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David Beckham coming to MLS?
ESPN.com ^

Posted on 05/31/2005 9:52:17 AM PDT by cfo

David Beckham has hinted that he may be prepared to play in the United States before he ends his career as signs of his growing popularity in that part of the world were evident ahead of England's friendly international with Colombia.

Beckham was greeted with the kind of media frenzy and flashing light bulbs that have probably not greeted a soccer player in America since the days of Pele, George Best and Franz Beckenbauer in the mid 1970s as he gave his pre-match press conference.

In the immediate term the 30-year-old sees his playing career at Real Madrid and he is prepared to hold talks over a new deal - he has two years left of his current contract - in the summer.

But Beckham, who is launching his soccer academy in Los Angeles later this week, did not rule out the possibility of a spell in the States before he hangs up his boots.

(Excerpt) Read more at soccernet.espn.go.com ...


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: beckham; becks; mls; soccer
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To: cfo

I would have liked to have him stick it out. Last Saturday he looked tentative on the field.


41 posted on 05/31/2005 10:28:50 AM PDT by KC_Conspirator (This space outsourced to India)
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To: cfo; KC_Conspirator

It was a mistake to try and join a top-flight team mid-season, as who wants to screw around with a good chemistry? My cynical reaction is that this was just a roundabout way of transferring from San Jose to LA.


42 posted on 05/31/2005 10:29:53 AM PDT by kevkrom ("Those who stand for nothing fall for anything." -- Alexander Hamilton)
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To: The_Englishman

Wrong again.

You need to actually go and attend and MLS game before you make such ridiculous claims. I'd rather watch the Metrostars play Chicago Fire (as they do today at Giants Stadium) than playing ANY South American team.


43 posted on 05/31/2005 10:30:11 AM PDT by cfo
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To: KC_Conspirator

He went back to a.) play in Champions League and b.) get out of his contract.

His return is good news for MLS, US National Team and Donovan. Everyone wins.


44 posted on 05/31/2005 10:31:37 AM PDT by cfo
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To: cfo
"A maximum of 3 of the 25 players on any MLS teams can be foreigners. The rest of the players are US resindents.
"

Check that again. I read up to 7 players can be foreigners and there is no limitation on folks that have a green card, or has asylum. But you both are right and my MLS knowledge is a tad dated.
45 posted on 05/31/2005 10:33:40 AM PDT by tfecw (Vote Democrat, It's easier than working)
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To: cfo

Well I saw DC play the Metrostars a few years ago in DC, and believe me, as a season ticket holder of an English football team, there wasn't much passion!

No need to be defensive though mate! I was only asking not stating!

Just trying to learn a bit more about your League is'all.


46 posted on 05/31/2005 10:39:14 AM PDT by The_Englishman
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To: cfo

They wear boots? No wonder they can kick the ball so far...


47 posted on 05/31/2005 10:39:59 AM PDT by Hatteras
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To: cfo
It certainly is. MLS attendance is higher than NHL

I certainly hope so, since the NHL season was cancelled! LOL!

Mark

48 posted on 05/31/2005 10:42:56 AM PDT by MarkL (I've got a fever, and the only prescription is MORE COWBELL!!!)
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To: Red Badger

I know my daughter was playing about 19 years ago gave her an option to beat the s*** out of the girls who gave her a hard time in school.


49 posted on 05/31/2005 10:44:56 AM PDT by boomop1
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To: GraniteStateConservative
The problem is what other sport is there in Euro, here we have squeak ball, basa ball, foota ball, hockey so soccer ball is bottom rung.
50 posted on 05/31/2005 10:50:28 AM PDT by boomop1
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To: tfecw
The US National team isn't exactly a good team.

Uh, care to explain how you get to that conclusion?

51 posted on 05/31/2005 10:51:48 AM PDT by TomB ("The terrorist wraps himself in the world's grievances to cloak his true motives." - S. Rushdie)
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To: The_Englishman
"But there just doen't seem much of an appetite for the MLS in the US. It lacks that passionate, competitive angle that makes the other world leagues so exciting. "

Heh, heh, heh...

Yeah, that's it! The young lad is just passionate and competitive about all the excitement down on the bloody pitch! I get it now....

52 posted on 05/31/2005 10:54:32 AM PDT by Hatteras
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To: TomB
After reading all the posts let me know if you still need an explanation.
53 posted on 05/31/2005 10:55:28 AM PDT by tfecw (Vote Democrat, It's easier than working)
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To: cfo
"A maximum of 3 of the 25 players on any MLS teams can be foreigners."

Personally, I think that's counter-productive. Bringing in better players forces us to improve our play. Is with everything, competition is very healthy and if that competition is provided by an Argentinian or an Italian, so be it.

By putting the best product on to the field, we will be bettering our homegrown players. By limiting the number of foreign players, we are sentencing ourselves to a level of mediocrity.

Don't misunderstand my point. I would like nothing more than for our teams to be 100% homegrown. I thought our boys did a terrific job during the last World Cup. But the only way our boys will improve their play to perform consistently at world class levels, is by playing against better competition.

54 posted on 05/31/2005 10:56:20 AM PDT by sofaman
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To: The_Englishman
Your point is well taken. But you'll always have some silly sod get on his high horse. Your posts are well reasoned and I, for one, enjoy them.

Some folks seem to think that there is no room for disagreement.

55 posted on 05/31/2005 10:59:46 AM PDT by sofaman
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To: Hatteras

Could be worse I guess. Could be giving a Nazi salute... ;-)

(Not uncommon amongst Feyenoord fans incidentally).


56 posted on 05/31/2005 11:03:37 AM PDT by The_Englishman
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To: cfo
It certainly is. MLS attendance is higher than NHL and NBA.

How are you measuring that? Last I read, the MLS had to PAY ESPN to cover their games. ESPN actually pays to show the world poker tour.

In any event, television numbers are the true measure of popularity of a sport. Due to the shortness of the season, some sports outdraw the NFL at the gate, but no sport in the US gets better ratings.

57 posted on 05/31/2005 11:04:16 AM PDT by JeffAtlanta
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To: sofaman

Thanks.

In all fairness to the poster, I think he's just so used to having to defend the concept of football on FR that he has to prepare himself for the precictable onslaught from all angles.

If only the National Team could have defended like that on Saturday! ;-)


58 posted on 05/31/2005 11:07:18 AM PDT by The_Englishman
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To: cfo

"Soccer was invented by European ladies to keep them busy while their husbands did the cooking."


59 posted on 05/31/2005 11:07:50 AM PDT by 0siris
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To: cfo

Metrosexual chump.


60 posted on 05/31/2005 11:08:14 AM PDT by Clemenza (Vader 2008: In your heart, you know he's right)
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