Making the Call
November 15 - 2006
Last week, when MLS released its Competitive Initiatives for 2007, the “Beckham Rule” became law. Thoughtfully renamed the “Designated Player Rule,” the provision allows each team to extend their salary beyond the cap, for one player, without affecting the club’s overall salary allotment. Essentially, the sky is the limit, but it all has to end up in one place.
Rename it whatever you like, but we’re making the call now: this rule is designed specifically to allow the signing of David Beckham himself. He will sign for an MLS team in the next 8 months. Take it to the bank. Or Ladbrokes.
How can we be so sure? Supporting evidence, after the jump.
- Let’s take Don Garber at his word, and assume MLS execs spent all of last week figuring potential return on a Beckham investment. The scenario is believable, if only because Garber and the league ownership constitute the biggest bunch of risk-averse pussies on the planet. Ostensibly, the numbers come out in the black.
- We can safely assume Beckham is the only target of this rule, and here’s why: MLS views youth soccer players and their mildly attractive mothers as the core of their target market. Beckham is not among the top 100 players in Europe, yet no one can touch him in terms of ability to attract this group of fans. Garber name-dropped Luis Figo and Ronaldo as potential benefactors of the Designated Player Rule, but that’s absurd; there’s no way those two (assuming salary expectations on par with Beckham’s) represent profitable investments. If this is going to happen, it’s Beckham or bust.
- So what about that salary? Beckham currently hauls in around $12million per year at Real. Even with the new rule, you’d have to expect a pay cut - Beckham’s stock has dropped and MLS pays its other players like dishwashers. So can Beckham afford the lean paychecks? Well, considering he just cut himself a check for $38million out of his endorsement kitty, yes. Furthermore, his move to the US, while sinking his appeal in Europe, would remake him as an American endorsement phenomena. His MLS salary would be a non-issue.
- But salary still matters - endorsements or no, Beckham gots to get paid. Enter Adidas, who already dumps massive amounts of cash into the MLS for crap like MLS
FuckupsMashups. Do you really think they wouldn’t rather foot the Beckham-bill than pay royalties to Mates of State for background tunes paired with grainy web-highlights? Nein scheize! - Contract negotiations haven’t stalled between Real and Becks: they likely never started. Beckham is no longer of particular use to the club. He will not yield a significant January transfer fee because he is out of contract this summer. When Beckham moves, it will likely be on a Boseman free transfer in which no money will move from club to club. Therefore, Beckham gets to choose where he wants to go.
- All that remains, then, are Beckham’s professional goals: will he give up top-flight football to get kicked by Timmy Regan? For his part, Beckham has said he wants back in the Real line-up and back in the England fold. His commitment to earning his place with Madrid seems genuine and his apparent willingness to accept Fabio Capello’s decision in the matter is admirable. Of late, Beckham has looked like the consummate professional.
- And here’s where we get cynical: Becks will want to frame any move to the US as a “new challenge” rather than an early retirement. In order for that to be believable, his words and deeds in the coming months must be those of a resurgent David Beckham. Playing well with Madrid, far from delaying a move to MLS, sets the table for an image-intact move to sunny LA. He’s doing and saying all the right things, and we believe this is ultimately part of a choreographed dance that ends with Beckham hanging his panties in the Home Depot Center locker-room.
See? Not so hard to imagine. We put him in a Galaxy jersey by next fall at 1/2 odds.
All good points.
I’d love to see the “analysis” of the MLS number-crunchers. How big of a spike in attendance do they really expect to see?
I could see a one-time spike the first time Becks comes to each MLS city. But after that, I imagine most new fans will stay home. Watching Becks slowly amble up and down the sidelines (refusing to take players on off the dribble, and refusing to tackle) isn’t the biggest draw I could think of.
Of course, if they do it, I hope it works. For all of MLS’s flaws, it’s all we got. It’ll only get better if us American soccer fans actually go out and support the league. Sitting home and taking pot shots on the internets (cough, cough) only makes things worse.
