Beckham's arrival boot-iful for Bulls
Saturday, August 18th 2007, 4:00 AM
David Beckham is expected to make his first MLS start against the Red Bulls tonight at Giants Stadium.
Not only is David Beckham healthy enough to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy at Giants Stadium tonight, he is expected to make his first MLS start against the Red Bulls.
"I'm feeling good," he said yesterday. "I'm feeling a little bit tired after the game the other night. I'm aching a little bit."
Beckham, who has been battling a left ankle injury, had his first training session with L.A. on Tuesday, a day before scoring his first Galaxy goal in a 2-0 SuperLiga semifinal win over D.C. United. It was the first time he had run and played hard in eight weeks.
"I'm ready," he said. "Hopefully, my ankle will hold up like it did the other night. It felt good. It felt strong."
That should make more than 60,000 spectators happy because a record franchise-record crowd is expected. The Bulls are second-to-last in average attendance among the 13 MLS teams at 11,573.
Beckham had a busy day yesterday. He practiced with his Galaxy teammates at Montclair State University in the early afternoon, then was the centerpiece of a clinic for F.C. Harlem youth players and appeared at a press conference at a midtown hotel in the early evening.
"Someone just said to me that you must be tired," he said. "But today has been one of the best days I've actually had since I arrived in America. Today was quite rewarding."
At the clinic, Beckham looked like he was having more fun than the children, giving pointers and knocking a ball around.
"If you give them a chance to enjoy themselves ... you'll find some of the great players in the world, some of the kids with the most ability have come out (of places that) haven't got the money.
"The kids are hungry to win."
Beckham, meanwhile, is hungry to raise soccer's profile in the States.
"I'm not silly enough to say that it's going to be bigger than baseball, basketball, American football or ice hockey," he said. "If we can raise it to a certain level, a level that is higher than it is ... I think so far, we have succeeded."
Asked if he was motivated by criticism of not playing because of the injury, Beckham replied: "Not really. I'm always motivated to play well in games. I know to be accepted in this country and ... this league, I have to perform highest as I can," he said. "It's up to me to prove people wrong."
As for appearing in New York, Beckham - who named one of his sons Brooklyn - calls it "one of my most favorite cities in the world and I'm not saying that because I have to say that."
Digg
Del.icio.us
Newsvine
Reddit
Furl
Stumble Upon
