Much has been made that the sport of soccer hasn’t encompassed the North American population en masse’. But that could well be down to the fact that the sport was never really seen as competitive let alone combatative. And that’s been the clear as to the reason why it’s still yet to find a foothold within the country. For all of the hype surrounding the introduction of David Beckham to the North American market and that of Major League Soccer. It can be said that Beckham’s introduction though met with a certain degree of skepticism hasn’t really peroduced the sort spectacle or excitement one thought.
Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United seen here in Premiership game played against league rivals Middlesborough. picture courtesy of empirepics.com/soccer/epl/Tom McMillan….
Beckham an advertizer’s dream and an accomplished player has seen better days as his most productive days are not ahead but in the past. As to the reason for the Los Angeles Galaxy signing him to a five year lucrative contract that’s said to be worth as much as $250m including endorsement opportunities. Beckham for his part will have to go a long to proving his worth to the team as well as ensuring their success in the league. And that more than anything has been what this has been all about when it came to Beckham’s signing. This is a partnership first , last and for the foreseeable future. Both parties’ reputations are built upon it and they’ll be judged as to its benefits according to the success garnered on and off the field.
Michael Carrick (l) of Manchester Utd and Middlesborough’ s Alfonso Alves (r) contest the ball during yesterday’s Premiership game. United would win the game 2-0 and gain the momentum needed as to they take the lead in the Premiership League. picture courtesy of empirepics.com/soccer /Tom McMillan……….
And whilst the MLS though no longer in its infancy it still has major growing pains despite its existence of over a decade. What corporate partners it has have been willing offset the financial burdens in order to reap what they hope will be vast dividends down the road. A television contract ABC and its cable entity ESPN has brought the sport a wider audience here in North America. Albeit nowhere as much as can be seen by its South American counterparts.
Cristiano Ronaldo tries to evade Andrew Taylor of Middlesborough in their Premiership League game. picture courtesy of empirepic.com/soccer/ Tom McMillan ……..
In the UK however where the sport sits atop of everything else on the sporting horizon in terms of popularity. It has to be noted the teams there have their loyal fans and the game itself is awash with money far beyond anything imaginable here in the US. In terms of merchandizing alone the revenues of the league and it ancillary products run into several billion dollars. It has a healthy relationship with all of its corporate partners and that of its broadcast entities that promote the sport domestically as well as internationally. Much of the success of game has been down to the fact of the popularity of the more prominent team s such as Manchester United , Arsenal , Chelsea and Liverpool not just domestically but also internationally. These teams have a pedigree and loyalty that has been built over time. The same can’t be said of MLS as a soccer entity as the league has marketed itself poorly amongst its fans.
Goalkeeper Edwin Van der Saar of Manchester United appplauds the fans. Van der Saar who’s the lynchpin of United’s staunch defense. Van der Saar has been often described as the immovable force and the last line of defense on the team. picture courtesy of empirepic.com/soccer/ Bob Bartlett……
The Barclays English Premiership League has been built around and upon the popularity of of its most prominent teams and that of its elite players. And no team at present is more popular than that of the marauding Red Devils of Manchester United. United’s most popular player may well be Portuguese international Cristiano Ronaldo. And it is Ronaldo who has been receiving rave reviews from not only the fans and press alike but also from his peers within the game itself. He may well be the most skilled athlete in the world that no one on the continent of North America has heard of.
Wayne Rooney of United applauds the fans after his team’s win over Middlesborough County in their premiership game played at Riverside Stadium , Middlesborough’s home venue. picture courtesy of empirepic.com/soccer/ Bob Bartlett…….
United’s popularity may well be on par with that of the New York Yankees whose own popularity too is far flung internationally. Wherever one would see a Yankees’ cap abroad be it on a native or not. You’re assured that the team is well known and so too is their history and that of their most popular players past and present. The same can be said for Manchester United and its vast throng of fans domestically as well as internationally. And much like the Yankees with its plethora of international stars United too is laden with players from various nations across the globe. And that may well be why they’re so well loved apart from the success garnered domestically as well as internationally. Wherever they play it’s a guaranteed sellout and the fans throng to see them play no matter what the competition be it a preseason friendly , a major tournament or just a regular season scheduled game.
If Major League Soccer is to learn anything from its counterparts abroad then it’s about growing the game not only organically from within but also making sur e that the product itself is of the highest order and well worth the price of admission. If nothing else they’ll want to lure the fans through the turnstiles repeatedly. The game itself and its worldwide popularity notwithstanding has its place on the sporting landscape and even if eventually it fails to find a footing here. The fans can always look across the Atlantic to see the sport being played the way it’s meant to be played and not just the illusion as to how a perception of it can lure the fans. Small on substance but by enlarge overhyped with a plethora of anomalies.
tophatal ………..
