Matthew Hall
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Beckham: For The Good of the Game?
The circus has left town.
That's certainly one way to look at the end of David Beckham's affair with Los Angeles Galaxy.
"The main thing for me is to improve the soccer, to improve the standard, and to be part of history really, because I think soccer can be a lot bigger in the US."
Those were Beckham's inspirational words in January, 2007, as he signed a contract with the American club for US$25 million a season.
Two years later, after things didn't go so well, the shine is off, and the marketing buzz an empty vacuum of silence, Beckham is in the arms of another.
"My intention is to stay in Milan, and I hope that can happen," Beckham said last week.
What about improving soccer, David?
What about being part of history?
What about improving the standard and profile of the sport in the United States?
And who will think of the children?! (I'm joking here - sort of).
But don't worry - Beckham's "people" - his vast machine of managers, lawyers, and PR spinners - are sorting all that out. We know this because David told us so himself that this was now "out of his hands" and someone or other was talking to somebody else in Los Angeles.
As it turned out, Beckham's stint in the US was a disaster for everything except his bank balance and a few cheap thrills. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Beckham signed a five-year contract with the Galaxy in 2007 that pays him $6.5 million a year. The rest of his reported $25 million a year deal is made up in endorsements and this is where the Milan move has become complicated.
He's at Milan "on loan" during the US off-season. Under terms of the agreement, he is due to return to Los Angeles on March 9. But he won't go back.
This is maybe not a bad thing for the American team. During Beckham's time in Los Angeles, Galaxy went from a team challenging for the Major League Soccer title to the worst team in the country - in 24 months. Oh, and went through three coaches, too.
In his first season with the club he made just two starts and his return from injury was hyped as a television event (possibly more popular than his wife's attempt at a US reality TV series).
No one begrudges Beckham's move to Milan. Who wouldn't perform circus tricks to play at such a club? Many of us would perform circus tricks to join any club.
Just don't lie to us.
In July, 2007, when he arrived in Los Angeles, Beckham said: "Ever since I signed for the Galaxy, people have questioned why I have come to America but every move I've made in my career has been about football for me.
"It's also about being an ambassador for the game here and, hopefully, it is going to encourage other players to come to the States and be part of this because soccer in America can become much bigger.
"That's why I'm here. I want to be part of the growth of the game in the States."
But as the Los Angeles Time suggested: "So what did he accomplish in 18 months? Thirty games played for the Galaxy. Five goals scored. A lot of squealing female fans. A lot of Galaxy jerseys sold. A few more fans in seats. A bit of media buzz."
Off the pitch, according to some observers, the Beckhams (that's He and Her) flopped too.
"Nobody gives a s*** about them in the US," Frank Griffin, of the paparazzi agency Bauer-Griffin, told The Guardian. "It's just a big yawn, quite honestly. I think the reason he came to America was that she [Victoria] wanted to become a personality here but she was never going to make it. And he'll never make it. He could never be a success on the talk shows because of his voice."
The LA Times also mooted that Galaxy should play hardball with Milan. If the Italian club wants Beckham they can send something in return as well as money.
Maybe under-used Andriy Shevchenko. Or how about Ronaldinho?
Or maybe a performing seal.
COMMENTS
what a beat up.
- by tomas on February 07, 2009 at 08:36 PM
WOW this is BEST news EVER. I dont care how much critiicism David gets for wanting to stay at AC Milan, because its a decision of a footballer who loves the game, and had a great career therefore wants to go out with a bang and what better way to do it with AC Milan, and a possiblitiy of another World Cup. You go David.
- by LK on February 08, 2009 at 12:52 AM
Football is about a team, not just one player and the lack oskill at LA Galaxy has not proven good enough to support Beckams game.
But for probably one of the top teams in the world to want him at 33 years of age says a lot about his fantastic skill.When he played against Sydney FC he highlighted exactly where the A League is missing the point - long and accurate passes to make the ball do the work plus open up the opposition defence.
