Becks to LA

[mastershogun]

Looks like Beckham has finally agreed to come to LA. His deal with Real could not be finalized. Say what you want about Becks but I'm not in the party that thinks he is done. He still have some good years left in him... have to remember he was never considered a high pace player (much like Zindane).

http://goal.com/en-US/articolo.aspx?contenutoid=207928

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by mastershogun

Looks like Beckham has finally agreed to come to LA. His deal with Real could not be finalized. Say what you want about Becks but I'm not in the party that thinks he is done. He still have some good years left in him... have to remember he was never considered a high pace player (much like Zindane).

http://goal.com/en-US/articolo.aspx?contenutoid=207928

The Dodgers or the Angels?

[OB1 Stogie]

Originally Posted by icehog3

The Dodgers or the Angels?

Of course it's the Lakers.....Hollywood's team.

[pnoon]

The papparazi will have a field day with his presence.

[Ultravox]

I haven't followed him much since he left United, but I was quite surprised that Steve McClaren decided to leave him out of the England squad. He hasn't been on form recently, but he's still a pretty good player.

I think he has been too preoccupied with his 'brand' instead of his game and that's let him down. Although it has set him up nicely for the future.

[ghost]

Should provide some nice exposure for MLS and, at least in the begining, boost some ticket sales.

Becks has been hinting for the last couple of years that he would not mind ending his career in the US. Him, and a few others stars (Henry, Ballack) have commented on how much they like the US and its culture. Becks may be the first of a number of aging European stars that may find themselves on our shores.

[ColdCuts]

Well, crap. I knew back when Becks opened a soccer school in LA that this was imminent. I just had my fingers crossed that he'd wind up in NY instead. I thought there was a slight chance. I've read that he and the missus both love NY, hell, they named one of their kids Brooklyn.

So, now I'm anxious to see what signing Bruce Arena responds with. NY has room for more than one marquee player. There had been a rumor circulating that it could be Zidane, but I haven't heard his name mentioned in awhile. It seemed to make more sense when Youri was still in the team. Anyone care to speculate?

Regardless of how it pans out in NY, I think Becks coming to MLS is fantastic. The league has taken a huge step forward in acquiring him. Maybe his very best playing years are behind him, but at 31, he's not done by any means.

[erab]

Originally Posted by ColdCuts

I just had my fingers crossed that he'd wind up in NY instead.

I would've bet the farm that the Red Bulls would snap him up.

Although, I think Becks is more of an LA-type of a guy.

[SDmate]

HOLY CRAP!!!! I just found out he's makin 50 mil a year
that's f**kin crazy money

[erab]

Wait..

Is there a transfer fee involved in this deal? I heard the figure (and was astonished) but figured that a good portion of it was going to Real Madrid for the transfer.

....but then I read that Real will just "not renew" his contract. Is that figure really all salary? How can the Galaxy afford this!?

[ColdCuts]

Originally Posted by erab

Wait..

Is there a transfer fee involved in this deal? I heard the figure (and was astonished) but figured that a good portion of it was going to Real Madrid for the transfer.

....but then I read that Real will just "not renew" his contract. Is that figure really all salary? How can the Galaxy afford this!?

I'm not yet sure if that figure is all salary or not, but I know that under the new loophole for acquiring big-name players, the financial burden falls not with the Galaxy, but with owner Philip Anschutz. And, "Uncle Phil" actually has that kind of scratch.

From nytimes.com...

Up until last November, M.L.S. tightly controlled player salaries under its single-entity system, in which the league owned all player contracts and a team's salary budget could not exceed about $2 million a year, with only a few exceptions. The league's board of governors voted to relax that restriction and allow each team to sign one player for any amount, of which the league would pay only the first $400,000.

They called it the designated player rule, but to soccer fans in the United States it has been referred to as the "Beckham Rule" since Day 1.

[ColdCuts]

Originally Posted by SDmate

HOLY CRAP!!!! I just found out he's makin 50 mil a year
that's f**kin crazy money

True that. But, if his skills on the field and the exposure he brings, helps grow the league it's money well spent.

[Skinsfan]

Originally Posted by SDmate

HOLY CRAP!!!! I just found out he's makin 50 mil a year
that's f**kin crazy money

Yeah and the rights to the team are only worth about $33Million.

[Bigwaved]

Originally Posted by pnoon

The papparazi will have a field day with his presence.

This is like Pele to the NY Cosmos way back.

[yayson]

I'm befuddled about the financials of this deal, can't wait for the actual numbers to be settled.

I thought he was coming to the end of his contract with Real and would be nabbed on the cheap, or much cheaper than has been reported anyhow.

Hopefully he's come to play a bit and not have his paid vacation before he gets into the Academies full-time.

pnoon: I hear Gerrard's on his way as well