The $250 Million figure is NOT Beckham's MLS salary
The biggest uproar I'm hearing regarding the Beckham signing is over the reported five-year, $250 million deal Beckham received. That figure is not a real number.
The $250 million figure is what MLS is throwing around by combining his salary (as yet undisclosed) and his "commercial opportunities". What is the point exactly of throwing out such an absurd number when it isn't even a hard figure, but rather some calculated estimation of what Beckham MIGHT make during his five years in MLS if he happens to do a ton of endorsements (which he will)? Whoever came up with the idea of floating that number is an idiot because that bloated figure has diverted attention away from the positive news of his arrival in MLS. It has also made MLS the laughingstock of world soccer. Most importantly, it has left a bad taste in the mouths of a number of MLS players currently in the league who can't fathom how a league could pay a player more per year than it costs to buy an MLS franchise.
I'll say it one more time. $250 million is NOT his salary. I am efforting to find out what the actual salary is. If I had to guess, I would put it in the $6-10 million a year range. Yes, that's still high but at least it's in the ballpark of European star players.
they guys on espn.com's soccer pass (tommy smyth et al) said it was 9 million per year.
Posted by: jay | January 11, 2007 at 08:04 PM
Actually, I think the figure might be a good thing for the US media, and for soccer's rep.
Posted by: scaryice | January 11, 2007 at 08:40 PM
Great day for all soccer fans in this country!
Garber for President!
Posted by: Hudson Valley | January 11, 2007 at 11:11 PM
I don't get why MLS wants this number to be the one that the media picks up on. If anything, a number that big makes the league look desperate and irresponsible, not shrewd.
Posted by: Pete | January 12, 2007 at 01:21 AM
Should we really be surprised a goofy number like $250MM has become the focus of the story? I'm assuming Mr. Lalas was fairly involved structuring the deal and the press announcement/conferences.
Posted by: bostrom's ghost | January 12, 2007 at 09:48 AM
Bostrom may be right. I wouldn't at all be surprised if Lalas thought this was an awesome idea.
The number does make MLS look stupid to soccer fans around the world. On the other hand, it probably has made the ears of other good soccer players in Europe perk up a bit.
Posted by: Wamiq | January 12, 2007 at 01:45 PM
even 5 million is alot of money for beckham when theres mls players making 11 thousand a year
Posted by: Eloy cossio | February 01, 2007 at 09:54 PM