Anybody in the USA really care about Beckham?

[Midfielder1]

As an English bloke that once lived in the states I'm wonder if anybody really cares. Not just you ebaum's users, but do Americans in general really care. Is it because of him and his Spice girl wife, or because he's out in L.A. where even Paris (cough) Hilton can be a star. (I kinda like L.A, but lived in NYC). Does he have real Jordan or Tiger Woods type appeal in America? I saw that the paparazzi were all over them both when they arrive. I'm just curious! Maybe this isn't for the sports thread, but whatever!

[wackojacko]

Who's Beckham?

[somechick121]

People pretty much dont care about soccer, so not really. Theres a little buzz, but thats about it.

[Midfielder1]

^That's what I'm guessing

[Pete the Pirate]

Only the soccer people are excited. Everyone else could care less.

[Burningnun]

It's not fair to compare a world class athlete to Paris Hilton.

[AsHopeDies]

Considering the fact that it's all over the news, television and print, there's a TV special about them moving to America that's going to be on Monday night I think, advertisers are going nuts, etc. I'd say a LOT of people here care. Of course you'll have the cynical bunch on here that says nobody gives a shit, but that's just obviously not the case. He's a world star coming to play in America, it's a big deal. The soccer haters just love to hate. People love to say that soccer will 'never' be big in the states. These people would be morons of course considering the fact that soccer has already been big in the states. The NASL of the 70s was huge, especially the NY Cosmos. What started this boom in soccer in the states? Bringing an international star, namely Pele. So the formula is there, now we get to watch and see what happens.

[Mr. Heskey]

He's coming to my town in about a month I think. If I'm bored and have nothing going on I MIGHT go see him.


But all in all people don't really care.

[poopchow]

He's coming to my town in about a month I think. If I'm bored and have nothing going on I MIGHT go see him.


But all in all people don't really care.

Yea... me too. It will help MLS no doubt, but most people really dont care that much. Some buzz but probably not much behind it.

[BigMac]

Beckham was on the cover of SI this week. Doubt it will do shit for the MLS though. Maybe his first game will be a big deal but that's about it.

[bsquared977]

id fuck his wife sideways

[Fag Boy]

No, nobody cares. First of all nobody likes soccer anyways, so that throws out any chance of people caring. Secondly, the only reason anyone in america even knows who he is, is because they TELL us we should know who he is, they tell us that he is imporants. The fact of the matter is though, until a few years ago, no one knew or gave a shit who he was and what he did.

[YankeesSuck]

Hes coming to the US?

[moose]

Well people will care for about 2-4 years and then the MLS will be kicked right back to the curb and nobody will care it even existed.....I've seen rock paper scissors championships, darts championships, arm wrestling championships and the hot dog eating contest on ESPN but have never seen an MLS match (that just shows how much we actually care about it)

[High On PCP]

Reminds me of an article I read a couple days ago...

Apparently he wanted to shop in some store in Hollywood I think it was, and wanted the store manager to kick everyone out and close the store down while he and his wife shopped.

The manager refused because he didn't know and never even heard of Beckham. I don't think anyone else in the store at the time of him asking even paid him much mind.

I've heard of him and all that... but truth be told I could prolly come face to face with him tomorrow at the 7-11 and not even recognize him.

[Shymega]

No, nobody cares. First of all nobody likes soccer anyways, so that throws out any chance of people caring. Secondly, the only reason anyone in america even knows who he is, is because they TELL us we should know who he is, they tell us that he is imporants. The fact of the matter is though, until a few years ago, no one knew or gave a shit who he was and what he did.

The World Cup ratings beat the World Series ratings by 2 million viewers in America. The Gold Cup ratings drew a respectable 4.0 on a non cable channel, that is only 1.5 less than the NBA finals which was aired on a major station.

Don't let the ESPN reporters feed your brain full of things they want you to believe, they are just mad Basketball and Baseball are going down the shitter, therefore, expect them to shove it down your throat even more. Have fun.

[Fag Boy]

The World Cup ratings beat the World Series ratings by 2 million viewers in America. The Gold Cup ratings drew a respectable 4.0 on a non cable channel, that is only 1.5 less than the NBA finals which was aired on a major station.

Don't let the ESPN reporters feed your brain full of things they want you to believe, they are just mad Basketball and Baseball are going down the shitter, therefore, expect them to shove it down your throat even more. Have fun.

ESPN does not feed me shit, ive made threads about how I hate them. The reason anyone watched those was because it was team USA, not some stupid MLS teams. Lance Armstrong is the only reason anyone EVER watched the tour de france. Same goes for why anyone every watched fucking ping pong in the olympics.

and I just looked up your bullshit facts about the world cup beating the world series, and yeah, you were wrong.



anyways, its better then what hockey can do

[Rado]

Guess it's kind of like Major NBA/MLB/NHL stars coming over here. Wouldn't know if I passed one!

[Shymega]

ESPN does not feed me shit, ive made threads about how I hate them. The reason anyone watched those was because it was team USA, not some stupid MLS teams. Lance Armstrong is the only reason anyone EVER watched the tour de france. Same goes for why anyone every watched fucking ping pong in the olympics.

and I just looked up your bullshit facts about the world cup beating the world series, and yeah, you were wrong.



anyways, its better then what hockey can do

You're full of shit. They said it on Mike and the Mad Dog radio talk show yesterday.

Hockey drew a 2.5/4 final game. NBA drew a 5/6.5 final game. You got a Canadian team and small market team in there for hockey only 2 years after a lockout, compared to the face of the NBA, two American teams with full ESPN and media coverage with all the hype in the world, and they still only drew twice as good. Both drew the lowest ratings in there finals history, but i think hockey at least has legit excuses.

[Devastation]

Speaking as someone that neither loves nor hates soccer, I feel I can post here with a mostly unbiased opinion.

David Beckham coming to the United States will help soccer in the United States, but not as much as people think.

