BY RIDGE MAHONEY In Indianapolis With hundreds of NSCAA CoachesÆ Convention attendees roaming in and out of the ballroom staging the 2007 MLS SuperDraft and sections of Columbus and Chicago fans waving scarves, chanting and cheering û or booing û certain selections, the league began its first full day of the Beckham Era. 2007 MLS […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
A fine day for a draft
With hundreds of NSCAA Coaches’ Convention attendees roaming in and out of the ballroom staging the 2007 MLS SuperDraft and sections of Columbus and Chicago fans waving scarves, chanting and cheering – or booing – certain selections, the league began its first full day of the Beckham Era. 2007 MLS SuperDraft Picks Beckham’s team-to-be, Los […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
DAVID BECKHAM: Anatomy of a deal
David Beckham's move from Real Madrid to the Los Angeles Galaxy was no surprise, but the size of the deal has everyone in the soccer world buzzing. The English daily Daily Express called Beckham's deal ''the most mind-boggling contract in global sport.'' The combined value of the MLS contract with commercial opportunities in the United […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
FC Dallas in Talks with Tottenham Midfielder Davids
FC Dallas is wasting no time following the announcement that David Beckham will join the L.A. Galaxy this summer. Michael Hitchcock, the club’s president and general manager, told the Dallas Morning News that the club is negotiating with English club Tottenham to bring Dutch midfielder Edgar Davids to the club, as its “designated player,” which […]
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After Beckham, Real’s Sales Outlook to Decline Considerably
Indeed, Real Madrid can plan on a significant sales dent once David Beckham leaves Los Blancos for Galaxy of L.A, according to a Bloomberg report. Real Madrid’s revenue will take a particularly big hit in the Asian markets, financial analysts say, where sales of Beckham merchandise have helped make the Madrid club the richest by […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Hollywood Readies itself for ‘Posh and Bucks’
What a great title from the L.A. Times: “A pair of stars, an L.A. sky, a happy Galaxy.” The paper that knows show business more than others understands exactly what David Beckham’s L.A. Galaxy deal means for he and his wife, Hollywood, and MLS. His five-year deal, worth potentially $275 million, according to various sources, […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Beckham Had it All His Own Way
In the end, the Golden Boy (or Golden Balls as the British tabloids call him) got it exactly his way in moving on from Real Madrid, the most storied club in soccer history, to MLS for a deal estimated to be worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $250 million over five seasons. David Beckham, in […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Questions Hang Over Beckham Arrival
J Hutcherson of The United States National Team Soccer Players Association weighs in on the Beckham news with a heavier dose of skepticism than many of his fellow pundits across the U.S. soccer universe. Among the things he says to consider: while we know that Anschutz Entertainment Group, the owner of the L.A. Galaxy, is […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
SPAIN: Real Madrid's radical change
David Beckham's departure from Real Madrid came in the wake of President Ramon Calderon's decision to shake up the struggling team. Calderon met on Monday with first-year Italian coach Fabio Capello and sports director Predrag Mijatovic after Real lost three of its last four league games. ''The coach has told me that it seems as […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
ENGLAND: Everton counts on 'Rocky'
''Rocky'' star Sylvester Stallone is expected to be on the field Sunday to support Everton when the Toffees face Reading in England Premier League action on Sunday. Stallone, who is in Britain to promote his latest film ''Rocky Balboa,'' is a friend of major Everton shareholder Robert Earl, founder of the Planet Hollywood restaurant chain. […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
