Beckhammania has hit the States. Well, at least in the football circles the world is a buzz. The World's most famous and most marketable sportsman makes the move to MLS. I guess the first thing the main stream US media will have to learn is that whilst Beckham may be the most famous he is not the World's best and secondly they will have never seen anything like the media circus that will follow him. It will make Barry Bonds, for example, seem irrelevent.

So, outside the glitz what does it mean for the sport in this country? The initial exposure has to be nothing but good. However, he needs to perform at least to a reasonably level. I've watched is career since he was a young kid playing for the Manchester United Youth Team and like him so I hope from a playing perspective he can suceed and finish career at a high level. If he can do that and maintain the interest he will be worth every penny. My only concern is that league does not over extend itself ala the old NASL. As long as they do not carried away and continue to grow the home players and keep the "big" players limited I think it will be fine and we will see a good growth. However, time will tell.

The really unfortunate thing about this is who he signed for. The unmentionables.!!

-Richard