The MLS will definitely get better ratings, but it will only last as long as he is here.

The good thing for soccer is that many kids play soccer, and with David Beckham coming to America now, more kids will gain interest in the sport, and besides playing it for fun, maybe they will begin to dream about kicking the winning goal in the World Cup, just like they dream of throwing the winning touchdown pass in the Super Bowl or smacking a walk-off homer in game seven of the World Series.

Now, people need to realize that America is not gonna overnight become a soccer powerhouse. It's gonna take forty to fifty years. Beckham coming here shaves probably ten years off of that, but right now, America is still a football country and it's going to be that way for a long, long time.


Shymega, don't listen to the jackasses that say "nobody likes soccer". It's the most popular sport in the world, and they have their heads up their asses.

[sweet]

Well tickets for the D.C. United start at $75 when the Galaxy play here on the 9th vs. $30 when Club America of Mexico plays here on the 22nd.

Edit: BTW, nobody should value fag boys opinion.

[somechick121]

id fuck his wife sideways

...you have actually seen what she looks like right? Gross...

[Fag Boy]

You're full of shit. They said it on Mike and the Mad Dog radio talk show yesterday.

Hockey drew a 2.5/4 final game. NBA drew a 5/6.5 final game. You got a Canadian team and small market team in there for hockey only 2 years after a lockout, compared to the face of the NBA, two American teams with full ESPN and media coverage with all the hype in the world, and they still only drew twice as good. Both drew the lowest ratings in there finals history, but i think hockey at least has legit excuses.

I'm full of shit? I'm not the one who throwing out some random wrong facts from some radio show. Please, explain to me how I am wrong.

[IHateEverything]

I remember watching a movie a few months ago with the chick from the pirates movie in it called Bend it like Beckham, and I had no idea this Beckham guy was a real person. I bet if you asked the average person walking down the street in any city in America who Beckham was, well over half would have no clue, most might say the name sounds kinda familiar, and maybe about 15% or so would know he was a soccer player from England. 5% could probably name a team he once played for.

[USB]

Sure, but if Tom Brady was walking down a road in england no one would notice. you can say the same if an american sports star come over here

[JLC]

From what I've seen so far, I think it's pretty obvious the USA cares.

[JerkyMyTurky]

He's coming not to save soccer, but he will be benefitting from it greatly. His wife is going to be all over the tabloids and she really wants to get into the Hollywood scene. Beckham will be advertised all over the place, he's got the good looks and he will have lots of fandom among youths, whether it be young boys looking for a soccer hero or young boys looking for a sexy guys to write about on their myspace. Point is, he's not just coming here to play soccer, but to whore him and his wife out for big money in the American market, via advertising, movies and music.

It'll help MLS create alot of buzz, but its not going to maintain alot of that buzz after his soccer career fizzles out in a few years. MLS needs to hope a young and super star talent emerges amongst the youth development from within the states. The fact is, even if they find this diamond in the rough, he'll probably get snatched up by a big European team, which can shell out big money. Freddy Adu was supposed to be this guy, but he hasn't become that star player yet. The second he becomes that, he'll probably be off to Europe.

[James Bond 007]

Freddy Adu was supposed to be this guy, but he hasn't become that star player yet. The second he becomes that, he'll probably be off to FULHAM.

Fixed it for you :)

[Meio]

Freddy Adu was supposed to be this guy, but he hasn't become that star player yet. The second he becomes that, he'll probably be off to VILLA.

Fixed it properly this time.




LOL.

[Shymega]

I'm full of shit? I'm not the one who throwing out some random wrong facts from some radio show. Please, explain to me how I am wrong.

You said no one cares. I just proved to you people do care, because they said on the radio show the other day how Soccer matches outdrew the world series in TV ratings. What is so hard to understand?

[4savo4]

Beckham is not going to save "sawker", he has gone because he thought his career was over. He was dropped from Madrid and England. He wasn't playing football for months, so he signed with Galaxy for mega money.Then it all changed he got back in Madrid, got back into the England squad. Now he realises that he has made the biggest mistake of his life. He still has 2 or 3 years left in him at top flight. So the MLS should count themselfs very lucky.



I Freddy Adu was supposed to be this guy, but he hasn't become that star player yet. The second he becomes that, he'll probably be off to Europe.


He had a trial at united last year, nothing has come of it yet. Maybe it's because he can't get a work permit or he is just not good enough but i agree with James he's American so he will be off to Fulham deffiantly

[Mrdc]

Freddy Adu was supposed to be this guy, but he hasn't become that star player yet. The second he becomes that, he'll probably be off to Europe.

Just saw Adu FUBAR the US's chances of advancing to the semifinals of the U-20 World Cup

[Mr. Heskey]

From what I've seen so far, I think it's pretty obvious the USA cares.

The majority of us actually don't

[Spike Lee]

Beckam is a world star, but America is so far detached from world fame athletes that they don't care. Anyways, Pele didn't really save MLS, so neither is Beckham. Besides MLS is fine by itself they dont need that much attention.

[AsHopeDies]

The majority of us actually don't

I'm sorry, but it takes a certain level of douchebag to claim they can speak for the "majority" of the United States.

Beckam is a world star, but America is so far detached from world fame athletes that they don't care. Anyways, Pele didn't really save MLS, so neither is Beckham. Besides MLS is fine by itself they dont need that much attention.

Pele actually set up the NASL to become a huge deal in the US, in fact, at the time it was a huge deal. It was the NASL's fault that they folded, they were huge and they blew it. If the MLS can get as big as the NASL was...hopefully they can sustain it.

[Mr. Heskey]

I'm sorry, but it takes a certain level of douchebag to claim they can speak for the "majority" of the United States.





Back to the original guy's post:

From what I've seen so far, I think it's pretty obvious the USA cares.

It seems as if he is speaking for the rest of us too, 'douchebag'


But it's a fact like it or not, the majority of us neither care or know about beckam...