Life in the US is not as exciting as it may seem to some - zero sense of humour and a complete unawareness that any other country actually exists!
- by Wazza on February 08, 2009 at 02:01 AM
So what David should have done on signing for the MLS club, was to proclaim - in his finest squeaky voice- "I'm so happy to be here at the Galaxy. I am making a shed-load and my wife might get her boney chops on TV"? No. Get real. We all take risks in or lives and careers. We put a positive spin on them at first, but if they end up turning into hideous, embarrassing failures then we are quickly inclined to beat a hasty retreat. Of course, we then make the same sort of excited proclamations about the next job, to save face. The guy is human.
- by Harvo on February 08, 2009 at 07:05 AM
before i tell something, i am sorry for my bed english.
Beckam is one and only, and his Poshy is very good business women.
Mr. Hall, if somebody offers you 25million US dollars per year, you will go to the Moon to write! From your thoughts, i see that you dont now anything about a football game and that you must be pretty jealous of successful people. Have you lately seen any Milan games? I now you havent, because Milan with becks is renaissance phase. They are playing beautiful calcio, not giving anyone else a chance to touch the ball. Beckam is at the right place everywhere, every time... In game and in a business!
Greetings from Croatia
- by luka on February 08, 2009 at 07:41 AM
I wouldn't pay any attention to anything that paprazzi has to say; especially in LA. They only seem to be sour because he wasn't as marketable and didn't generate enough revenue for their particular papers and agencies.
It's a shame that he didn't fly through enough burning hoops during his time on the field at LA, yet, and it has been mentioned on this post many times before, Beckham is the sort of player that delivers effectively to quality team mates and finishers surrounding him; To expect the talent of his peers at LA to match those of Europe is presumptuous, and I can understand why he would want to stay at Milan.... who wouldn't.
With regards to everything he said back in the beginning of '07, I agree with the blog - he shouldn't have set the US soccer/football loving public up for high hopes. If he did that in Australia, we would be pretty disappointed that he didn't help our game along.... yet again, we would also be realistic from the outset that one superstar in his golden years isn't going to change the quality of the entire competition in such a short time.
Robbie Fowler FNQ...
- by B.Mertens on February 08, 2009 at 08:16 AM
David Beckham is a gift of soccer. People should be appreicative wherever he is. The time he has given for soccer is a lot so why can't he play for who he wants. He's still entertaining people somewhere and giving people joy and excitement everywhere. American soccer was never going anywhere and he got it higher than people could ever imagine. Well done Dave!!!
- by Jack on February 08, 2009 at 09:47 AM
Seriously,
you just woke up and decided to write a useless article and you achieved.. Hmm the Beckhams celebrity status would never make it in the states....so what? He said he was there to play (and obviously earn)
Crap article...just poor and useless. What have you contributed to football with this article
- by Mee on February 08, 2009 at 10:42 AM
David has clearly worked out that 'all that glitters is NOT always gold'. He traded his art for bling in LA and found it a heavy price. Posh can only hope he doesn't join the same dots in his personal life.
- by JoBo on February 08, 2009 at 02:14 PM
I agree with Wazza - soccer is a team game and Becks is only 1 player in a team of 11. Good luck David, you have done your best and also brought lots of publicity to soccer.
- by S Harris Qld on February 08, 2009 at 02:36 PM
What's the problem? Football has long since passed into the realms of pieces of silver, rather than loyalty to anyone.
Where is it in his contract that his services must be for the good of the game?
It is for his paymasters to extract value out of him and do something for the good of the game. For his part, he has gone along with the hype, talkshows, tours, exhibition games and everything else that has been demanded of him. All with a smile and a good word.
- by Dave Lewin on February 08, 2009 at 03:55 PM
I love Beckham and totally support whatever move he does in his career. Go becks, we still love you in Sydney !!
- by Caroline on February 08, 2009 at 06:30 PM
I like my sport and appreciate the work the media do bringing it to us.
