On the day the Galaxy announced that it had signed David Beckham to a Major League Soccer contract, the question came up almost immediately: How could its local rival Chivas USA possibly respond?
Alexi Lalas, the Galaxy's president and general manager, had a ready answer. "Not just Chivas, but the entire league reaps the benefits of David Beckham coming here.... Although they'll want to beat us on the field, they'll also thank us in many ways."
Well, maybe.
"I hate them," said Antonio Cue, co-owner of Chivas USA along with Mexican businessman Jorge Vergara, who also owns Mexican league champion Chivas de Guadalajara and perennial Costa Rican power CD Saprissa.
Cue acknowledged, however, that AEG, which operates the Galaxy as well as the Chicago Fire and the Houston Dynamo, had staged a coup in bringing Beckham to MLS in a deal cumulatively worth as much as $250 million, including endorsement income.
Perhaps as much as one-fifth of that amount will soon be realized when the Galaxy announces a five-year jersey sponsorship deal. Cue, who is finalizing an agreement with Chivas USA's own jersey sponsor, cannot fault AEG's business acumen.
"I hate them on the field. But they're very smart people, so they must be doing something right," Cue said.
Meanwhile, Chivas USA has formulated its response to Beckham, whose availability to the Galaxy may be in doubt because of a knee injury he suffered Sunday while playing for Real Madrid.
Let the Galaxy, with its English superstar, go and chase the dream of becoming a global brand. As for Chivas, it will be content -- for now at least -- with wooing and winning the local market. "We're really focused on being L.A.'s team," said Javier Leon, Chivas USA's chief executive.
A recent week provided an excellent example. Chivas USA held free player tryouts in Bell Gardens, attracting more than 2,000 would-be players, the vast majority of them local Latinos. The Galaxy, meanwhile, was training in Bermuda.
There is a firm belief among Chivas USA officials that the Galaxy has dropped the ball when it comes to Southern California's Latino fans and that miscalculation has opened the door for Chivas.
The Galaxy, whose alumni include such stellar players as Jorge Campos, Mauricio Cienfuegos, Eduardo Hurtado, Carlos Hermosillo and Carlos Ruiz, no longer has a single recognized Latino player on its roster.
