David Beckham

[abadani69]

David Beckham was minutes away from a perfect Hollywood ending.

The 32-year-old soccer star-pop icon, who likely played his last game for a European club, was taken off the field moments before Real Madrid rallied to win the Spanish league title for the first time in Beckham's four years with the team.

The England midfielder was replaced in the 66th minute with what appeared to be a recurrence of an ankle injury. But he still managed to limp around the field in celebration -- in front of a huge crowd that included wife Victoria and friends Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes -- after his team beat Mallorca 3-1 to win its 30th league title.

"I couldn't have dreamt it any better," Beckham said Sunday. "It's been about winning the title for the last six months and we've deserved it tonight."

It was the culmination of a season that can easily be called the most difficult of his life. But even being shunned by both Madrid coach Fabio Capello and England coach Steve McClaren over the last year didn't keep Beckham from proving he still has the skills to compete at the highest level.

"It's been an incredible experience but all I remember now is the great things. Winning this tonight now puts to bed everything else," said Beckham, who was dropped from the Madrid lineup in January after signing a five-year, $32.5 million contract to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy of MLS.

But with Madrid again eliminated early from the Champions League and the team in fourth place in the league -- six points behind leader FC Barcelona -- Capello begrudgingly recalled the former England captain.

"A major fault of mine this season was not recognizing Beckham's potential," Capello said Sunday.

Beckham, whose good looks and pop star wife have made him an international marketing magnet, marked his return to the team by scoring with a bending free kick in Madrid's 2-1 win at Real Sociedad.

After missing six weeks with a knee injury, Beckham returned to set up the winning goal in a 2-1 win over Valencia.

Madrid rode an eight-game unbeaten run by scoring 24 goals -- more than a third of the total it had scored in the first 30 games of the season.

On Sunday, Beckham nearly scored with a free kick in the 18th minute, and then watched as another one went over the crossbar in the 52nd. Six minutes later, Beckham hit the bar with another.

But Beckham appeared to re-aggravate his left ankle sprain and he was replaced by Jose Antonio Reyes, who scored two of Madrid's three goals.

After the game, Beckham did a lap of honor with an England flag draped across his back, soaking in the atmosphere at the famous Santiago Bernabeu stadium for one last time.

Beckham arrived at Madrid in 2003 with nine major trophies from his days at Manchester United. Lining up alongside Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and Luis Figo, Beckham was the last "galactico" -- sure to fill the club's pockets with marketing money while the nine-time European champions continued to collect trophies.

But life in Madrid was tough for Beckham. The club went four years without winning a trophy -- its longest drought in 53 years.

A new language, six different coaches and three club presidents during his spell led to incessant criticism that Madrid was not a team, but a collection of players.

"I've gone through things that I never thought were possible," Beckham said. "Things have happened here that never happened at Manchester United. Not being involved in matches or in training and having things said about me that were not true was hard."

Beckham's first season began in promising style, with the Englishman scoring in his first game at the Bernabeu as Madrid won the Spanish Supercup by beating Mallorca.

It turned out to be his only chance before Sunday to take a victory lap at the Bernabeu, despite the club winning three of the previous six Champions League titles and two Spanish league titles before his arrival.

Despite the lack of trophies, the midfielder's determination and fiery temper -- he has picked up 14 cards in 22 games this season, including one red -- saw his standing with the home fans remain steady.

The same can be said of his supporters in England, who enthusiastically welcomed Beckham back to the national team for the European Championship qualifying competition. The former captain responded by setting up two of England's goals in its 3-0 win over Estonia.

"There's no doubt I could have stayed with Real Madrid for two or three more years, or for the rest of my career," Beckham said. "I had to make a decision when I was told I was leaving the club at the end of the season. I've had 15 years playing top flight football for Real Madrid and Manchester United, but I'm moving on to a new challenge."

Instead of playing in front of 90,000 fans at Madrid and Barcelona, Beckham will turn out in front of about 8,000 at some Major League Soccer games, even though his presence will inevitably boost attendance.

"David Beckham will have a greater impact on soccer in America than any athlete has ever had on a sport globally," Timothy J. Leiweke, president and CEO of AEG and owner of the Galaxy, said after the signing.

With that in mind, Beckham can depart for America with one challenge accomplished, and ready for the next.

[abadani69]

It's already time to brand it like Beckham.

Adidas is launching an advertising campaign this week featuring English soccer star David Beckham and New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush swapping sports during practice in "Futbol vs. Football."

