseball but in my city its popular
im exited because he is one of my faves and now i'll have a chance to watch him play!he'll only be 8 hours away from me!
he is the most well known player here

Answer 9

He's known for his celebrity status. I am looking forward for his coming. I'm excited to see what his marketability will do for the sport in the next couple of years.

Answer 10

Any1 who watches football knows that Beckham is a shite player and he only went to America for the money