The Beckham Experiment
Encyclopedia
The Beckham Experiment: How the World's Most Famous Athlete Tried to Conquer America is a non-fiction work by Sports Illustrated
writer Grant Wahl
. The book chronicles David Beckham
's move to Major League Soccer
and his impact on American soccer.
to the Los Angeles Galaxy
in 2007. He was granted one-on-one access to Beckham and his handlers. The original concept for the book was to follow Beckham and the Galaxy, but due to his injuries the book was halted. Initially, Wahl approached Beckham's management about a potential book deal. However, Beckham's management gave Wahl the indication he would have to pay to write a book about the English midfielder. Wahl refused to pay for interviews and used his resources at the LA Galaxy to obtain interview time with Beckham. Over a two year period, Wahl interviewed Beckham after games as well as Ruud Gullit
(Galaxy head coach from November 2007 until August 2008), Landon Donovan
(Galaxy player), and Alexi Lalas
(Galaxy general manager at the time).
2006-07 season, which was in progress when the announcement was made. In addition to playing football, under the advisement of talent manager
Simon Fuller
and his company 19 Entertainment
, Beckham set out to conquer the U.S. celebrity scene. At this time, Grant Wahl was given unprecedented access to the English player, his inner circle, and team to promote his arrival to the league. To 19 Management's dismay, Wahl would not relinquish control of his articles or methods of procuring information. As a result, Wahl was able to give a behind-the-scenes account of Beckham's impact on LA Galaxy.
Initially, Beckham had a great financial impact on LA Galaxy drawing sold out crowds, additional owners, additional sponsors, and an increase in sold merchandise. Behind the scenes, Beckham's management was seeking control over the team and league. Beckham's designated player status as well as his overall stature and celebrity enabled him to seek preferential treatment including the captaincy, his own parking spot right next to the dressing room, and his own hotel room on road trips.
This preferential treatment along with Beckham's salary (much higher than that of his teammates) greatly affected the team. Ripping the captaincy out of Donovan's hands had heavy consequences. Both years when Beckham was captain, the team failed to make it to the MLS playoffs. The book also delves into larger issues such as the MLS's failing structure.
. The book debuted at number 9 on the New York Times Best Sellers List.
with AC Milan. The loan deal agreed in December 2008 had originally been scheduled to end in March 2009 so that Beckham could return to Los Angeles in time for the start of the 2009 MLS season, however, it got extended until the end of the Serie A 2008-09 season. At this point, LA Galaxy along with the players were fed up with Beckham. The tension between Beckham and Donovan was high. Donovan had participated in the book and was very critical of Beckham stating he was a bad teammate who took over the team, but didn't care about American soccer, MLS, or his teammates. Beckham retaliated by calling Donovan's statements unprofessional. The pair have since made up.
Upon Beckham's return, LA Galaxy fans as well as MLS fans booed Beckham. Fans taunted Beckham with signs and chants. In his first game back, one fan jumped the partition to attack after accepting a verbal challenge from Beckham at halftime. In a friendly match against AC Milan, Beckham was seen in a heated argument with a fan.
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
writer Grant Wahl
Grant Wahl
Grant Wahl is an American sports journalist who is best known for being a writer for Sports Illustrated. He is also the author of the controversial book, The Beckham Experiment.-Career:...
. The book chronicles David Beckham
David Beckham
David Robert Joseph Beckham, OBE is an English footballer who plays midfield for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer, having previously played for Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, and A.C...
's move to Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
and his impact on American soccer.
Background
Wahl, a veteran soccer writer for Sports Illustrated, was asked to cover David Beckham's move from Real MadridReal Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
to the Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
in 2007. He was granted one-on-one access to Beckham and his handlers. The original concept for the book was to follow Beckham and the Galaxy, but due to his injuries the book was halted. Initially, Wahl approached Beckham's management about a potential book deal. However, Beckham's management gave Wahl the indication he would have to pay to write a book about the English midfielder. Wahl refused to pay for interviews and used his resources at the LA Galaxy to obtain interview time with Beckham. Over a two year period, Wahl interviewed Beckham after games as well as Ruud Gullit
Ruud Gullit
OON is a Dutch football manager and former football player, who played professionally in the 1980s and 1990s. He was the captain of the Netherlands national team that was victorious at Euro 88 and was also a member of the squad for the 1990 World Cup. He was named the European Footballer of the...
