The Sports Truth

Looks like we will now find out if soccer has what it takes to make it in the U.S. of A. After much speculation about joining Major League Soccer after being demoted from both the English national team and his club team, Real Madrid, David Beckham is coming to America.

In the week leading up to the 2006 MLS Cup Championship the owners passed a rule that would allow teams to spend any amount of money over the salary cap to acquire a player. Many immediately dubbed this rule the “Beckham Rule” - and for good reason, it turned out.

Beckham has been signed by the L.A. Galaxy for a whooping $250 million for five years. This contract easily becomes the largest contract ever given a professional athlete in the U.S., topping the Alex Rodriguez deal of $250 million for 10 years signed in 2000 with the Texas Rangers.

David Beckham brings to U.S. soccer a face that the world will recognize - and relate to the MLS. This isn’t like when Pele came over to the long-defunct North American Soccer League at the end of his career. Teams in both Spain and England still wanted Beckham to play for them and he picked MLS. The other side of the ocean will now take notice of MLS, credibility it desperately needs.

Despite what many people say, Beckham can still play. He scored a goal in the World Cup this year and is merely 31 years old. He is the master of the free kick and set piece. American star Landon Donovan, now his teammate, has to be on his hands and knees thanking the powers that be for getting him the “Lord of the Cross.”

Remember when Michael Jordan returned to play the Bulls the first time with the Wizards, or when Shaq went back to L.A. to face the Lakers? Everyone had to be at those games or see them on TV. Beckham will make every game he plays an event, and people who have never attended a soccer game will be looking to get a peak at who David Beckham really is.

There is a reason David picked L.A. to play for. He wants to be the biggest star there is and that can only be accomplished in two places, L.A or N.Y. Beckham is the quintessential superstar in every sense of the word. He’s the most recognizable athlete in the world, the former captain of the English national team, and married to Victoria Beckham (a.k.a. Posh Spice).

He’s a rock star and a star athlete rolled into one. That said, it’s a lot of money to spend for a league that is still in the red every year. But at some point they had to make a move and see if the league can stand on its own. Expect a few other stars to follow Beckham’s footsteps, as a lot of stars look up to him and will listen if he tells them MLS is where they want to be.

Posted in David Beckham, Soccer