Get your hands on a Becks book We are a bit late to the party on this one after a bit of a postal disaster, but you may recall that Grant Wahl's excellent book The Beckham Experiment created quite a stir when it was released, not least because of some of Landon Donovan's comments about his [...]

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...til Tim Howard catches all those balls. Awwww keep, keep, keep, keep, keep, keep, keep. Click to continue reading...

I believe there is little chance that someone reading this blog would not have heard of this book by now. Right? 1% chance. If in all honesty you have not heard of the book pictured above please leave me a comment. Anyway, I just finished it and I am posting some quick comments for two reasons. Click to continue reading...

A month ago, the marketing folks at Crown Books sent me a preview copy of The Beckham Experiment, Grant Wahl's inside look at David Beckham's Big US Adventure. I'd like to think this is because Grant has me on speed dial and we spend a lot of time dishing about sport celebs, but Grant's so busy never returns my calls.

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The Beckham Experiment media blitz rolls on and if you live in Brooklyn it's rolling your way tomorrow night. Author Grant "Watch how I ball" Wahl will be in D.U.M.B.O at the Varsity Letters event alongside ESPN writer Wright Thompson and New York Times writer Bruce Weber, author of As They See 'Em: A Fan's Travels in the Land of Umpires, at Gelf Magazine's free event at Jan Larsen Art Studios. Click to continue reading...

I'm impressed by two things in this clip. First and foremost it has to be said that for all his faults, ol' Goldenballs is easily the best dressed dude to ever appear on Sportscenter; have you seen some of the things Michael Irvin has worn on there? Good God!
The other thing I like is that the first question asked was about his back and whether he'll be able to go against Barcelona. Click to continue reading...

So, the usual suspects are commenting on Facebook about yesterday's 5-0 loss to Mexico. There are plenty of theories and thoughts about what the result means in the bigger picture World Cup 2010.

Me I think Mexico was a very enjoyable team to watch with their passing and finishing and the result reminded me of why I didn't get very excited following the US win in the Confederation's Cup over Spain.

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So, the usual suspects are commenting on Facebook about yesterday's 5-0 loss to Mexico. There are plenty of theories and thoughts about what the result means in the bigger picture World Cup 2010.

Me I think Mexico was a very enjoyable team to watch with their passing and finishing and the result reminded me of why I didn't get very excited following the US win in the Confederation's Cup over Spain.

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Our man Binks has had this wonderful "Who 23" jersey for a minute. It's real special. He happens to be down in Baltimore for the Chelsea-AC Milan match tonight and is staying at the same hotel as AC Milan so it's no surprise that he ran into some of the international socceratti down there. Click to continue reading...

When David Beckham signed with the LA Galaxy in 2007, I wrote the following:

Even if Beckham's price is half the figure mentioned above, the league will recoup its investment. Beckham will put fannies in the seats and bring domestic and international exposure to MLS. This will attract even more sponsors at higher rates.

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Everyone in American soccer has been talking about Grant Wahl's book, "The Beckham Experiment" and everything involved with it. I was given the chance a few weeks ago to get a copy of the book and review it. With the game against David Beckham and the Galaxy coming up I figured it was the perfect time to get my review of the book out. Click to continue reading...

OK, I think it's gotten out of control now. Not my constant posting of Beckham-related video because that sh*t is a traffic goldmine only rivaled by posts whose titles contain a combination of the words "hot" and "teen" in a way that could get you an unwanted cameo on "To Catch A Predator". Click to continue reading...

Grant Wahl's The Beckham Experiment is an incredible behind the scenes look at Beckham - the brand, MLS - the struggling US soccer league - and is a tale of footie adventure in the US recounted through Wahl's amazing unprecedented access to players, coaches, staff, and handlers.
Wahl is in the locker rooms, on the field, in the hotel room lobbies, at dinners, at parties- you name it - but his work is more than just an inside look at Beckham's brief stay in the US. Click to continue reading...

David Beckham is back, and fans of Major League Soccer are preparing for their next ride on the Goldenballs Rollercoaster. To spice up the moment, a book hit the shelves on Tuesday which has ignited interest in his return and will go down in US soccer history as a must-read.

The Beckham Experiment, by Sports Illustrated senior writer Grant Wahl, got another boost from the USA's Confederations Cup campaign in which Beckham's colleague Landon Donovan played himself not only into the affections of football observers worldwide, but back into those of the American fans who feel they've never seen the best from a man who should've been a superstar.