(Galaxy head coach from November 2007 until August 2008), Landon Donovan
Landon Donovan
Landon Timothy Donovan is an American soccer player for the Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer in the United States. He usually plays as a withdrawn forward, and can also be used as an attacking midfielder on either wing....
(Galaxy player), and Alexi Lalas
Alexi Lalas
Panayotis Alexander Lalas is a retired American soccer player who played mostly as a defender for the United States national team in the 1994 FIFA World Cup...
(Galaxy general manager at the time).
Summary
In January 2007, 31-year-old Beckham, one of the world's most famous soccer players, at the time playing with Real Madrid, shocked the sports world by signing a five year contract with MLS team LA Galaxy, effective from the end of La LigaLa Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
2006-07 season, which was in progress when the announcement was made. In addition to playing football, under the advisement of talent manager
Talent manager
A talent manager, also known as an artist manager or band manager, is an individual or company who guides the professional career of artists in the entertainment industry...
Simon Fuller
Simon Fuller
Simon Fuller is a British artist manager, television producer and creator of the Idol franchise, first seen as Pop Idol in the UK. Fuller is also the co-creator and executive producer of the Fox TV reality show So You Think You Can Dance and other U.S...
and his company 19 Entertainment
19 Entertainment
19 Entertainment, based in Los Angeles, United States, is a creator and producer of entertainment properties based around the areas of Music and Television / Film, including American Idol in the United States, Pop Idol in the United Kingdom as well as versions of the Idol series in more than...
, Beckham set out to conquer the U.S. celebrity scene. At this time, Grant Wahl was given unprecedented access to the English player, his inner circle, and team to promote his arrival to the league. To 19 Management's dismay, Wahl would not relinquish control of his articles or methods of procuring information. As a result, Wahl was able to give a behind-the-scenes account of Beckham's impact on LA Galaxy.
Initially, Beckham had a great financial impact on LA Galaxy drawing sold out crowds, additional owners, additional sponsors, and an increase in sold merchandise. Behind the scenes, Beckham's management was seeking control over the team and league. Beckham's designated player status as well as his overall stature and celebrity enabled him to seek preferential treatment including the captaincy, his own parking spot right next to the dressing room, and his own hotel room on road trips.
This preferential treatment along with Beckham's salary (much higher than that of his teammates) greatly affected the team. Ripping the captaincy out of Donovan's hands had heavy consequences. Both years when Beckham was captain, the team failed to make it to the MLS playoffs. The book also delves into larger issues such as the MLS's failing structure.
Reception
The book was released on July 14, 2009 in accordance with Beckham's return to LA Galaxy from his first loan spell at A.C. MilanA.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
. The book debuted at number 9 on the New York Times Best Sellers List.
Controversy
The book created a great deal of controversy. It was released just as Beckham returned to LA Galaxy from a loan spell at the Italian Serie ASerie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
with AC Milan. The loan deal agreed in December 2008 had originally been scheduled to end in March 2009 so that Beckham could return to Los Angeles in time for the start of the 2009 MLS season, however, it got extended until the end of the Serie A 2008-09 season. At this point, LA Galaxy along with the players were fed up with Beckham. The tension between Beckham and Donovan was high. Donovan had participated in the book and was very critical of Beckham stating he was a bad teammate who took over the team, but didn't care about American soccer, MLS, or his teammates. Beckham retaliated by calling Donovan's statements unprofessional. The pair have since made up.
Upon Beckham's return, LA Galaxy fans as well as MLS fans booed Beckham. Fans taunted Beckham with signs and chants. In his first game back, one fan jumped the partition to attack after accepting a verbal challenge from Beckham at halftime. In a friendly match against AC Milan, Beckham was seen in a heated argument with a fan.