Write On Sports LLC - "End it like Beckham" by Gareth Sleger

End it like Beckham

2006-12-08 01:02:56 | By: Gareth Sleger

Major League Soccer: league where young American stars can't wait to leave and international stars go to die.

A negative characterization, yes, but one that the MLS seems willing to embrace with the recently passed Designated Player Rule, a rule that allows MLS clubs to spend over the salary cap.

And with the MLS on the brink of losing many of its rising stars (among others, Freddy Adu, Clint Dempsey and Eddie Johnson) to Europe, the league is preparing to offset this by widening the open door to world class players in the twilight of their careers.

Not surprisingly, the biggest name being thrown around is David Beckham, who has obviously committed a future in the U.S. having already set up his own soccer academy in Los Angeles. And a move to the MLS could come sooner than later.

Currently in his fourth year with Real Madrid, the 31-year-old is finding himself out of favor with new manager Fabio Capello. On top of that, the Spanish Premeria club has shown no interest in resigning the midfielder when his contract expires in the summer.

There has been much criticism surrounding the potential move across the Atlantic, citing that Beckham will be more interested in strengthening his pop culture status rather than his performance in the league.

But, when it comes down to it, Beckham isn’t, and never was, the world’s best player, only the world’s most popular player. If there is one thing that the average American knows about soccer, it’s the name David Beckham.

Ask that same American about the MLS All Star’s 1-0 win over English Premier League powerhouse Chelsea (virtually an international all star team on its own) last summer, and they will just respond with a confused look.

Point is, maybe that’s exactly what the MLS needs: a marketing boost bigger than Freddy Adu. Because the league does have the talent to compete with the world’s best, it just needs more help making it known in its own country.

Many are wary about the MLS, a league with limited funds, being allowed to unload shells of money to obtain players who might retire after a couple of years. This concern is more than valid considering what happened to the New York Cosmos of North American Soccer League in the 1980s.

When the Cosmos dished out for legends like Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, Giorgio Chinaglia and Carlos Alberto, the club along with the NASL folded because it spent money on players without returned revenue to match.

However, what the MLS has that the NASL didn’t, is a huge TV contract with ESPN, the ability to pay players through sponsorship deals and a strategic rule that brings in expensive players moderately. The Designated Player Rule gives each MLS club one designated player slot (with the option to pick up another trough a trade) and covers $400,000 of that player’s contact.

One foreseeable downfall with Beckham is the assumption by ignorant fans that he will be a goal scoring machine.

That simply won’t be the case. Beckham’s goal total has dipped significantly over the past few years: 2004-05: 5 goals in 46 games; 2005-06: 4 goals in 41 games; 2006-007 (in progress): 4 goals in 21 games.

Rather, he will be looked upon to feed goal scorers, much like former MLS favorite Carlos Valderrama, who ended his legendary career in 2002 holding the league’s all-time assists record with 114.
But, the only record that Beckham can be expected to break are attendance records.

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