BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 18 Jun 04 - 06:41 AM

Now now Sophia, we're talking soccer skills here! :0)

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 18 Jun 04 - 09:06 AM

Well, Les, looking back a bit, if the cap fits?!!!!!

Looks like I'll have to turn out at Market Rasen FC in order to have this out with you!

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 18 Jun 04 - 09:14 AM

Skipjack K8...you would find it well worth the visit and we really are a friendly lot. Be Blessed.

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: GUEST,noddy
Date: 18 Jun 04 - 10:38 AM

CROATIAAAAAA.

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 18 Jun 04 - 12:57 PM

Chorlton-cum-Hardy.....Yo!!

Giok

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: An Pluiméir Ceolmhar
Date: 18 Jun 04 - 01:01 PM

A team that depends so much on Beckham doesn't deserve him!

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: Rasener
Date: 18 Jun 04 - 08:01 PM

Skipjack
You would be very welcome. :-)
Do you play a good Tuna - sorry coudn't resist that one :-)

The only thing is, there aint a lot of floorspots left this year, but if we could sort this out, I am sure I could find a teeny weenie 20 minute floorspot for you somehow.
pm me and we might be able to do something if you are serious.
How far would you have to travel?

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: GUEST,Bill the Collie
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 07:30 AM

It says in the news today that David'll get £128 million for 5 years work in LA.


Glad I'm retired, else I'd be jealous.

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: jacqui.c
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 07:42 AM

This was on the national news over here last night.

One of the great thinbgs about living over here was the fact that then Beckhams were virtually unknown with no media coverage whatsoever. I'm hoping that doesn't change.

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 07:55 AM

Apparently he is only known in the States for doing a tv commercial for milk? Is that right? *G*

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: jacqui.c
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 07:58 AM

Haven't even seen that Paul. Believe me, not knowing anything of their exploits over the past couple of years has not reduced my quality of life whatsoever.

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 07:59 AM

Hehehe...nor mine, but then I'm not into footy or stick insects!

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: Rasener
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 08:06 AM

Beckham will be more popular than George Bush!!!

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 08:48 AM

My dog's last turd is more popular than Bush.

If I could get half a million a week, I'd grab it and I dom't blame Beckham for doing it.

But I do blame the prats who run LA More-Money-Than-Sense FC. It's monstrous that they can afford to, and apparently be happy to, pay one tired old has-been that kind of money when there's so much poverty in the US, let alone the world.

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: jacqui.c
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 08:59 AM

Totally agree Johnny. Not as if they need the money either.

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: Becca72
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 09:03 AM

They're throwing their money away. Americans hardly know who he is and there is no way that he alone will boost the popularity of soccer over here (which is virtually nonexistant). American football and baseball will not allow that.

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: Alba
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 09:17 AM

True Becca but maybe a lot of Folks in LA know who the "Spice Girls" where! So perhaps Mrs. Beckham will help shine the spotlight on her hubcap in LA.

Where the Spice Girls known in the US? Does anyone recall those immortal Lyrics "tell me what you want what you really really want, I'll tell you want I want what I really really want" Sadly lyrics that wish had become a forgetable earworm in my case!!! **GRIN**

Best Wishes
Jude

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: Scoville
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 09:27 AM

The Spice Girls were better known than most of us would care to remember (thankfully I'm too old to have been that "into" them). A Victoria is mostly known now for being too thin.

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 09:31 AM

"Americans hardly know who he is and there is no way that he alone will boost the popularity of soccer over here (which is virtually nonexistant). American football and baseball will not allow that. "

I disagree.   While soccer will never reach the popularity of football and baseball - or even basketball, it can be a successful niche sport - along the lines of hockey. The big three sports have a long history in this country, and it is hard to instill passion to a mass audience for a sport that has little significance to our past.

However, there are more people that recognize David Beckham then you think. To the soccer playing youth of this country, his name and face are familiar from all the ads and merchandise that caters to that market.

Los Angeles and the MLS have made a very good investment. He is worth every penny assuming that he lives up to the expectation. I'm not sure if you remember the Cosmos during the late '70's and early 80's. They filled 70,000 seat stadiums as soon as Pele arrived. I remember one weekend when both the Mets and Yankees were at home, and the Cosmos outdrew them both!   Pele's arrival started a trend and we soon saw others such as Beckenbauer, Chinalgia, Best, Alberto and many other international stars. True, many were well past their prime - but they created a spark.   The management of the league became greedy and expanded well beyond their means, but now in 2007 the structure is there.   Americans are playing soccer - and many of our players are now doing well in Europe and abroad.

The idea behind Beckham, who at 31 can still be an impact player in this league, is to put fans in the seats. That is the most important aspect. He is a poster-boy and has the skills to back it up.   He will also help improve the level of play and can also help bring others to the game. There is strong talk of Ronaldo coming over.

The MLS is playing it smart - building smaller stadiums (20 to 30 thousand) in markets that will support the game.   The old NASL put teams in places like Rochester and Tulsa - fine cities but without a fan base that support a major league level team.   The MLS has been around for 11 seasons now, and they are cautiously expanding. The level of competition has improved, and the signs are great.

