Is David Beckham worth $50 million a year?

[T_Totler]

Disclaimer: I'm not a soccer fan.

So perhaps soccer fans here can shed some light as to whether this guy is worth $50 million a year (almost $1 million a week :eek: ).

He just signed a five-year deal worth $250 million to play soccer for the Los Angeles Galaxy team.

This must be the largest amount ever paid to an athlete?

From what I've read, this guy is expected to become to North American soccer what Micheal Jordan was to basketball and what Gretzky was to hockey.

I had to laugh though, when I caught a news clip last night where he said that "money had nothing to do with" his agreeing to play for L.A. lol

Spread it thin there David...it's a large farm.

Full story here (http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/2007/01/12/3321235-cp.html)

[Mouse]

It their money. I have no problem with that.

Public money, well that's another matter.

[Number6]

This story suggests his contract is actually $10 mln per year and endorsements account for the rest. http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_ylt=ApWx4OPjBzLSW02zHKTZBpM5nYcB?slug=ap-beckham-galaxy&prov=ap&type=lgns

Lets see that works out to about $137,000 a day ......everyday, for 5 years. This is twice the next highest contract which is in baceball. This is jsut a bit nuts.

[Lee Anne]

Is any sports player worth what they get? I'm still waiting for a salary cap in baseball so the Yankees can freak out lol

[baize_1]

NO!!!!!

[sclerozo]

He is going to make another fortune just in endorsements ... and as a soccer (football) fan I would not mind seeing the game(s) he plays in TO in the new stadium that was built with taxpayer money ... if I can afford the tickets and parking and perhaps go all the way ... a few beers and a hotdog ... just dreamin ....

[Limey32]

No lol.. especially considering he is 34 now, and about 6 years past his prime already :) Smart man, get out of RM, where he isn't good enough to play everyday anymore, and move to LA and make a killing.

[glitch]

Maybe...maybe not, who am I to judge?
But he's so dreamy. *sigh*

[A.O.F.]

His value is in the FREE publicity for privately owned sport entertainment companies. You know, like Jumbo the elephant or Al Capon's safe.

[Mouse]

Real Madrid has him 'till June/07.

They now say he will not play for them again.

Sour grapes???

[hbk2k1]

Is he worth 50M a year?
No, he's known for one thing in the game and that is free-kicks which I can admit he is an ACE in.

As for the Real Madrid dropping him, definately sour grapes, but he's now back on the team and playing superbly for them.

[Werefox]

i would pay 5 dollar to see him play
50M....get outta here

[Thaiwoo]

They pay this for his name / popularity. The pulled a stunt like this years ago when they brought Pele and Beckenbauer to the US. They hope it will bring people to the games and finally put soccer on the map in the US / Canada like the other big time sport series.

Ain't going to happen, there are not enough brakes during a game for commercials / food intake!

[Lesley]

Nobody is worth that much. Good grief. No wonder the average person can't afford to attend professional sports.

[Andromeda]

'Becks' just injured his knee, and will be out for the season, so just wondering if he is worth any bucks at all....

IMHO there are only 2 team sports worth watching hockey (played on ice), and *soccer (*which really is football), and that's my story, and I'm sticking to it.;)

[Taz]

worth that much no, but then I don't think any athlete is worth what they make.
Soccer is an extremely hard game and you must be in great shape. I played competitive soccer since that age of 4. Left full back was my position, now the great thing about soccer is it is based on skill not how hard you can knock someone on their ass. There is only 1 legal tackle and its not that easy to accomplish.

[short circuit]

No. but she is!