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'Bend It Like Beckham' may soon be a cry in the streets of
Los Angeles, as David Beckham a British Native and
worldwide media sensation has landed with the Los
Angeles Galaxy of the MLS. Reports are that the former
Real Madrid and World Cup Soccer star has signed an
astronomical 5 year $250 Million contract that lands him
as the Highest Paid Athlete in the World! Beckham is just
as well known for his boyish good looks and charm as he
is for his prowess on the Soccer field. Beckham's wife
Victoria formerly known as 'Posh Spice', a Spice Girl, and
star in her own right, adding to the media sensation that is
certain to follow the global star to Hollywood's glitz and
glamour capital. Not since Brazilian Superstar Pele hit
American soil in the '70s with the New York Cosmos has
a foreign born soccer player created such a sensation on
American soil. A call to the LA Galaxy box office showed
that they have received Non- stop calls regarding Season
tickets for Galaxy games at the Home Depot Center.
Beckham jerseys are expected to be a Hot seller locally
and Globally as well! Yes, there is now Football in Los
Angeles, albeit in the form of Euro Football, more
commonly known as soccer in the States.
It remains to be seen whether this craze can last or not.

A Beckham article by Ben James from England follows

From the relatively unpromising surroundings of
Leytonstone in East London, David Beckham has struck
gold in a manner that most people would not even dare to
dream.

A teenage starlet at Manchester United, he survived
vilification after being sent off at the 1998 World Cup to
become one of the most famous sportsmen in the world,
eventually joining the Galacticos at Real Madrid in a
25-million-pound (48-million-dollar) deal.

As famous for his changing hairstyles and his popstar
wife as for his football, the man known as "Goldenballs"
will now be taking his talents to LA Galaxy in the United
States in a simply staggering deal, reportedly worth 250
million dollars over five years.

Money and celebrity have followed Beckham wherever he
has been.

At United, he reportedly earned around 80,000 pounds per
week and such was his image - his blond hair making
him the perfect marketing tool. That was not lost on
United, but also not on Real Madrid, who paid 25 million
pounds to sign him in the summer of 2003.

The former England captain also signed
muti-million-pound deals with adidas and Gilette and
there is probably no better choice than Beckham to raise
the profile of football in the United States. The man is a
brand in himself.

Beckham is as famous as much for his celebrity as for his
footballing prowess - he and his wife, the former Spice
Girl, Victoria Beckham, attract surely as much attention as
any couple in the world.

It is estimated that the 31-year-old already earns around
32 million dollars a year and that he earns more from
endorsements than any other player in the game.

Beckham became the face of Gillette in a deal thought to
be his biggest single endorsement, at an estimated nine
million dollars over three years and has also advertised
sunglasses for Police as well as working with Pepsi and
Vodafone.

But if money and celebrity have always gone hand-in-hand
with Beckham, then his talent and achievements should
not be underestimated.

Born in May, 1975, Beckham joined Manchester United as
a teenager and quickly became a fan favourite as Fergie's
fledgelings made their mark, dominating the early years of
the English Premiership after its inception in 1991-92.

The poster boy had the world at his feet, it seemed, but
when he was sent off at the World Cup in 1998 for as
senseless foul against Argentina, he was vilified by
crowds around England on his return.

Lesser characters than Beckham could have faded into
the background but Beckham withstood the jeering to
become one of the most famous sportsmen on the planet.

Blessed with a superb right foot that could send in a
perfect cross from the tightest of positions and deadly with
a free-kick, Beckham helped United win the Treble of
League, FA Cup and European Cup in 1999.

Made England captain in late 2000, Beckham grew into
the role and as the penalty-taker, assumed even greater
responsibility in a national shirt as he led England to the
2002 World Cup Finals in Japan and South Korea.

Success continued at United but rumours of unrest
between himself and the manager Sir Alex Ferguson
grew, and in the summer of 2003, he joined Real Madrid.

In Spain, his face was used by the club almost as much
as his feet and he was never quite able to replicate the
same kind of success as he had enjoyed in England.

After leading England to the quarter-finals of the 2006
World Cup in Germany, he stood down as skipper and,
after continued rumours that he may return home to play
in the Premiership, he chose LA Galaxy and an American
adventure.