Low-scoring games. Confusing rules. Foreigners with names impossible to pronounce. No wonder America doesn't watch soccer. Even with one of the world's best players moving to our turf, many people have expressed that they still just don't care. There isn't room for another football. Or is there?
In my opinion, the arrival of Victoria and David Beckham (also known as Posh and Becks) will revolutionize America's view of soccer forever. There are numerous reasons why the American team -- the Los Angeles Galaxy -- will seem worlds more interesting now that David Beckham has graced them with his presence.
First of all, I think the foreign appeal is undeniable. What does England connote for the average American idiot? Harry Potter and adorable accents. These two things alone have proven to be very popular, and their connection to Posh and Becks, and therefore soccer, makes all three incontestably more compelling.
Second of all, and more importantly, the rise in soccer's popularity has already started to show. According to the Soccer Silicon Valley Blog, "So far, MLS is getting everything it has hoped for -- and more -- from the signing of David Beckham, and he hasn't even played a match."
Apparently Galaxy shirts are selling like hot cakes, and ticket sales are booming.
Randy Cohen, CEO for Ticket City noted that, "There is a definite increase in demand for MLS tickets now than from earlier this year. Typically tickets for Galaxy games were selling from $20 to $40 and are now selling for $150 and up." Clearly, the Beckham effect has already begun.
An additional piece of proof provided by the Soccer Silicon Valley Blog lies in the PA Sports Ticker. The PA Sports Ticker administers sports news to several parts of the world, including North America, South America, Asia and Europe, and it has recently begun to feature MLS news on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Talk about starting the week off right.
But I can imagine, many of you cynics out there are still raising an eyebrow to the possibility of soccer popularity in America. One disgruntled skeptic wrote, "To see Becks and his missus wallowing in that blizzard of flashbulbs as they arrived to the so-called "Beckhamania" (p-lease!) was an ugly bucket of cold water in the face of American soccer. This man is bigger than the game in this country, and they've pretty much admitted this and seem proud of it, but why?"
I'll tell you why. Because he is the physical embodiment of England's love for the sport. By coming to America, David Beckham will share some of his divine appeal with us. If we too begin to worship Beckham, we will follow his soccer super stardom religiously. And that's not even to mention his wife Victoria.
Americans have already shown an obsession with the female British fashion icon. Together, the two make an unbeatable team (kind of like the L.A. Galaxy?). So if we begin to concentrate on her as well, we will undoubtedly join her in the stands to root on her husband.
Still can't conceive of contributing to David Beckham's annual base salary of $5.5 million?
Perhaps you'd like to argue with U.S. Soccer Federation chief Sunil Gulati. He told ABC News that, "David Beckham, by raising the awareness and interest in the game, will have that continuing effect. Clearly if there is one player in the world that can give you that boost, he is it." So why not receive soccer's impending popularity with open arms? It's inevitable, and it's worth the rising ticket price.
But unfortunately for us at Penn State, Los Angeles is quite a ways away. How will we ever fulfill our nagging craving for some soccer? Luckily, we have two amazing teams here (girls and guys) that will surely keep out interest until we can get a plane ticket to Tinsel town.
In the meantime, before the PSU season starts, we can watch our favorite Brits on TV take America -- and the Galaxy -- by storm.
Sarah Khalili is a freshman majoring in journalism. Her e-mail address is slk5132@psu.edu.
