Officially Beckham Arrives

[NDSUFREAK]

Anyone gonna watch the game tonight? I know I started about an hour ago watching an interview with him through his timeline! xnodx xnodx xnodx I am definitely excited.
Kick off next

[DFW HOYA]

Zero interest. If Pele couldn't raise American soccer, this guy won't.

[SuperJon]

I think it's funny how some people are so against soccer. The sport is gaining in popularity like crazy. It's the most played sport on the continent. We've just never had quality soccer here in America. As the talent level of the MLS increases, and it has every year, soccer will get better and better. Half the league has soccer-only stadiums now and are packing them out every week. Our U20 team made it to the knockout round of the World Cup. More and more talented players are talking about coming to the MLS. Will we compete with the EPL, Serie A, or the Spanish Premiera? I doubt it. However, we can be the league where people come to develop and then come on the downward part of their career. I'd be perfectly fine with that.

[ISUMatt]

In the past 2 years my interest in socceer has risen and risen...Ive started watching the EPL on Fox Soccer Channel and have always watched the MLS...So Becks arrival won't make me watch more soccer, I watch alot anyway, but am watching the match tonight anyway

[SuperJon]

Fox Soccer Channel has helped raise interest more than anyone admits. Having that channel is awesome, especially during the season. You can watch EPL games in the afternoon live. If only they showed Spanish or Italian games.

Soccer will never surpass the big 3, but to say it won't keep rising in popularity is ignorant.

[ISUMatt]

And in the 78th minute, Beckham takes to the Pitch

[ISUMatt]

Fox Soccer Channel has helped raise interest more than anyone admits. Having that channel is awesome, especially during the season. You can watch EPL games in the afternoon live. If only they showed Spanish or Italian games.

Soccer will never surpass the big 3, but to say it won't keep rising in popularity is ignorant.

On Sunday Mornings, FSC shows lives Italia Serie A games!!

[SuperJon]

I think I saw that a couple times actually.

[SuperJon]

Another great thing about soccer: you know how long it'll last. You know that, no matter what, in a normal game you'll be there no longer than two hours. It's not like football or baseball where it could take 3-4 hours and you don't know how long it'll take. It's one of those things that you know, if the game starts at 3pm, you can plan something for 5:30 and not have to worry about the game being over.

[NDSUFREAK]

Fox Soccer Channel has helped raise interest more than anyone admits. Having that channel is awesome, especially during the season. You can watch EPL games in the afternoon live. If only they showed Spanish or Italian games.

Soccer will never surpass the big 3, but to say it won't keep rising in popularity is ignorant.

I love that channel!!! I love to see teh stadiums just filled with futbol fanatics and what an atmosphere there! I would love to go to one of those games.

[T-Dog]

I just want to make this point about critics saying this is over-the-top press coverage.

As long as LA doesn't put his physical up on Pay-Per-View like Real Madrid did when he first went there, then it isn't over-the-top. (at least they made millions off that PPV)

Today was just spectacle. I'll be watching on 8/5 when they take on Toronto to see how he does. LA is a lost cause this year (they really suck) but he should have his moments.

[Grizalltheway]

Fox Soccer Channel has helped raise interest more than anyone admits. Having that channel is awesome, especially during the season. You can watch EPL games in the afternoon live. If only they showed Spanish or Italian games.

Soccer will never surpass the big 3, but to say it won't keep rising in popularity is ignorant.

Surprisingly enough, the German Bundesliga is the highest scoring league in Europe, so if you wanted to draw in more casual fans, that might be the way to go.



I love that channel!!! I love to see teh stadiums just filled with futbol fanatics and what an atmosphere there! I would love to go to one of those games.

If everything goes according to plan, I'll be catching a couple games here next spring:

http://www.affen7.net/german/737.jpg

http://www.smart-travel-germany.com/image-files/allianzarenafacade2_large.jpg

[danefan]

I like Beckham, he seems like a genuinely nice guy.

[813Jag]

I know there was alot of nervous people when he took that slide tackle. I hope this can really spike a national (ESPN) interest in the MLS.

[Dane96]

I enjoyed soccer, but like most Americans I become only HIGHLY interested in the game during tourneys like the World Cup, Copa America, Euro (insert year), etc.