Just because YOU like soccer doesn't mean all of us do, so next time don't let the truth hurt you ok?

[High On PCP]

I gotta agree... the majority doesn't give a fuck about Beckham or soccer.

This isn't debatable, and it's not opinion.

It's a fact that the majority couldn't give 2 shits.

[OLIAX]

no one cares about him in the uk so why should the us?

[firepiss]

Not to sound like a ahole about the subject of soccer, but not many americans care too much about soccer. Why watch soccer? When we have the NFL or american football. NFL is a more complex sport that most of us are use to growing up with. Yes, your sport can be complex too, but with scores as low as 1-0, or 2-1...it's a bit boring....for me anyways. Seeing people run and up.... down...left.... right and around the fields with one ball, only kicking it..... is a pain in the ass. I know because I played soccer when I was 7 years old. Fuck that.

[Spike Lee]

Back to the original guy's post:



It seems as if he is speaking for the rest of us too, 'douchebag'


But it's a fact like it or not, the majority of us neither care or know about beckam...


Just because YOU like soccer doesn't mean all of us do, so next time don't let the truth hurt you ok?

It appears is what he said. He then asked if it was the case. You spoke for people, which is not what the OP did.

[4savo4]

no one cares about him in the uk so why should the us?

The Sun, Daily mirror, Daily Star, News Of The World, Sunday Mirror does :p

Not to sound like a ahole about the subject of soccer, but not many americans care too much about soccer. Why watch soccer? When we have the NFL or american football. NFL is a more complex sport that most of us are use to growing up with. Yes, your sport can be complex too, but with scores as low as 1-0, or 2-1...it's a bit boring....for me anyways. Seeing people run and up.... down...left.... right and around the fields with one ball, only kicking it..... is a pain in the ass. I know because I played soccer when I was 7 years old. Fuck that.

You are just a typical ignorent American.

[Spike Lee]

The Sun, Daily mirror, Daily Star, News Of The World, Sunday Mirror does :p



You are just a typical ignorent American.

Ignorant? He at least gave his opinion why. And good ones too. Next time you call people ignorant, spell the word right and know when to use the word correctly.

[4savo4]

Ignorant? He at least gave his opinion why. And good ones too. Next time you call people ignorant, spell the word right and know when to use the word correctly.

A good one! Did he fuck, saying football is not complex of course it's not when you're seven. He is though, saying it's not complex when i bet he hasn't played it a 11 aside match in his life and doesn't know all the rules. I wouldn't go around saying you're football or Baseball is not complex because all sports are you fucking idiot.

Oooo luck at the internet guy picking up a typo very smart i may add.

[Spike Lee]

A good one! Did he fuck, saying football is not complex of course it's not when you're seven. He is though, saying it's not complex when i bet he hasn't played it a 11 aside match in his life and doesn't know all the rules. I wouldn't go around saying you're football or Baseball is not complex because all sports are you fucking idiot.

Oooo luck at the internet guy picking up a typo very smart i may add.

When it comes to calling people ignorant, it is important to spell the word right.

[4savo4]

When it comes to calling people ignorant, it is important to spell the word right.

I know how to spell it i just hit the wrong button, forgive me great lord.

[AsHopeDies]

Back to the original guy's post:

It seems as if he is speaking for the rest of us too, 'douchebag'

But it's a fact like it or not, the majority of us neither care or know about beckam...

Just because YOU like soccer doesn't mean all of us do, so next time don't let the truth hurt you ok?

It doesn't have anything to do with that. At least the guy you quoted has something to backup his claims, i.e. the freakish amount of publicity his move to the states is getting. While all you have to back it up is your off-base claim that you have a remote idea of what the majority of a country the size of the United States does or doesn't care about. Keep trying buddy.

I gotta agree... the majority doesn't give a fuck about Beckham or soccer.

This isn't debatable, and it's not opinion.

It's a fact that the majority couldn't give 2 shits.

It's a fact that you THINK it's a fact, but that alone doesn't make a fact. Saying that two world famous people moving to the states is being overlooked is the definition of debatable. Of all things, a sports star can have a great impact, even if the sport isn't the most popular. To claim it's not opinion and not debatable just makes your point laughable at best, I'm sorry.

Not to sound like a ahole about the subject of soccer, but not many americans care too much about soccer. Why watch soccer? When we have the NFL or american football. NFL is a more complex sport that most of us are use to growing up with. Yes, your sport can be complex too, but with scores as low as 1-0, or 2-1...it's a bit boring....for me anyways. Seeing people run and up.... down...left.... right and around the fields with one ball, only kicking it..... is a pain in the ass. I know because I played soccer when I was 7 years old. Fuck that.

I gotta agree with the guy calling this statement ignorant, as much as it pains me with agree with 4savo. But, unlike him, I'll say why I think it's ignorant, it's something that we Americans are guilty of countless times when it comes to the soccer vs. football argument. What's said more often than not is "how can I like a game who's final score is 2-1 or 3-1? Let me pose a question for you, what would you say about a football game with the final score of 14-7 or 21-14? I'm sure you'd say those are fine scores...well...I hate to be the bearer of bad news chief but 14-7 = 2-1 and 21-14 = 3-2. It makes you look even more simple when you fail to see this. Get over the scoring. There are plenty of educated guesses and theories about why soccer isn't popular in the states but I'm sorry, the theories about the game itself just don't hold water.

[Mr. Heskey]

^
|
|

So do you honestly think the majority of us watch MLS or otherwise care about any kind of international soccer league and watch it consistently?

[Meio]

That isn't the question

[Shymega]

^
|
|

So do you honestly think the majority of us watch MLS or otherwise care about any kind of international soccer league and watch it consistently?

I guarantee you if you start watching the EPL and Champions League games, you will not only be into it, but become attached to it.

The MLS is a development league IMO, and the crowds are never into it like those crazy EPL games. It's hard to try to get into soccer by watching the MLS. It's like someone trying to get into American football by watching NFL Europe, or someone trying to get into basketball by watching the development league(don't know the name of it).