"There's very few people whose names transcend their own sports. People know the name of David Beckham, whether they follow soccer or not," said Stephen Pierpoint, vice president of brand marketing for Adidas America.

After helping Real Madrid win the Spanish League title for the first time in four seasons with the club, Beckham joins Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy next month, a major injection of star power for a league whose talent has steadily been rising but has lacked a marquee mainstay.

The 32-year-old midfielder, who has had as many hairstyles as goals, is to join up with the Galaxy next month and be a halftime guest on the telecast of the MLS All-Star game in Denver on July 19, perhaps making a cameo appearance in the match. His first game in the Galaxy's redesigned uniform figures to be a July 21 exhibition against England's Chelsea at Carson, Calif. -- where Beckham already has a youth soccer academy. After that, his likely MLS debut would be Aug. 5 at Toronto.

That all will be accompanied with a lot of advertising.

"It will be a coordinated blitz, if you will," Galaxy president Alexi Lalas said. "We want to make sure that we're not duplicating efforts. So there will be obviously stuff from Adidas, the Galaxy, ESPN and a bunch of other ones."

Sponsors are counting on Beckham to reach out beyond the soccer field in a way the United States hasn't seen since Pele was with the Cosmos from 1975-77.

"It's almost the same," Pele said. "There are a lot of similarities."

Ahead of last year's World Cup, Nike erected a 70 1/2 -foot high billboard near New York's Madison Square Garden and a nearly identical 40-foot high ad in San Francisco featuring Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley and Eddie Johnson. And yes, Adidas has a relationship with Claudio Reyna, the U.S. captain at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, but he had little buzz outside the soccer crowd.

European and Latin American stars only go so far in America's mainstream market.

To mark Beckham's arrival, Adidas retaped its "Impossible is Nothing" commercial with him to make his soccer past understandable to an American audience.

"Soccer's appeal is still behind some of the major U.S. sports in this country. We're excited about the growth opportunity that we have there," Pierpoint said. "Within the soccer community, everybody is very well aware of and really looks up to some of those MLS players, national team players, as icons. As we spread outside the soccer community, those names become lesser known. And David's name we feel really travels further, and that's an opportunity for us to draw more people into the sport of soccer, draw whole families into the sport of soccer."

Beckham was a star of England's national team at the last three World Cups and its captain from November 2000 to last July. With 96 international appearances, he is fifth on the career list behind only Peter Shilton (125), Bobby Moore (10, Bobby Charlton (106) and Billy Wright (105). And with coach Steve McClaren's decision to recall Beckham last month, the player celebrated for his curling free kicks is expected to commute back to England for European Championship qualifiers this fall and top the century mark.

But, perhaps more importantly for sponsors, he is married to Victoria Adams, the former Posh Spice, and is friends with Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. Galaxy games could be a big celeb ticket, much like the Lakers.

European Web sites track his hairstyles. Paparazzi tail Becks and Posh, the most celebrated of England's WAGS (wives and girlfriends).

And the corporate world wants to cash in.

"As wonderful as this is, we don't want to saturate and we don't want to duplicate when it's not necessary," Lalas said. "So there is a specific Los Angeles-based platform, there's the regional, there's the national and then there's the international. And it's a combination of the Galaxy, the league -- MLS -- Adidas, ESPN. All of those different entities are targeting different areas."

Until now, Adidas' biggest sales of licensed soccer merchandize in the United States have involved Mexico's national team, which it regained from Nike last October, and Real Madrid. With Beckham, selling MLS has taken a new twist.

"We've enjoyed some success of AC Milan and Real Madrid jerseys in America," Pierpoint said. "Now, for the first time, we see global demand for the LA Galaxy jersey."

[abadani69]

David Beckham expects to make his debut for the Los Angeles Galaxy on July 21 in an exhibition match with FA Cup holders Chelsea after recovering from an ankle injury, according to his manager.

The 32-year-old midfielder twisted his ankle while playing for England against Estonia in a Euro 2008 qualifying match a month ago and aggravated it in his final appearance for Real Madrid 11 days later.

Beckham, who is scheduled to fly into Los Angeles on July 12 before his official introduction as a Galaxy player the following day, had an ankle scan at the weekend which revealed no long-term damage.

"With the right rest and rehabilitation, he should be able to start training with the Galaxy as planned on Monday, July 16," Beckham's publicist Simon Oliveira told Reuters on Wednesday.

"Although David is being officially presented as a Galaxy player on July 13, he is still on holiday and will have that weekend off before reporting for training on the Monday."

