Beckham partnering with Saputo in Montreal, according to NY Times!

[ensco]

I didn't find this elsewhere, it's been on the NYT website for a few hours, if I missed it, mods please merge/delete

are you kidding me?

http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/07/in-montreal-parlez-vous-beckham/

[S_D]

that is insane. Mtl has already been a bit of a circus and there is no need to add more to it.

[wzhxvy]

That is payback for Saputo yapping too much...now he has Beckham inflicted upon him as I would bet Garber is behind this forced marriage. Saputo deserves it....

[Cashcleaner]

huh...huh...hehe...hehehe...ha...hahaha...HA! HAHAHA! HA! HA! HAHAHAHA!

Oh man. This is too funny. If true, I mean. It sounds completely legit - the premise, of course. I mean, I don't really expect the scenario to play out, but it does seem doable.

Look, the fact is that Montreal is pretty much a lock for getting a franchise in the next couple of years. This Beckham story is just one potential avenue the club can go through.

[egoodwin]

More reason to hate the limp act

actually he's quite fitting for their name

[billyfly]

Montreal must be his kinda city, fruity and the like.

[Redcoe15]

Problably doesn't bode well for dreamers in New York or Miami who believe their cities deserve MLS teams.

[Oldtimer]

Beckham and Mr. Cheese. Somehow seems fitting to me. :lol:

[ensco]

I'm guessing Beckham is stepping into George Gillett's shoes here.

Recall that Saputo and Gillett were the original bid partners, but Gillett has sold the Habs and his Liverpool interest is believed to be for sale...

[S_D]

More reason to hate the limp act

actually he's quite fitting for their name

I am sure there is a joke somewhere involving limp and golden balls :D

[mighty_torontofc_2008]

This story is too much...If beckham gets a franchise, and all the power to him,
it wont be in Montreal..Your most likely to see him own a team in either New York,
or my odds on favorite San Diego...with san diego he would not be far from his LA home . But is this ownership thing just a game with him or is he serious??

[S_D]

it is in his contract so I assume serious.

[flatpicker]

well this would be an interesting twist.

[Pookie]

Possible.

I've got to think that New York is the bigger target though. Lots of noise out of there, from the new stadium to Henry. Beckham would be one who could get the MLS franchise(s) there on the front page in an extremely crowded sports market.

I'm sure there would be "influence" exerted to make that happen if he was open to the idea.

[Fort York Redcoat]

^Agree. Becks for Montreal? I think he'd want a bigger city to target. Plus he wants to take over America, not Canada. I hope. Isn't he done here, anyway?

[C.Ronaldo]

a proven market .....hes a business man.

not hard to see why he'd consider it.

he can own more than one team.

[Parkdale]

^Agree. Becks for Montreal? I think he'd want a bigger city to target.

technically, after the 'Trophee Des Championes' cup in Montreal, there isn't a bigger city in Canada/America for international football.

[ensco]

Old Striker, who pretty much correctly called what was going on with Dichio two weeks ago, points out that this is just Beckham letting MLS know that he intends to fully enforce all his rights under his contract. Which may mean Beckham's real reason for putting this out there, is to negotiate his exit from that contract on the most advantageous terms possible.

[Hitcho]

Old Striker, who pretty much correctly called what was going on with Dichio two weeks ago, points out that this is just Beckham letting MLS know that he intends to fully enforce all his rights under his contract. Which may mean Beckham's real reason for putting this out there, is to negotiate his exit from that contract on the most advantageous terms possible.

That sounds plausible.

We're missing details of course, but I don;t really see how that clause could be enforced to be honest. How would it work? He can;t force any current ownership to let him "control" an existing franchise unless it's on terms that they agree to. He can't just assume "control" of a new franchise because the bid team and abckers will have done all the work and won't just say oh fuck it then we'll give the team to beckham if you like. And MLS can't just stick in a new franchise somewhere to satsify this clause because it has to be a viable location etc. And what does "control" mean anyway? Own? Assist in the running of? GM spot? How do any of those fit with existing owners and having beckham foisted on them?

Just can't see what is meant here or how it could be enforced, even if beckham wanted to. And legally speaking, if you can't enforce it then it's worthless.

[Fort York Redcoat]

technically, after the 'Trophee Des Championes' cup in Montreal, there isn't a bigger city in Canada/America for international football.

Technically you're funny. I wonder if Becks knew about it.

Anyway, I agree this could be posturing for a better exit and if he were to go through with it his ego would require facetime with the public in a bigger citycentre than Montreal.

[ensco]

Not sure this adds anything at all, but this is featured prominently in the Ottawa paper today

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/Beckham+Impact+rumours+just+that/1991135/story.html