This is the difference

Champions League
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5nUopwmiZEI

MLS
http://youtube.com/watch?v=mfErqP82oTE

Fell the difference?

[Meio]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,2125509,00.html

Amusing stuff in here :)

It is an atmosphere that permits the existence of food stands with names like Goalie's Grill, where fans can purchase a $12 beer, or perhaps a margarita, during games. So how quickly do things spill over into mindless violence? Do they keep a lid on it till after the final whistle? Or can things kick off as soon as half time if the Galaxy are one-nil down and there's been a dodgy sending-off ?

"Well, about 200 of us do stand up for the whole game," laughs Eddie Garcia, who, along with his friend Jeff Skinner, is a founder member of the Riot Squad, the club's most vocal supporters' association. Their motto is Veni, Imbibi, Vici (you don't get that in the Shed at Chelsea), they all sit in block 138 of the ground, and as a group they consider themselves the club's most hardcore fans. Think of them as the Galaxy Ultras, only polo-shirted, unarmed, and totally benign.

Unfortunately, for some, this kind of extremism spoils it for the rest. Margie Banuelos, a teacher from Pasadena, is involved with alternative supporters' association the Galaxians, and off ers a flavour of the security protocols in place for local derbies. "When we play Chivas, the fan clubs now sit on opposite sides of the pitch," she explains. "We used to sit next to them, but people ... people got out of hand." How out of hand? "Some people chanted against each other," she reveals darkly. "Some of them yelled." Happily, Galaxy games are preceded by a loudspeaker announcement that foul language will not be tolerated. It's fair to say that Posh has probably heard That Chant for the last time.

More representative still of the game's support base in this country is Greg Delgado, a local father of three who coaches an after-school girls' soccer club, and epitomises its wholesome and family-oriented image. So thrilled is Greg at Beckham's arrival - "the best thing that could happen to soccer in the United States" - that he wishes to immerse himself in anything that might make him feel at home. "We really admire the Brits for their football chants," he says. "We're going to start copying them here so we can sing them at Galaxy games." Really? Looking at the apple-pie pretty 12-year-old girls practising their keep-ups, it feels far from seemly to imagine them passing unflattering judgment on the referee. "Actually," admits Greg, "I'm not familiar with some of the words in them."

Sounds like some kind of Sunday school.

[AsHopeDies]

^
|
|

So do you honestly think the majority of us watch MLS or otherwise care about any kind of international soccer league and watch it consistently?

see below please

That isn't the question

Say what you want, but it's undeniable, the answer to the question posed in this thread is yes, people in America care that Beckham is coming here to play.

[Mr. Heskey]

see below please



Say what you want, but it's undeniable, the answer to the question posed in this thread is yes, people in America care that Beckham is coming here to play.

I think they care more about him and is "hollywood-esque" existence and his wife, rather than the fact he's an athlete.

[High On PCP]

Say what you want, but it's undeniable, the answer to the question posed in this thread is yes, people in America care that Beckham is coming here to play.

No, they really don't.

I'd bet an entire months pay I could go ask to grocery store up the street and ask 15 random people if they know who Beckham is and I'd say maybe only 1 person would know.

Now out of that 15, I'd bet at least 13 would know who Tom Cruise is married to.

See the difference?

Seriously man, this shit isn't opinion.

No one gives a flying shitfuck about soccer, or Beckham.

They don't.

I'm sorry.

No

NO! Stop your inner dialogue

I said stop it!

Ok now you can understand they don't care.

(if I get out today I'm going to pose these questions to random people)

[AsHopeDies]

I think they care more about him and is "hollywood-esque" existence and his wife, rather than the fact he's an athlete.

Point being? Even if that were the case, which I don't agree with, it still doesn't change the fact that people care...and that was the question.

No, they really don't.

I'd bet an entire months pay I could go ask to grocery store up the street and ask 15 random people if they know who Beckham is and I'd say maybe only 1 person would know.

What is going on in your mind that you think your bullshit grocery store hypothetical somehow holds more weight than the fact that it's on network TV, magazine covers, ESPN, CNN, Fox Soccer Channel, etc. etc? Somehow, the fact that you THINK if you go to a grocery store in bumsville nowhere and nobody knows who Beckham is then no one in America cares that he's coming here to play soccer? WTF? Where's the logic in that?

Now out of that 15, I'd bet at least 13 would know who Tom Cruise is married to.

See the difference?

No, these are more hypothetical statistics...what the fuck are you talking about? So your argument now holds weight based on what "you bet" would happen? And you are comparing a domestic celebrity's status to whether or not anyone cares that an international celeb is coming to the US to play soccer? Seriously, what the fuck are you talking about?

if I get out today

ok....it's becoming more and more clear now.

[High On PCP]

lol you're pulling a haiyaaa.

you suckered me in good with that troll. bravo

[modogthemonkey]

Anybody in the USA really care about Beckham?

Well from all of these posts,good and bad.Its quite clear that people in USA do care about "GoldenBalls".

[Devastation]

I gotta agree with the guy calling this statement ignorant, as much as it pains me with agree with 4savo. But, unlike him, I'll say why I think it's ignorant, it's something that we Americans are guilty of countless times when it comes to the soccer vs. football argument. What's said more often than not is "how can I like a game who's final score is 2-1 or 3-1? Let me pose a question for you, what would you say about a football game with the final score of 14-7 or 21-14? I'm sure you'd say those are fine scores...well...I hate to be the bearer of bad news chief but 14-7 = 2-1 and 21-14 = 3-2. It makes you look even more simple when you fail to see this. Get over the scoring. There are plenty of educated guesses and theories about why soccer isn't popular in the states but I'm sorry, the theories about the game itself just don't hold water.

I have to agree. I've never bought the argument that a low scoring equals a boring game.

In fact, I prefer a low scoring contest because it makes each point that more important.