Think of Beckham as an ambassador. His greatest contribution to the game is yet to come.

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: Teribus
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 09:58 AM

Lots of latinos in LA, given the choice between American Football, Baseball or Soccer - I'd venture to guess that they'd go for Soccer.

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 10:03 AM

The Galaxy were averaging about 20,000 per game. The Mexican team Chivas bought a fanchise that also plays in LA. While they are not drawing as well as the Galaxy, they are doing fine.

The MLS also had a team in Florida, figuring the Latino population would come out as well. They did not.   The Latino population in Florida is largely represented by Cuba and Latin America, which has a stronger baseball background.

While the MLS will never be confused with the the great Italian or even British leagues, it will do well and be competitive.

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: Scrump
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 10:28 AM

Good luck to him. I'd do it if I was him. The only thing I object to is him saying on the news "I'm not doing it for the money". Pull the other one! Then what the **** is he doing it for? I know he's not that intelligent, but he must be even thicker than I thought.

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: Bagpuss
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 10:33 AM

What's he doing it for? Cos posh told him she would only go where there was good shopping?

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 10:37 AM

Opportunity.   The money is the tip of the iceberg. His wife can explore options in Hollywood. Both can expand advertisign endorsements. He already owns a successful soccer camp in LA, which could expand across the country. While LA is filled with paparrazi, they will be just another face in the crowd and can live more of a normal life then when he was the only game in town.

He has admitted that the money is important, but he could have received MUCH more if he signed with other teams. I am sure that a Saudi team would have loved to own him. The money was not the only issue, the potential for the future probably was a greater influence.

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: Scrump
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 10:43 AM

LA's gain is England's gain. Oops! I meant loss but too late to change it, I can't find the delete key temporarily.

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: fat B****rd
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 10:48 AM

Who cares, zigazig ah !

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: Becca72
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 11:21 AM

LOL Fat B. As soon as I scroll up and find out who started that earworm they're going to get it!! I am ever so thankful that I, too, am too old to have been "into" the Spice Girls. Yeesh.

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: Leadfingers
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 11:37 AM

The Beckhams have had a lot of bad press ,but they DONT make any silly claims to be God's gift ! They play up to the 'Thick' image quite a bit , and can you blame them for taking the money they've been offered ? And David was at least a VERY Sporting player , even as (especially as ) England captain !

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 11:39 AM

Hey you lot, let's get something straight. Soccer IS football. It's played by kicking (hence 'foot') a ball (hence 'foot...ball'). The ball is mainly propelled by the foot - FOOTBALL!! Easy innit?

How can a game in which the ball is propelled almost entirely by hand be described as 'football'? It don't make no sense, do it guv'nah?

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 11:43 AM

Give it up Strollin Johnny.   The American version of Football will always be football in this country. Soccer is soccer. Your description over simplifies the history involved.

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: fat B****rd
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 11:46 AM

The Bexes don't cause me any problems (why should they). But when Ali G interviewed them (charityathon UK tv) our Vic didn't let him get to her when he asked about "that song they sing about you at football matches" So IMHO a point to her for that.
One thought, HOW MUCH !?!?!?.

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: Paul Burke
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 11:54 AM

The kick the ball, the man who's holding the ball, his balls, and have a ball version of football is much older than prissy soccer. It's still played once a year near here at Ashbourne in Derbyshire, and is played on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday: You won't see Beckham here at any price.

American football, Rugby football, Australian Rules and Association football are all descended from games like this. Though Australian Rules seems to be also partly descended from the independent (but related) root of Gaelic football, which is a wild and mad game and I don't know why it hasn't made it to British TV on those bleak terrestrial TV sport afternoons.

Let's not talk about hurling.

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 11:57 AM

I have worked out that David Beckham will be being paid at the rate of.........when he goes for an average lenth pee...he will earn more than I did in in a month when I was working. Something wrong there!

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: Ebbie
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 12:08 PM

Perhaps he is more entertaining? :)

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: Bagpuss
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 12:36 PM

Hollywood's reaction?

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 12:39 PM

*LOLOL*

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 12:48 PM

"I have worked out that David Beckham will be being paid at the rate of.........when he goes for an average lenth pee...he will earn more than I did in in a month when I was working."

It is a question of distance and accuracy.

Bend it like Beckham?

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: Den
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 01:21 PM

He will be making about $140,000 a day. Not bad for a one trick pony. I hope though that Beckham is stating the truth when he says that he wants to promote the game in the states. If he intends to do this then I think he will be sucessful. He has an amazing brand internationally and that's something that Americans understand.

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 01:26 PM

"He has an amazing brand internationally and that's something that Americans understand. "

Doesn't everyone understand that?

I might not be reading your comment correctly, but I think you fail to understand American sports fans. If a player is an underachiever, they will be destroyed. American sports fans show little mercy when they see someone dogging it.   