Beckham, who joins Major League Soccer (MLS) side Galaxy from Spanish giants Real Madrid on a five-year deal worth $250 million, faces a busy schedule for the rest of this year.

After his debut against Chelsea at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, he is likely to play for the Galaxy later this month in the Superliga, a new tournament featuring four MLS teams and four Mexican first division clubs.

Beckham's first MLS regular season match is expected to come against Toronto FC in Toronto on August 5.

GALAXY COMMITMENTS

Apart from his Galaxy commitments, he is back in favor with England coach Steve McClaren and is almost certain to play in England's friendly against Germany at Wembley on August 22 and also in their last five qualifying games for Euro 2008.

Galaxy club president Alexi Lalas has said he has no problem if Beckham misses several Galaxy matches because of international commitments.

"It's not only an honor for him but also an honor for the Galaxy that we can say one of our players is performing so well for a team like England," Lalas told Reuters.

"If his form continues and David is called up in the future, I will drive him to the airport myself."

One of the most marketable sports figures in the world, Beckham is expected to make a significant impact with the Galaxy on and off the field while raising the popularity of the professional game in America.

He is the biggest name to move to the U.S. since soccer greats Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and Johan Cruyff played here in the 1970s and early eighties.

His arrival in America's entertainment capital marks the biggest sports deal for Los Angeles since ice hockey's Wayne Gretzky came to the NHL Kings in a 1988 trade with the Edmonton Oilers, who also received $15 million in cash.

[abadani69]

سارقان يك مجسمه برنزي از "ديويد بكام" را از باغي در مركز انگليس به*سرقت بردند.

به*گزارش خبرگزاري آسوشيتدپرس از لندن، پليس اعلام كرد، اين مجسمه ۹۰سانتي*متري كه ارزشي حدود ۴۰۰پوند دارد، از باغي در خارج بيرمنگام دزديده شده است.

اين مجسمه بكام را نشان مي*دهد كه ايستاده و يك پاي خود را روي توپ گذاشته است.

بكام كه ماه گذشته دوباره به تيم ملي فوتبال انگليس دعوت شد، پس از جام جهاني ۲۰۰۶از فهرست بازيكنان اين تيم خط خورده بود.

وي قرار است روز شنبه اولين بازي خود را براي تيم لوس آنجلس گالكسي آمريكا انجام دهد.

اين بازيكن پس از كمك به رئال مادريد اسپانيا براي قهرماني در مسابقات فصل گذشته لاليگا، اين تيم را ترك كرد.

بكام كه سابقه بازي در منچستريونايتد و قهرماني در شش دوره مسابقات ليگ برتر انگليس، دو جام حذفي و يك قهرماني در ليگ باشگاه*هاي اروپا را هم دارد در سال ۲۰۰۳به رئال مادريد ملحق شده بود.

[abadani69]

The English have been gaga over him for years, for reasons not yet fully understood on this side of the pond. The short version is that David Beckham, along with being the master of many hairstyles, has a special talent for kicking a stationary soccer ball just where he wants it.

That's big stuff in England, a country that has about as many sports heroes as there are sunny days at Wimbledon. Ordinarily, though, it might not cause much of a buzz among the beautiful people of Tinseltown.

But the beautiful people are nothing if not adaptable, especially when it comes to their own. Who would have thought just a few months ago that they would have cared so much about what happened to poor Paris Hilton?

Beckham, you will soon find out, is nothing if not a beautiful person. He's got a beautiful head of hair, a beautiful wife, and a beautiful $22 million home in Beverly Hills.

Among his neighbors are his beautiful best friends, Tom and Katie.

He's also got a beaut of a contract and endorsements that will pay him untold millions to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy, a minor league soccer team of sorts that plays in a league that is major in name only.

Beckham begins earning that contract on Friday when he makes an appearance at the Galaxy's home field, and the perfect media storm begins to brew. A few days later, his wife's trip to America will get more prime-time television coverage than the Beatles did when they first came over.

If you thought A-Rod's wife craved attention, just wait until NBC airs the hourlong special "Victoria Beckham: Coming to America," the chronicle of a rich and famous wife who gives up her rich and famous life in London to live a rich and famous life in Beverly Hills.

The former -- and future -- Posh Spice will be shown doing things most soccer moms do, like developing her signature line of clothing, sunglasses and perfume.

But that's merely the beginning.

On July 21, ESPN will wave the pompoms for three hours cheering Beckham's arrival in a show that will include everything except a concert by the Spice Girls. Adidas will run constant commercials featuring Beckham and Reggie Bush, and Motorola will pay him millions to sell phones.

