YOU'LL PROBABLY see a lot of David Beckham in the next few months.
He'll be at awards ceremonies, walking the red carpet at movie premieres, appearing on various talk shows and hanging out with famous friends including Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes in swanky Beverly Hills.
Whether that means he'll be able to boost Major League Soccer in the long run is entirely another story.
Beckham, of course, was unveiled by the L.A. Galaxy in a much-hyped ceremony Friday that featured music, confetti and journalists from around the globe. Leaving Real Madrid, arguably soccer's most revered franchise, his five-year contract is reportedly worth up to $250 million, including off-field work.
The curious and uninitiated soccer fan, even sports fan, will flock to Beckham's early games and discover that his right foot produces the best crosses in the world and some of the best free kicks. Will those same fans return when they find out that he can't dribble past defenders, lacks dazzling speed and is averse to throwing in a trick or two a la Ronaldinho or Thierry Henry? Two players with much more flair and skill, Pele and George Best, failed to capture the imagination of fans in the U.S. once the novelty effect wore off.
What will Beckham do if attendance falls and the midfielder misses the thrill of competing in La Liga or England's Premiership, arguably the two most prestigious soccer leagues in the world?
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He'll be at awards ceremonies, walking the red carpet at movie premieres, appearing on various talk shows and hanging out with famous friends including Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes in swanky Beverly Hills.
Whether that means he'll be able to boost Major League Soccer in the long run is entirely another story.
Beckham, of course, was unveiled by the L.A. Galaxy in a much-hyped ceremony Friday that featured music, confetti and journalists from around the globe. Leaving Real Madrid, arguably soccer's most revered franchise, his five-year contract is reportedly worth up to $250 million, including off-field work.
The curious and uninitiated soccer fan, even sports fan, will flock to Beckham's early games and discover that his right foot produces the best crosses in the world and some of the best free kicks. Will those same fans return when they find out that he can't dribble past defenders, lacks dazzling speed and is averse to throwing in a trick or two a la Ronaldinho or Thierry Henry? Two players with much more flair and skill, Pele and George Best, failed to capture the imagination of fans in the U.S. once the novelty effect wore off.
What will Beckham do if attendance falls and the midfielder misses the thrill of competing in La Liga or England's Premiership, arguably the two most prestigious soccer leagues in the world?
Discuss Add this link to... Bury
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