Beckham is coming to America to lend his enormous global brand power to pro soccer, to underscore that the game has arrived here, and to help the former colonists grasp the gravity of the sport. Although I am a lifelong player and coach, and passionate about soccer, I believe "Beck's" arrival will have even less impact on the pro game than did Pele's in his era.

Not too many moons ago, the idea of a youth soccer club having over 3,000 member/participants was, for many, both incredulous and overwhelming. Nowadays, however, such a size is commonplace, and there are now clubs whose headcount exceeds even the 10,000 threshold.

The first issue of Soccer Business Insider kicks off with Clive Toye, arguably the founder of modern American soccer marketing. As president of the New York Cosmos in the 1970s, the former English sports journalist brought Brazilian legend Pele and German superstar Franz Beckenbauer to America and put the North American Soccer League on the map. His unique perspective on the rise of the U.S. soccer market lays the groundwork for our diverse columnists to come. Enjoy!