Image: MANDEL NGAN/AFP/GettyImages.

"He is tough, it's a rare man who can be that tough on the field and also have his own line of underwear."

The fact that the President of the United States is compelled to think about David Beckham's pants when he meets him makes us feel a little better about our own response towards those ads.

There are lots of markets available for people to bet on football and millions of pounds are spent this way every week. But never before has the betting market on whether a 37-year-old man will represent a scratch international football team in a competition that isn't particularly valued at the upper echelons of the game [.

It has been far too long since we have looked at the Critical Mention website for references to MLS. Over the last year or so, we have discussed MLS' efforts to measure the value of its television exposure through various local and national broadcasts. Through the website criticalmention.com, MLS tries to alert media to the "value" of its presence on various television programs.

"Handsome Man" David Beckham has sold a lot of things in his day on either side of the Atlantic, watches, fancy-pants underwear, fast cars, but these new Burger King smoothies are something we might actually be able to afford.
Given his benching by Bruce Arena this weekend put money on Becks sipping on one of these on the sidelines if he's there again this week.

This has to go down as one of the most pathetic expositions of defending. The Galaxy could have propped up cardboard cutouts of AJ DeLaGarza, Sean Franklin, Andrew Boyens, and Todd Dunivant to do a better job. For a number of seasons defending was the Galaxy's achilles heel and one of the reasons for last year's success was their water tight back four.

We're not daydreaming here at all. Well, maybe a little but we're looking ahead at the potential Galaxy-Santos matchup and, well, we like what we see.
That's not to say a Galaxy/Toronto-Seattle series wouldn't be grand. It would mean a lot to MLS to have another Champions League finalist, but the possible series between the Galaxy and Santos Laguna is brimming with storylines, possibly the grandest storylines of any potential matchup anywhere down the road in this tournament.

We're baaaaaack For the first time since November, the Grinder is up and running. Feels pretty good, donnit? Listen to the eponymous song from the 300 soundtrack at right on repeat as you read this. MLS suddenly takes on an Odyssean quality, I find. If you'll remember, the Grinder trudged off into its cave for winter hibernation after watching Donovan and Becks engage in a bro-hug for the

This happened in the LA Galaxy vs Toronto FC match CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals 1st Leg. But Becks has the last laugh on the bunch of yahoos doing all the instigating. Not cool, folks.

That corner led to the equalizer as Toronto squandered a 2 goal advantage. By the way, Mike Magee has been a rock solid performer for the Galaxy over the years and his contribution to that team can never be understated.

Today I looked at my calendar and realized that MLS First Kick is only hours away. I also realized, though, that I hadn't written any sort of "preview" for the season. My bad. So, with today being a professional day at school, I figured I'd catch up on the 2012 prediction curve and look at what could happen in the coming season.

Every time David Beckham kicked a corner at Toronto's Rogers Centre on Wednesday night he was showered in red and white streamers. And while it looked like playful obstruction during the L.A. Galaxy's draw with Toronto FC in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League, Becks was not happy as he lifted armfuls of the stuff away from the ball.

As a Wimbledon fan, it's not easy to recall the opening day of the 1996/97 season, when I sat slumped in disbelief as Davey Becks put away Manchester Utd's third goal of the afternoon from his own half. In the Spanish second league division tie between Elche and Almeria, unpronounceable midfielder Xumetra pulled a Beckham of his own with a tremendous long-range lob over the Almeria keeper.

David Beckham's first appearance in England in more than two years could be at the Riverside, Middlesbrough, this summer in a friendly for Team GB ahead of the London Olympics.
The Riverside Stadium has been identified as a potential venue for the games that the British Olympic Association and the Football Association, who are running the British sides at 2012, are planning, which will give valuable experience for the Olympic competition.

David Beckham and the LA Galaxy, have competed in the Desert Diamond Cup in Tucson at Kino Stadium February 22 and 25, against the New York Red Bulls, New England Revolution and Real Salt Lake. In the finals Los Angeles Galaxy will be playing the New England Revolution on Saturday, March 3 at 6 p.

