Beckham Boasts About Major League Soccer
David Beckham attended a news conference in Rutherford, NJ yesterday ahead of and to promote the LA Galaxy game against the New York Red Bulls at Giants Stadium (which is set to take place this afternoon) where he talked at some length about the state of soccer in this country and how people have a misconception about the quality of play in Major League Soccer. Here are a few pics of Becks at yesterday’s press conference:
While the quality of play in the MLS is better than people think, David Beckham said Friday that he believes the it will take time for the U.S.-based league to catch up to some of the world’s better leagues. Beckham said that he is enjoying his first full season with the Los Angeles Galaxy, noting that he had a tough time adjusting last year after arriving in the middle of the season and having to battle an assortment of injuries. The 33-year-old has been healthy this season. His seven assists are tied for second best in the league and his five goals are tied for 10th. “I have enjoyed it,” Beckham said at a news conference to promote Saturday’s game at Giants Stadium against the New York Red Bulls. “Soccer is definitely changing in this country, and it is getting bigger and growing,” Beckham said. “But it is going to take time, and I said that at the start. It’s not just going to happen in a year or two. It’s a long-term plan to raise the profile for this game in this country. I think it has gone well so far.” Beckham has done his job attracting fans. The Galaxy have averaged about 26,000 for home games at the 27,000-seat Home Depot Center. They are doing even better on the road, averaging more than 27,000. The advance sale for Beckham’s second game in the New York metropolitan area was 45,000 on Thursday, which would be the largest single-game crowd for an MLS game this season. His appearance here last year drew about 67,000 … “It’s one of the reasons I moved here, to be a part of growing the game,” said Beckham, who signed with the Galaxy in January 2007 after a standout career with Manchester United and Real Madrid. “Hopefully, people are seeing the changes which we are putting in. The attendance is up 20 percent and shirt sales up 780 percent. So it is going well. That’s what we need in this country.” Beckham laughed when asked whether fans were coming to see him because of his ability as a soccer player or his celebrity status. “I don’t really care as long as they are here and watching the game,” the midfielder said.
Hee hee, you know … that is the perfect attitude. The man is very savvy about knowing what people want and giving it to them. I think it’s absolutely on target to say that many people attend his soccer games just watch him and because of his celebrity status and he is very wise to not only accept that fact but to embrace it. He’s right … as long as people keep coming (for whatever reason) there is a likely chance that the culture of soccer will improve in this country. Becks’s value to American soccer isn’t his ability to play amazing soccer, it’s his ability to fill seats and expose more people to the game over all. He is deffo worth his weight in gold.
After the jump, check out a few photos of Becksie doing a bit of training at Giants Stadium in NJ (PSST! there’s a shirtless pic in the bunch) …
Woot! He’s a hottie! He is just want the MLS needs … pretty eyecandy who can do tricks for money :)
[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]
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July 19th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
The big issue facing soccer in the US is that over here it’s considered a kid’s game. And although Becks seems to be doing his part to help eradicate that mentality, it will take a lot more than that to get most Americans to see it as a fast-paced adult game rather than something that little Johnny and Jill play after school.
July 19th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
I adore soccer…but I’m Latin. Soccer is never going to be big in the U.S. In so many other parts of the world, people breathe soccer. When their team plays, the world stops. It’s not part of the American culture and never will be, even if Beckham were to play naked.
July 21st, 2008 at 7:27 am
I totally agree with Paz….and not just cause I’m Hispanic as well, but Soccer to South America and Europe is a like a lifestyle not just a game. People eat, breath and sleep soccer and people here will never understand that concept.
PS: the quality of football here will NEVER be like the the one in other countries.
August 2nd, 2008 at 4:05 am
Nice blog, i have added it to my favourites, greetings