BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM

Talk about a "second coming"! Yesterday, David Robert Joseph Beckham of "Bend It Like Beckham" fame announced that after his season ends with Madrid this year, he will be headed across the border...to play football...sorry, soccer in America's backyard. David who? Yes, David Beckham of movie star good looks, Posh Spice and paparazzi fame. In a deal reported to be worth over $250 Million Dollars over 5 years, David Beckham will join the Los Angeles Galaxy right here in our own floundering MLS.

I say it's a second coming because as you may know, Beckham spent the better part of his soccer playing...or rather "free kicking" days in the English Soccer League, playing for the tremendously prolific Manchester United from the age of 17. While there, he became a star and Manchester United established an enviable record - the highpoint being accomplishing The Treble of the league, and winning the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League in 1999.

Blinkered aficionados and organising bodies claimed Mr. Beckham was the man...the centerpiece of United's terrific form...but really, I ask...was he? If he was, then this must have been the "first coming" as it has all been down hill since.  

After United, he was then transferred, in a deal worth over 24 Million GBP, to the Spanish Soccer League in 2003 to represent Real Madrid and play with a starstudded team that included the likes of Ronaldo, Zidane and Roberto Carlos. But while in Madrid, he was never quite the spark...surprise, surprise!

Even with stars up and down the lineup, the team performed poorly, Beckham at times found himself on the bench and there was more razzle dazzle off the field than on the field. To say it was a "circus" and a "feeding fest" for the paparazzi would be putting it mildly.

In terms of his international career, in my opinion, he has had a far less than illustrious one. He did play for England in three World Cup finals and captained the team from 2000 to 2006 but that was just about it. He suffered the ignominy of being red-carded in his first World Cup and led England to two rather disappointing quarter final exits in 2002 and 2006.

The quarter final exits distort the real quality of England's play in the two finals which was far from sterling. Also, one should not forget that after the less than satisfying 2002 World Cup (to English fans at any rate), Beckham could not regain his place on the Manchester United first team and eventually fell out of favor with the Manager - Sir Alex Ferguson, which more than likely, precipitated the move to Real Madrid.

So, what do I think? Personally, I have always felt that Beckham was and is the most overrated, overhyped player in the history of sports. He is unquestionably a "free kick" genius...a real master, who bends a soccer ball like no one else can. There is no argument there. He is undoubtedly blessed with an amazing gift, but man for man...nah!

I do believe accolades such as FIFA's 1999 and 2001 runner up in the Player of the Year Award were a stretch. Is he worth the money? From a straight overall footballing perspective...running...pace...dribbling...etc...nah!. He is nowhere close to the Brazilian "god" Pele...the Argentinian magician - Maradona, not even close to some of today's lesser mortals such as Zidane and Ronaldinho. So is he worth $250 Million big ones...nah!

Football...I mean soccer, is however a global sport like no other with commercial reach beyond imagination. Just think. FIFA's annual income, in recent times, was reported to be over $700 Million and get this. It was projected that the last Cup in Germany would be watched by some three Million spectators with a television audience of 3.5 Billion. 

It is certainly the most watched sports in history and its global acceptance is second to none. It's a business that feeds off itself and the megastars that play the game. Beckham may not be the greatest player to ever walk onto a soccer field but his legendary free kicks, his movie star good looks (or so I am told) and his Pop Star wife - Posh Spice, all combine to give him unparalleled drawing power and that is what American Soccer needs right now. Forget about overall footballing skills...we can get those players later. 

Bringing Beckham to the States is akin to Pele joining the New York Cosmos towards the end of his playing days in 1975; a move intended purely to peak America's interest in the sport. Pele's $2.8 Million 3 year contract and brief stay in the States paid big dividends for a while with attendance at games increasing by over 80% ( and for the record, he did lead the team to the league championship game in 1977).

However, after he left, America's interest waned. In 1994, the World Cup of soccer came to the shores of the United States and with the National Team reaching the knockout stage of finals, there was talk of a revival but again, this only lasted for a short time.

Soccer has always been a difficult draw for Americans for a number of reasons:

1. The format of the game does not lend itself well to the television audience and the marketing Dollar;

2. Many soccer games are low scoring affairs or worse, drawn games which are a no no in a results-oriented "cultural pot" like the United States;

3. Americans have been spoiled by the super-sized, "juiced" stars who play other favorite American sports such as Baseball, real "Football", and Basketball.

So, while America definitely has the resources, the factors above, coupled with its inability to establish the necessary structure and attract the resources to have a stable successful soccer league have been major stumbling blocks for soccer as a whole. Additionally, its poor performance at the recently concluded World Cup in Germany did not help, neither did Jurgen Klinsmann who apparently withdrew, for undisclosed reasons, from ongoing discussions to be the next coach of the United States following the resignation of Bruce Arena.

It was thought that Klinsmann's success as coach of the German National Team in the last World Cup and his "Rock Star" persona would significantly boost the image of soccer in America. The failure on these fronts must have added to the growing desperation. Something had to be done. So, enter the "free kick" maestro - David Beckham.

Will he prop up the the floundering MLS...will he peak America's interest in soccer...only time will tell. Will we see heart stopping wizardry on the field...nah! Will we see some mind boggling free kicks...maybe!

But for sure and you can take it to the bank, there will be a lot of razzle dazzle off the field and a swarm of paparazzi befitting only a genius with unquestionable skills and track record worth $250 Million Dollars. Hmmm! 

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