Although Gretzkey means more to hockey than Beckham means to soccer. Beckhams goal is simlar to Gretzkys was. Gretzky made hockey a house hold sport in the USA when he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings and awed the people in California with his talent. Although soccer nor hockey will never surpass the other 3 sports in the USA. Ice hockey atleast has a pretty healthy fanbase in the USA. My hometown team the Carolina Hurrincanes won the Stanley cup last year and i was happy for them. But for Becks I think he wont be making soccer a mainstream sport. For that you need Ronaldinho not Becks. Wrong guy LA Galaxy. The LA Galaxy will never surpass the LA Lakers when it comes up to fanbase never. Therefore I dont think you can compare Gretzkey to Beckham cause Gretzky means much more.
2007-01-12 10:07:21 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Football ➔ Other - Football
mike soccer is only played by upperclass families in the USA
2007-01-12 11:47:25 · update #1
if you exclude mexicans
2007-01-12 11:47:42 · update #2
most americans aged 14-29 HATE soccer
2007-01-12 11:48:24 · update #3
My nephew is 5 but he has no in soccer. he plays soccer but he prefers to watch other sports.
2007-01-12 11:49:12 · update #4
I agree. Maybe if Beckham were in his prime but even then I don't think the average sports fan would embrace him like Gretzky.
2007-01-12 10:15:08 · answer #1 · answered by Henry B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wait, nationally, where is hockey today? Gretzky made it somewhat more popular a long time ago, but after the strike and the fact that it's impossible to follow on TV unless you're a hardcore fan, hockey is not anywhere near the big three... baseball, football and basketball... and it never will be.
Soccer in the U.S., with or without Beckham, will also be second fiddle to the big three. It just isn't in the normal American to like it, I don't really know why. I grew up in San Diego and Tijuana... I have some soccer fan in me but even I don't follow it except during the World Cup and during some of the larger, club tournaments.
2007-01-12 10:32:39 · answer #2 · answered by gbravo04 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Beckham will not be the last BIG star to come to US
You are correct that Football Baseball and Basketball are more popular with the 30-70 crowd but many younger children in US only know Soccer, its the only thing they play and are interested in, I think the MONEY is in the US for sports much more than any other country add all the salaries for Baseball Basketball Football in US and they far surpass the combined soccer salaries in the world and all the large sports agencies and agents are also in the states
2007-01-12 11:23:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He will never have that impact. In all fairness Beckham is a good player but when it comes to legendary sports figures he is not. His looks and public persona trump his actual soccer skills. He is good but I think it is bold to try and compare him to Gretzky or someone of that same status.
As much as I would like to believe that Beckham will make soccer a household sport, I just dont believe this country has what it takes to understand Football (real football not NFL football). As Americans we are constantly tantalized with the glitz and glamor that surround the NFL, MLB, and NBA. Football requires a real appreciation for skill and I feel most of this is lost to the general public. Some people argue that football is just to boring to be popular. I have never understood how 90 minutes of almost continuous play action is more boring than the constant stop and go of American football and the almost constant pause of baseball! It just makes no sense. I dont think these people understand the game of football and if it doesnt included cheerleaders, flashy victory dances, fireworks, and a Campbell's chunky soup commercial then they probably never will.
2007-01-12 10:28:40 · answer #4 · answered by leprikan6 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
IT`S IMPOSSIBLE
2007-01-12 11:03:53 · answer #5 · answered by isso 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