Americans, whose willingness to fall for hype has never been overestimated, will undoubtedly be entranced by it all.

And then Beckham will actually play a game.

Soccer moms will swoon, and gather the kids around the TV. They'll have plenty of angles to look at since ESPN is using 19 cameras for the exhibition match against Chelsea, including one that will be trained on the master himself the entire game.

If all goes well, someone might score a goal. If things really go well, Beckham will score a goal.

Everyone will race out to buy season tickets, and set their TiVo for a season pass of Major League Soccer.

Or not.

Sure, sports and celebrity may seem like a great mix. But soccer and Americans just aren't.

We've seen it before, albeit on a smaller scale, when Pele came to the United States in the 1970s to make soccer as popular as the Ford Pinto. It didn't work then, and it didn't work in 1999 when Brandi Chastain and the U.S. national team were hailed as saviors of the game only to see their attempt at a professional league flop miserably.

Speaking of which, has anyone seen the millions of little girls who were supposed to be converted into soccer fans by that World Cup win recently? They're mostly grown women by now, so they shouldn't be hard to miss.

And how about the tens of millions of boys and girls who played soccer growing up? If they're like most kids I know, they gave it up just as quickly as they could for other sports once their parents gave them a choice.

Beckham isn't going to change that, no matter how much ESPN, Adidas and Motorola try. Americans may be fascinated by beautiful people, but for the most part they're bored by a game where one goal is cause for celebration and is often played so defensively that even open shots are a rarity.

People will tune in at first because they're curious, and because Beckham will be marketed as much as the iPhone. They might even buy a few tickets to get a glimpse of his hair or to see if he can really bend it like they say.

But will they be on hand to watch the Colorado Rapids play to a 0-0 tie with the Columbus Crew?

Maybe, but don't bet on it.

Because, in the end, they're still likely to find soccer about as enticing as the newest Spice Girls album.

[abadani69]

Tiger Woods has it. So does Arnold Schwarzenegger and George Clooney. Mickey Mantle certainly had it. And Magic Johnson still does.

It's charisma, and you can't manufacture it, bottle it or buy it. It seems you're just born with it.

David Beckham had it in his native England. But is it transferable to America? And, if it is, does he have enough of it to outshine other mega-celebrities in L.A. and lift the fortunes of an entire sport that Americans never have embraced at the professional level?

Pele, perhaps the best soccer player the game has ever known and a charismatic figure, couldn't do it.

He arrived in the United States in 1972 amid much hoopla. Three years later, after he led the New York Cosmos to a North American Soccer League championship, Americans saluted his effort and talent. Then they got back to watching baseball, football and basketball.

Time will tell with Beckham, who makes his American debut with the Los Angeles Galaxy at a practice Monday. But there are reasons the 32-year-old midfielder could succeed that have nothing to do with soccer: He's handsome, he's got a superstar wife (Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham) who seeks and attracts attention, and he's got endorsements that will put his image in front of Americans regardless of whether they ever watch him play.

He's already had his name in Hollywood lights. The 2002 movie "Bend it Like Beckham" put his name on Americans' lips even if they weren't sure who he was and what he bends.

The movie and Beckham's wife make him recognizable to many Americans who don't follow soccer. Leo Braudy, a USC English professor and expert in pop culture trends, says that increases the chances Beckham's charisma will become a "radiating force" in the U.S.

Dr. Joyce Brothers, the celebrity psychologist, sees other things working in Beckham's favor: an athletic body, "gorgeous face" and likable personality.

"We've reached a point now where women will say they like looking at attractive men," Brothers says. "If he gets along with all the guys and he makes all the women swoon, then he's got it all."

Still, charisma is more than just looks and personality. Though few seem capable of defining it, let alone explaining why some people have it and others don't.

We know Michael Jordan had it. So did Mantle while his teammate, Roger Maris, never did, even though it was he -- not Mantle -- who broke Babe Ruth's single-season home run record.

Muhammad Ali, even as a frail, 65-year-old version of the brash, young boxer he once was, still has it.

When it's strong enough, Braudy says, people who don't care about what you do still will care about you.

But that's difficult to maintain, particularly for athletes.

Hollywood actors have publicity machines behind them and their careers can be carefully managed to ensure the persona that brought them fame never fades.

Athletes also get help but, ultimately, they have to perform and all the managing in the world won't return the luster after a series of strikeouts in the World Series, dropped catches in the Super Bowl or missed shots at the buzzer.