Comment by Nordy — November 15, 2006 @ 11:39 am
America does love celebrities though, and Bex is nothing if not a major celeb. From a game attendance and marketing standpoint, I think it would definitely be good in the short term for the MLS to sign him.
However, the fact that MLS has to change its own rules to bring in one damn player highlights how freaking ridiculous their socialist system is. With Dempsey’s case and now this, you can see why Churchill said the only inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of misery.
Pot shots will continue unabated until they get it all sorted out. Discussion is good. Plus, the nearest team is over 600 miles from me, so it’s physically impossible for me to actually go out and support the league in the way that matters most (attending matches).
Comment by jobicoppola — November 15, 2006 @ 2:20 pm
Becks wouldn’t do shit for this shit-hole of a league. He was annoying to watch in the world cup and I sure as hell wouldn’t want to watch him in the MLS….that assumes that I actually watch more than a few MLS games a year.
Fuck Becks…my question is why wasn’t a guy like Jay McDermitt offered a contract?? Instead, this guy goes to England and starts off in shit leagues only to end up playing in the Premiership. Shouldn’t we focus on keeping quality, young, American players in the MLS? Why does the league think that constantly going to Central/South America and offering contracts to shit players OR offering over-aged European burnouts is the answer?
I, for one, sure as hell don’t want to watch a 37 year old Beckham, Figo, or any other fucking European asswipe who would otherwise retire play in the MLS.
After 10 years I’m tired of this league, the decisions, the shit play, the total and utter lack of direction…fucking shit. Just a bunch of fucking corporate morons who know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about the game running the league. Well, to you I say here is my middle finger…
Comment by LG — November 15, 2006 @ 9:36 pm
LG, I’m sure if there was someone named Jay McDermitt, and he was as good as you claim, that the MLS would try to sign him. I’ve certainly never heard of him. But maybe I’m just like those MLS “corporate morons who no absolutely NOTHING about the game.”
And the league does focus on keeping quality, young American players in the MLS. That’s why they rejected bids for Eddie Johnson and Clint Dempsey. Are you really that upset that Aiden Brown is plying his trade in Sweden?
You just have to realize that not every country can have the best league in the world. As hard as the MLS tries to hang on to US players, they can’t escape the economic realities of world soccer: those players who want to become world class (ie, NOT Landon Donovan) must go to Europe to play in a world class league. Think of how many Argentinians and Brazillians are playing in other countries. Are their leagues run by morons who know nothing about the game? Or do European clubs just have a shitload of money?
Comment by Nordy — November 15, 2006 @ 11:14 pm
At the end of the day, I’m not so sure quality is really the issue. MLS teams could compete with mid-major Euro teams, Coca-Cola teams, etc.
I think the frustration comes from the unwillingness of MLS to construct something that looks like a real soccer league. The Jay DeMerrits are overlooked because there’s no incentive to develop players. In fact, there’s really no incentive to win.
I’ll take Darlington vs. Stockport over Rapids vs. Fire any day. Why? Because a ticket stub is an investment in the club. Every time a dollar is plunked down on a contract, a transfer, or a new row of seats , the entire club has to be thinking, “Will this help us win?” If it doesn’t, clubs go down. Clubs fold. Grown men cry. If you stay home rather than get your ass to the stadium, you might be the one responsible for sending your team down.
If the Crew lose, they’ll win an “allocation.”
Also, “McDeMerrit” might be a nice play on Watford’s golden arches color scheme.
Comment by garth — November 15, 2006 @ 11:33 pm
Belatedly, it sounds like their putting a reasonable youth system in place to allow teams to develop homegrown talent. We’ll see if it works or not. Clearly this should have been done from the beginning.
You’re also right that they need to do something to make the regular season games mean something (which is an issue apart from LG’s rant). I hope that some day soon they take the training wheels off (ie, get rid of “single entity”). As long as it’s in place, I don’t know if there’s a way to add meaning to the regular season.