That all changed last year when, by chance, I happened to be in Grenada, Spain the week Sevilla upset Barca for the Super Cup.

My buddy, his girlfriend, myself, and three other guys (Scotsman, Dutchman, and Brit) took a bus to Sevilla to see the opening match of La Liga vs. Levante (its on Youtube).

We got tix at the last minute...and I was hooked. Honestly, even when low scoring (which it was not), it was amazing. It is MUCH MUCH better to watch live and the skill level is more than you can imagine.

As more players (believe me, they will with more $$$ coming in the league) come over in their late-prime (not past) years, curious observers like myself may get hooked.

In the English and Spanish league, goal scoring IS VERY HIGH...and as noted...the German league the highest. It is no different than hockey (a sport I love). However, with our country being the melting pot it is, more people are apt to watch soccer than hockey.

Beckham's arrival, expanded coverage (thank you Fox Sports and GolTv--Spanish league), the structure of the league, and soccer specific stadiums, have given the league something the NASL never had: A BASE TO WORK WITH.

I met Bob Kraft at my law school in 2004 (my professor and I got him to come in with others, including Gene Upshaw). He flat out stated that soccer was here to stay and that he and his colleagues were losing money every year...but they see the future in 15 years...something their predecessors with NASL did not.

[NDSUFREAK]

Surprisingly enough, the German Bundesliga is the highest scoring league in Europe, so if you wanted to draw in more casual fans, that might be the way to go.




If everything goes according to plan, I'll be catching a couple games here next spring:

http://www.affen7.net/german/737.jpg

http://www.smart-travel-germany.com/image-files/allianzarenafacade2_large.jpg

xeekx xeekx xeekx xeekx xeekx xeekx xeekx xeekx
WOW, I would love to go on your trip for you.

[SuperJon]

I like Beckham, he seems like a genuinely nice guy.

I'll admit that he does seem like a very genuine, down to earth person. If that's the actual case, I don't know. I've never been a huge Beckham fan, never had anything against him. Is he a little overrated by some? Yes. However, is he an amazing ambassador for the game? Absolutely.

[MoreheadEagle]

What Beckham does for the MLS is bring in the casual fan. I love soccer but I think one of the things people need to do is go see it in person. Bill Plaschke (sp?) from Around the Horn was bashing soccer all the time then went to see the LA vs Chelsea game and actually enjoyed himself.

[SuperJon]

Exactly. Too many people are "scared" of soccer. They say it's horrible, that no one wants to watch it, that it's boring, etc. These are the people that have never been to the game and they never want to go to a game because they're scared they'll actually like it and have to change their opinion on the game.

[jessesd]

I did my share to subsidise soccer player salaries and gurantee its stay in the USA, I purchsed yesterday the "LAGalaxy's Beckham Jersey" for $80 (the most I paid for any of my Jerseys)
I'm glad they changed the design this year (more European look) and is a nice casual shirt.

My wife had a cow about it!!!
and she spends several times more than that on a pair of shoes, but I think the high price is worth because some years from now we'll talk about "Becks" coming to the US as the signal that the market has matured to gain recognition and we are willing to pay the price to keep it going!!!

[mcveyrl]

I did my share to subsidise soccer player salaries and gurantee its stay in the USA, I purchsed yesterday the "LAGalaxy's Beckham Jersey" for $80 (the most I paid for any of my Jerseys)
I'm glad they changed the design this year (more European look) and is a nice casual shirt.
My wife had a cow about it!!!
and she spends several times more than that on a pair of shoes, but I think the high price is worth because some years from now we'll talk about "Becks" coming to the US as the signal that the market has matured to gain recognition and we are willing to pay the price to keep it going!!!

The new design is great. More MLS teams need to take note.

[gmoney55]

I was never a big soccer guy and really still am not, but it was fun to go to a game in person. It's just an awful TV sport in the same way that hockey is (but worse).

[mcveyrl]

I was never a big soccer guy and really still am not, but it was fun to go to a game in person. It's just an awful TV sport in the same way that hockey is (but worse).

I agree with that. The only real TV excitement is on set pieces. The long pass that Beckham made was a great pass, but in the moment on TV, you couldn't tell. Only after the replay (which has to be played over live action) could you tell how good it was.