WikipediaDavid Beckham believes that Harry Redknapp would be a great addition to England if the Tottenham Hotspur coach is appointed as manager. Becks is well aware of Redknapp's coaching style as he trained with his side during the Major League Soccer off-season.
"Harry is a great man, a great manager.

So the soon-to-be MLS season is, believe it or not, fast approaching. Seems like just yesterday we were watching Landon and Becks engage in an epic bro-embrace. Wistful days, those. But upon is the longest MLS season ever undertaken, a startling five weeks hence. As somebody who still considers soccer a cold-weather sport, there's not a lot about 100+ degree mid-July games that entices me, but

Launching his new underwear range for H&M, David Beckham said that his sons' reaction on glimpsing their dad in his latest unclad ad campaign was: "'Oh my GOD Daddy - not again. They were like: 'that's really good, but everyone's gonna see you in your pants." The underwear line goes on sale in 1800 H&M stores around the world on February 2.

By Chris Wright

"Carling or Becks? Carling...or Becks? Budweiser!"

FIFA, eh? Watching over us all with ever-loving grace. Fighting the good fight. Tackling the real issues that threaten to undermine our beloved game with feverish haste and ruthless efficiency.

You know what time it is. Cheekiest goal of the week goes to Super Mario. He's a horses backside, but sometimes he does fun things. Like this. Remember Carlos Vela? Chicharito Lite? He's still playing, if you were curious. Becks may or may not be done in LA.

By Chris Wright

Becks and his Los Angeles-based galaxy of lesser stars are in Indonesia at the moment on an off-season trolley dash around the Pacific Rim, though the whole damn lot of 'em were shown up on arrival by this Indonesian fan who donned his hand-made and ridiculously dapper 'football wizard robe' (complete with 'football wizard staff') specially for the occasion.

According to ESPN, David Beckham has started talks to join Paris St-Germain.
Becks' contract runs out at the end of December and PSG have become one of the favourite teams to sign him.
Leonardo, who coached Beckham during his loan move at the San Siro last year, confirmed PSG were one of those clubs:
"Yes, we've spoken.

• Kop That: Why the latest shocking, heart-breaking Hillsborough revelation is exactly the kind of info we need to fi... http://t.co/xCAJGpg1 23:20:00, 2011-11-22
• Kop That: Secret Hillsborough files reveal victims were "interfered with" http://t.co/MzzmUoBw 23:19:56, 2011-11-22
• Kop That: Paralysed ex-pro gets a job as Boro scout http://t.

David Beckham won't rush into any decisions about his professional future.
Becks said he had plenty to occupy his mind in the coming days – starting with a night of celebration after the Galaxy defeated Houston Dynamo 1-0 to win MSL's title match.
"We'll have a good night tonight for sure," Beckham said.

How Glen and Becks can prove the doubters wrong

Credit to Glen Johnson. A lot of us had begun to write him out of the reckoning for the increasingly fiercely-contested England right-back slot. Then he produces a fine performance and a wonderful winner for Liverpool against Chelsea on Sunday.

3PM Extra: Mourinho's piggy-back celebration, Casillas' card trick and Becks wins the MLS Cup

Presenting quality football videos from the interweb, daily at 3pm. Here's today's collection: 1) In the week when his former assistant and eventual successor as Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas is looking under pressure at Stamford Bridge, Jose Mourinho proved he is still the master of celebrations with this piggy-back effort after Real Madrid's win against Valencia on Saturday.

By Chris Wright

David Beckham, to Robbie Keane, to Landon Donovan. Goal. Trophy. It sounds like something from a ridiculously tawdry soccer movie, but Donovan's goal was enough to snare the MLS Cup in front of a record crowd at the Home Depot Centre in Los Angeles landing Becks, who had to overcome injury and illness to play, with his first Stateside silverware in what is looking increasingly likely to be his last competitive match for the Galaxy (his contract expires next month, after a tour of Indonesia and the Philippines).

Image via WikipediaDavid Beckham has been named the MLS Comeback Player of the Year after helping the LA Galaxy into this weekend's title decider against the Houston Dynamos. He got 59.8 per cent of votes cast by media, players and club officials, and won over the other finalists, Charlie Davies (D.

