films and his wife,Victoria Beckham
(also known as the pop star Posh Spice),
contributed a song to the soundtrack.
Beckham’s signing involved more
than just soccer. It was negotiated by
Simon Fuller, best known as the creator
of
American Idol
. Beckham’s arrival in
Los Angeles had A-list celebrities vying
for his attention. Despite all the glitz
and glitter, Beckham said he wanted to
use his fame to make professional soccer
more popular in America.“I do believe
I can take it to another level,” he said.“I
wouldn’t have taken up the challenge if
I didn’t believe I could have that effect.”
Beckham did have an immediate effect
in at least two areas. Fans gobbled up
11,000 new Galaxy season tickets.All 42
luxury suites were quickly taken.And
league-wide, sales of jerseys and other
team gear underwent a dramatic increase.
Bothered by an ankle injury,
Beckham played just 12 minutes as
a substitute in his first game, a 1–0
loss to the English team Chelsea FC.
That hardly mattered to the fans who
Beckham’s presence on the team led to a surge in fan attendance.
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