Has anyone heard this? Would this be a good move for the MLS or LA Galaxy and how could this affect US soccer? Who would pay to go see him play? Any thoughts?

My first thought, given the Beckham experiment (very successful, IMO) would be, what's his wife look like?

Can any celebrity player join a team not based in LA or NYC? I know that answer if I'm their agent, but, how's it help the sport if they only play on the two teams? I can't imagine Becks joining Seattle or Dallas, but it would be nice to share the wealth in terms of players.

The thing Becks had was female draw...which lead to lots of television and talk show exposure. I can't see the Today show falling all over itself for interviews with Ronaldinho. If this were to really help the MLS, you'd need a stud or falling Euro star on each team to pick up the league. I don't think that would help the overall play - Beckham's passing looked great, the problem was generally on the receiving end. When Donovan leaves, the league will have a large chasm to fill.

Maybe it's just me, but the MLS seems to turning into a semi-washed-up league, filled with aging players!

It's not just the MLS. Many leagues start off that way until the level of play rises

clueless wrote:My first thought, given the Beckham experiment (very successful, IMO) would be, what's his wife look like?

Can any celebrity player join a team not based in LA or NYC? I know that answer if I'm their agent, but, how's it help the sport if they only play on the two teams? I can't imagine Becks joining Seattle or Dallas, but it would be nice to share the wealth in terms of players.

The thing Becks had was female draw...which lead to lots of television and talk show exposure. I can't see the Today show falling all over itself for interviews with Ronaldinho. If this were to really help the MLS, you'd need a stud or falling Euro star on each team to pick up the league. I don't think that would help the overall play - Beckham's passing looked great, the problem was generally on the receiving end. When Donovan leaves, the league will have a large chasm to fill.

Your perspective cracked me up clue, but you make a good point. Beckhams had quite the celebrity appeal that Ronaldinho might not have, although I don't know what his wife looks like if he even has one. I just think with the right agent and a Brazilian babe holding his hand through the process, he could be a superstar here.

I think a noticeable difference between Ronaldihno and Beckham ( besides the teeth) would be goal scoring. Beckham's skill is the ability to make great players look even better by giving them the perfect feed, or cross, or delivery.... this was lost on the mediocre level players of the MLS who just couldn't finish the gifts he was giving them.... hence the "first time" fans that came to see him ( like Tom Foos and Suri) lost interest when there was not a flurry of amazing goals...

Ronaldihno on the other hand ( and Henry as well) is a potential goal scoring machine ( or "mateen" as lil Lupe would say).... especially against the average MLS defender.. not only would he cut through those guys like they were 12 year old girls... he would do it with the style and flair of the true Brazilian style he is known for.... a bunch of goals, and a bunch of amazing ball-work highlights on the evening news and folks will get interested.... He is much more marketable as a "star" to the average US fan than Beckham was simply because you will not need to appreciate the "subtleties" of what he is doing on the field in order to get his brilliance.... He will dazzle, flash, and rattle the ole onion bag... it will be like watching "hot sauce" school somebody 1v1 with a basketball.... it'll go over huge!

now I'm excited... pay the bastard what he wants and lets get him over here...

actually you bring up a good point. Everybody likes the flash and goals. Hollywood loves to be around athletes and he is single I believe and love to party. He could be very exciting and marketable.

He is a better fit as far as marketability for LA, but what do you think he would do for FC Dallas and soccer in NTX (hypothetically of course)?

actually if they put a team in florida he would be perfect. South beach and he could hang out with the heat. Also a huge brazillian population in Florida. I'm thinking maybe a top flight, high profile striker from Mexico.

go99 wrote:actually if they put a team in florida he would be perfect. South beach and he could hang out with the heat. Also a huge brazillian population in Florida. I'm thinking maybe a top flight, high profile striker from Mexico.

Okay, maybe a good plan, but you are ruining the hypothetical dream... what would it be like to have him here? I think NTX soccer would go nuts over him and along with the rest of the country would make him a superstar.

No doubt they would go nuts. I would by by season ticket immediately. Maybe Cuban and Jones could get in on the act and help bring him. Bring some sports celebrity to dallas

go99 wrote:actually if they put a team in florida he would be perfect. South beach and he could hang out with the heat. Also a huge brazillian population in Florida. I'm thinking maybe a top flight, high profile striker from Mexico.

Come on we have Marcio, they could start a futsal league on the side.

The German wrote:

go99 wrote:actually if they put a team in florida he would be perfect. South beach and he could hang out with the heat. Also a huge brazillian population in Florida. I'm thinking maybe a top flight, high profile striker from Mexico.

Come on we have Marcio, they could start a futsal league on the side.

I'm envisioning three years from now, some parent explaining the futsal coach at Sportsplex used to be someone famous.

I'd agree that he's young enough to destroy whatever the MLS offers for defense. I do have the number of Willowbend Dental if he's interested - might help his prospects for a local talk show. It's hard to be nationally prominant if you are an athlete here unless you QB the 'Boys. Dirk, Modano and even A-Rod didn't spark the national press as much as almost anyone in LA or NYC.

Another good point about aging stars helping startup leagues - overseas, basketball and baseball still use this philosophy for building up their leagues (the Rangers tried that for years with their pitching staff and found it to not work so well in MLB).