David Beckham had 80,295 Aussies see him play in Sydney 18 months ago. Becks is now playing for a big European club AC Milan on loan before he returns to LA Galaxy in about 4 weeks.
Beckham is also a guy people would rather see photos of than read about and i am yet to see a photo of Becks playing for his new club AC Milan. He has a huge Aussie fan base, is considered one of the nice guys in sport and is very photogenic.
Would be nice to see a photo of Beckham with his new European club before he returns to the Mickey Mouse league in Los Angeles.
Best Wishes.
- by C.Baker on February 08, 2009 at 06:54 PM
Matthew Hall, you are an idiot. How anybody can publish this drivel is beyond me.
- by Daniel Gosling on February 08, 2009 at 07:06 PM
David Beckham is a good player team, not a great individual player. I don't think he can do much by himself. As George Best once critised Beckham "He cannot kick with his left foot, he cannot head a ball, he cannot tackle and he doesn't score many goals. Apart from that he's all right.
Still his class is way above LA Galaxy, beside the money i don't think he would ever want to stay there. However because we are talking about alot of money here, i don't think LA Galaxy will let him go that easily. i can smell a lawsuit is coming!
Personally, i prefer him to stay at AC Milan and play some good football for himself and the fans. He's not my fav player but i do enjoy watching him play.
With the money thing, don't you have enough David? I'm sure you don't have to work for the rest of your life!!
- by Gerson on February 08, 2009 at 07:06 PM
So the spin takes off again, and David gets the chance to equal Bobby Moores record. In all this I have one question ? How many great games can you remember in Mr Beckham's so called glittering career ? One against Greece many many years ago perhaps. And now VB get's the chance to move to Milan and proclaim she's now part of the fashion scene. Let the hype begin.
Messages to both of them; David you were never one of the worlds greats and never will be. To VB, wearing a lot of clothes doesn't make you a fashion designer.
- by Dannyboy on February 08, 2009 at 09:28 PM
David Beckham is definitely over rated as a footballer. Alex Ferguson shifted him from Man U for an inflated fee at exactly the right time. In his place he bought Christiano Ronaldo and had plenty of change left in Man U's pocket. And a far superior player lol.
There has been a lot of criticism since of Beckham wasting the talent that he has, most of it justified. However his very ambitious wife has turned Beckham into a world brand and whatever we think of them both, she has achieved exactly what she set out to do. That a column in Australia is devoted to a moderately talented, inarticulate English footballer is testament to Mrs Beckham's skills in marketing. She at least deserves some credit for that, however distasteful people find her.
- by Peter on February 08, 2009 at 11:45 PM
Finally someone who has the guts to break the ice.
BeckWho... the most overrated player ever...
- by Bob on February 09, 2009 at 08:01 AM
I would love to see Beckham, Mike Tyson and Michael Jackson host their own talk show. They'd get a chance to showcase their incredible speaking voices.
- by Roderick Hotpants on February 09, 2009 at 10:45 AM
I agree with Mee, your articles are uniformly rubbish Matthew.
Putting on the "hurt-eyes" because a footballer made a half truth? Really you should know better.
In my opinion the move to Milan is the best move Beckham has made. The style of play suits him at this stage of his career and he is now front-and-centre for Fabio's considerations for the England team.
- by drues on February 09, 2009 at 11:03 AM
ol beckam bags is clearly over the whole facade that the MLS and his PR team represets. He is showing an interest in what HE wants to do for the remaining of his career. so what if he is a sell out, the truth is, he is a has-been footballer who still maintains to be the face of a marketers wet dream.
He is definantly not one of the best in the world anymore, but he's still got a decent touch on him to earn him a few more caps and a contract at a big club.
