David Beckham
Photo: AP
I was excited to crack open Grant Wahl's The Beckham Experiment and learn the machinations of David Beckham's deal with MLS and what made it spin.
It started strong and well-researched until Chapter 5: "Let him be the captain, you be the star," when I got the "People Magazine at the dentist" feeling.
What started out panoramic got small quickly with a juicy chapter inserted for splash. (Common trade practice to highlight the pre-release tease.) It was clear Wahl had taken sides and you saw what was developing with every snide "Captain Galaxy" quip. (In eighth grade you learned that as foreshadowing.)
Of course, Manchester United and Real Madrid star Beckham would be captain - the Galaxy bought a leader, the former captain of the English national team, for $250 million dollars. Of course, highly qualified Landon Donovan was miffed at giving up the captain's armband - he wouldn't be worthy if he wasn't. But he's smart and professional, so of course, he offered it to Beckham.
What is not professional is inserting personal henpecking into a manuscript that professes to document a major policy shift and initative in Major League Soccer.
Kiss-and-tell with a money spin
The Beckham Experiment unnecessarily degrades to a kiss-and-tell story, the revelations of a fringe insider "revealing" the ordinary moments of someone in the public eye. This book has been written many times by ex-managers, ex-girlfriends, ex-photographers of musicians, actors, and other pop culture figures.
David Beckham
Photo: AP
The author spills a lot of ink complaining how Beckham wouldn't give him and the teammates run of his house, pay for meals, yet the author (a career not known for filthy lucre) was sent to chronicle this peacock partly because of his extraordinary financial success (and excess.) Considering that even boring locker room conversations are sensationalized here, imagine what Wahl would do with a tour of the Beckham home.
Wahl implicitly blames Beckham for the failure of the Galaxy and loses focus on why Beckham was brought to the US in the first place- - and that has little to do with educated soccer fans and clinics for Galaxy teammates.
The Beckham Experiment never attempts to see from Beckham's (British) eyes the reality of MLS and how it differs from elite leagues -- the range of player quality, inconsistent refereeing, low-budget lifestyle, and laissez-faire US attitude toward soccer.
As Wahl spends an extra year with Beckham because of his injury - a tension, a resentment rises between Wahl and his subject and mysteriously, the book is almost devoid of quotations and interviews with David Beckham -- odd seeing how the author hounded him across the country.
David Beckham
Photo: AP
Wahl becomes part of the spectacle
Wahl's conduct at Beckham's press conference at the Galaxy's practice at Gillette Stadium before their August 2008 game was extraordinary. Far more media than usual attended, but Wahl dominated the questioning and it was clear there was a strange situation afoot.
It was made known Wahl was writing a book on Beckham and following him around the league, but if he was chronicling Beckham's tour and ways, why didn't he observe Beckham's interaction with the press instead of becoming part of the show and interfering with local press access? Five or six of the eight questions were from Wahl -- questions about Roy Keane and overseas experience, not MLS -- to which Beckham graciously responded then ended the press conference. The very civilized soccer press with no opportunity to question had been pushed two bodies behind by aggressive non-soccer press with sharp elbows and sweaty armpits.
It would have been smarter for Wahl to interview the non-soccer media, ask their perceptions and how they were going to present their material and why. Their answers would reveal the Beckham butterfly effect in mass media.
There was no "experiment"
The title of the book is a misnomer as there was no Beckham Experiment, it was a major investment and league initiative. No matter what the final outcome (to be assessed years ahead), Beckham's transition to MLS will always be a benchmark, a watermark, a touchpoint in the history of soccer in the United States.
For those one step ahead or behind, soccer is a political sport, David Beckham a political figure, and the United States at a political turning point.
Beckham did not try to "Conquer America," as Wahl states in the subtitle. Beckham came to bring soccer to common people in the United States and connect them with the rest of the world. Everything comes at a price.
Comments
Perfect article..all wahl's wanted was to sell and get fame.he knew perfectly wel wat he was doing..he's the one who ought to get a life!
If The Beckham Experiment is a celebrity take down, then it is because Beckham and his people tore themselves down with their arrogance and unwillingness to understand the sporting landscape in the United States. The original intent of the book was to tell the point of view from Alan Gordon and his roommates, three of the lowest paid players on the team, that changed when the other two parted ways with LA. Those familiar with the books of Bob Woodward are familiar with the style Wahl employed in putting this book together. Beckham and his people were giving full opportunity to participate in the narrative, but, not understanding the U.S., they demanded to be paid. Would the book be even more interesting with Beckham's voice? Yes. But the absence of Beckham's voice is Beckham's fault, not Wahl's. Instead of a celebrity takedown, it's another example of English hubris when it comes to understanding the game in the US.
Not only is the article perfect, but it is the very first review of the book I have seen that is not in itself either a kiss in tell or similar to another kid taking sides on the playground. Its also bothered me that most of those reviews link to where the reader can purchase the book.
To Mr Zygo, regarding Beckham and "his people's" arrogance, while all financial interests in the endeavor handled Beckham's transfer to MLS both cynically and disasterously, they are hardly the worst offenders.
In his first season with the Galaxy, the team's dishonesty with press and fans regarding the extent of his injury, the poor handling of local media, and the mishandling of his integration into the team, created a PR nightmare, lead to further injury and helped the team to last place. Although the results proved no better, I was surprised it took Beckham's management so long to step in – and it was at AEG's invitation as Mr. Wahl describes.
Even more balanced critics of Beckham and his management speak as if they had stormed the Galaxy offices and foisted their client upon MLS while the truth is that AEG had been lobbying Beckham, through 19 Entertainment, since 2003 to come to LA whenever he retired.