But every ticket is an investment in the league. The sooner the league is on solid financial footing, the sooner we can kiss single entity goodbye.
Comment by Nordy — November 16, 2006 @ 1:14 am
Nordy, although I enjoy your positive attitude I still can’t agree. I’m under NO impression that we’re to have the best league in the world. I’m just tired of the way the league is being run (ie. bring in Becks for millions that could be spent on quality young players such as Dempsey - he will be in Europe next year). What about players like Convey, Cherundolo, Beasley, etc?? Would they not have stayed in the MLS had MLS offered decent wages?? Instead, we spend money on players like Thiago (Chicago) for what reason??…he’s Brazilian? Have you seen this guy play? Also, excuse my spelling (I was in a rage) but Demerrit is an American playing for Watford in the EPL.
Comment by LG — November 16, 2006 @ 10:52 am
No, those players you mentioned would NOT have stayed in MLS even if they offered decent wages. Dempsey said pay isn’t the issue. He wants to step his game up. I’m sure Convey and (at least at the time) Beasley felt the same way. They wanted to go prove themselves in the top leagues in the world.
At some point, certain players grow too ambitious for the league. It happens in every country in the world that’s not England, Italy, or Spain.
Comment by Nordy — November 16, 2006 @ 1:06 pm
I disagree. I think it’s a circular argument. They leave because they want to step up their game, I can appreciate and understand that. BUT, wouldn’t the MLS step up it’s level of play if we kept these guys, keeping more of them here?? We will always have fall out just as every other league. I can’t imagine that a Conor Casey would rather be playing in Germany than sunny LA…problem is, the league can’t come close to the money it takes to keep him here. Same goes for many other young Americans that don’t ever step foot in a MLS game.
Afterall, it only takes one to stay, set a trend and let the rest follow.
Comment by LG — November 16, 2006 @ 10:30 pm
I forgot to mention that I can’t endorse your opinion that Dempsey is ONLY leaving so he can step up his game. Let’s look at the numbers:
Dempsey 75K/year salary
Donovan 900K/year
Eddie Johnson 750K/year
Mathis 270K/year
Albright 122.5K/year
The list goes on. In fact, I know a few players in the league that barely saw the field and they make more than Dempsey.
Nordy, not sure what you do for a living but I can tell you that if I knew my coworkers were making much more than me AND I considered them inferior I would quit on principal. In fact, I’ve done that…maybe I’m an egoist, but good for Dempsey…I would tell the league to go f-off as well.
Comment by LG — November 16, 2006 @ 11:54 pm
How could you _not_ be bitter if you were Dempsey? Granted, he could have been more professional about the whole situation, but imagine wanting your whole life to play overseas, and when that amazing opportunity came to fruition, a bunch of suits said sorry bitch, you’re ours, and then to top it all off, Frankie Hejduk makes almost 3 times as much as you. Frankie. Hejduk.
Comment by jobicoppola — November 17, 2006 @ 1:51 pm
[...] Last week, as the Beckham-MLS link started to look more and more plausible, Jen Chang of ESPN delivered an article evaluating the prospect of a Beckham signing (we, on the other hand, predicted it outright). His verdict? The deal makes sense from a financial standpoint, meshes nicely with Beckham’s goals, and therefore would likely go off without a hitch. [...]
Pingback by soccernista.com » Reader Email — November 22, 2006 @ 3:03 am
The reason is because Fucking Americans dont know how to play soccer! thats why they wanna bring soccer stars! so they can learn from them. They’re never gonna be like European countries! where everyone feels soccer!
Retarded country!!!
Lame ass soccer players!
we will beat USA anytime!!!
England Forever!!!
Comment by Gerard — January 12, 2007 @ 1:06 pm
effects of hydrocodone…
…
Trackback by effects of hydrocodone — March 9, 2007 @ 3:32 am