As for helping raise the profile of the mls, unfortunatly...it was a trend and like all trends they wither out and die, the mls will never be the same standard as in europe, kids grow up and want to play in europe not america. pele failed and now beck failed
im over seeing shity galaxy kits hog all the space at rebel sport, bring on beckam milano
- by RK on February 09, 2009 at 11:36 AM
Why do people knock this guy? He will be the only player to play for the 3 biggest clubs in the world, ManYoo, Real Madrid and AC Milan. How can you knock that? He was responsible for putting 86,000 in Sydney at a friendly game! Sydney FC usyually squeeze in 10-15% of the number. He draws crowds, he's a nice bloke, a normal bloke and a good dad doing what he loves and I just think writers and commentators just wish they could have what he's got and give him a poke. Good on him and good luck to him. Would we knock him back if he wanted to play in the A-League at 40 years of age? Yeah right!
- by Mike on February 09, 2009 at 01:11 PM
I hear Man City have a bit of spare cash lying around. Maybe they should make a bid for him?
- by Derrick on February 09, 2009 at 01:27 PM
Eventually when Beckham has retired and you have moved onto some other poor soul to beat up and vilify whenever the opportunity arises, you will realise that he was in fact one of best players of this generation. He is a football player first and foremost, and he wants to extend his international career, which, in order to do he has been told that playing in LA will kill those chances, so he wants to play for AC Milan, surely even you guys will recognise a man who talent is still great enough to be demanded of Europe's top clubs at the age of 33.
It amazes me that you guys will talk up players like Kewell and destroy someone like Beckham, who is infinitely more committed to the game, prepared to do whatever it takes to play for his country and achieved more than most, but hey, whatever sells the papers....
- by Vaughny on February 09, 2009 at 01:53 PM
Beckham is a great player who has had to bare the brunt of the under achieving English national team. He is one of few 'over paid' players who does for his club what he does for his country and thats give 100%. The proof of his talent is in his achievements he was great at Man Utd and proved Capello wrong at Real Madrid and was pivotal in winning them the league (where are they now??). I dont doubt if he stays at Milan he will add an Italian league winners medal to all the others he has. As for the LA Galaxy move he certainly raised the MLS profile and no doubt made 'soccer' more attractive to young americans. Great player
- by El Tel on February 09, 2009 at 02:11 PM
The L A Galaxy came across as wanting and expecting Beckham to make them famous and successful. A perfect example of getting their ambitions mixed up with their capabilities. No brains and too much money
- by JohnnyG on February 09, 2009 at 02:26 PM
I think The Galaxy should just let him go and stop being to American about it, (We have a contract? they keep saying.) When a player has a desire to leave a club in the club does not make a fuss with the exception of Ronaldo from United. The Major League Soccer will always be a second rate league regardless of who goes there to play. The Galaxy should wake up to reality and allow a player of Beckham's talent to play at the level he is capable of and cut their losses or should we say earnings...
- by Mat on February 09, 2009 at 07:53 PM
Beckham was down on confidence when he decided to go to the US after a difficult time with Real Madrid. He probably thought his top flight career was over, but he's been able to re-invent himself and his game. He's now back to being one of the best in the world and wants to play at the top level. I'm sure he doesn't care if he makes less money.
- by StevenT on February 09, 2009 at 08:41 PM
I'm actually surprised that most of these comments are supporting Beckham being most people I know believe he isn't Georgie Best's over-worked, long dead liver let alone his little finger.
"But he put 86,000 bums on seats to a friendly in Sydney". That's just a sad indictment on Sydney siders that so many would rock up to watch a game they don't care about because a "celebrity" ran around for half a game. By that reckoning Paris Hilton is better than Nancy Wake because our paparazzi fawned all over her when she was here and empty headed women want to emulate her.
David Beckham - The Paris Hilton of soccer!
- by Mick C on February 22, 2009 at 03:14 AM
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I think Beckham has done what he can for MLS. He has raised the profile of MLS and got them in the headlines. What price do you put on that?
I think anyone that expect Beckham alone to some how change the standard of MLS or convert football to a top 3 sport in the US was dreaming.
Firstly, he's not that type of player that would wow crowds and secondly, football in the country is a long way off the other traditional sports.
How many ppl have heard of LA Galaxy before Beckham signed up?