Ok it’s only one.. but a big one..
As a lifelong player and avid support of soccer/football. I welcome anything that will help promote the sport in the US. The sport is growing and our national league the MLS continues to get stronger with soccer-specific stadiums, more expansion teams and more fans. But the latest rumors that the English star Beckham will be joining the LA a Galaxy on a five contract that is being said to be worth up to $250!, comes as a shock.. Article I do realize at this point the amount is only speculation. After all link above is from the Fox network, which is not known for it’s lack of sensationalism. But if it is true, The first question I have to ask is: where would this money come from? I understand the lure of bringing in a visible figure such as Beckham, and the thought that his presence here alone will help boost the sport. But seriously at such a price, how much can one man do?
Below are some of the questions to think about.. I only hope the architects of this record breaking deal have also thought about the:
What happens if he gets injured?
What about his age? He’s going to turn 32 this May..
How is this going to make the other players around him feel? They certainly aren’t making anything close to Beckham’s salary.
Is this the beginning of astronomical salaries in MLS?
Who is really going to pay for this? The fans? One of the good things about the MLS is the reasonable ticket prices. Are MLS fans now going to be forced to pay high priced tickets in order to keep the league from going bankrupt?
Even with these questions I do think the MLS as well as US soccer can benefit from bringing high level players and coaches. If we’re lucky Klinsmann will sign with the national team as head coach!
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