Holy Mother of god
January 11 – 2006
$250 million dollars. Read it again: $250 million dollars. That’s a quarter of a billion dollars. I’m speechless. My stomach hurts. I feel strangely paranoid. Like this is some sort of Kafka novel written for teenage girls. Or everything you thought was right with the world turned out to be wrong by a magnitude of 10. Holy shit.
Just to be clear, Beckham’s deal works out to about $1million per week. The current league salary cap is $1.6 million, per team, per year.
Every knob-jockey on the planet will be praising this development to the high heavens, but I can’t stop thinking about the overall quality increase MLS could have if it diffused $250 million throughout the entire league. New players added, quality players retained, higher quality players available to the USL…a relegation system, perhaps? But to spend it on a single player who doesn’t start for his current club team and will never again appear for his national team? That makes my lungs hurt.
I’m also reminded of our anonymous reader’s clash with ESPN’s Jen Chang. I’d really, really like to see The Changer crunch the numbers on a 5 year, $250million deal. Because this is fantasy land.
More later. Right now I have to go hug my kid, and explain to him what happens when you let soccer retailers, early-nineties soccer stars, and ex college soccer equipment-managers determine the future of the game in this country.
Update: MLS is footing only $400,000 per year, with AEG and Adidas picking up the remainder of the tab. Ostensibly they will recoup their investment through endorsement dollars. Think of it as business as usual + exorbitant dog and pony show. Or, if you’re Ned Grabavoy, think of it as “He makes my yearly salary in 7 hours.”
Update: An even more crystal clear breakdown of the deal. Someone is sure convinced this guy’s marketing value will stay consistent over the next 5 years.
I’d be curious as to how much of that wage bill falls on the MLS, and how much of it falls on the sponsors (mainly adidas, I’d assume).
Comment by Nordy — January 11, 2007 @ 4:11 pm
Fox Soccer Channel is reporting that its 38 guaranteed with 12 million in incentives. MLS by itself is tied to only a measly 400k. The rest is supposedly AEG and adidas’s money.
I love the craziness of the math involved. With 38 million, based on a salary cap they could pay over 23 teams, or simply raise the cap to almost 3 million.
I will fully admit that I am planning on going up to Columbus for at least one game to see him play. Partly because my buddy is a Man U fan (and I think has a man crush on him), but also because even at 31 and loss of pace, he’s a better player than anyone else in MLS. If he can play anywhere near as well as Valderama, then L.A. should be getting a good player, but not a good deal.
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/6359334
Comment by Pinski — January 11, 2007 @ 5:41 pm
the argument of who/how many players MLS can buy with his money doesn’t hold water, just because you have the money, doesn’t mean you can convince anyone to come to MLS. And don’t you think that over the ten or so year history of MLS (not to mention the history of the NASL) that 250 millions hasn’t been spent on all those things you mentioned (development, stadium etc,) and where are we now???
Comment by Matt — January 11, 2007 @ 5:46 pm
Matt, let’s be realistic…this is absolutely the most absurd event EVER in the history of soccer EVER anywhere. This is great publicity in the short term for the league (afterall, even “pardon the interruption” is talking about soccer), but in the long run this is absolutely absurd. It’s insane to pay ANY PLAYER in the WORLD that much money…AND we’re not talking about NBA, NFL, EPL, etc…we’re talking about the MLS.
Pinski – I’d be happy to disagree with you in terms of Beckham being a better player than anyone else in the MLS. If I were to build a team from scratch, I’d gladly take a handful of MLS players over Beckham…he’s going to be shite!
Does anyone realize that MLS is more about athleticism than soccer playing ability. Beckham is a soccer player, not a great athlete. The MLS game is NOT what Beckham is about…
Fucking Absurd!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by LG — January 11, 2007 @ 6:40 pm
Matt: I hate building stadiums. No, $250 million has not been spent on development. No, $250 million has not been spent on players.
Comment by garth — January 11, 2007 @ 7:05 pm
I know damn good and well 250 mil hasn’t been spent on player development, not to mention domestic salaries. If you added stadia to the other two you might be getting close to 250, but would venture to guess it still falls short.
I’m of the opinion that the money would’ve been much better invested in 200 12 million dollar players than in one aging, one-legged, one-trick-pony like Becks.
The one thing that will come of this is buzz. Christ knows that the wall-to-wall glitz coverage from today is more than the previous ten years of labor on the P.R. front. Hell even NPR was doing stories on it. NPR, man they don’t do something unless it’s so esoteric as to be unintelligible.
