Bonus points for calling it footy, Lariat.
Scotland actually, but I'll let you off.
I'm not sure what direction this thread is going now to be honest. It started with how commentators can affect one's pleasure of viewing a sporting event, then Miko called refs *****, then it seemed to spin into why football isn't big stateside.
A question for the Americans; how much did David Beckham help raise the profile of the game over there? The British POV is skewed somewhat by the mad football journalists, so I'm genuinely curious as it seems to have been from around 2006-10 that people took more notice of the MLS, but I think one could argue that was down to the national team's relative success at World Cups rather than brand Beckham.
lol I apologize, I was drinking so I can't even really try to explain myself there. I usually try to not bring up someones nationality or refer to the continent if I can't look at the location and see where they are from maybe your not scotland messed with me lol. Again, my bad.
As either revolving door, or lariat already covered, who I would like to say appear to know the game very well. I only say appear, not in the context of a backhanded compliment but because I never really read a thread about soccer on here before so they do know the game.
Beckham did not help, he was a joke to much of the media from the beginning. I never got to the bottom of it because it started to become too confusing and misconstrued, but when they said he signed a contract for 25 mil a year nobody believed it. Soccer fans, and fans of other sports who they were trying to attract. Then it comes out well part of his contract includes advertiser money. People saw it for what it was immediately.
Also as previously mentioned, his injuries. That actually did more harm than good because soccer already gets a bad rep in this overtly macho nation. Finally, Beckham was known only for marrying posh spice or victoria as another person said. A lot of jokes were made in good humor, but it kind of falls into a bigger picture of how people see him. A metrosexual, a lil gay and in this nation you put that with soccer, it will not help. I really think that if the MLS could have landed Keane towards the end of his career or a tougher more "macho" player for lack of a less gay word (see it even applies to me) it would have helped soccer more rather then Beckham. Even though every shit free kick goal he scored was all over sports center on ESPN because of bend it like Beckham, even when it was due to awful goal keeping.
Somehow though, and I'm really struggling to explain this. The MLS and soccer in general is making great momentum. It kind of sucks because I don't think it will get to the level I would like to see it at in my lifetime, but it really looks like it could become a strong number 2 someday in this country. As I said, it already averages higher attendance than hockey, baseball and basketball. Yet basketball is deceiving because of the arenas they play in, so you can't fit what you would be able to fit outdoors.
I don't know what it is, if they improved figuring out which markets will really like soccer, but certain teams stadiums are crazy during matches. I can't watch American soccer for the life of me, it is part of the reason I quit playing in college. Yet I believe it is the Portland Timbers and Seattle have great fan bases. Then you have Toronto, with a great fanbase because Toronto is a city of immigrants. I mean that's why I think they have a great soccer fan base. It really has improved, but then you'll see cities like Kansas City where the teams are playing in front of a triple digit crowd pretty much.
Hope I didn't write too much, it's just good to discuss and debate soccer/football with people who actually know it. Outside of my family and my father's friends, nobody really gets the game here. After seeing Alastor's posts I see that dumb people are everywhere, we just have a high concentration here.
Just one last thing about Beckham, the best part about watching him play was seeing guys gun for him. Hacks and untalented nobodies trying to make their come up off of sticking Beckham and then being too slow and nailing him badly. Then Beckham getting up and getting into it because while Beckham was far more skilled than all these guys, I don't know if I'd pick him in a fight. I can't really criticize anyone though, I don't blame the nobodies because if I played here that would have been me only I would have fought him. Might as well get your 15 seconds, and Beckham has to react how he did. Some of the tackles were awful and it was the same person doing it in matches repeatedly.
Oops it was the Barber who said something I said. I just want to give him his props because he's a smart dude, I'm impressed he knows the game as well.
but on the other hand if his reputation takes a hit it might slightly improve the odds of Liverpool having a chance of getting him 