And if people don't like low scoring contests, I'm surprised baseball has lasted for 167 years, when the majority of your final scores are 2-0, 2-1, 3-2, etc.

[USB]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,2125509,00.html

Amusing stuff in here :)







Sounds like some kind of Sunday school.

haha, "they started chanting at each other"

[Slid3r]

Entertainment Tonight, ESPN, and SI care.

People do not. Just remember, fads die quickly and are soon forgotten.

[AsHopeDies]

Entertainment Tonight, ESPN, and SI care.

People do not. Just remember, fads die quickly and are soon forgotten.

Like Yao Ming right? And Pele. And Ichiro. Foreign athletic stars aren't 'fads'. They have a long track record of coming to America and shinning.

[snyderman]

Like Yao Ming right? And Pele. And Ichiro. Foreign athletic stars aren't 'fads'. They have a long track record of coming to America and shinning.

Pele was big in he US while he still played? He has fame now as an ambassador to the sport, and even then parents just take their kids to see him.

Yao and Ichiro are stars because they play a sport that is well accepted in the US. Unless Beckham scores 20-25 goals per game, he will fade in bolivian.

One thing I would be interested in finding out...will more people watch U of Michigan home football games than all the Galaxy games combined? I bet it will be close.

[poopchow]

You say goodbye, and I say hello. That commercial buys soccer 5 minutes of soccer watching from me. After that, meh.

If i couldnt watch dc united to watch adu, and i live in the area, there is going to be little chance i watch beckham for more than 5 minutes

[AsHopeDies]

Pele was big in he US while he still played?

Yes. Get some knowledge before you argue.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0489247/

Yao and Ichiro are stars because they play a sport that is well accepted in the US.

Yao and Ichiro were stars before they came here. But the point is, sports stars aren't fads, especially the ones with as much star power as Beckham.

Unless Beckham scores 20-25 goals per game, he will fade in bolivian.

Wow...just...wow

One thing I would be interested in finding out...will more people watch U of Michigan home football games than all the Galaxy games combined? I bet it will be close.

There are probably more people AT ONE game at the big house than will be at Galaxy games all season. But the TV ratings for the Galaxy games will be high, as will attendance. High for soccer in the US that is, which literally answers the question posed by this thread.

[snyderman]

...you have actually seen what she looks like right? Gross...

Thank You!!! I thought I was the only one who saw that.

She was OK with the Spice Hoo-ers, but now she needs to run face first into a Sizzler.

[Slid3r]

Like Yao Ming right? And Pele. And Ichiro. Foreign athletic stars aren't 'fads'. They have a long track record of coming to America and shinning.

thats because they came in their prime, or in peles case, close enough to it. beckham won't shine in terms of being a great player, but he will be a pretty face that will sell tickets.

the only americans that will really care about beckham are the soccer fans that already go to MLS games. for non-fans it will only peak some interest, get them to go to one game, and realise soccer is still boring to watch ever with a superstar out there. beckham might change the face of the game, but not the actual game.

[AsHopeDies]

thats because they came in their prime, or in peles case, close enough to it. beckham won't shine in terms of being a great player, but he will be a pretty face that will sell tickets.

the only americans that will really care about beckham are the soccer fans that already go to MLS games. for non-fans it will only peak some interest, get them to go to one game, and realise soccer is still boring to watch ever with a superstar out there. beckham might change the face of the game, but not the actual game.

Are you saying Beckham isn't as close to his prime as Pele was when he joined the Cosmos?

[James Bond 007]

Slid3r you have proven you know fuck all about football so why make comments about Becks not being close enough to his prime to be good in the MLS.

Do you not realise Real Madrid are the biggest team in the world (sorry Man U fans, its true) and they wanted to keep Beckham, infact Fabbio Cappelo (Madrid's former manager) has been sacked partly for forcing Beckham to go.
Then at the last minute AC Milan (Current european champions) tried to get Beckham to go to the San Siro.

Hes still the best passer/crosser of the ball in the world and his freekicks are pretty dangerous too.

Not meaning to sound like an arrogant English twat but Beckham will be the most talented player in America and I dont think after playing for and against some of the best teams in the world he will be fazed by competing against the mighty Kansas City Wizards or the world famous Houston Dynamo.

Wanker!

[mrcoalminer]

Slid3r you have proven you know fuck all about football so why make comments about Becks not being close enough to his prime to be good in the MLS.

Do you not realise Real Madrid are the biggest team in the world (sorry Man U fans, its true) and they wanted to keep Beckham, infact Fabbio Cappelo (Madrid's former manager) has been sacked partly for forcing Beckham to go.
Then at the last minute AC Milan (Current european champions) tried to get Beckham to go to the San Siro.

Hes still the best passer/crosser of the ball in the world and his freekicks are pretty dangerous too.

Not meaning to sound like an arrogant English twat but Beckham will be the most talented player in America and I dont think after playing for and against some of the best teams in the world he will be fazed by competing against the mighty Kansas City Wizards or the world famous Houston Dynamo.

Wanker!


i think i actually agree with everything there- even the man utd not being the biggest club in the world. we're in the top 3 though, perhaps with liverpool.
i rekon beckham will be back in a year or so

[Henkie]

perhaps with liverpool.

Not anymore they're not. Only an Englishman (or other citizen of the United Kingdom, apparently) with some (coloured) knowledge of footballhistory would think that. Outside of England Arsenal and Chelsea are both more popular and better known, right now, and they can't compete with teams like AC Milan, Bayern München, Juventus and Barcelona, on a "biggest club in the world"-competition. I'm sorry for James, but they'll have to win a premiership or two before they can try again. And I hear it coming: "We've played two CL-finals in three years and won one!" and "Bestest club in the world untill Thatcher screwed us over!", but honestly, if a team hasn't won the national competition in 17 years, it's plain and obvious you can't steadily perform at the highest level over a season, let alone over the years.

