Beckham Bonanza
Could Major League Soccer make a bigger splash than luring soccer superstar David Beckham to its ranks? Probably not.
"David Beckham is a global sports icon who will transcend the sport of soccer in America," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement.
The 31-year-old midfielder is scheduled to join the L.A. Galaxy after his contract with Real Madrid expires June 30. Beckham, who previously played for Manchester United, said he was excited about a new challenge.
“I am proud to have played for two of the biggest clubs in football and I look forward to the new challenge of growing the world's most popular game in a country that is as passionate about its sport as my own,” Beckham said.
Beckham has reportedly agreed to a five-year deal worth a whopping $250 million in salary and endorsements. The dollar figure is twice as much as the - at the time - record-breaking $252 million, 10-year contract New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez signed when he was with the Texas Rangers in December 2000.
Beckham ranks behind only Mia Hamm among soccer stars in Davie-Brown Entertainment’s celebrity index, which measures athletes and celebrities on awareness, appeal, and other attributes that companies consider when choosing potential endorsers. Beckham ranks 875th in the index of 1,400 athletes and celebrities; Hamm is 740th.
CRAIG DAVIS In more than 33 years at the Sun Sentinel, Craig Davis has written about a wide variety of sports topics from baseball to yachting, fishing to triathlons, and also worked as a copy editor and page designer. Recently he reported on local sports, including running, swimming, cycling, equestrian and beach volleyball. He enjoys sports as a participant as well as a spectator, is active in the South Florida running scene plays in the curling club at Saveology Iceplex. This blog offers a glimpse at the business side of sports in the interest of enhancing enjoyment of the games and sporting options as a spectator as well as a participant.
