News Post from the Galaxy: http://la.galaxy.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20070111&content_id=81598&vkey=pr_lag&fext=.jsp&team=t106
The MLS finally has a cover boy or player to attract non soccer fans and soccer fans alike. I am already planing a trip over to Chicago to watch the fire play the Galaxy. Not to mention that a few players that I like already play for the Fire and Galaxy.
I have heard mixed reviews about David (bend it like) Beckham coming over the POND. I am excited.
First, it is good to see someone in my favorite sport making some serious money in the US. It is reported he will be getting 250 million. That’s 50 million in Salary and 200 million in endorsements and sales. That is a lot of money for any sport. The only thing that would have made it better is if it was to an American player. Our top soccer players in the MLS are barely making a Million. But any progress in payment is a good thing for the guys who are playing in the MLS and making league minimum .
On the topic of salary, here is a great article into the MLS players payments. http://www.dailybreeze.com/sports/articles/3607921.html
League minimum is 28K. That has to be the lowest in pro sports. But from the players I have known who have thrown on the jersey for the MLS they are just happy to get any money. They play for the love of the game. If they were playing pro sports for money they would have gone into another sport or gone over Seas to play soccer there.
The second thing I am happy to see about David coming to the MLS is that it may be a time where Soccer will be in the headlines again. Yes you heard me right, AGAIN. You see back in the 70’s Soccer was the in thing. How can people forget the NY cosmo’s. At one time they filled Giants stadium. I hope that bringing in other star players will do the same again. In the 70’s the pro league payed Pele millions to play in his elder years. Even in his older years he was the star here. David will probably be the same. I am not saying that he is a great player. I would never say such a thing, he just happens to be a name that goes with soccer. He has done a great job Marketing himself and wife. I watch a lot of soccer, mainly English Premier league. David is getting too old to be a contender in that league but in the MLS he will be one of the top contenders.
So I am excited to see this change in US pro soccer.