Word: beckhams
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 2000-2009
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...Last January, Lalas, his coach and other Galaxy executives began discussing who, if they had carte blanche, they would they want to add to their roster. While the MLS has a salary cap, they wanted to capitalize on a new rule (now commonly known as the "Beckham Rule"), which allows teams to designate one player whose salary doesn't count against the cap. Beckham topped their wish list because of his popularity in England, Europe and Asia, where his hairstyle and fashion sense can create instant pop-culture trends. Like Michael Jordan, Beckham transcends soccer, and the worldwide attention...
...training drills on a beautifully manicured field a few hundred yards from the 27,000-seat Home Depot Center. But the tranquility of those training sessions may be about to end, as fans, groupies and paparazzi jostle for a glimpse of the Galaxy's new signing - English superstar David Beckham. Starting with a game on July 21, the former Real Madrid "galactico" will put his creative midfield skills to work creating and scoring goals for the Galaxy. But that's only part of the job: In reality, he will become the face of Major League Soccer, the AAA baseball...
...Galaxy president and former U.S. World Cup star Alexi Lalas has brought Beckham to these shores in a repeat of what the New York Cosmos tried 32 years ago by bringing Pele to play in the now-defunct North American Soccer League. For leaving behind the top-tier clubs of Europe, Beckham will earn $250 million from a combination of sponsorship deals, merchandizing sales and a percentage of club profits...
...going to be a circus, but it is fun when the circus comes to town," says Lalas, who seems to love needling the Beckham-obsessed English press. In recent weeks he has called the globally watched English Premier League an "inferior product" because only a handful of big-money teams have a realistic chance of winning its championship. Beckham, former England captain whose virtuoso free kicks made him a national hero (and spawned the movie title Bend It Like Beckham) is also one of the country's most obsessively followed celebrities. His book, My Side, was the fastest-selling autobiography...
...English icon, the Galaxy's offer seemed smarter way to end a storied career than riding the pine for Real or transferring to a lesser English or European team. With Beckham in their midfield, Galaxy execs dream of creating a "global brand," where they play games against the world's top teams, and attract better players and more fans. His July 21 debut is against London powerhouse Chelsea, although it's an exhibition match of the sort that European clubs rarely take seriously...