If you follow MLS news (or sports in general, for that matter), you've probably already heard about Beckham's impending move to LA. Heck, at the moment, it's the top story on the Google News page. My thoughts are somewhat divided on the story:
The good
Beckham is a big name, one that even many non-soccer fans recognize, if for no other reason than who his wife is. His presence will (likely) draw in revenue, increase sales of MLS merchandise, increase LA ticket sales, and make sports stores everywhere happy...blah, blah, blah...I'm sure you've heard all this already.
The bad
Maybe I've just become too much of a cynic, but when I first saw the headlines, the first thought to pop into my mind was: "Here we go again. MLS: The Graveyard of Has-Beens." Yes, I know that Beckham was, and remains, one of the top footballers in the world. However, you cannot deny that he has been around a while. You also cannot deny that MLS (still) is not not the top choice for Europe and South America's top young players. Second thought: remember Pele's NASL debut? Remember what that did for the NASL? Sure, he drew in the crowds. The league also eventually folded, leaving the US without a top-level league for a decade. Third thought: remember the sensation in the news media when Adu joined MLS? Has his presence resulted in a sustained interest in MLS? I think both the numbers and the lack of MLS news in the media are an indication that the answer is no.
My point?
Yes, I do concede that Beckham may provide the boost that MLS so desperately needs. However, I am very hesitant to jump on the Beckham-the-savior-of-MLS bandwagon.
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