Beckham has a well recognized name in the states, and a good reputation. He has to show us what he is capable of in order to keep it.

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: Den
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 01:34 PM

Ron you did indeed read me wrong. I was speaking of brand awareness. I think people in the US will be aware of Beckham not neccesarily because of football. I think too in the grand scheme that he will be good for raising the brand of the game.

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 01:57 PM

Thanks Den. When you mentioned "brand awareness" I thought you were looking at that over his athletic skills.

Yes, people are more aware of Beckham because of the advertisments and the "Bend it" film, and his marriage to Posh.   There are probably a lot of American atheletes who have the same issue - they sign advertising deals and become well known for that, but many people may never have seen them play a game. Most people know George Foreman was a boxer, but I would bet most people who see him selling his grills today never saw him throw a punch.

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 02:02 PM

Yes there is a good speech therapist in LA. Just what the clown needs.
As for that scare crow of a wife, well he has been caught shagging in two other continents by her, so may as well go for the hat trick because she can't afford to off load him as fame would go too. British export at it's finest.

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: gnu
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 02:23 PM

Well, I would guess that soccer (sorry) will "equal" the other sports in NA within the next twenty years. No, it will never displace them, and why should it, or vice versa? However, it may eventually overtake the other sports in pure money.... let's face it, Yanks and Canucks like football (sorry) while the rest of the world likes Rugby. Baseball - Cricket. Squash - Raquetball (yech!). But, Yankee football, Hurling, Aussie rules, lawn bowling, curling.... will live on in their own "venues".

The only game that will never be equalled, in money or passion, the true game of the rich... war.

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 08:45 PM

Beckham is done. He is 34 and past it. Pele tried the States and failed, Best tried the States and failed so how could Beckham be any different ? He is told what country he is going to live in by that boneyard he was unlucky enough to get stuck with.

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 09:36 PM

He is 31 and not past it. Pete did not fail. The states succeeded when Pele arrived because the league was successful for several years and it started interest in soccer - as witnessed by the fact that youth soccer is as prominent as Little League baseball, the MLS is succeeding, and soccer is alive and well.

Best did not "try" the states - he was a drunk looking for a good time and did not care one bit about soccer. Loser.

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: Den
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 11:48 PM

Ron, I take exception to your remarks. George Best was an alcoholic. Its a disease Ron with dire consequences. Best was one of the most gifted players of his generation. Pele even said that Best was the Best. Good God no serious student of the game would even consider Beckham and Best in the same sentence, all national allegiance's
aside. While you're at it check out this goal. Don't hold your breath on Beckham ever doing anything like this.

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 13 Jan 07 - 01:33 AM

Ron, George Best is the finest example anyone could use to demonstrate to young people the dangers of alcohol. He was simply the finest player of his generation, not just in the UK but in the world, who never fully achieved his potential because of his slide into addiction which began at a very early age.

Booze stole a giant away from sport. We shouldn't denigrate the man just because of an illness, we should be very sad indeed. I know I am.

S:0)

BTW - yep, I know all about football and 'football', I wuz just 'aving a larf! :-) :-)

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: Slag
Date: 13 Jan 07 - 03:02 AM

Guys that couldn't make it on the football team sometimes went and played soccer. It was pretty much a girls' game when I was in highschool. When we heard that there were actually professional soccer players we could hardly believe it! Soccer??? And they called it football! No helmet, no pads, no face guard, no tackling, blocking, what the hell kinda game was that? After we came to know the game a little better it seemed like the real action was in the spectators' section. Now there was a nice bit of sports violence. The soccer fans were in need of helmets, pads, face masks, etc., not to mention fire extinguishers and defibrulators. Hey, maybe there was something to this game after all.

Ok. Now that you Europeans and other worldly persons are all in a lather, I have to tell you this. Several times I have sat with a stopwatch and timed the actual playtime in an American football game and it always comes out to about fifteen minutes whistle to whistle. If the defensive and offensive teams split the time that means each player who is in the game for most every play had about 7 and 1/2 minutes of real play time. When you consider that there are special teams that come on in certain circunstances it's even less time. In soccer or what you all call football the action is pretty much nonstop and I know that the degree of athleticism required puts American footballers to shame. Beckham may be what this country needs to turn some attention to this worthy sport!

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 13 Jan 07 - 03:29 AM

Both games have their own charms, Slag. Which is best depends on what floats yer boat. Showbizz and Razamatazz - go for American Football. Athleticism and sporting prowess - make for the Soccer stadium. Some people like, and watch, both - great, no problem. We like Soccer best over here, I suspect because it's what we're brought up with, and I guess it'll always be the case that Americans prefer American Football for that very same reason.

Now if we're moving on to a discussion of the greatness of different sports - what about Cricket, surely THE GREATEST of them all, and hugely superior to that girlie-game baseball?

S:0)(Ducking and running)

Subject: RE: BS: B eckham Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
From: Slag
Date: 13 Jan 07 - 03:41 AM

Pick up the pace of that "Stroll" Johnny!