Beckham Finally Arrives!

[Cali Ed]

Saw the press conference LIVE on FSC here in the States today. Good to see the turnout, and the crowd reaction was great. Here's hoping for a successful run in the MLS for Becks. Got my tix for 7/21 (Chelsea match), and hoping to pick up a jersey soon, too.

[bedir than average]

I've been considering going up to Vancouver to see the WhiteCaps v Galaxy match in a few weeks.

Cali, what's the sports radio take on this down there?

[Cali Ed]

Originally Posted by bedir than average

... Cali, what's the sports radio take on this down there?

TBH, haven't listened much to sports talk radio recently. On the local stations, there's been some coverage, and it's been top or near-the-top coverage. In the papers, they've had much greater coverage than usual, so those two things are good for the sport's profile.

As for the game: I'm going! Nice 46th birthday present: two tix to the double header. I plan to go to both, and hope that Becks is well enough to at least play some on Saturday.

Hope you get a chance to see them. I wasn't aware the Galaxy was playing the White Caps, though. Exhibition match?

[bedir than average]

yeah, actually its in October, so there may be some national team conflict, but if it looks like he's coming that far North I will find a way.

[bedir than average]

ESPNsoccernet - Global - Los Angeles v Chelsea Report

Beckham only takes the field for the last 12 minutes plus some stoppage time.

the Galaxy only lost 0-1 to Chelsea in the World Series of Soccer. The other match had Tigres beat Suwon 3-0

[Cali Ed]

Yeah, but Chelsea had about a dozen golden chances they didn't capitalize on, and a goal called back on a dodgy off-sides call. They clearly outclassed the Galaxy.

As to the game: it was an electric atmosphere. Lots of fans for both teams, but everyone was there to see Becks.
At halftime, as I watched the ESPN gang (Rob Stone and Julie Foudy) right outside my section, I was talking to the missus, when a guy bumps into me. I turn around, he apologizes, and I see he has a camera. I turn slightly, and I'm less than 10 feet from Victoria Beckham! There were two bodyguards, and a dozen photographers following her. But there was a gap in the photogs, and if I'd took a step toward her, I could've reached out and touched her.
As for the game, the wait for Becks was growing with each passing minute. When he came out, the crowd cheered. When he began to warm up, they cheered louder. When he played the ball back to his teammate when it went over the touch line, they cheered louder. And when he came on in the 78th minute: BAM! What a reaction!
Not that he did much in his time (a couple of sharp passes and a long ball which the Galaxy attackers promptly misplayed to give up a golden scoring chance, and a nice bender on his only corner kick that John Terry cleared comfortably), but it was good to see him out there.
You could definitely tell that Abel Xavier was glad to see him out there. His confidence level appeared to soar when he came in. And it was funny to see Landon Donovan's reaction when Beck went to take the corner, because Landon was closest to the corner when the ball went out of play. In the past, that was his corner, but he smiled a huge smile, as if he was thinking "of course I want Beckham to take this; what was I thinking?"
I'm glad I went.

[bedir than average]

welcome to history Ed

[djwhokid]

Tom Cruise, who has been in Germany filming his latest flick, flew in especially to host the welcome do, according to AP.

The Beckhams arrived with their hosts - Tom Cruise, his wife Katie Holmes, and Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith.

They were joined at the red-carpet party by recently-married Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria and big name Hollywood stars Brooke Shields, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher.

Also on the guest list was American Idol creator Simon Fuller, who managed the Spice Girls pop group that launched Victoria Beckham to fame.

Director Ron Howard and producer Brian Grazer were among the first to arrive, and Wesley Snipes Quincy Jones, Jim Carrey and Jenny McCarthy also made the exclusive guest list.

According to AP, George Clooney and Steven Spielberg were also expected to make an appearance.

Stars go all out for Beckham welcome party | Herald Sun