Think about it: How many people would like to be like Mike if Jordan never made a game-winning shot?

Sports marketing expert David Carter says Beckham and the Galaxy, who are paying him a Major League Soccer-record $5.5 million this season, are taking a risk.

"What if he gets hurt? What if he does not help impact the Galaxy's winning percentage?" he says.

Still, Carter believes Beckham likely will deliver enough of a boost that his team will fill stadiums around the country and its star player's image will sell plenty of T-shirts, shorts and shoes.

UCLA sociologist David Halle, a native of England who has followed Beckham's career, believes Americans will be attracted by the dignity and humility with which he says Beckham carries himself. Even when much of England angrily blamed Beckham for losing a shot at a World Cup title in 1998 by drawing a penalty, he says, the athlete didn't appear to let it bother him.

"He's not a whiner," Halle says.

But it's more than that, says Laura Bahr, a Los Angeles actress and screenwriter.

"It's this star quality. Some people have it and some don't," she says. "It's about this ability to connect with people on various levels."

Like so many other Gen Xers, Bahr grew up playing soccer but abandoned it in adulthood. Beckham has her interested again. He seems kind, unselfish and, at least as far as she can tell from TV interviews, not as ego-driven as most star athletes. Add his looks and it's a given she'll be cheering for the Galaxy this year.

"With a face like his, how couldn't I," Bahr giggles.

[abadani69]

England star David Beckham, struggling to recover from a left ankle injury, was left out of the Los Angeles Galaxy lineup here Tuesday in the US club's 2-1 Superliga victory over Mexico's Pachuca.

Beckham made his debut for the Galaxy here last Saturday, playing 12 minutes as a substitute in a 1-0 friendly loss to English side Chelsea.

The midfielder who signed a contract worth a potential 250 million dollars to leave Real Madrid is trying to boost football interest by Americans but he was only a spectator as he continues to have treatment upon his sore ankle.


Beckham missed Monday training, leading to his benching for the Pachuca match, the first in a new event involving US and Mexican teams.

The Galaxy's first goal since Beckham's arrival came from Alan Gordon in the 50th minute. Damian Alvarez equalized for the Mexican side before Landon Donovan scored the winner for the Galaxy.

Galaxy coach Frank Yallop had said Beckham was unlikely to play Tuesday but was more confident Beckham will play Saturday for the Galaxy's next Superliga match against Chivas Guadalajara at the huge Los Angeles Coliseum.

[abadani69]

Los Angeles Galaxy coach Frank Yallop wants to keep England football icon David Beckham on the bench until his sore left ankle is healed and the midfielder is 100 percent fit.

The 32-year-old did not play in the Major League Soccer (MLS) team's 2-1 victory over Mexican club Pachuca on Tuesday and might not appear in Saturday's next Superliga match here on Saturday against Chivas Guadalajara.

"He's a little bit ahead of where he was a couple of days ago, but why risk it? Why risk him getting another bang on it and him going back to square one?" said Yallop, who played in England though at a markedly less high profile level than Beckham but carved out an honourable career mostly at Ipswich Town.

"We want to make sure he's going to be committed and 100 percent before he actually plays. This takes the pressure off for Saturday, so we can move forward and get him ready to go when he will be ready. He's still injured," added Yallop, who was capped over 50 times by Canada.

Beckham, a former Manchester United and Real Madrid star, made his Galaxy debut in the 78th minute of a 1-0 exhibition match defeat here to English giants Chelsea last Saturday.

While the Galaxy would like to have him in the lineup and getting to work his ball-bending magic with his new teammates, Beckham will be more needed when the Galaxy resume MLS competition on August 5 at Toronto.

The club is near the bottom of the 13-team league but has played many fewer matches, the Galaxy schedule backloaded so every MLS city would have a visit from the team after Beckham's arrival, setting up a gauntlet of games to come.

"The more we can get him ready to play the full 90 minutes, the better we are," Yallop said. "It's going to be a great atmosphere and I'm sure he'll want to get some sort of time, but we'll see."

"We talked on Monday, had a good chat and I said to him, 'There's no pressure to play until you're ready.'

"He doesn't want to play if he can't play well and that's the important thing. He doesn't want to come out and show badly. He wants to come out and be ready to go and really play well for this team."

[abadani69]

David Beckham's left ankle kept him sidelined Tuesday from the Los Angeles Galaxy's game against FC Dallas in the SuperLiga tournament, but the injury hasn't hurt Major League Soccer's bottom line.

Like nearly all of the Galaxy's road games through the end of this season, this match was sold out, an MLS rarity in the pre-Beckham era.

