Jimmy Conrad * on Beckham

from USA Today

 

I'd like to know what Jimmy thinks about the Beckham Exception and its possible effect on MLS.

I think ultimately it's a positive for the league. We've been searching for an A-lister for a long time, just to be a topic around the water cooler. We couldn't have found a better person than David Beckham. He has a lot of magnetism off the field where people care about what he's doing when he's just going for a walk or eating breakfast, but at the same time he can produce on the field and be a star player in the league as well. He's one of those guys that kind of transcends sport. I think we're fortunate to have him.

The possible ripple effects are going to be positive. As much as he's getting paid — more than probably everybody else combined — it's still ultimately going to have a good positive effect on American players' salaries. It's going to promote more interest. More owners might want to get interested, more fans who have been kind of iffy might want to come and check it out. So I have nothing but positive things to say about David Beckham and his impact on the league as well as the designated player rule.

 

* Jimmy Conrad
Kansas City defender

Defeat in Colorado

Los Angeles Galaxy crashed to 4-0 defeat to Colorado in Saturday's
Major League Soccer season opener.

The glamor team's new season under Dutch soccer legend Ruud Gullit
started poorly.

"It's always going to be tough when you have international games,"
Beckham said. "I felt OK for most of the match, maybe not at my
sharpest, but it was overall a tough game for us. We created chances,
but didn't put them away."

Former Manchester United winger Terry Cooke who opened the scoring in
the 10th minute for Colorado Rapids.

Christian Gomez doubled the lead with a 60th minute penalty, Jamaican
forward Omar Cummings made it 3-0 in the 67th minute and Colin Clark
completed the scoring in the 80th.

"I'm finding it hard not to criticize some of the decisions tonight
but I've just been told I'll be fined if I do," Beckham said. "I don't
want that to happen. Referees have a tough job, but some decisions
change games, and that's happened tonight."

"The turning point was the penalty kick," Gullit said. "That caused a
little bit of chaos in our organization, and we lost our head a little
bit."

David and Victoria Beckham celebrate 100th cap with Paris meal

Victoria Beckham looks good enough to eat as she steps out with hubby David in Paris to celebrate his 100th cap.

But then, they HAD managed to bag a table at one of the French capital's most exclusive restaurants, the Cristal Room.

A source said: "It's one of the hottest restaurants in Paris - people wait months for a booking. Becks clearly has the golden touch."

He sure does. After all the doubts over him making the ton, proud Becks wore his team suit to dinner... as the critics ate their words.

from: mirror.co.uk

David Beckham - Real Madrid (2003-2007)

Beckham Expected Back In Colorado Saturday

David Beckham is scheduled to be in Colorado Saturday with the Los Angeles Galaxy for an MLS season opening game against the Rapids.  Before that, he's playing  with England against France in Paris on Wednesday. If Beckham plays Wednesday against France, it will be his milestone 100th international game for England.

Beckham has failed to play in two previous appearances in Colorado.

Beckham was recalled by England early this week after Fabio Capello saw him play in a friendly pre-season game last weekend and decided he was in good enough condition to join the national team for the game against France.

from: http://cbs4denver.com

Beckham Could Buy Galaxy

David Beckham has an option to buy Los Angeles Galaxy when his contract with the MSL team runs out.

The English midfielder will be able to purchase a stake in his own Major League Soccer franchise in 2011, CBS's 60 minutes reported.

Beckham, who could earn his 100th England cap on Wednesday night against France, said his move to the US was not a form of "semi-retirement".

"I'm passionate about the game, I'm passionate about this move, and I'm passionate about the fact that the sport can grow here and the potential is huge here," he said.

Asked about his injury-laden first season, which saw him play just five games, he said: "It was a nightmare to be honest."

Via I fourfourtwo.com

Cruz Beckham break dancing

Eriksson Plays Down Beckham Rumours

The boulevard press have been running stories suggesting that the Swedish coach plans to use City owner Thaksin Shinawatra's millions to lure Beckham back from USA, but Eriksson has been dismissive of the reports.

