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 I gotta say that I'm impressed by Beckham's first game. Not by his performance obviously, since he only played about 15 minutes due to injury, but due to the crowd he was able to bring.

The stadium was sold out for 27,000 people and he brought an a-list of celebrities to the game: Arnold, Eva Longoria, Kevin Garnett, Katie Holmes, etc. etc.

Those are more the statistics of an all-star basketball game than an exhibition soccer game.

It's obvious  Beckham will be the star of the soccer world marketing wise, but how will be perform as a player? Personally I think he'll do very well since he handled himself playing against the best in Europe. Personally his opponents in the MLS are not in his league and will make him look better than he actually is.

 
Most likely he'll have a great 5 year run. After that I don't think he has much to prove in soccer and will probably move on and venture into Hollywood.
 

Agreed!! We have to wait and see about staying power. But I have a real hope that we get some soccer excitment in this countery. I played as a child and teen. However, I know that in todays ""go go "" world, it may hard to convince a million or two people that this sport is watchable.

We had a ""rockstar"" womens team a couple years back. I just hope that soccer can break the low scoring barrier. I believe that is a hurdle to mass appeal in this nation.

 Good post!!!

 Hi Lylaster,

right, US needs more stars like Backham, more "BIG NAMES" such as Ronaldinho, Nedved, Zidane, Ronaldo, and many more we could pick from.
The thing is how to get such players here?! Are the money offered worth coming here? Lets admit it, the soccer in US is not on such a "high" level as it is in Europe. But certainly its worth trying it and lets hope for more!!!

lylaster:

The stadium was sold out for 27,000 people

Amazing. I gotta hand it to you. 27000 people in one game. I don't beleive it. College football teams in Major programs bring double that every game, I'm glad that soccer is catching on so we can see why it is so pathetic. 27000 people, thats nothing for a pro sports team. To put it in perspective of another major sport, baseball, in 2007 21 of 30 teams average over 27000. 19 in 2006, and 18 in 2005. Way to go soccer, you almost matter.

You've gotta start somewhere.  So many more kids play soccer now than they used to.  It will catch on, but it can't be immediate. 

his penalty kick the other night made the ultimate highlight 

Yeah that thing was sick.  The keeper just froze.

Yes, I agree. Once he is fully healed he will popularize the sport as will as electrify his audience, if they would watch.

Any sport you pay someone that much money and put that much hipe on them pepole will always come out of the wood works to jump on the band wagon. Everyone already knew he was good so it was a question on how he would play. Its the same as when MJ joined the White Sox. Pepole who didn't watch or like baseball came out of the wood works. I think Beckam is going to help the growth of the sport in the U.S. a great deal. Witch is always a good thing.