"As much as we are benefiting, there are markets across the country that are benefiting," said Alexi Lalas, the Galaxy's president and general manager. "This is a win-win situation for everybody."

Except for fans. Word of Beckham's no-show came too late to affect ticket sales in Dallas.

The stadium was about two-thirds full, and fans expressed frustration with Beckham's nonappearance.

"My daughter has a broken ankle and she sat in the car and made it up here for the game," said Jane Kobren, who drove more than 220 miles from Austin with her family.

Preston Sledge, who brought his son and a friend of his son's to the game, said they bought tickets because Beckham was expected to play.

"We weren't going to waste the tickets, but it was a big disappointment. There was a lot of hype to get people here," he said.

More than 10,000 seats were sold first to season ticket holders and then to those who bought five-game ticket packages, said German Sferra, an FC Dallas spokesman. Pizza Hut Park, the suburban Dallas home of FC Dallas, holds about 20,500. Some fans paid more than $200 per ticket.

It's a similar story elsewhere. Beckham games have sold out around the league, which backloaded the Galaxy's schedule with road games so every MLS team could cash in.

Of the 11 remaining road games for Beckham and the Galaxy this season, eight have sold out or nearly so, according to the MLS. Those games are against Toronto, Washington, New England, Colorado, Houston, Chicago, Columbus and Chivas USA.

The other three games -- against New York, Real Salt Lake and Kansas City -- are in football stadiums with large capacities. More than 40,000 tickets have been sold for the New York game and more than 20,000 for the other two games, including the highest advance sales in Kansas City team history.

Prior to the FC Dallas game Tuesday, there had been 15 sellouts in MLS during this regular season. Eight were in Toronto, a first-year club that has quickly developed the most rabid fan base in the league. Sellouts are expected at all of Toronto FC's home games this season at 20,000-seat BMO Field.

Galaxy coach Frank Yallop said Beckham is as frustrated about not playing as fans are about not getting to see him play.

"He is desperate to start playing," Yallop said. "I can see the fans' disappointment. But they will realize he is only human, and he has a really sore ankle."

League officials acknowledge that Beckham's sputtering start in the United States is not the fairy-tale beginning they envisioned. But they stress his five-year commitment to MLS.

"We're in Hollywood here so we know what a script looks like, and this is not a movie," Lalas said. "Would we have liked to capitalize on this incredible momentum we have at this moment? Of course."

MLS commissioner Don Garber said the worst thing would be to rush Beckham's return before he is healthy.

"It is getting a staggered start for sure," Garber said. "But there are many more games and many more years for us to have David really contribute on the field."

[abadani69]

According to Manchester United folklore, David Beckham has always had an eye for the spotlight.

The tale still handed down to young trainees who start to show signs of a big head is that the teenage Beckham was once spotted repeatedly driving around a block in one of the busiest areas of the city, with windows down and shades on, and waiting to be noticed.

Such antics were frowned upon by United captain Steve Bruce and former England skipper Bryan Robson, the godfathers of the team, and when news filtered back, they decided to mete out their own brand of punishment by bundling their young colleague into a spin dryer.

Beckham has never spoken about the prank, which Bruce – now manager of Birmingham City – swears is true. In any case, it certainly didn't steer the midfielder away from the limelight.

In later years, when fame and fortune found Beckham in ways he could never have imagined, the intensity of scrutiny has not always been entirely welcome. For sure, anyone who leads such a public lifestyle as Beckham and his wife Victoria must expect constant attention, but there were times in Manchester and at Real Madrid when some form of escape would have been welcome.

FC Dallas goalkeeper Shaka Hislop, who knows Beckham well and played against him many times in the English Premier League, believes the England star's move to the Los Angeles Galaxy will add some welcome balance to his life.

"Playing in Europe, you get a certain level of notoriety that follows soccer players and you get used to that," Hislop said. "That is not the case here in America. For most of us, once we leave the park, most people don't know who we are.

"David will certainly be recognized – he is a face people know – but here, high-profile people get more space, especially in Los Angeles because there are so many famous celebrities there.

"He could have the best of both worlds now. He will have the attention he has grown used to, but he will have the privacy when he wants it."

In Manchester, the legendary status of the young United team that dominated the late 1990s was set in stone while they were still in their heyday. As the trendy face of a city rapidly shedding its grim, industrial image and emerging as a hip destination, Beckham was every bit as cool as Noel and Liam Gallagher, the frontmen for the rock band Oasis.