[mrcoalminer]

Not anymore they're not. Only an Englishman with some (coloured) knowledge of footballhistory would think that. Outside of England Arsenal and Chelsea are both more popular and better known, right now, and they can't compete with teams like AC Milan, Bayern München, Juventus and Barcelona, on a "biggest club in the world"-competition. I'm sorry for James, but they'll have to win a premiership or two before they can try again. And I hear it coming: "We've played two CL-finals in three years and won one!" and "Bestest club in the world untill Thatcher screwed us over!", but honestly, if a team hasn't won the national competition in 17 years, it's plain and obvious you can't steadily perform at the highest level over a season, let alone over the years.

never ever ever ever call me english, got that?
but to the point, i reckon spurs and liverpool will become big clubs in 2 or 3 years, particularly when fergie retires, i hope roy keane or mark hughes replaces him, hughes is so underrated

[4savo4]

never ever ever ever call me english, got that?


Fuck off and don't support an English club then :p

[USB]

lol TNS FTW!!

[4savo4]

Anway mr coalminer i'm suprised you don't support liverpool anyway being Welsh and all.

[Shymega]

Beckham is out for Saturday's Friendly vs Chelsea.

I hope Chelsea will actually try and compete(i doubt it) and turn this into a blowout.

6-0 Chelsea:dunce:

[James Bond 007]

Not anymore they're not. Only an Englishman (or other citizen of the United Kingdom, apparently) with some (coloured) knowledge of footballhistory would think that. Outside of England Arsenal and Chelsea are both more popular and better known, right now, and they can't compete with teams like AC Milan, Bayern München, Juventus and Barcelona, on a "biggest club in the world"-competition. I'm sorry for James, but they'll have to win a premiership or two before they can try again. And I hear it coming: "We've played two CL-finals in three years and won one!" and "Bestest club in the world untill Thatcher screwed us over!", but honestly, if a team hasn't won the national competition in 17 years, it's plain and obvious you can't steadily perform at the highest level over a season, let alone over the years.

Wooh, hang on a minute my Dutch friend... I didnt say Liverpool are the biggest team in the world did I???

But as you brought it up Liverpool ARE one of the biggest clubs in the world, just bcoz we havent won our domestic league since the turn of the 90s doesnt mean we arent a big club anymore.
We aren't the best team in the world (far from it) but we ARE one of the biggest names in football.... We are the 3rd most successfull club side in europe for fuck sake!

There will always be a bunch of teams who are considered the biggest names in football whether they are winning things or not... Ajax for example, they havent done anything for like 10 or 15 years and if Im harsh I would say they are shit but they are still considered one of the bigget names in football.

I see it like this (in no order).....

Man U
Liverpool
Real Madrid
Barcelona
Juventus
Milan
Bayern Munchen
Ajax

They are the teams people who might not know too much about football (some Americans for example) would say if you asked them to pick out who they think are the "Big teams".


Chelsea could win the league for the next 10 years but they will NEVER be considered a bigger team than Liverpool or United (not in our lifetime anyway).... Money can buy you success but it can't buy you over 100 years of tradition and history.

I know you know your stuff when it comes to the beautiful game so I find it frustrating and annoying that you would say Chelsea and Arsenal are bigger clubs than Liverpool.

Liverpool are and always will be a far bigger club than those two London scum, maybe in 50 or 60 years if they have both dominated in England for 20 years and been arguably the best team in Europe for 10 years and built up a bit of tradition then maybe we can start talking about them being bigger clubs than Liverpool.

[4savo4]

I see it like this (in no order).....

Man U
Liverpool
Real Madrid
Barcelona
Juventus
Milan
Bayern Munchen
Ajax

They are the teams people who might not know to much about football (some Americans for example) would say if you asked them to pick out who they think are the "Big teams".



QR's going to be pissed off you didn't put city in there.LOL

[AsHopeDies]

Chelsea could win the league for the next 10 years but they will NEVER be considered a bigger team than Liverpool or United (not in our lifetime anyway).... Money can buy you success but it can't buy you over 100 years of tradition and history.

I know you know your stuff when it comes to the beautiful game so I find it frustrating and annoying that you would say Chelsea and Arsenal are bigger clubs than Liverpool.

It's obvious the two of you have very different definitions of "bigger clubs". I believe his point, which I agree with, is that on the international scale, Chelsea and Arsenal are more well known and considered 'bigger clubs'. I guarantee that if I walked down the street and took a poll here in the states, more people will know Chelsea and Arsenal than will know Liverpool. Now, neither of us are saying that Arsenal or Chelsea are better clubs or that they have the same tradition of excellence etc. His point was simply that they are more popular and well-known outside of England, and I have to agree with that.

[Meio]

It's obvious the two of you have very different definitions of "bigger clubs". I believe his point, which I agree with, is that on the international scale, Chelsea and Arsenal are more well known and considered 'bigger clubs'. I guarantee that if I walked down the street and took a poll here in the states, more people will know Chelsea and Arsenal than will know Liverpool. Now, neither of us are saying that Arsenal or Chelsea are better clubs or that they have the same tradition of excellence etc. His point was simply that they are more popular and well-known outside of England, and I have to agree with that.

Maybe in the US, and only recently, but I would say if I asked an Indian, a Japanese and a Greek to name the top 5 British clubs Liverpool would always be in there, along with the other 2 stacks of red shit, one of the jock teams and recently the Chelsea scum. Just over 10 years ago it would have been Blackburn in place of Chelsea. We'll see how long Abramovic's money lasts.

[Henkie]

The big question is: what makes a club a 'big' club. I think there's obviously a part history, tradition, historical performances, but there's also a part recent performances. And personally, I give Arsenal a bunch of bonuspoints for bringing actual football (aka 'Bergkamp') to the Premiership ;)

And Chelsea isn't one of the biggest clubs, right now, because they're kind of lacking in the history part, but history can be made, for example, a lot of Liverpool's history is in the 70's and 80's, as was that of Ajax and Bayern. My father could've been there (if he cared about football), so Chelsea might aswell be a big club during your lifetime, as soon as people get over the fact that some Russian dude spent a lot of money on them and they win a CL. But Liverpool isn't either, not anymore.
If I had to make a list the top 5 (in random order) would be Real Madrid, Ac Milan, Manchester United, Bayern München and Barcelona.

