An Interesting Beckham Statistic
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by user Tyduffy
The Odds and Sods editorial staff recently came upon this statistic. We are unsure about the accuracy or the means employed in the study, but regardless it appears quite significant. The study by Davie Brown Entertainment discovered that 51.9% of people in the U.S. know who David Beckham is. That, in and of itself, is not particularly earth-shattering. But, the same study also found that 75% of America do not know Tim Duncan.
David Beckham is a foreigner playing a sport that has virtually zero presence in mainstream American culture, outside of the World Cup or the women's team. Tim Duncan is perhaps the greatest power-forward of all time for arguably the best franchise in American sports over the past decade. Basketball is a well-established sport in America. The fact that Beckham has more than twice as much name recognition, before even setting foot in the States, is shocking.
First, this undoubtedly speaks to Beckham's potential to promote soccer in the United States. No, he won't have a Tiger Woods like impact. It would take a legitimate American superstar for that. But, one of the biggest stumbling blocks to the MLS is name recognition. The biggest American star in the league, Landon Donovan, is only known by 9.1% of people. No one knows who is playing. Before Beckham has even made it to the States, half the country already knows who he is. Undoubtedly, many more will know him after the huge fanfare and commercial blitz.
He has already increased MLS' presence and coverage internationally. He will attract interest from the casual fan and cause an attendance and viewership spike. There has already been an increase in the quantity and quality of players from abroad coming to the States. Pundits Idiots on ESPN (even as their network has slowly but surely begun to incorporate soccer) will pontificate about how he won't convert America to soccer, but he doesn't have to do that. The league is already solidified and financially viable on its own terms. They don't need to compete with the NFL or MLB. Beckham's name recognition will surely help the league.
On a side note. ESPN putting LaDanian Tomlinson as a more "now" athlete than Beckham was absurd. How "now" can Tomlinson be if even in ESPN commercials he has to wear his full uniform, helmet, and visor. How many people would recognize LaDanian in street clothes? (Besides speculating that the huge black guy with the nice car must be some sort of athlete)
Second, this really should worry David Stern. Tim Duncan has been the leader of a team that has won four NBA titles in the last decade, and 3/4 of the country do not know his name. He does go out of his way to make himself the anti-star, but still. It speaks to the NBA's declining popularity in the Post-Jordan era where nearly all the good teams and talent are out West. If ever there were a time to rig the draft to get prominent players to moribound franchises in New York, Boston, and Philly, now would be it.
The NBA has done a masterful job marketing itself abroad, much better than any other American sport. But, at the same time, they have already lost Middle America and are in danger of losing a generation of young fans, particularly on the East Coast, which would be disastrous in the long term.
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