In Madrid, where soccer is as important as religion, there was constant recognition and reminders of how much Real means to its people. The pressure of being a Galactico only increased with every trophy-free season until finally, in his last game, Beckham helped clinch the La Liga title.

And while Posh and Becks undoubtedly thrive in the spotlight, and count the likes of Tom Cruise and Elton John as personal friends, they are keen to give sons Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz as normal of an upbringing as possible.

As a footballer, Beckham said he wants to be treated like "any other player." It will be hard to achieve that with his Galaxy teammates. Elsewhere in the league, it will be impossible.

"It will be a bit like the FA Cup in England, when you get a lower league team come up against some of the big name clubs. The smaller team so often raises their game because they want to make a point to their opponents with a big reputation," Hislop said. "The players in the MLS will want to show David what they can do and they will not make it easy for him. He has thrived in that kind of situation before, but it will certainly be a challenge.

"I am sure he will enjoy it, and the American game has been crying out for someone like David to come over to draw some real attention. It will be a good chance for some players to get a few bragging rights – if they win a tackle against Beckham or dribble past him it will be something to tell people about."

Hislop, a Trinidad and Tobago international who played for Newcastle, Reading, West Ham and Portsmouth in an impressive career, said he hopes Beckham avoids some of the teething troubles he had to endure when moving to the States.

During a ferocious Texas storm, a tree from a neighboring property blew over and crashed through the roof of the Hislop home, and he and his family still live in rented housing while the damage is fixed. But as Hislop added: "I'm not sure he will need to worry too much about that in California."

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Soccer star David Beckham and his Los Angeles Galaxy teammates were guests of the Toronto Blue Jays for Monday afternoon's game against the New York Yankees and got a tour of both clubhouses before the game.

A global star whose every move is followed by a horde of cameras, Beckham surprised the Yankees with his relaxed, easygoing manner, posing for countless photographs with players.

"He's a nice guy," Yankees captain Derek Jeter said. "You hear so much about him coming over here to this country. He's down to earth and it was a pleasure meeting him."

Beckham, who missed his scheduled Major League Soccer debut in a 0-0 tie against Toronto FC Sunday night due to a sore left ankle, walked through the Blue Jays' clubhouse about an hour before game time, signing a few autographs and chatting briefly with outfielder Vernon Wells.

"He's a very engaging person, a very nice guy," Yankees manager Joe Torre said.

Beckham was joined by a handful of Galaxy teammates including Landon Donovan, Abel Xavier and Joe Cannon.

From there, Beckham walked across the field as the Yankees finished batting practice, stopping to speak with Torre and posing for pictures with bench coach Don Mattingly.

Torre escorted Beckham into the Yankees clubhouse, where he spoke with Jeter. Beckham dropped by the umpires room before returning to the field to pose for pictures while holding a Galaxy jersey.

After donning a Blue Jays jersey with his name and number 23 on the back, Beckham returned to the field to watch the ceremonial first pitches, thrown by his Canadian teammates Ante Jazic and Kevin Harmse. The Galaxy's Canadian-born coach, Frank Yallop, joined Beckham, Cannon, Donovan and Xavier on the field for the ceremony.

The Galaxy approached the Blue Jays about attending the game and the team responded by inviting the whole team to watch the game from a private suite.

Los Angeles leaves Toronto on Tuesday, part of trip that takes it to D.C. United on Thursday and the New England Revolution on Sunday. The Galaxy return home for a SuperLiga semifinal against D.C. United on Aug. 15, then play an MLS match three days later at the New York Red Bulls.

Since joining the Galaxy, Beckham has been limited to a 16-minute appearance on July 21 in an exhibition against England's Chelsea. His status for Thursday's game is unclear.

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England coach Steve McClaren is hopeful David Beckham will play in the exhibition next week against Germany.

Beckham has seen limited play with the Los Angeles Galaxy because of an ankle injury. McClaren is optimistic Beckham will be fit to face the Germans at Wembley next Wednesday if he sees action against D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls this week.


"We've got to assess it over the next few days," McClaren said Wednesday. "He will be in the squad. We want him to come over and play a part against Germany.

"We'll be keeping in close contact with him and the Galaxy medical staff to see his condition. If at all possible, of course, we'd like David to join us on Monday."

Beckham has yet to start for the Galaxy since signing a five-year, $32.5 million contract with the Major League Soccer team.

Wayne Rooney won't be on the England team to feed off Beckham's trademark crosses.