4. MLS SUPERDRAFT: Edu bound for Toronto?
By Ridge Mahoney in Indianapolis The hysteria over David Beckham‘s move to America hasn’t subsided, yet MLS coaches and executives were busily preparing for today’s SuperDraft (ESPN2, noon ET) into the wee hours. It will consist of four rounds and last between three and four hours; ESPN2 will televise the entire first round, time permitting. […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
2. DAVID BECKHAM: Anatomy of a deal
David Beckham‘s move from Real Madrid to the Los Angeles Galaxy was no surprise, but the size of the deal has everyone in the soccer world buzzing. The English daily Daily Express called Beckham’s deal “the most mind-boggling contract in global sport.” The combined value of the MLS contract with commercial opportunities in the United […]
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
1. GAMES: Live and same-day delay on national TV
(All times Eastern unless noted. TV programming is always subject to change. Check your local listings and soccerTV.com) FRIDAY, Jan. 12 ESPN2 MLS 2007 Draft (live), noon. FOX SOCCER CHANNEL Argentina INDEPENDIENTE-SAN LORENZO (live), 8 pm. FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL Argentina INEPENDIENTE-SAN LORENZO (live), 8 pm. SETANTA SPORTS USA England WEST BROM-LUTON TOWN (live), 2:30 […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
1, WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“Of course, it’s a huge amount of money … it’s an amazing amount of moneyI said yesterday and some people laughed at me, but this move for me is not about the money, it’s about hopefully making a difference in the US with the soccer and that’s what I’m going there for. I’m going for […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
5. ENGLAND: Everton counts on ‘Rocky’
“Rocky” star Sylvester Stallone is expected to be on the field Sunday to support Everton when the Toffees face Reading in England Premier League action on Sunday. Stallone, who is in Britain to promote his latest film “Rocky Balboa,” is a friend of major Everton shareholder Robert Earl, founder of the Planet Hollywood restaurant chain. […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
3. SPAIN: Real Madrid’s radical change
David Beckham‘s departure from Real Madrid came in the wake of President Ramon Calderon‘s decision to shake up the struggling team Beckham reaction from Madrid Calderon met on Monday with first-year Italian coach Fabio Capello and sports director Predrag Mijatovic after Real lost three of its last four league games. “The coach has told me […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
MLS SUPERDRAFT: Edu bound for Toronto?
By Ridge Mahoney in Indianapolis The hysteria over David BeckhamÆs move to America hasnÆt subsided, yet MLS coaches and executives were busily preparing for todayÆs SuperDraft (ESPN2, noon ET) into the wee hours. It will consist of four rounds and last between three and four hours; ESPN2 will televise the entire first round, time permitting. […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Mourinho Turns Away from Chelsea’s Board
The winter transfer season of discontent continues as Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho became the latest high-profile manager to complain about his current group of players. The brash Mourinho, however, went so far as to publicly criticize the team’s upper management for its failure to release the necessary funds to help him bolster his side for the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ronaldo to Join Figo in Saudi Arabia or Beckham in MLS?
Real Madrid has made it clear that it wants to be rid of Ronaldo. In the last two seasons the Brazilian striker has looked a pale shadow of his former self: overweight, often injured, and at times looking absolutely disinterested. Spanish paper La Marca claimed he has two offers on the table, one from Saudi […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
AC, Inter Milan to Duel over Cassano
The departure of David Beckham from Real Madrid is one of three major changes that Coach Fabio Capello hoped to implement this year. The other two are ageing Brazilian striker Ronaldo and the impetuous but brilliant Antonio Cassano, who can’t seem to get along with authority figures or keep his mouth shut. But while Ronaldo […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
L.A. Story Suits Beckham
Ian Plenderleith of the Guardian is at least one British pundit who praises David Beckham’s move to MLS, on both a personal and professional level. He points out, first of all, that was always a foregone conclusion that Beckham would one day wind up in MLS, and with the L.A. Galaxy. Over the years, he’s […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Beckham’s Galaxy Move: A Great Day for MLS
By now, surely, if you’re any kind of soccer fan in America with access to the Internet, you’ve heard the news that David Beckham is on his way to Major League Soccer to play with the Los Angeles Galaxy. Rather like the war in Iraq, the big news has had an instantly polarizing effect in […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
2. MLS: David Beckham to join L.A. Galaxy
David Beckham announced Thursday that he will join MLS’s Los Angeles Galaxy in August, signing a five-year deal with the club. The former England international will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season. ”This week, Real Madrid asked me to make a decision regarding my future and the offer to extend my contract […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
1. WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“I’ve played now for two of the biggest clubs in the world. I’ve played at the highest level for 15 years, and now I think I need another challenge.” — David Beckham, who will join the Los Angeles Galaxy in August. (ABC News)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
4. MLS: SuperDraft – highlight or sidelight?
By Ridge Mahoney Senior Editor, Soccer America The good news is the 2007 MLS SuperDraft is being televised live on ESPN2 for the first time (noon ET on Friday). The bad news is, despite the high-gloss treatment, it’s not nearly as sexy as its NFL and NBA counterparts and never will be. With myriad methods […]