David Beckham has his work cut out for him. He will probably draw 10,000 or so people to the Home Depot Center to watch his matches. But this is what he has to compete with just in Los Angeles alone:

20,000 at
Staples Center to watch the LA Lakers play basketball.

50,000 at Dodger Stadium to watch the LA Dodgers play baseball, plus another 50,000 to watch the LA Angels in nearby Anaheim.

90,000 at the Coliseum, site of the 1984 Summer Olympics, to watch the University of Southern California Trojans, a perennial powerhouse in collegiate American football.

And that doesn't even begin to scratch the suface of nationwide fan interest and television coverage of the National Football League, collegiate American football, Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, and NASCAR auto racing. That's a formadible pecking order for Beckham to contend with in terms of drawing interest in the MLS and soccer overall in America.

Jeff, Nebraska, USA,

As an American, and a diehard footie fan since the World Cup came here in 1994 (there WAS validity to bringing the cup to a "non-football" country), I must tell you that we fans are rooting for him to succeed. There are 290 million people in this country, of which maybe 25-30 million are big fans of the sport. By that I mean people who watch at least three matches a week, 52 weeks a year, EPL, La Liga, etc.. Those of us already in love with the sport are cautiously optimistic about the whole thing. Not just for his exposure of the beautiful game to a new and bigger audience stateside, but to the validation of our league with fans from other countries. Please realize this ONE thing - those of us stateside who are passionate fans are in a constant struggle between the U.S. mainstream, which as yet doesn't favour the game, and fans from other countries, who say "You're American, so you know nothing about the game." We get stick from both sides. All we want is validation from both.

Charles, Washington, DC, USA

I want to welcome Beckham to American football, and thank him for crossing over the Atlantic to give us star-starved North American football fans someone to cheer for! Though I'm in NYC, I'll be watching his every game and rooting the L.A. Galaxy on... further, my friends, family and I can't wait to see him live. Remember, more people (kids, adults, whatever...) in America play the Beautiful Game than all other sports combined - an incredible potential feared by many over here and conveniently ignored by the traditional powers in American sport.... Please feel free to send us more super players.

Marios, New York City, New York, USA

Living in the US - I believe the more apt quote on the current state of soccer is:

"Quadrennial World Cups INCLUDED, football is normally an afterthought once American football, baseball, basketball, NASCAR, POKER, PROFESSIONAL COMPUTER GAMING and ice hockey (plus golf and tennis) have been featured."

A lot of people play it. Nobody watches it.

Tim, PA, USA

I live in California and went into an enormous sports shop today, while I was looking at some trainers I spotted a full rack of 40 new "Real" Galaxy shirts hidden away right at the back of the store, in between swimming trunks and camping gear. All of them had Beckham 23 on all of them, and no one was going anywhere near them. The shop had nothing to advertise them and for 80 dollars, I'm sure they'll be 40 of them there next time I go in. People are going to laugh him out of town.

Rob, Oakland, USA

Good luck to them all, I hope it works out well for them & the kids have a really good life there.

Maggie Millington, Brittany, France

Posh may be low key but that will not be through choice. That is why the Spice Girls are reforming. It gives her some sort of credit without making a complete fool of herself; although miming to your old records is kind of embarrassing for women into their thirties.

vicky, London, UK