One thing I don’t like about teaching in the winter intersession: I am in the classroom so much that I have very little blogging time whilst at school. Fridays, of course, are “errand days”, and today I have all of fifteen minutes in which to blog. This doesn’t lead to very interesting posts!
I am happy with the news that David Beckham is coming to Los Angeles. No, I have never been much of a fan of his. Yes, I do follow English (and Scottish) soccer passionately. I support a variety of British clubs: Newcastle United in the English Premiership, Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, and Exeter City in the conference. I watch the Fox Soccer Channel when I can, and catch my share of tape-delayed European matches. I’m already excited for this year’s “Copa America” tournament, and will of course root for Colombia, my mother-in-law’s native land. But for all that interest in the beautiful game, I have very little interest in the MLS. The last time I went to a professional club soccer match in Los Angeles was a few years ago, when Manchester United played an exhibition against a Mexican side. I don’t even know who the current MLS cup holders are, though I suppose I could google and find out. Watching on television, the quality of the play simply isn’t as strong as what I see from first, or even second-rate European sides.
I am a big fan of college soccer, both men’s and women’s; but that’s almost a completely different game.
But I am eager to see the popularity of soccer in America increase, and eager to see it increase beyond its largely Latino fan base. Obviously, no one man — particularly not a footballer on the downslope of his career — can turn a nation of NASCAR and NFL fans into enthusiastic fans of what the rest of the world calls football. But I’ve long marveled that the millions of kids involved in youth soccer in this country don’t turn into serious fans of the game as adults. If Beckham, who if nothing else remains the master of the set piece, has even half the impact his backers promise he will have, it will be nothing but good.
Will I wear a Galaxy jersey? With the exception of a t-shirt touting the UVA women’s team, I own no kit that identifies me as a fan of American soccer. I have various items associated with English and Colombian (Atletico Nacional) sides, of course. I’m not sure I’ll wear a Beckham Galaxy shirt, but we might finally be motivated to make the short drive over to Carson to watch his new team play.
But it will be years and years before the level of play in the MLS comes even vaguely close to that of the Premiership. Until then, I’ll watch the English squads on cable, rooting for the Magpies with all my heart, and rooting against the satanic trifecta of Man U, Chelsea, and Arsenal.
“Satanic Trifecta”????
These three teams are the best in the Premier League.
An Arsenal fun, I love watching the other two, as well.
They are the three teams that have the most money to spend. The one great advantage the NFL has over European soccer: salary caps and revenue sharing, which create a much more level playing field.
America, oddly, is more socialist when it comes to its version of football than are the Euros. And as usual, socialism works.
“America, oddly, is more socialist when it comes to its version of football than are the Euros. And as usual, socialism works.”
Heh! I’m not a socialist, but I’ll keep that in mind in case I ever want to put some obnoxious, obese, jersey-wearing NFL fan into stunned slience.
Hugo, the only thing “odd” here is that you are describing unfettered capitalism, in the form of an antitrust exemption, as “more socialist” than strict competition laws that prohibit leagues from imposing whatever rules they want on their privately owned businesses. Once you cut through the bogus terminology, it’s capitalism, not socialism, that works. Unless, of course, by “works” you mean “enable an elected official in a constitutional republic to shut down his opposition and appoint himself dictator for life.” By that definition, socialism “works” extremely well. The Western European variety doesn’t “work” quite that well, but it has been extremely effective at keeping millions out of work, and at keeping comforts Americans take for granted out of reach even for those who do manage to get jobs.
X, the effect of the American system is to impose both wage and price controls on sports like basketball and football; the rich clubs in big media markets are forced to share revenue with smaller clubs. That’s not Marxism, mind you, but it reflects a general socialist concern with achieving parity, glorious parity. I love that all the NFL teams have a realistic shot at the Super Bowl every single year; we all know that one of three teams will win the Premiership year in and year out.
I like the rule, too, for the simple reason that it makes the sport artificially competitive, and therefore, artificially entertaining. My point is that it has nothing to do with promoting “equity” as an end in itself; it’s done because rational businessmen figured out that they can make more money off the sport that way. And if it weren’t for the antitrust exemption – which, I presume, European leagues don’t enjoy – they’d be prohibited from doing it. That’s not socialism, it’s radical capitalism at its finest.
Trifecta? I just cannot believe you left out the most important and successful club in English Football – Liverpool FC. They will be competing against the likes of Abromovich very soon. Once the takeover from that Dubai investment group is a done deal, we will see all the silverware come to Anfield. I must ask, when was the last time Newcastle actually won anything? or better yet – when was the last time they won a game against a quality team? I feel for you Hugo. They are decimated by injuries and hopefully the return of Owen can help lift the team up and fight for a UEFA cup spot. I bet you enjoyed watching the “GOAL!” film beecause of the beautiful shots of St. James’ park.
As for Beckham coming to MLS, I remain optimistic that more people would come out to the games and increase fan attendance significantly. You are right when you mention the quality of football in MLS. I don’t think MLS will ever become close to what the leagues in Europe are. However, it can and should become a feeder league. The only way the U.S. men’s national team can improve is if the young talents in MLS move to the EPL, Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A etc… We all see that Hockey is no longer the popular sport it once was and it is evident that Baseball is losing its credibility – that there is no doubt!!! and as you said that many kids are participating in football recreational league, they will become football enthusiasts once they become older and hopefully the majority of sports fans in the U.S. will be gravitating towards Football. About Baseball, I just cannot understand why the hell its takes 160 games to find out what 8 teams will make the playoffs – it’s ridiculous! We need to embrace a sport that makes EVERY game count! not have a sport that sometimes takes a frightening 4 hours (sometimes more!!) to conclude.