I find Dallas’ negotiations with Edgar Davids to be more exciting. I think he would bring more to a team in terms of example to youngsters and middle of the pitch skill than Becks.
Comment by Kelly — January 11, 2007 @ 9:58 pm
Kelly…well stated man, couldn’t agree with you more.
Comment by LG — January 11, 2007 @ 10:13 pm
How many entire MLS teams could one buy with $250 mil?
Comment by jobicoppola — January 12, 2007 @ 12:12 am
Considering DC United just sold for $33million, I’d say somewhere between all, and every last one.
And +1 for Kelly.
Comment by garth — January 12, 2007 @ 2:14 am
What’s absurd about it??? Is anybody here paying part of his salary??? So how can we consider it absurd? Do athletes make too much money, of course they do, but I sure as hell don’t lose any sleep over it.
My figure for 250 million was including stadia, player development and salaries over the past ten years, and i’d be willing to bet it’s over 250 million. Do you know how much money goes thouogh project 40, the IMG academy, ODP programs. How much money has been spent on soceer specific staidums in the past 10 years (Home Depot, Pizza Hut, Toyota) and what has it done for attendances, not much.
Remember MLS is a marketing company, not a competitive sports league, hence the reason AEG still owns 3 clubs (down from 5), hence the reason DC and dallas swapped draft spots when Adu was coming into the league, and hence the reason all of a sudden Freddy gets shipped to RSL and what happens the next day, voila, a new proposal for a soccer specific stadium, accompanied with more optimistic attendance figures, what a shocker.
Kelly, sorry but your one-trick pony argument is old and quite frankly silly. Peyton Manning is a one trick pony, he can’t run, can’t tackle, can’t block, all he can do is throw a football, does anyone criticize him for that. In today’s game of specialists who isn’t a one trick pony? Ronaldo was the best player int he world for about a 3 year span, what did he do outside of run at you and score goals, not much, but he did that very very very well.
LG, your opinion that Beckham will be shite in MLS is almost farcical, becasue we’re not talking about building a team, we’re talking about adding a player. name one team that isn’t better off adding beckham to it’s roster, nuff said. Let’s not forget that only six months ago, he captained england in the WC, and contrary to some (David efifng Hirshey) he wasn’t “lackluster”. His free kick led to the own goal in the opener, he scored the winner against ecuador, got two assists (one to lurch) in 5 games, he was one of the few bright spots in the side, and that was even with Sven trying to direct all traffice up the center of the pitch through Stevie G., Fat Frank and Wazza.
Comment by Matt — January 12, 2007 @ 12:08 pm
Matt – come on man. It’s absurd because of a thing called “opportunity cost”…have you heard of it? Who cares who’s paying, the point is that those monies could be spent on A LOT of different VERY good players that would help the league (in terms of good soccer) much more than JUST Becks.
The comparison to Peyton Manning is, frankly, the silliest point you’re trying to make. Peyton ONLY has to be a quarterback – throw the ball and hand it off. During a football game, Peyton is only asked to do that because it’s football, not soccer….it’s static, not dynamic. A midfielder is responsible for defending, attacking, tackling, passing, etc…I’m really not sure how you can compare the two????
It’s irrelevant if we’re talking about building a team or adding a player since adding a player is helping to build a team (I’m lost on your attempted point here as well). I wouldn’t want Beckham on my team, shit, I won’t even take the guy on XBOX…
Comment by LG — January 12, 2007 @ 12:34 pm
Ho many matches have you watched lately, I can name the number of midfielders on 2 hands that can do all of those things. Take Scholes for example, he’s probably one of the more overlooked players at United over the best ten years, yet probably one of the most important, and he can’t tackle ore defend better than you or I.
A soccer player ONLY has to help his team WIN GAMES. Doesn’t matter how.
Where are you going to get those very different good players?? How you gonna get them to come?
You have to take what is available to you, Beckham is available.
Comment by matt — January 12, 2007 @ 12:39 pm
I watch a lot of soccer (according to my wife, way too much), and, I think Scholes does a lot of the things you say he doesn’t. Anyone who has played the game at a fairly high level (this does not include your high school varsity team) recognizes Scholes importance to his side. And, I believe Scholes does defend and tackle. He isn’t the best defender in the world but he tracks back and gets stuck in when needed…
The way to get those “very different good players” is to start offering competitive salaries. Breakdown 250 million and start offering very good players 5 million, 3 million, 7 million, etc…I’m sure players will start to listen.
