11 October 2006

Beckham in Hollywood???

Rumor has it that international soccer superstar, David Beckham, may head to the US to play for the Major League Soccer. If so, this could be big news for US soccer tantamount to Pele playing for the New York Cosmos back in the 70s. Nothing has been confirmed yet but a few things are certain.

After losing to Portugal in the World Cup this past summer, David Beckham shocked the soccer world when he decided to relinquish his captaincy. Last month, new coach of England, Steve McClaren, called Beckham to tell him he had no use for the soccer superstar on the national team; he was cut! To make matters worse, Spain soccer club, Real Madrid, is asking Beckham to take a pay cut if he extends his contract, which expires next summer. Also, new coach for Real Madrid, Fabio Capello, has bench Beckham in Real's last 4 games. Bad luck with new coaches.

So where does that leave the world's most recognized athlete? Why not the US? David Beckham already owns a few soccer academies in the US and I'm sure his wife, Posh Spice, wouldn't have any issues living in Hollywood or the Big Apple. The only possible problem would be signing him. Beckham currently makes $8 million a year with Real and even taking a $7 million pay cut to play for the LA Galaxy or New York Red Bulls (two teams said to be after him), it would still make him the highest paid player in the MLS, which with MLS's strict salary cap no team would be able to afford him. Unless, as sources say may happen, MLS modifies its rules to allow for an exception.

If you were a soccer star making $8 million a year to play, would you take a major pay cut to play in a country where soccer has yet to bloom? Hell yeah! So what that Becks will take a cut; he makes over $20 million a year in endorsements alone, not to mention that his biggest sponsors are US companies. Also, he would be the face of the MLS compared to playing in Spain where soccer stars are a dime a dozen, especially with Real Madrid, the New York Yankees of Spanish soccer.

I say do whatever it takes to get Beckham over to the US. The MLS needs him and he needs a new beginning. It's a match made in heaven!
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