Sports Notes - Beckham Bent on Galaxy - September 2007

James Loving - National Radio Text Service - Wednesday September 19, 2007

The foundation was set when he opened a sports academy in the US a few years ago.

BECKHAM's MONEY TALKS

With so much controversy concerning David Beckham's move to the United States to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS (Major League Soccer) you might think he was starting the 3rd World War. War no... a new frontier yes. For a five year US $250 million deal how can anyone argue that its not the right move for him.

Yea, Yea, sure, sure the experts claim that he cheated himself and that he had a few more good years left in him to play up to the level of the EPL (English Premiere League). No argument there but the question is.... Why? How many athletes are offered a US $50 million a year contract?

The Galaxy web site noted that on January 11, 2007 it was announced that David Beckham would join their squad on a five-year contract, reportedly worth an estimated US$50 million a year in salary, but combined with endorsements and club-derived income, could earn him over $250 million over the life of the contract.

Yes its not an all cash agreement but with the Brits popularity in the states and in the game itself the deal will pay off. For the Galaxy and the MLS they are already reaping huge benefits by the massive International coverage given by CNN and ESPN Sports. Due to injury and travel commitments for the English national team Beckham has hardly played but the press continues to cover his every move equating to more media exposure for the MLS and Galaxy. In the past there was barley a peep about the Galaxy in International press and minimal coverage of the league from both of the cable networks.

For those who were surprised at the deal they shouldn't be. The foundation was set when he opened a sports academy in the US a few years ago. With his wife's celebrity and being in the entertainment business further solidified the transition. The fact that Simon Fuller manages both clinched it.

On June 02, 2005 the Galaxy announced, DAVID BECKHAM LAUNCHES SOCCER ACADEMY AT THE HOME DEPOT CENTER IN CALIFORNIA.

Beckham and AEG formed a partnership to establish The David Beckham Academy. Also attending the annnouncement Beckham was joined at AEG's Home Depot Center, located on the campus of Cal. State University Dominguez Hills, by Simon Fuller ("American Idol" creator and one of the world's most influential entertainment entrepreneurs and Spice Girls manager) and AEG's President and CEO Tim Leiweke. The parties previously unveiled plans for a sister Academy on the Greenwich Peninsula in East London beside The O2 where AEG is building an arena and entertainment district.

For the game of International football there couldn't be a better ambassador to promote the development of the sport in the US. His Hollywood good looks appeal to a more than soccer audience particularly the ladies.

Merchandising? It's a no brainer. It is likely that Beckham/Galaxy shits and gear will set all-time sports merchandising sales records in America.

Five years is a long time for the 32- year-old. The most critical subject is can he remain healthy and avoid being injured by some $17,000 a year MLS wannabe hot-shot that wants to make a name for himself by taking out a super-star. Defenders taking cheap shots have challenged him physically. They question is how long will that last?

Aside from money for Beckham to make the move is a major step up for the development of the game in America. Many youths will take up the sport to be like Beckham whereas there was no player in the league that commanded that respect. He shows that he cares about youths learning football and take the time to be with them and instruct them.

Beckham has stated in a Sky Sports interview his primary motivation is to broaden the appeal of soccer in the US, citing such sporting luminaries as Pelé, George Best, Johan Cruijff and Franz Beckenbauer as pioneers of soccer in the US during the 1970s.

Beckham is the fifth most capped England player of all time, has twice been the runner up in the FIFA World Player Of The Year Award in 1999 and 2001 and in addition to being the only Englishman to score in three different World Cups, is also only the fifth player in World Cup history to score twice from direct free kicks. He was captain of the English national team from 15 November 2000 to July 2, 2006.

General manager Alexi Lalas of Galaxy told the BBC Sport website of his admiration for the former England captain. "Signing players of Beckham's stature would be a wonderful step in the right direction not just for the Galaxy but for soccer in America."

As Jose Mourinho says..."Football is football." As we say Beckham is Beckham and in football there is not a better fit to develop and promote interest for the game in America.

NOTES

* Beckham has supported UNICEF since his days at Manchester United and in January 2005 the England Football Captain became a Goodwill Ambassador with a special focus on UNICEF's Sports for Development programme.

He attended one of Bobby Charlton's football schools in Manchester and won the chance to take part in a training session at FC Barcelona, as part of a talent competition. As a child he played for a local youth team called Ridgeway Rovers coached by his father, Stuart Underwood and Steve Kirby.

* Beckham never appeared in the 2002 film Bend It Like Beckham except in archive footage. He and his wife wanted to make cameo appearances but scheduling proved difficult so the director used look-alikes instead.

* Beckham makes a cameo appearance with Zidane and Raùl in the 2005 football film Goal! where he says hello to the main character during a party about halfway through the film.

* With his free kick goal against Ecuador in the second round of the 2006 World Cup, Beckham gained membership into two of football's most exclusive clubs: he became the only English player - and the 21st player regardless of nationality - to score in three world cups.

* Beckham has nine tattoos on his body, one of which is the name of his wife Victoria but it is written in Hindi rather than English because Beckham thought it would be "tacky" to have it written in English. The tattoo is misspelled, however, so the tattoo actually reads "Vhictoria" rather than "Victoria

* Beckham has also been ridiculed in the press for looking like a "Hell's Angel biker" and a "football yob" due to his ever-expanding number of tattoos, the design, and the location of them.

* Beckham almost always plays in long sleeve shirts.

* Beckham is the only player to be sent off twice while playing for England.

* In the romantic comedy Love Actually, Hugh Grant, as the Prime Minister of Britain, lists "David Beckham's right foot" as one of the things that makes Britain great, quickly adding "David Beckham's left foot, come to think of it."

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