Leica M8 and David Beckham

[miami91]

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Football (err... the one where you kick the ball with your foot !) won't replace the other sports in the US because there are not enough opportunities for commercial breaks on the TV. It's the advertising dollars on TV that pretty much dictates this stuff.

 

I don't agree. Personally, I don't watch any commercials on "regular" American sports anymore. I have a Tivo (a type of Digital Video Recorder), so skip right through it. In fact, I hardly watch anything live anymore. Now, you may say that "most people don't own DVRs". And that may be true today, but it won't be true 5 years from now. Something like 90% of American households have cable or satellite -- no one relies on terrestrial in this country. Same will be true of DVRs in no time.

 

Anyway, with soccer broadcasts in the USA, they make up for the lack of ability to run commercials for 45 minutes at a time by running "tickers" with commercial messages, or by having sponsor logos next to the scoreline. And guess what?? I have no choice but to look at this! So for more affluent consumers, and soon all consumers, this is actually a much more effective delivery vehicle for consumer pitches than traditional commercial breaks.

 

My point was that the USA is large enough, and there are enough entertainment dollars in people's pockets, that just a slightly more effective conversion of people who grew up playing footie, or those that follow European or Mexican leagues will guarantee prosperity for MLS. I know that Brits and Europeans love to slag off American soccer, but there's a couple of incontrovertible facts: 1) youth participation in organized soccer is higher in the USA than anywhere else in the world, and 2) there is lots of interest (quantified by, yes, tv ratings) in European and/or Mexican leagues. The trick is interesting these people in MLS. I have to beleive that if the product is good, the people will follow.

 

Jeff.

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[Iron Flatline]

This thread lacks pics of VB.

 

...just FYI.

[Guest stnami]

OK go the Boony cricket doll,,,

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[DaveEP]

TV, advertising along with promotion within a positive I want context even makes the lives of the war ravaged homeless look romantic and desireable...........

 

Amen. Add to that the "and you don't have to pay for it - because we will give you extra credit" is just leading to financial meltdown for far too many people.

 

However, back on topic, you have to admire both DB and PS because they at least bagged more money in a few short years than most normal working people make in a lifetime.

 

Too many people judge others on their 'accent' when they speak...

[earleygallery]

I have to beleive that if the product is good, the people will follow.

 

No offence, but AAAAGGGGGRRRRRHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DaveEP]

I don't agree. Personally, I don't watch any commercials on "regular" American sports anymore. I have a Tivo (a type of Digital Video Recorder), so skip right through it. In fact, I hardly watch anything live anymore. Now, you may say that "most people don't own DVRs". And that may be true today, but it won't be true 5 years from now. Something like 90% of American households have cable or satellite -- no one relies on terrestrial in this country. Same will be true of DVRs in no time.

 

This is good, but as you allude to later, they hate you as a consumer because you ar bypassing the the very thing that keeps the broadcaster in business - i.e. advertising dollars - and they WILL find a way around this

 

Anyway, with soccer broadcasts in the USA, they make up for the lack of ability to run commercials for 45 minutes at a time by running "tickers" with commercial messages, or by having sponsor logos next to the scoreline. And guess what?? I have no choice but to look at this!

 

Voila! maybe this WILL help football (soccer) take off in the USA after all.

 

I know that Brits and Europeans love to slag off American soccer, but there's a couple of incontrovertible facts: 1) youth participation in organized soccer is higher in the USA than anywhere else in the world, and 2) there is lots of interest (quantified by, yes, tv ratings) in European and/or Mexican leagues. The trick is interesting these people in MLS. I have to beleive that if the product is good, the people will follow.

Jeff.

 

Well, you won't catch me slagging off American Soccer, or even American Football (World Series? what's that all about then - how many other countries around the world bother to enter?).

 

I don't watch much 'football' in the UK anyway, so it really doesn't matter that much to me personally. However, I agree (from knowing quite a few people in the USA) that youth soccer is much better supported in the USA than anywhere else. It's also much bigger business for those who run it - with photo sales and video sales etc that people in Europe won't (or can't afford to) pay for.

[miami91]

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I think we agree Dave! And "soccer" is football to me too. My father was born in England (Barnsley), so I was raised on proper sports --- football and cricket!

 

I don't know the origins of the moniker "World Series" -- does seem a bit odd. Probably goes to the American penchant to think that whatever is best in the USA must be, de facto, best in the world. Thus the MLB champion (or NBA, etc.) is obviously the world champion.

 

Anyway, the inability of translating youth enthusiasm for football into a lasting commitment is one of the true mysterys of American sport. But I'm optimistic this is changing. As I have said previously, I think the biggest hurdle to clear is the perception (mostly true) that MLS is a league of Yanks who can't cut it abroad, second tier players from South and Central America, and Euro has-beens. It's going to take more than Beckham to change this, but there's probably no other single player in the world who has as much opportunity to make a difference --- for his fame and starpower even more than his right boot.

 

Jeff.

[miami91]

OK go the Boony cricket doll,,,

 

That must be a first generation Boony there (an army of them, more like). I've got the Boony and Beefy's from last years Ashes, and they look better.

 

They also have replaceable batteries to keep them chattering indefitinely!

 

Jeff.