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I've been following some of the Beckham news over the last couple of days.
Not everyone gets it yet. The move isn't about directly raising the standard of soccer in the US - it's about raising the profile so it can compete with the other major franchises. It's about showing the US that soccer too has it's share of Ferrari driving rock stars, earning 8-figure salaries (and even more from promotion and advertising).
At the level that Beckham is used to playing at - he's at the end of his career (as a player) - he's 32 years old !! He's been warming the bench at Real Madrid and hasn't won anything for 3-4 years. Moving to the US is a fairly well trodden retirement plan for European soccer players
So, don't expect him to make a big splash on the pitch - he's not a one-man-team like George Best, Pele, Maradona and Ronaldo. His impact will be on greater acceptance of Soccer in the US. For that I'm thankful - even if we have to put up with a couple of years of obnoxious Beckham Frenzy.
Comments are closed for this entry.
I wouldn't say he is that washed up. And to win something, you need help from your team - ask Marino, Elway, or Manning. Yes, I do think his best days are over, but no, I still think he can make a big splash on the pitch.
He had a great World Cup - he gave his heart and the contents of his stomache. When everyone else on his team appeared lackluster, he was still hustling.
Some players older than him and still contributing on the pitch:
I gave at least one who wasn't at Manchester United.
Posted by Tom Haynes on January 12, 2007 at 03:20 PM PST #
Tom, you forgot Cameroon's Roger Millar played his last WC @ 42 !
They are all great players but not the football elite (maybe Gigsy is) - substantiation would be rather long-winded. Also they're all past their prime as well.
I'm not knocking Beckham - I think he has the best work-ethic in the game (despite his rockstar status) and he understands the game like noone else; I just don't expect him to dance round 9 players a score from 35 yards with a bicycle kick - that's not what he does. Anyone expecting Maradona, Pele, Rinaldo will be disappointed.
Posted by Rich Sharples on January 12, 2007 at 04:35 PM PST #