Rooney is out for two months after breaking his foot in Manchester United's Premier League opener on Sunday. He will miss England's two Euro 2008 qualifying games against Israel (Sept. and Russia (Sept 12).

[abadani69]

It was a night of firsts for David Beckham.

The English superstar started his first game for the Galaxy, scored his first goal on a free kick in the 27th minute and Los Angeles beat D.C. United 2-0 in the SuperLiga semifinals.

Beckham also notched his first assist on the Galaxy's second goal. He sent a long pass to a streaking Landon Donovan, who scored on a breakaway in the 47th minute for a 2-0 lead.

The Galaxy advanced to the Aug. 29 tournament final in Carson against Mexican club team Pachuca, which tied Houston 2-2, but won 4-3 on penalty kicks.

The winning team earns $1 million, which the Galaxy could put toward paying Beckham's $6.5 million yearly salary.

Beckham also earned his first yellow card after fouling United's Jaime Moreno in the 18th minute. Beckham got fouled once in the first half, when he also took two corner kicks.

Fans cheered and women screamed as Beckham prepared to take a 26-yard free kick. After he connected inside the left post, he was mobbed by teammates. Goalkeeper Joe Cannon even scampered across more than half the field to join the celebration.

Beckham waved to the crowd a couple times while blue, gold and white confetti fluttered through the air, reminiscent of the scene when he was introduced amid much fanfare July 13.

He was stopped on a 28-yard free kick in the 58th minute, when United goalkeeper Troy Perkins leaped to the left and caught the ball.

In all, Beckham played 63 minutes. He clapped his hands above his head while turning in a circle to acknowledge the cheers before putting the captain's armband on Donovan and heading to the bench.

Beckham had played just 37 minutes in two previous games because of a nagging left ankle injury that didn't allow him to practice with the Galaxy for the first time until Tuesday.

The victory avenged the Galaxy's 1-0 loss to United last week in Major League Soccer action, when Beckham made his league debut on the road.

He was named captain for Wednesday's match, a title previously held by Donovan. Beckham actively urged on his teammates, talking to them and waving his arms during play.

As the halftime whistle blew, Beckham bent over and adjusted his socks, then stood up, a broad smile on his face as he waved and walked off the field.

The game, which wasn't part of the Galaxy season ticket package, attracted an announced crowd of 17,223 in the 27,000-capacity stadium.

Galaxy midfielder Cobi Jones, who is returning from a hip injury, entered in the 71st minute. The team was without defender Ante Jazic, midfielder Kelly Gray and forward Alan Gordon, who were all suspended after receiving yellow cards in each of their two previous SuperLiga games.

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David Beckham has made his trans-Atlantic commute to play for England against Germany at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday.

It looks as if Steven Gerrard won't make it from Liverpool and Owen Hargreaves from Manchester, however.

The England-Germany game is the pick of Wednesday's exhibitions, while European Championship qualifying also resumes with six group games.

Now playing for the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer, Beckham will have to get used to some long distance travel if he is to keep his place on the national team. After playing 90 minutes in the Galaxy's 5-4 loss to the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, the former England captain hopes to play for the 97th time for his country against the Germans.

"I was surprised to actually play 90 minutes," Beckham said. "The manager and the coaching staff kept asking me if I wanted to come off. But I'm quite a stubborn person on and off the field.

"My ankle took a pounding obviously. I'm not used to this (artificial) surface but it wasn't bad. There were a couple instances where I rolled over on my ankle but we have to play on this surface. My ankle is more swollen than it was before the game but I'm sure it'll be fine for the game on Wednesday."

Beckham, who has been dealing with the left ankle injury since playing for England in a Euro 2008 match at Estonia on June 6, hopes to play some of the game against the Germans and then fly back to the United States to face Chivas USA in a MLS game the following day.

"I'd like to play some part in the game on Wednesday and then, flying back, hopefully get some rest and play some part in the Chivas game," Beckham said. "I think it's important for me to get back and be at the game and hopefully play some part in the game."

Germany coach Joachim Loew already had Michael Ballack, Torsten Frings and Mario Gomez out of the match when Miroslav Klose, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira also pulled out of the game. But Loew said that won't stop his team from going all out to beat England.

"We are not going to hide, despite the many injuries," said Loew, who added his team would also raise its game playing in the rebuilt Wembley.

Germany beat England 1-0 in the final game at the old Wembley in October 2000.

"We are going to be missing experience, routine and leadership," Loew said. "Those missing are not easy to replace. It would have been good if we had the best possible team for this game, but we are not going to complain. It's a joy to be playing in this stadium."