Even Beckham can't compete with the fanatical conservatism of sport

I seem to recall a number of occasions when I made the point that a reason for soccer to be taken seriously in the USA would be the demographics of immigration. And so it is.

peel back the economics of Beckham's move and it is not aimed at soccer-loving white Americans, let alone Hollywood and Tom Cruise. He will be preaching to the already converted. He will play for a (very good) Hispanic team based in the poor Hispanic suburb of Carson. Its fans are almost entirely Spanish-speaking and the games are currently shown only on the Spanish-speaking channel Univision. Beckham is not so much going to America as staying in Spain.

Aside from the rather gauche equivalence given to Mexico and Spain, an interesting comment.
Guardian Unlimited | Comment is free | Simon Jenkins: Even Beckham can't compete with the fanatical conservatism of sport: Filed in: football, economics, demographics, USA, soccer