I spied on Fergie, Becks and Motty for NoW, claims investigator

See full list of alleged football targets of Derek Webb

View the full story here: The Mirror

A news article on 2011-11-09 15:10:25 from: The Mirror

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Image by i heart him via FlickrDavid Beckham has signed a deal believed to be worth up to £5million to be the new face of the supermarket chain Sainsbury's.
Becks will be the star of the Active Kids campaign and will promote Sainsbury's sponsorship of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Last night saw the conclusion of the Conference semifinals (or, in reality, the quarterfinals) with the Los Angeles Galaxy overcoming their East coast rivals the New York Red Bulls 2-1 (3-1 on aggregate). This means that LA will be taking on Real Salt Lake on Sunday. Looking more to the midwest, we saw Sporting Kansas City overcome the Colorado Rapids and Houston overcome the Philadelphia Union to head to the Eastern Conference finals.

David Beckham has admitted he is "amazed" by the number of offers he has had and believes he can play on until he is 40.Becks is weighing up where to continue his remarkable career when the MLS season ends on November 20.
In an interview with Telegraph Sport, he said he was seriously considering staying with Los Angeles Galaxy but that if he did move, he would insist that any club he joins gives him a regular starting place so he can realize his ambition of leading the British team to gold in next year's Olympics.

David Beckham has admitted he is "amazed" by the number of offers he has had and believes he can play on until he is 40.Becks is weighing up where to continue his remarkable career when the MLS season ends on November 20.
In an interview with Telegraph Sport, he said he was seriously considering staying with Los Angeles Galaxy but that if he did move, he would insist that any club he joins gives him a regular starting place so he can realize his ambition of leading the British team to gold in next year's Olympics.

Image via WikipediaDavid Beckham said he was honoured that ambitious Paris Saint Germain boss Leonardo -he coached him at AC Milan- wants him to play for the French club, but insisted he will not make a decision on his future until the end of the season.

Image via WikipediaDavid Beckham said he was honoured that ambitious Paris Saint Germain boss Leonardo -he coached him at AC Milan- wants him to play for the French club, but insisted he will not make a decision on his future until the end of the season.

Why 'new Becks' Bentley is battling to save his career

I really fear for my mate David Bentley after hearing about the knee surgery which has ruled him out for another six months. It seems like only yesterday that he was being hailed as the new David Beckham after scoring a sensational hat-trick for Blackburn as we beat Manchester United 4-3 at Ewood.

Image by The Democratic Alliance via FlickrAccording to Bloomberg, David Beckham's earning power is climbing in his soccer career's twilight.
Becks paid himself an extra $4 million last year from new endorsement deals, according to a filing today by his Footwork Productions Ltd.

Image by The Democratic Alliance via FlickrAccording to Bloomberg, David Beckham's earning power is climbing in his soccer career's twilight.
Becks paid himself an extra $4 million last year from new endorsement deals, according to a filing today by his Footwork Productions Ltd.

Union

The Union have not released updated injury information on Zac MacMath as of this morning.

Keon Daniel is listed as part of the T&T national team that underwent light training in Bermuda yesterday.

Local lad and former Union trialist Jeremiah White is working out with the Montreal Impact as they look to form a roster for their first season in MLS.

1. As you know, I'm a huge supporter of MLS fan clubs (with a special affinity for Chicago's Section 8). Here's a great article from ESPN on the rise of the MLS fan clubs. I've also updated the fan club links on the main page.
2. Tell me if this sounds familiar, MLS based US defensive midfielder loses head, acts out, gets sent off and puts team in bad position.

I feel ya', Kandji Incredibly, MLS has fallen from an 8-1-1 in the CONCACAF Champions League to 10-8-2 overall in two weeks. We talked last week about the fall back to earth being a little more of what we expected. This? Not so much. FC Dallas being run out of Pizza Hut Park by Pumas, the Galaxy failing to muster a goal with Becks in the lineup away at Alajuelense, the Rapids falling all over

For Becks, that is the question. I've always been a fan of the kid, despite the resounding criticism among hardcore MLS fans, and I think that anyone who would call his move to MLS a bad thing is delusional. He's brought us attention, star power, and, yes, talent.

And he may (or may not) be doing it for one more year.