(MLS) Is David Beckham REALLY worth a Million Dollars a week?

Soccer fans are about to witness the "greatest" acquisition in American Soccer History since Pele came out of retirement to play for the New York Cosomos of the North American Soccer League in the 1970's. David Beckham, formerly of the Manchester United and the Real Madrid Soccer teams in England, is coming to America to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer. Beckham will reportedly earn a Million Dollars a week for the next five years.

Beckham is 31 years old, but the Galaxy aren't worried, since Beckham is the same age as Peyton Manning and Allen Iverson.

Beckham says his focus will be on Soccer, not the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, which is kind of hard to believe when you consider his wife, Victoria, is a former Spice Girl, and he is good friends with actor Tom Cruise. Beckham was forced to miss the wedding of Cruise and Katie Holmes to sit on the bench for Real Madrid.

Let's take a quick trip on the "Wayback Machine" to 1974. Pele, four years after leading Brazil to the World Cup in 1970,retired from Soccer. However, he came out of retirement to play for the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League. Pele accepted a three year, $7 million dollar deal, making him the highest paid player in the league. Pele said he came out of retirement to "make soccer truly popular in the United States." (which is the same thing that David Beckham said as to why he wants to play for the Galaxy.) Pele's last match in the NASL was October 1, 1977. That game, an exhibition match between the Cosmos and Santos, had Pele playing a half and scoring a goal for the Cosmos- an amazing goal from thirty yards out. Pele retired in 1977, and the NASL folded in 1985.

In Short, Pele played for the NASL from 1974 to 1977, and the league still folded.

Mia Hamm played for the Women's Soccer League, and that league still folded.

Major League Soccer is banking on David Beckham to create a "Pele-like" excitement for Soccer, which won't happen. However, the few Los Angeles Galaxy fans should be very excited. A court with Landon Donovan And David Beckham? I can understand why Galaxy fans are saying "Los Angeles Galaxy will be MLS Champs in 2007."

Is David Beckham REALLY worth a million dollars a week? Only if he makes soccer popular in America (which won't happen) and helps the Galaxy to win a title every year (which could happen.)

Major League Soccer's is on a ruthless search for the person who will elevate their sport above Football Baseball, and Basketball, which isn't going to happen, with or without David Beckham.

(On another Ironic Note, David Beckham will wear number 23, attributed to basketball great Michael Jordan.)