What will be Beckham's real impact on the MLS?

[zaxxon]

1. Experts criticize him. Ignorants adore him.















2. Becks said this was "the greatest challenge in his sports career". He's making $1M/week for 5 years.















3. The US is more interested on Becks the celebrity than Becks the player. And same goes for that anorexic Posh Spice.































Will he really be that player that brings interest and boom to the MLS? Or will this fad will fade in a year or so?

[bbbils]

landon donovan will get a lot more goals because beckham will take all the free kicks instead. the ones that he can't shoot he'll bend right into his nose.

[Gabe N]

I think he will. Not immediately though

[i_know_soccer]

I think this is a very good question, concerning the US people, and it's media. David Beckham, is no doubt a wizard on the field, and an 'A' level celebrity off the pitch. What more can you ask from a footballer? He will attract attention, and hopefully a few fans that will learn about the MLS, US Soccer, and the sport as a whole. His move here was less about Beckham as an individual, but more as a move for the whole sport. Beckham was the only man that could do this for US Soccer. Really, get serious, how many Americans know who Thierry Henry, or Lionel Messi is? This is one of the VERY FEW football players that Americans actually know. The MLS needed a player with this high celebrity caliber as a spark for the sport in the states. I will tell you this now. With over 250 thousand shirt sells in less than a week, and millions of MLS tickets to games vs. the LA Galaxy being sold, Beckham is doing nothing to hurt soccer's reputation in the states. I think this move is one of the few things that could ignite the sport's following here, and I am glad it happened! Good luck Beckham, The MLS, and US soccer as a whole!

[schmoopy]

3 words: Sold Out Tickets..... i heard that he has already sold out the first game. yes he is great and awesome but he is still human... what people think of Beckham is like a really top of the notch superstar and he is! But that doesnt mean that he's going to lead his team to score 10 goals a game.

[laid_back_dude 23]

he might be successful. too early to assume. it' like jordan and kobe bringing interest to basketball. even in retirement, jordan's nike's are a extremely successful product. it's more about marketing.