Becks is a good player and he will help the Galaxy but I hate to see that much wasted on one guy…
Comment by LG — January 12, 2007 @ 1:01 pm
at least our wives agree on somehting.
gonna have to agree to disagree with you on Scholesy (at least in terms of defensive duties, you are right, offensively most people recognize he is talented, but he often was overshadowed by Giggs, becasue of what the boy could do with a ball) and I am the biggest scholes fan out there. HE picks up more needless yellows from poor tackling (hence the reason he missed the 99 Cup Final, everyone knows he can’t tackle and doesn’t defend well, he even talks about it on occasion, and has a laugh.
your argument is correct in theory that spreading that money over more players would be more beneficial, but the problem is again getting them to come, to get 3, 5 and 7 million dollar players, you’ll probably have to pay 6, 8 and 10 million to entice them to come.
on a side not who do you support?
Comment by matt — January 12, 2007 @ 1:36 pm
I support Arsenal, and have since my brother brought home a JVC jersey in the early 90’s….AND, I have a thing in my heart for West Ham as I grew up playing for the late Clive Charles…
Comment by LG — January 12, 2007 @ 1:48 pm
OOO,OOO,OOO To Be.
OOO to be a Gooner.
Well you’d get long with most of my friends, but probably not me. I did enjoy those JVC kits though. My favroite United kit will always be when SHARP was a sponsor
Comment by matt — January 12, 2007 @ 2:33 pm
don’t listen to Matt. he doesn’t know what he is talking about. He’s a Stockport County fan who jumped ship when they were almost relegated last year and moved onto United.
it’s true, I swear.
Comment by Dan — January 12, 2007 @ 4:24 pm
you’re havin a laugh, you QPR wanker.
Put a bit of minge around it.
Comment by matt — January 12, 2007 @ 4:57 pm
COME ON YOU HATTERS
Comment by matt — January 12, 2007 @ 4:58 pm
Okay, lets play with the numbers shall we?
Roughly 10 teams – an average – w/payroll of roughly 1 mil over 10 years = 100 mil
Stadia? If one figures in Hunt Park, the cheapie, with the other three, costs average about 20 mil = 80 mil
Gen addidas – for some reason 40 mil sticks in my head, can’t recall the exact number = 40 mil
Don’t really think that one can throw in IMG, ODP and such as they’re not part of MLS = 0
So we get about 220 million, give or take.
The one-trick pony thing is valid, even more so in MLS than with ManU or Real – there’s no cast of thousands to back him up, to share the glare. His is going to be the only over developed ego in the spotlight. An Englsihman of questionable fittness trying to chug around Pizza Hut Park in July? That’s what the words “myocardial infarction” were made for. He’s going to need help on defense, which is a question mark in LA, and he’s going to need a target for those crosses, a competent target, and that is really lacking in MLS, not to mention LA. What good is it going to do if Becks is winging in crosses to short balding guys who can’t jump and then can’t get back on defense after the clearance?
Becks can hit a ball but he’s a so-so player overall. What is it he’s bringing to the table besides Posh and his right peg? Is he going to teach the youngsters? No. Is he going to light up the net? Probably not. Is he going to beat three, four guys and lay off a sublime pass? Nope. Is he going to spring a teammate with a seeing eye through ball? Don’t bet on it. Is he going to hit a dead ball from 30 yards on net? Okay, but how often is he going to get a chance per game – and even with his skill, how high is his success rate anyway? 15-20%? 25% would be absurdly high but call it that and on dead ball situations he may be good for six goals a season on free kicks. Throw in three on the run of play and you’ve got a guy pulling down 50 mil a year producing nine goals a season. Superstar…
If one wants to use the Ronaldo analogy, then Becks pales even worse. Even fat, Ronaldo can manufacture a goal on his own, dribble, cut, turn, beat a guy; he can dish; and he can finish from somebody else’s service; hardly a one trick pony. And Becks isn’t even fat.
Becks’ signing is a big deal. It may help the league, hell, it may even help LA, but let’s not get carried away. He’ll put a few fannies in the seats, he’ll sell a few extra shirts, he’ll be good for a headline and he may even score a goal or two but he ain’t going to be Pele.
Nor even Chinaglia.
Comment by Kelly — January 12, 2007 @ 9:42 pm