I have none of the aminosity towards Liverpool that I do towards the others. Great team, and I’m a huge Gerrard fan. If they could somehow finish second, which seems realistic, I’d be thrilled.
I love that all the NFL teams have a realistic shot at the Super Bowl every single year.
Hugo – not every NFL has a realistic shot (think the Raiders or Lions have a shot next year?). Yes, the salary cap helps; however, additional advantages such as tougher schedules for the winners and reverse order draft picks increase parity. Imagine if the EPL had a rule where teams played each other once, but then the top 1/2 played each other twice again while the lower 1/2 played each other twice again.
Beckham will probably increase attendance — shades of Pele-Beckenbauer-Chinaglia-Alberto from the late 70s. I agree with YNWA that MLS should become a quality second tier league, which is the best hope for it given the primacy of other sporting leagues. However, I disagree somewhat on having young talent move to foreign soccer leagues. If MLS took the money spent on Beckham and instead “overpaid” for quality “second tier” players who now do their time in top teams’ farm systems or second division squads, then the overall quality of MLS play and competition for young American players would improve. Like the Cosmos, the buzz of Beckham will fade. MLS has to put out a better quality product to keep the interest of the millions of people who played soccer (and have their kids play soccer) once they move from participants to spectators.
Col Steve: If young American talent do decide to stay at MLS throughout their career, then how do you expect the U.S. national team to get any better? If that is so then we will see the U.S. going out in the 1st round like this last disastrous world cup. The only way to improve your game is to be exposed to the highest level of competition and play games that actually mean a lot! In MLS you have 35 games that are meaningless because 8 teams will make the play offs and there is always the chance that a Cinderella team will become the winner of the MLS cup. A similar case occurred with the Galaxy nto too long ago. Look, my point is that the people at MLS need to adopt the system that the rest of the leagues from around the world are practicing. The signing of Beckham is a great start! MLS needed to do something big and they did it (congrats to them) If they keep on signing players of the caliber of Becks then the future looks good. Steve, what would you like them to do in order to have a better quality product? I am not sure where it is you are going?
YNWA -
The Galaxy follow up Beckham’s signing by offering fee-based tryouts – “For $130 would-be players will be given the opportunity to earn a spot on the squad alongside Beckham” — guess they have to make that $50M somehow — what’s next – carwashes with his wife making a guest appearance?
Seriously – The U.S. has been doing the best players go to European top teams route..most guys end up going down a notch (Convey until his team moved up) and the issue becomes whether playing 2d tier league or benchwarming/uneven playing time (Tim Howard who is now on loan at least) is better than playing full-time even if in a second tier MLS. I’m not saying the “best of the best” shouldn’t go to the top leagues; however, I am advocating taking the approach leagues outside the NBA have done in basketball — Let only your big time star go to the NBA, but buy some aging NBA veterans and overpay for the “on the cusp” junior talent (more attractive than the NBA Development league) so your second tier group of players face better competition in the domestic league.
Essentially, it’s do the Convey to Reading in reverse. MLS can’t afford to sign enough Beckhams and one Beckham won’t do it — look at the NASL. MLS could make it financially attractive to get some of the promising second league or top league guys whose teams get knocked down (especially from South America) to surround the Conveys and Adus with better overall quality of play..instead of $130 walk-ons. Heck, do something crazy like pay to have a top first league team “loaned” to MLS for a year (yes, there are implementation issues but think MLS would even think about it?)..
Look at the current English national team..every player is on an EPL team (or Becks on Real Madrid).. Team USA can never hope to match that by having its players all on premier league teams in other countries..the only hope is to raise the talent of MLS and the aging superstar or smattering of a few players across the pond is not going to do it..
X, the effect of the American system is to impose both wage and price controls on sports like basketball and football; the rich clubs in big media markets are forced to share revenue with smaller clubs. That’s not Marxism, mind you, but it reflects a general socialist concern with achieving parity, glorious parity.”
Beckham will be earning 500 times more than his team-mates.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6280133.stm
This is good?
Also, Beckham is purely a brand, and way past his best. He was dropped from the England team – perhaps two years later than he should have been too.
….and we need to go back nearly 5 years to his Man U days to have seen him at his best.Real Madrid have won nothing since Becks arrived – nothing. This is 4 barren years for a club of that stature.
If Beckham went back to the Premiership, he’d probably sign for a team like Portsmouth or Newcastle to guarantee first team football every week. The bigger clubs wouldn’t give him this – not because he’s too old (he’s 31) but because he just isn’t good enough to compete with the best of the Premiership.
Good luck to the US in promoting football. Beckham’s star power might be a big push. But for your average punter to go and watch LA Galaxy – don’t expect Maradona or Pele. Ain’t happening. You’ll see some guy taking fairly decent corners and free kicks and not-bad crosses. Hardly amazing stuff.
I’m not even too sure about his media abilities. Listen to when he says “Pepsi” in the infamous commercial (his Estuary accent). I hope in LA they will work on his charisma.
I know this is a big rant against Beckham – but he is way way over-rated and his looks have taken him all this way. You couldn’t imagine Gary Neville getting this kind of star treatment simply because he wouldn’t look right in a Gillette commercial – and in most people’s eyes, Neville is a better footballer who still holds his England place at 31 years old.
Hugo, lauding over these kinds of stars – and your Christianity – seems almost like you’ve lapsed here!
Rant over!
This is exactly what I expected to find out after reading the title e on Beckham and American soccer at Hugo Schwyzer. Thanks for informative article