Now that David Beckham is Here, Will Soccer Be as Popular in America as Baseball?
When Pele, the golden boy of soccer, suited up with the New York Cosmos in 1975 Americans made it clear that we didn't give a darn about soccer. Pele was the greatest soccer player in history; he was a purist and the very embodiment of the game. We didn't care and it all went bust.
On the other hand, David Beckham has never been ranked as the greatest soccer player in Europe, not even for a single year and he has been awarded with a $250 million contract debut in Los Angeles. The guy definitely has skills; don't forget about that free-kick assist he pulled off for England against Brazil in June. However, he isn't the greatest player the game has ever seen.
What David Beckham represents is so much more than just the game of soccer. He is about the endorsements, the merchandise, and the celebrity lifestyle. It is his superstar image that Beckham will sell to America, not soccer. Beckham is married to Victoria, A.K.A. Posh Spice, a woman who gets as much, if not more, tabloid time as he. The combination of the two of them generates a paparazzi dream-come-true. The couple also has some superstar American friends including Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, and Jennifer Lopez. We can't forget about Beckham's agent, Simon Fuller, a guy who knows how to sell British culture to American. Fuller has already proven that he can export British traditions to America with his little project called American Idol. When Beckham gets suited up in his Galaxy uniform at the Home Depot Center, while his mega-famous wife and superstar pals look on, it is likely that America will take notice too. Other celebrity soccer fans like Drew Carey and Colin Farrell just might be in the stands too. And when a couple of celebrities go to a place, others follow. Justin Timberlake might bring Jessica Biel. Best buddies, Tobey Maguire and Leo Dicaprio, might buy season tickets. Celebrities take note: you won't have to sit in the stands with "common folk" as they have recently installed a VIP entrance at the Center. Expect the front row at the Galaxy matches to start looking like a younger, more cosmopolitan Lakers courtside. When that happens, soccer could be the biggest game in America.
Published by AC Contributer
I own several websites and possess a passion for writing. I am excited to contribute some entertaining and informative articles to AC. View profile
-
David Beckham Brings Viewers and Credibility to U.S. Soccer
The LA Galaxy have signed David Beckham, one of Europe's best soccer players with the hopes of making professional soccer relevant in the US.
- The Beckhams Hit Hollywood as David Set to Join LA Galaxy The King and Queen of soccer go to US
- So You Want to Understand the Game of Soccer? With David Beckham crossing the pond, American soccer is getting more popular than ever. However, many Americans do not enjoy the sport because they don't understand all the rules. Here is a guide to some of the mor...
- Will Soccer Ever Be Popular in America? Efforts to raise the profile of soccer in America seem not to bring the desired effects. Will this ever change?
-
Soccer in America: Enough of the Excuses
The land that has produced, Mark Spitz, Flo Jo, Mike Tyson, Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Michael Jordan and so many others, and the country that sweeps clean just about every gold m...
- Little Known Facts About Soccer Superstar David Beckham
- David Beckham to Join LA Galaxy: Why He Will Be a Bad Experience for MLS
- David Beckham Booed by Los Angeles Galaxy Fans
- An Open Letter to David Beckham
- Why Soccer Will Never Be Popular in America
- Breaking News Report: David Beckham is Coming to America
- Jim Rome Should Learn More About Soccer from His Son
|
|
7 Comments
Post a Commenti played soccer as a kid and i absolutely adored it, lived for it. im 19 now, i think soccer has a chance in America. American football is extremely boring at least in my opinion. baseball is retarded. hockey is okay cuz i like when they get into fights its very sexy. curling is the stupidest sh*t in the world. k im done =]
At least his wife can go shopping in L.A. more often now.
Hey swankie friends. I came a bit late as usual! Well what can I say just let you know that you call it soccer because we used to call it that, in fact it was called Association Football to differentiate it from Rugby Football (which is where American Football grew from). The soccer comes from "socc" in association, in the U.K. we say Football for Soccer as you may know, but the upper classes who traditionally tended to play Rugby due to it historically always being played instead of Football in private schools, still call it soccer to keep that differentiation ( in fact here Rugby is generally seen as the game of the upper classes (except in Wales & Rugby League in Northern England where it is the other way around))and Football of the working class. Actually this is more complicate dthan I thought!!!! Rugby was invented by a Webb Ellis a private school boy at Rugby School who was playing Football and as the story goes he picked up the ball and ran with it, which is why you dudes call
You are right, Alyce! It is called football in other countries. I remember being in Spanish class (a long time ago) and first learning that what we call soccer is called futbol in Spanish. And then I learned of the popularity of soccer all over the world and that they also call it football. Maybe I am a big word geek, but I remember realizing that it makes more sense to call soccer football. I'm not sure why we call football something altogether different.
Actually, I think soccer is called football in other countries. I love watching soccer; it takes real talent to control a ball with a flick of a toe or knee and no hands allowed. Football and baseball always bored me as being too slow. I like the fast pace of soccer and basketball and when I saw a Ice Hockey game live, I was hooked. Now that is talent: skate skills as well as getting a puck flying at you at mega speeds.
I'm not a fan of soccer, but we'll have to see. It is more of a question of popularity a decade to 15 years from now. There is a generation of kids who are growing up with a love for soccer. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
You've got to be kidding! These 2 Britidiots don't have a prayer in the USA. Americans want to see action! Football with its quick plays and spectacular plays are what drives the attention. Soccer is questionable as even a manly sport, after all they don't use their hands! Even kids that play soccer find the NFL, NBA and MLB when they don't play any longer. They should have saved their money on Beckham. And just because anyone is friends with psycho Tom Cruise doesn't mean they're accepted in the US!