[Shymega]

Wooh, hang on a minute my Dutch friend... I didnt say Liverpool are the biggest team in the world did I???

But as you brought it up Liverpool ARE one of the biggest clubs in the world, just bcoz we havent won our domestic league since the turn of the 90s doesnt mean we arent a big club anymore.
We aren't the best team in the world (far from it) but we ARE one of the biggest names in football.... We are the 3rd most successfull club side in europe for fuck sake!

There will always be a bunch of teams who are considered the biggest names in football whether they are winning things or not... Ajax for example, they havent done anything for like 10 or 15 years and if Im harsh I would say they are shit but they are still considered one of the bigget names in football.

I see it like this (in no order).....

Man U
Liverpool
Real Madrid
Barcelona
Juventus
Milan
Bayern Munchen
Ajax

They are the teams people who might not know too much about football (some Americans for example) would say if you asked them to pick out who they think are the "Big teams".


Chelsea could win the league for the next 10 years but they will NEVER be considered a bigger team than Liverpool or United (not in our lifetime anyway).... Money can buy you success but it can't buy you over 100 years of tradition and history.

I know you know your stuff when it comes to the beautiful game so I find it frustrating and annoying that you would say Chelsea and Arsenal are bigger clubs than Liverpool.

Liverpool are and always will be a far bigger club than those two London scum, maybe in 50 or 60 years if they have both dominated in England for 20 years and been arguably the best team in Europe for 10 years and built up a bit of tradition then maybe we can start talking about them being bigger clubs than Liverpool.

For someone who is in the American Football(soccer) scene and been around, i will tell you that is not the order, just from what i've seen.

1. Real Madrid
2. Man U
3. Barcelona
4. Inter, AC, Juventus(all big here in the tri-state area, cause this area is flooded with Italians)
5. Chelsea
6. Bayern Munich
7. Celtic
8. Liverpool
9. Club America
10. Boca Juniors

[4savo4]

He said in no order ^^^

[mrcoalminer]

Anway mr coalminer i'm suprised you don't support liverpool anyway being Welsh and all.

ive been brought up a man united fan, besides i aint gunna be a fucking scouser because my name is ryan giggs owen:lol:

i only follow the english league because it is bigger better and there arent any welsh teams big in european competitions-yet.

i support ospreys in rugby as they peform better in europe and are a big team with big players. and im from just outside swansea

[Meio]

i support ospreys in rugby as they peform better in europe and are a big team with big players. and im from just outside swansea

Yeah, unlucky on both counts.

[4savo4]

ive been brought up a man united fan, besides i aint gunna be a fucking scouser because my name is ryan giggs owen:lol:

i only follow the english league because it is bigger better and there arent any welsh teams big in european competitions-yet.

i support ospreys in rugby as they peform better in europe and are a big team with big players. and im from just outside swansea

That's one fine name.

[mrcoalminer]

cheers, my family like "different" names, my uncle is called owen owen, and i have a cousin called trafford. im not kidding.

[4savo4]

cheers, my family like "different" names, my uncle is called owen owen, and i have a cousin called trafford. im not kidding.

I belive you theres a kid i know called George Best for his first and middle name.

[Fag Boy]

Man U
Liverpool
Real Madrid
Barcelona
Juventus
Milan
Bayern Munchen
Ajax

They are the teams people who might not know too much about football (some Americans for example) would say if you asked them to pick out who they think are the "Big teams".



I was skimming through your post not really reading at, as i do with all long post. Then the names caught my eye, and I thought most of those were different players, not teams. So no, those are not teams people who don’t follow soccer would know, especially Americans. The only one I have ever heard of is the first one.

and why is it that all you europeans care about is whos team is most popular?

[mrcoalminer]

I was skimming through your post not really reading at, as i do with all long post. Then the names caught my eye, and I thought most of those were different players, not teams. So no, those are not teams people who don’t follow soccer would know, especially Americans. The only one I have ever heard of is the first one.

and why is it that all you europeans care about is whos team is most popular?

because we are far more superior than you americans. we'd kick you're ass if it was europe vs usa in a war you know. kick you're obese behinds.

btw ^^^^^^ case closed, even this guy has heard of man utd

[Rado]

I belive you theres a kid i know called George Best for his first and middle name.

My cousin is called Georgia Beth (first and middle name), if she was a boy she'd be George Best of course, funny thing is, her dad (who's a liverpool fan) didn't catch on at first when my auntie (a man utd fan) decided to call her that :lol:

[4savo4]

My cousin is called Georgia Beth (first and middle name), if she was a boy she'd be George Best of course, funny thing is, her dad (who's a liverpool fan) didn't catch on at first when my auntie (a man utd fan) decided to call her that :lol:

:lol: What was he like when he found out?

[Mr. Heskey]

because we are far more superior than you americans. we'd kick you're ass if it was europe vs usa in a war you know. kick you're obese behinds.

btw ^^^^^^ case closed, even this guy has heard of man utd

Yes and even I'm sure you know of one of the US's pro sports franchises.

[USB]

Yes and even I'm sure you know of one of the US's pro sports franchises.

Maybe because people out side of the U.S pay attention to other countrys sports?

[zarekar]

i like soccer outside the US, because it more complex to any other sport. While basketball or football (american) has its tactics and ways which intrigue me. Soccer is completely different. The US has a hard time seeing anything happening, they have a hard time understanding what sports are about. And when you try to explain it, they have a dumbfounded look on them. Football i would have to rank as a sport underneath soccer. Even football fans dont understand the sport and how it works. While its tactics revolve around 5 simple play calls during the whole game. And then until the end they have a 2-minute war if they were at near even terms.

