I don’t really get this story, but according to ESPN Soccernet, David Beckham cost the people of New Zealand $1.46 million. Apparently an exhibition match between Beck’s LA Galaxy and the Oceania “All-Stars” (yeah, those guys) failed to generate enough revenue, and now Kiwi taxpayers have to foot the remainder of whatever it cost to put on the game.

“The decision to promote the L.A. Galaxy event was made without a formal business strategy or a clear policy about the level of commercial risk that the council was willing to assume,” said New Zealand Auditor General Phillippa Smith. “We conclude that, despite the efforts of the council officers involved, the loss occurred because the L.A. Galaxy/Oceania ‘All Stars’ match was in essence the wrong event, at the wrong time, for the wrong price.”

And in other news, some Italian chick grabbed Beckham’s crotch. Video below:

Beck Ball Touch

Tags: David Beckham, Los Angeles Galaxy, New Zealand, Oceania All-Stars

Yeah, David Beckham’s an international celebrity, but in LA he’s just another dude with a nice haircut and well-tanned trophy wife. Or so says a new book by SI writer Grant Wahl.

In The Beckham Experiment, Wahl chronicles Beck’s time in Los Angeles, and apparently that time included D.B. being denied a glass of wine because he failed to produce a valid ID. Shocking!

In all seriousness, the book does provide some juicy insights like Beckham’s icy relationship with teammate Landon Donovan and an alleged “shadow takeover” of the Galaxy by the English international’s management company 19 Entertainment.

Double shocking!

Tags: David Beckham, Los Angeles Galaxy, the beckham experiment