"We haven't talked about David Beckham and I think it would be very difficult to match his salary!", Eriksson said.

"I am very happy for David that he's in the squad because I think he deserves his 100th cap," he added, referring to the fact that England boss Fabio Capello has called Beckham back to the side that is preparing to take on France in a prestige friendly.

"It has been our policy to have gone for younger players, but one of the things I discussed with Dr Thaksin this week was if we should take in, not an old but an older player this summer," he added.

"If we do that it must be a very big name, a very, very big name who can fill the stadium."

via I goal.com

Beckham About To Score A Landmark

http://www.forbes.com

James McKeigue

LONDON - Before he graced the covers of Vanity Fair and modelled for Armani, David Beckham was playing soccer for England. Soon enough, that particular gig will be reaching a milestone as he makes his 100th appearance for the national team.

The LA Galaxy star has been named in England manager Fabio Cappello’s provisional 30-man team to face France in a friendly match on March 26th. If Beckham survives the cut to be in the final squad, he could become only the fifth man in history to join the "100 cap club."
Playing for a national team like England is vital for a soccer player's marketing appeal, especially in Europe. “If he gets picked for England, that will boost his marketing appeal immensely," said Gethin Evans of G2, a sports management group. "A lot of people thought he was past it when he did not get picked for the Switzerland game--this would prove that he is still a top footballer.”

Beckham, who is married to former Spice Girl Victoria, has a few things in common with the four men who have played for England 100 times. British soccer legend Billy Wright married one of the Beverly Sisters, a 1950's singing trio, well before dating a pop star became almost mandatory for England soccer players. Bobby Moore, who captained the England team when it won the 1966 World Cup, also played in America, in the ill-fated North American Soccer League, while Bobby Charlton, who played for England throughout the 60's and 70's, opened a number of soccer schools academies, as Beckham has recently done.

Yet while these other elite soccer players enjoyed the perks that come with being a national sporting hero, none of them have managed to cash in on their image in the way that Beckham has. The soccer star currently has a $250 million, five-year deal with LA Galaxy--but the contract is not just for his playing services. It's also for his commercial work, and marketing the club.

Beckham has lucrative deals with Armani, NBC, Gillette, Motorola, PepsiCo and Adidas, which last year earned him a total $33 million (See: "The World’s Top Earning Athletes") His move to LA Galaxy also shot him to 15th place, from 43rd, on Forbes’ list of the World's Most Powerful Celebrities.

Not only will Cappello's selection help Beckham reinforce his presence in Europe, it could also provide a fillip for Major League Soccer. Ageing stars have been coming to America to cash in, on what Europeans regard as a soft league, since Pele came out of retirement to play for the New York Cosmos in 1975.

Yet Pele was 35 and regarded as past his prime when he joined the Cosmos. If Beckham can still shine for England, it could pave the way for younger European stars to play in America.

Foto http://nymag.com

Beckham wants no cap favours

www.sportinglife.com

David Beckham only wants to win his 100th England cap if he is in the side "on his merits", according to the Los Angeles Galaxy general manager and president Alexi Lalas.

The midfielder was left out of Fabio Capello's first England squad against Switzerland last month but has been tipped to be included in the party chosen by the Italian tomorrow lunchtime for next week's friendly against France.

Capello cited Beckham's lack of match fitness as the reason for leaving him out for the Switzerland clash, but Galaxy are now gearing up for the start of the new Major League Soccer season.

Capello's number two Franco Baldini watched Beckham play for Galaxy against FC Dallas on Saturday, and Lalas believes the 32-year-old has shown enough to be included in tomorrow's squad.

"For him to finally get over the top and get it done with is going to be important," the former USA defender told Sky Sports News.

"But I also think he wants to make sure he earns it. Not necessarily for the service that he's given but for where he is.

"He wants to contribute. If you're going to come in and play against a team like France you need all guns blazing so he wants to be called in on his merits.

"He understands as he gets older his chances are less but I still think David Beckham can help England right now with where he is physically and for the type of player he is.

"And for the type of big-game player he is. When things are on the line, David Beckham steps up."