Soccer is a pure assualt and endurance competition. While football is just as demanding.

Sports like baseball have nothing, there is no tactic invovled. You just learn how a pitcher throws the ball and make a choice on where to swing the bat. The ball moves so fast that it is hard to decide on where the ball will end up. So they observe patterns on the throw and make calculated guesses. But it drags on, They need to change some aspects to it. Like make it shorter some how. Plus when you go watch a game, the field is so damn big, the players look like specs even in the front row.

Then theres the worst sport, i dont think it should be considered a sport at all, golf. Theres no physical contact at all. What the hell is thats shit. Tennis is the same, i find myself calling them hobbies, not a sport.

Hockey is also a good game, but thats the sport for Canada. So I'll let them have their sport. I like how teams in the US contain 98% canadians on their team or finnish or swedish or russian on their teams. They should just have a league with the best of the best throughout the world play. Give each country two teams or something. Make it a little bit more compelling.

I think the worst part of sports in the US are the salary cap. Yeh its good to have control, but fuck it i wanna see great players on rich teams. The problem is also there are relegation system at all. THe worst teams continue to play in the league, so theres no fight. They give up towards the end, so get a good draft pick, which is wrong. I think teams there are promoted should have first choice.

I would like a draft in soccer in europe i think it would make things interesting. So it kind of completes it. Actually that would not be too shabby. Have 100 players be trialed in one spot. He / she decides what country they want to play. And if they dont get picked up then they can try their luck in a different league. Its hard though, with a system working for 100 years, why change something that isnt broke.

But yeh thats my 2 cents.

Dont attack me, trust me im a huge football, soccer, hockey fan
but if you like baseball, i do attend anaheim angels games, because well its kind of nice just sit back and have a brew for a few hours.

[Meio]

I would like a draft in soccer in europe i think it would make things interesting. So it kind of completes it. Actually that would not be too shabby. Have 100 players be trialed in one spot. He / she decides what country they want to play. And if they dont get picked up then they can try their luck in a different league. Its hard though, with a system working for 100 years, why change something that isnt broke.

As far as I understand the different draft systems they only make sense in the context of a franchise tournament system, I don't see how they would work in a club system. For example, what happens to the top draft palyers when the crappy club that drafted them gets relegated the next season, or goes bankrupt?

[Shymega]

Hockey is also a good game, but thats the sport for Canada. So I'll let them have their sport. I like how teams in the US contain 98% canadians on their team or finnish or swedish or russian on their teams. They should just have a league with the best of the best throughout the world play. Give each country two teams or something. Make it a little bit more compelling.


Canadians do and probably will always produce the best and most talent, but the past few years, Americans have been dominating the Draft, with two 1st picks being American players. The next wave of projected NHL stars has an abundance of American players in it. Jack Johnson, Eric Johnson, Patrick Kane, Kyle Okposo, Zach Parise, Phil Kessell, Tim Connolly- to name a few. Olympic hockey is looking bright for 2010 in Vancouver.

[Mr. Heskey]

i like soccer outside the US, because it more complex to any other sport. While basketball or football (american) has its tactics and ways which intrigue me. Soccer is completely different. The US has a hard time seeing anything happening, they have a hard time understanding what sports are about. And when you try to explain it, they have a dumbfounded look on them. Football i would have to rank as a sport underneath soccer. Even football fans dont understand the sport and how it works. While its tactics revolve around 5 simple play calls during the whole game. And then until the end they have a 2-minute war if they were at near even terms.

Soccer is a pure assualt and endurance competition. While football is just as demanding.

Sports like baseball have nothing, there is no tactic invovled. You just learn how a pitcher throws the ball and make a choice on where to swing the bat. The ball moves so fast that it is hard to decide on where the ball will end up. So they observe patterns on the throw and make calculated guesses. But it drags on, They need to change some aspects to it. Like make it shorter some how. Plus when you go watch a game, the field is so damn big, the players look like specs even in the front row.

Then theres the worst sport, i dont think it should be considered a sport at all, golf. Theres no physical contact at all. What the hell is thats shit. Tennis is the same, i find myself calling them hobbies, not a sport.

Hockey is also a good game, but thats the sport for Canada. So I'll let them have their sport. I like how teams in the US contain 98% canadians on their team or finnish or swedish or russian on their teams. They should just have a league with the best of the best throughout the world play. Give each country two teams or something. Make it a little bit more compelling.

I think the worst part of sports in the US are the salary cap. Yeh its good to have control, but fuck it i wanna see great players on rich teams. The problem is also there are relegation system at all. THe worst teams continue to play in the league, so theres no fight. They give up towards the end, so get a good draft pick, which is wrong. I think teams there are promoted should have first choice.

I would like a draft in soccer in europe i think it would make things interesting. So it kind of completes it. Actually that would not be too shabby. Have 100 players be trialed in one spot. He / she decides what country they want to play. And if they dont get picked up then they can try their luck in a different league. Its hard though, with a system working for 100 years, why change something that isnt broke.

But yeh thats my 2 cents.

Dont attack me, trust me im a huge football, soccer, hockey fan
but if you like baseball, i do attend anaheim angels games, because well its kind of nice just sit back and have a brew for a few hours.


I couldn't disagree with you any more. Golf by far takes the highest amount of skill and concentration out of just about every sport there is. Just because there is no 'contact' doesnt mean its not a sport. Hell if we thought of it that way, professional wrestling would be considered superior...

[Meio]

I couldn't disagree with you any more. Golf by far takes the highest amount of skill and concentration out of just about every sport there is.

Snooker?
Motorcycle Trials?
Flatland Skateboarding?

[Devastation]

Hell if we thought of it that way, professional wrestling would be considered superior...

You mean it isn't? I always thought they didn't put higlights on ESPN because it such a great sport that ESPN thought they shouldn't insult it by throwing Chris Berman all over it.