LeBron James interested in joining David Beckham's ownership group

Two of the biggest stars in their respective sports are thinking of teaming up.

The Miami Heat's LeBron James and soccer star David Beckham are talking about joining forces to possibly bring a MLS team to Miami.

"We're working on it," James said.

"There is some interest on both sides. David has become a good friend of mine over the last few years and I think it would be great for this city to have a football club," James told the Miami Herald. "There is interest on both sides, but it’s preliminary talks but there is some open dialogue."

Beckham has the option to buy into MLS at a discounted rate, a privilege that was in his deal to join the LA Galaxy in 2007. The league confirmed in October that it is in discussions with Beckham about owning a team with reports consistently indicating Miami would be the former England international's location of choice.

Beckham has been scouting possible stadium sites in Miami.


''I am excited about owning a team ... continuing to be part of the MLS in the future,'' Beckham told the Associated Press in October. "Miami excites me because I think it's a city that is very excitable."

James currently has a small stake in the Liverpool of the  Barclay’s Premiere League.

"We don’t know" how viable the Miami market would be for a new-look MLS team, James said. "The research is still being made out but I think it could be huge. But, you never know. I think this is a great town for soccer. There are a lot of soccer players here. There’s a great youth [system] of soccer here. And people love the city as well, so that definitely will help."

Overall soccer has always been a tough sell in the United States. If MLS can have James behind one of it's teams it might just catch on.

Iverson gets a contract offer...from indoor soccer league

It looks like another obscure indoor sports league is making big news again. After Terrell Owens signed with the Allen Wranglers of the Indoor Football League, the Rochester Lancers of the Major Indoor Soccer League announced they have offered a contract to former NBA star Allen Iverson. 

Under the contract offered, Iverson would make $20,000 per game, with a $5,000 bonus for each goal scored. There would also be win bonuses and merchandise bonuses. There's only one problem. There are only two games left in the season.


"Allen Iverson is one of the premier athletes of our time," said Rich Randall, Lancers vice president.  "With his athleticism and competitive hunger, I think he can be a great fit with our team and fans as we make an important playoff push, while also driving interest to an exciting, growing sport."  


I find it nothing more than a ploy to get your team and league in the news. I guess any publicity is good publicity in this case. Don't look for Iverson to be kicking it on a soccer field near you. Even though Iverson has been reported to be in dire straits financially, the money wouldn't be enough to satisfy Iverson and his lavish lifestyle. But if he wants to stay over here in the U.S. this would be his chance.  

Drunk E-mailing

The New Zealand football national youth coach of found himself in a bit of hot water recently. The offense: sending an explicit picture of himself to the mother of a prospective player.

Coach Steve Cain resigned for what he called "personal reasons". But it came out about the explicit e-mail and it seems like he resigned for personal conduct reasons.

Cain told the Sunday News that “in a moment of madness” after “a few beers” he had sent a picture to a woman which partially showed his genitals. He said the woman, the mother of a youth team prospect, had been sending him explicit e-mails and had “pestered” him to respond.


The worse part was the kid didn't even earn a spot on the team, then she told New Zealand Football about his e-mail. That was kind of underhanded. But he didn't have to do it either.

NZF chairman Frank van Hattum says that Cain might be considered for another coaching job but I think it's best for all parties to move on.

Michael Jackson Statue Unveiled Outside Of Soccer Stadium

I don't profess to know anything about soccer and I never will, but this story caught my eye.

Fulham of the English Premier League has unveiled a statue of Michael Jackson outside of their stadium. Owner Mohamed Al Fayed was reportedly a close friend of Jackson's. He unveiled the statue outside Craven Cottage to jeers from the home fans. He also told those same fans that they can "go to hell" if they didn't like it.


"Why is it bizarre?" Al Fayed asked reporters after the unveiling. "Football fans will love it. If some stupid fans don't understand and appreciate such a gift that this guy gave to the world, they can just go to hell."

"I don't want them to be fans if they don't understand, and believe the things which I believe in… they can go and support Chelsea or somewhere else," he said

Spoken like a true owner. Al Fayed said that Jackson loved Fulham and that he wanted to honor Jackson's memory and talent.

I never knew Jackson liked soccer, but he was a bit of an eccentric.

Source: New York Daily News













 

Quote Of The Week: Chad Ochocinco

Chad Ochocinco rating his skills during his MLS tryout in Kansas City:

"The only thing I'm probably good at is being fast as hell."               

Sometimes that speed is called into question on the football field.          

Referee And Brazil Soccer Federation On The Hook For $96 Million

I'm not big on soccer. Don't like it won't watch it and will dispute it till I'm blue in the face that it's a legit sport. But this story caught my eye.

The Brazil soccer federation and a referee are sharing a $96 million dollar fine. That's like being sentenced to 120 years in prison. How do you pay that back. Their great great grandkids will be paying back that money. I understand that they're are a lot of people involved in this, but $96 million. I'm lucky to have $96 dollars.

All this over a match fixing scandal. You know if that happened over here there would've been conspiracy theories everywhere. Remember the Lakers-Kings playoff series? That has nothing on this.

A civil court has ruled that the federation and Edilson Pereira de Carvalho must share the fine for the scandal that forced 11 matches to be replayed after the referee confessed to accepting bribes from gamblers to ensure the outcomes of games. Corinthians eventually won matches that it had lost and clinched the title.-The Associated Press


No word on how this is going to be divided up. No college basketball point shaving scandal has ever been this large.