The vintage David Beckham has some tough decisions to make -- Paulblank photo

Sports Notes - Part 1 - CELEBRITY vs. SPORTS CONFLICT- DAVID BECKHAM

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

When they say you can't mix oil and water to some sports purists that could mean that an athlete should focus on the sport he is being paid for and not spread their-selves too thin by being involved in the entertainment business. Some athletes intentionally or not get caught up in being a celebrity through association or marriage. David Beckham and the now former Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom qualify - Sports Trivia - Did You Know? - Former NBA star Walt Hazzard gone but not forgotten

Thursday December 15, 2011

THE DAVID BECKHAM DILEMMA

Crossing over from sports to entertainment celebrity in many cases is not a good thing. The most popular outburst was David Beckham getting a boot in the face from his then Manager Alex Ferguson while the Becks was a member of the Manchester United squad. Mr. Posh was then sent packing to Real Madrid and later moved on the bright Hollyweird lights in signing with the LA Galaxy.

Football's sex symbol is now in line for another change as his contract has expired with the Galaxy. His quandary now raises the question where will he decide to go next?

Remaining in Hollyweird and maintaining a relationship with Fabio Capello to appease the managers demands that any player that is selected for the England national squad must play regular top level football. The Galaxy does not qualify. Beckham admits that he has had too much wear and tear to commute and entire year and play in Europe as well as the Galaxy.

Beckham's hope to be a member of the England national squad for the next World Cup means that he will have to have regular playing time with one top level team and be injury free. For a now 36-year-old body that has had its breaking points this is a tough ask. Age makes a difference but Beckham has defied the odds against him numerous times to remerge as a magnetic force to be reckoned with. Much of that is reflected in his history and accomplishments.

Beckham has twice been runner-up for FIFA World Player of the Year and in 2004 was the world's highest-paid footballer when taking into account salary and advertising deals. Beckham was the first British footballer to play 100 Champions League matches. He is third in the Premier League's all time assist provider chart, with 152 assists in 265 appearances. He was Google's most searched of all sports topics in both 2003 and 2004. With such global recognition he has become an elite advertising brand and a top fashion icon. When joining the MLS in 2007 he was given the highest player salary in the league's history, with his playing contract with the Galaxy over the next three years being worth US$6.5m per year.

As much as he has accomplished on the pitch the golden boy of International football/soccer Beckham has achieved much more off the pitch in becoming one of the most recognized athletes of al time. The Leytonstone, London, England born athlete became known as a fashion plate, and together with Victoria, the couple became lucrative spokespeople sought after by clothing designers, health and fitness specialists, fashion magazines, perfume and cosmetics manufacturers, hair stylists, exercise promoters, and spa and recreation companies. One recent example is a new line of aftershave and fragrances called David Beckham Instinct.

In 2002 Beckham was hailed as the ultimate "metrosexual" by the man who invented the term and has been described as such by numerous other articles since. The Beckhams were reportedly paid $13.7 million in 2007 to launch his fragrance line in the US. In the world of fashion, David has already appeared on the covers of many magazines. U.S. covers have included the men's magazine Details, and with his wife for the August 2007 issue of W.

According to Google, "David Beckham" was searched for more than any other sports topic on their site in 2003 and 2004.The search engine Ask Jeeves named Beckham in December 2009 as the third most online searched person in the last decade. The findings are based on online activity by British users of the search engine.

Beckham has at least 20 tattoos adorning his body. In 2004 Beckham added the four-by-six-inch "winged cross" neck tattoo prior to England's three-nation tournament soccer match against Japan in the City of Manchester Stadium. That tattoo is by far the most visible and recognized. In his autobiography "David Beckham: My Side", Becks reveals some of his thoughts on tattoos: "The idea came to me much later, a little while after Brooklyn was born. I was talking to Mel B and her then-husband, Jimmy Gulzar, and the subject of tattoos came up. I ended up going to this Dutch guy who'd done all of Jimmy's. I'd finally realized what I wanted a tattoo to represent. Mine are all about the people in my life, my wife and sons, who I want with me always. When you see me, you see the tattoos. You see an expression of how I feel about Victoria and the boys. They're part of me."

A pivotal issue in the decision is complimenting his family which includes schooling considerations for his children and placing his family unit in an environment where his singer/model wife Posh Spice's career can thrive. The most significant consideration is to sign with a team in a location that can provide him with access to his celebrity life style. The current odds indicate that his choice will be Paris Saint-Germain. Stay tuned…

DID YOU KNOW?

Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola has won 9 0f 12 titles during his three years at the helm of the Spanish club.

TRIVIA QUESTION:

What team has won the most European titles? See the answer at the end of this column.

Continued - Part 2 - LAMAR ODOM'S NBA SHUFFLE

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