06.08.03 | Soccer. Or Is That Beckham?

Hysteria has struck London. David Beckham, a striker for Manchester United and general pop/sport idol, is rumored to be going to play for a football team in Spain (Real Madrid, most likely). This is big stuff. It's the top story today on the Sky News channel. Never mind the thousands of people dead in an earthquake or Elvis discovered living on Mars... this is big news! (It's almost as bad as Denver Bronco coverage in Denver).

To be honest, I haven't seen the guy play. But it seems to me that his soccer skills are secondary to his ability to market himself. He is undeniably attractive, in a Brad Pitt sort of way, meaning manly and hunky with long hair often pulled back in a ponytail. He has endorsements aplenty. He's got a movie named after him ("Bend it like Beckham"). He's got an attractive wife who, other than being a former pop singer of minimal talent, seems to do nothing of value.

That's it. I have no idea why this guy is as popular as royalty or Jesus candles.

[Special Nov. 17, 2003 update!] - So I'm watching a show on VH1 called the "Top 100 Greatest Pop Culture Icons." It's getting down to the Top 10. I'm thinking: Michael Jackson. Madonna. Marilyn Monroe. The Beatles. Elvis. Sure enough, the Beatles and Elvis are near the top. We're getting down to the nitty gritty and I'm thinking Madonna will make number one. But she comes in second. Second? What the heck? I pose to myself: "Who could possibly be more of a culturally significant pop icon than Madonna, especially considering this is a list generated by a music video channel?"

Yep, a footballer, a guy who is unquestionably very talented in the ways of soccer but has little more of value as far as I'm concerned, is judged greater than The Rolling Stones, Kurt Cobain, Star Trek or Star Wars, Steven Spielberg, Bruce Lee or Princess Diana. Like I said, I don't get it. << REWIND