BTW, if the book was to be Gordon's story it was titled inaccuratel
Brian,
You raise an interesting point and I appreciate your thoughts, but Sports Illustrated writer Wahl didn't write the book for public service either.
He loses impartiality early on but attempts to maintain an objective veneer. Writing either way is fine, but it's dishonest to play it both ways. Wahl may have copied Woodward's style, but he is not Bob Woodward.
Aren't The Examiner, the L.A. Galaxy and AEG all related through a parent company? Or, at least through Mr. Anschutz?
I know AEG was instrumental in bringing David Beckham over to the Galaxy, and so, perhaps the author's response to the book isn't as impartial as it could be. Or at least a sentence should have been inserted to indicate the common affiliation.
I think Wahl dragged on several points, almost writing two books; a behind the scenes commentary on happenings in MLS, and a Beckham for Beginners borefest. The book is at it's most successful when giving an insight to road travels, how rookies manage with crap pay, and what went on in the Galaxy/AEG/19 front offices. Beckham as a standalone topic is not juicy enough and it's when the book focuses on him solely where it begins to drag on. A journalist of Wahl's experience should know the book needed another editor. For any fan of MLS I feel it to be highly informative and necessary reading to further understand the league. If someone is reading it to discover more on Beckham himself and the transfer to MLS, I'd give it a pass.
Great Article and a very great analysis!!! Keep it up!
Strange that the author accuses Wahl of not being impartial while going out of her way to bash Wahl in this review.
Are people suggesting that Wahl should have pulled out the checkbook just to get a couple more quotes from Beckham? I certainly don't blame Wahl for refusing to play ball with 19 Entertainment in this respect.
As Doug notes, Clarity Media Group is a unit of AEG, and president Tim Leiweke is certainly given his fair share of the blame for all of the problems in both 2007 and 2008. It is curious that the author claims that the book is just a hit piece against David Beckham while ignoring how much time Wahl dedicated to the mistakes made by the Galaxy and AEG.
So you don't like the book because Grant Wahl asked questions one day and you didn't? Sad. The fact that you actually refer to Grant Wahl - perhaps the elite soccer writer in this country - as "the non-soccer press" just underscores how petty your little tirade is.
If you want to not like the book, fine, but don't act like you are some sort aggrieved party because he's better at his job than you are.
Brian,
1. You misread the statement. I didn't refer to Wahl as the non-soccer press, I stated he would have gotten more information on the effects of the "Beckham Experiment" if he interviewed the major network reporters (non-soccer press) on their perceptions and how they intended to use the material and why. Wahl is known as a outstanding soccer writer and there's no more need to state that than to say Beckham is a good soccer player.
2. It was simply inappropriate to treat a crowded press conference as a 1v1 and exclude major media (a rare sighting at MLS) and national soccer press from interacting. That interaction is why Beckham was giving a well-publicized press conference.
Nate,
1. The controversy of paid interviews (no thank you) is a valid one and you raise a very good point. Clearly, Beckham's management doesn't know the going rate for journalists in this country. ;) Retaliation is not a good solution.
2. This is a book review, pure editorial, and I make no pretense of impartiality.
3. The research in the book is important and would have more credibility if he hadn't taken the low road. There are lost opportunities here, including market research on advertising prime-time minutes and viewers reached, success of advertised non-soccer products, and public perception.
3. The greatest benefit of the book is that it keeps the Beckham brand and hence MLS alive in mass media, which gets into the heads of unsuspecting yet-to-be ticket holders.
Interesting that the Wahl hate/love in the comments appears to go down gender lines.
One of my complaints about the whole Beckham fiasco is when people say things like this:
"The Beckham Experiment never attempts to see from Beckham's (British) eyes the reality of MLS and how it differs from elite leagues -- the range of player quality, inconsistent refereeing, low-budget lifestyle, and laissez-faire US attitude toward soccer."
Are you saying that Beckham thought he was coming to an elite league with an excellent standard? Its as if MLS is some kind of secret society that one can only comprehend once they have been inducted. Here's a tip, when you are about to sign a multi-year contract in another league, do a little due diligence on what your getting yourself into. Angel, Lundberg and Schelotto seem to be getting on fine despite the filter of Colombian, Swedish and Argentine eyes. What is fascinating is that Beckham didn't seem aware of what he was getting into to.
I should note that I'm in the minority in that I think it is a plus that the Galaxy were such trash in 2007 and 2008. First it showed that MLS wasn't such a poor league that Beckham would dominate. Second, it should spur AEG to push for a raise in the cap in the next CBA.
At least the book and your review have got people's juices flowing--one way or the other--which is what the sport seems to need at the moment. My god, ESPN spends hours on poker games! How pathetic.
I would think that anyone reviewer would like to avoid suspicion of bias or possible conflicts of interest. It seems to take away from the reviewer's credibility.
And would someone explain how following the club (with the club's permission), getting quotes from people involved in the situation, and then documenting these events is the "low road".
I WILL WAIT FOR BECKHAM'S BOOK, HE WRITES TOO.WE'LL SEE WHO HAS THE LAST WORD.
Let's all blame Beckham. It is so much easier.
MLS just doesn't get it.
Great analysis, Lisa.
Angler 23,
Breaking News: Angel and the NY Red Bulls are not "getting on fine."
Lisa, that's a spectacular point about Wahl dominating questions. A lot of times it is wise to just sit back and let things happen before you and jump in on questions afterward. You would think if Wahl had built a strong enough relationship with Beckham, he wouldn't need to ask any questions at press conferences because he would have inside access to one-on-one time. I keep saying it though - Wahl got so much publicity and made so much money from this. So much.
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