Becks

A reported $250 million deal, if you believe the reports. Ives doesn't, and says the idea of that number being thrown around is idiotic. From what I read on Bigsoccer, his actual salary is around $9 million per year. Overpriced? No way. He's still incredibly talented and will be one of the best players on the field, if not the best. But it's not about that (He's not famous in America for his on the field exploits anyway). Quite simply, there is no other player in the world who can give the league this amount of publicity and news coverage. David Beckham is the one guy who is worth shelling out a ridiculous amount of money for. He's totally worth it. Nobody else in the world today could have as big of an impact on MLS, and that's why his signing is a good thing. Just look at the media circus going on today. Financially, already the Galaxy are reporting 1,000 additional season tickets sold today. Thinking on a bigger scale, it really seems like we're in the middle of the turning point of MLS, where it begins its rise to major league status. We had the increased ratings and coverage of the World Cup, the ESPN tv deal, the rule changes aimed at improving play (DP, youth teams), several new owners (NY, KC, DC), and now this. It's been quite the amazing 12 months. Are things going to be different now overnight? No, of course not. Don Garber said as much in the news conference today. This is just another step up the ladder, and we still have a lot of climbing to do. (You don't think this is worth it? As of June 2006, only 52% of Americans believe that there is a professional soccer league in the United States.)