Book Review: The Beckham Experiment
When David Beckham signed with the LA Galaxy in 2007, I wrote the following:
Even if Beckham’s price is half the figure mentioned above, the league will recoup its investment. Beckham will put fannies in the seats and bring domestic and international exposure to MLS. This will attract even more sponsors at higher rates. In the MLSNet article, Garber says as much.
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They’re making the comparison to when Pele came to the Cosmos in 1975, and I think that’s an apt comparison in terms of bringing fans to the game. But will it also have the same negative effect, that people only came out to see him, didn’t become fans of the local team.
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He has never been a dominant or creative player, his work ethic is suspect, he’s not particularly fast, and his leadership skills, as evidenced by his dreadful, too-long tenure as captain of England, are non-existent. The only time he stood out during the last World Cup was when he threw up on the field. As for his “storied” career at Manchester United, I’ve got two words: Roy Keane.
Oh, how I love being proven right. Grant Wahl’s excellent book, The Beckham Experiment, goes into great detail describing where the attempt to bring one of the world’s most famous athletes to America succeeded and failed. It’s a fascinating look at the intersection of celebrity, sports, and big business, and why it’s probably best that they don’t mix. While it may have been good for the bottom line, it didn’t translate to success on the field.
Throughout the book, Wahl expertly maneuvers through the cast of characters between those who needed him on either the field and the balance sheet. He takes just enough detours through the world of MLS and the relationship between AEG (the owners of the Galaxy) and 19 Entertainment (Beckham’s managment company) to bring depth to the story to show just how much was riding on Beckham.
For much of the book, Beckham, for his part, remains an engima. Early on, he seems committed to the task at hand, playing even on a badly injured ankle and saying the right things in the media. But after the 2007 season, 19 Entertainment and his best friend essentially take over the club (enabled by AEG, who didn’t want to endanger their other business dealings with 19), with comical results on the field. When they are held accountable for their actions, Beckham’s performance and attitude changes, and a controversial loan deal with AC Milan is arranged without the team’s knowledge.
Released to coincide with Beckham’s return from Italy, The Beckham Experiment will no doubt receive a boost in sales from the news of his confrontation with a fan earlier this week. But even without that, Wahl’s book should be read by every soccer fan in America.
This was a great book by Wahl. I actually finished it liking Alan Gordon a lot more than I had when he was being a pest against DCU. Gordon’s Craigslist roommate story was funny as were some other stories (Don’t want to spoil anything for those who haven’t read it) and as much as it pains me to write this, I actually don’t dislike Landon Donovan as much as I used to.
In closing, if you’re going to buy two books this year this and Dave’s book are the two to get in 2009
You know, my original last sentence was “My only complaint was that it caused me to like Alan Gordon.” If this was on BFD, I would have said that, but on WFW I figured not as many people would understand why I would have hated him.
I’ve never understood the contempt people have for Landon. Too many people put all their hopes on him that there’s no way he can fulfill everybody’s. I’ve always seen him as a great player, maybe a little soft, but still the greatest player we’ve ever produced. It’s become obvious to me that our problems in Germany, in hindsight, were more the result of Beasley being a whiny little bitch than anything Donovan was doing.
I just finished the book and really enjoyed it. Like you Bill, I have a new found respect for Alan Gordon, and I like the maturation of Donovan, if true. Heck, even Alexi Lalas comes through as less of a total idiot than once suspected, at least around the Beckham circus.
The book just highlights how important it is to have a Designated Player who is producing on the field, injury free, and willing to work hard, like Angel and it-hurts-to-say-it Blaco. I wonder if anyone will ever write a behind the scenes book about Gallardo at D.C. United.
Will read the book — already caught the excerpts in the print SI (I know I am ancient and still cling to 20th century media). But in the soft, whiny bitch stakes its hard to handicap between Donovan, Beasley and Becks