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Speaking with Grant Wahl yesterday he joked that he now has as many publicist as David Beckham. Judging by the amount of TV appearances, interviews, articles and attention the guy has had in the last two weeks I would say they are doing a bang up job; these days the dude is as omnipresent as bruises on a barfly. Click to continue reading...

Nothing like some awkward moments at a press conference. David Beckham faced the media on Wednesday. Gotta love the question from Grant Wahl at the beginning.

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Are you bored of the Landon Donovan vs David Beckham catfight yet? I'm not. In fact, I think seeing these two air their arguments in public was the one and only thing that could have made the "Beckham in Los Angeles" story interesting again. Who knows? Maybe one day we'll look back and realize it was [. Click to continue reading...

If there was ever a sheen on David Beckham for the American soccer fan with a Y chromosome, if he was initially given a pass, if anybody believed anything he said, well, that patina is gone. Beckham can still build urban soccer fields and set up summer camps and buy a MLS franchise, but you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

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David Beckham has been under fire from a comment made by LA Galaxy co-player Landon Donovan. Donovan was quoted by author Grant Wahl in his new book The Beckham Experiment for saying some accusatory remarks.

Landon Donovan responds to questions about comments made about Beckham on July 13, 2009.

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Grant Wahl discusses his new book, The Beckham Experiment, out now from Crown

Why do book reviews have to be summaries of the book? I never got that. I understand it but don't get it. I do get jacket blurbs, though. Those few sentences of praise on the back of a boo I'm always curious what names are there and what they say.

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Excellent sports' writing is not simply about analyzing players, teams or organizations. It's largely about painting a picture that fits into society's perceptions of the surrounding world. It's about writing a narrative and properly explaining the parts. It's about playing historian and social critic while discussing competitions and complex organizations.

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LD has had moments of immaturity in the past (remember the sports bra a la Brandi Chastain?), but honestly, who hasn't? The whole comments-about-Beckham storyline only proves that he has matured beyond his years.

Paul Oberjuerge had an opportunity to talk with Landon yesterday about the fall out from his comments in Grant Wahl's new book (new interview with Wahl here).

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The steady release of excerpts from Grant Wahl's forthcoming book "The Beckham Experiment" continues to stir interest (and no doubt pre-orders on Amazon) as more behind-the-scenes details from his tumultuous time in LA emerge.
The latest tidbit, that ESPN paid Beckham's management company to produce a one-hour special on Beckham sounds even more crass than the previous charge that Becks was a cheapskate. Click to continue reading...

Sports Illustrated senior writer Grant Wahl's soon to be released book, "The Beckham Experiment", reveals that ESPN paid 19 Entertainment, Mr. Davey Becks' management company, to produce the hour-long documentary which was broadcast before his first match with the LA Galaxy back in 2007.

In what Wahl describes as an "example of checkbook journalism", the program entitled "David Beckham: New Beginnings" (part one above, the rest is on YouTube) was positioned as an insidery look at the lead up to Davey's move to Los Angeles something ESPN The Magazine failed to get when 19 Entertainment denied them interview access to Beckham.

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Something is amiss. I mean, I'm turning into a Landon Donovan fan (there, I said it).

Not only has be been stellar in recent World Cup qualifying. Not only was he one of, if not the best, players at the Confederations Cup. But he recently bitch-slapped David Beckham for being selfish, opportunistic creep that he is.

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You're at a party and the discussion turns to world events. Some dude, usually wearing a Ralph Lauren polo shirt and Sarah Palin glasses, says, "I get all my news from the BBC." It's his way of saying, "I'm an intellectual and the American press is for idiots."

If that story sounds eerily familiar, it should.

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All is not well between David Beckham and American soccer right now. After his longer than planned holiday in Milan, Goldenballs is due to return to MLS and resume playing for LA Galaxy in two weeks time - July 16th vs NYRB away. But he's already been warned by US Soccer President Sunil Gulati to [.. Click to continue reading...

Little did you know, but Nathan and I are in The Loop! We will be receiving advance copies of Grant Wahl's The Beckham Experiment: How the World's Most Famous Athlete Tried to Conquer America. It looks to be a very interesting and possibly controversial book.

A few excerpts have been released in advance of the advance copy mailing, which is in advance of the book going on sale July 14th.

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Grant Wahl's controversial book The Beckham Experiment hits bookstores on July 14th, two days before Beckham returns to the LA Galaxy lineup after a few months frolicking in Milan and making a mockery of the word, "contract."
We'll be receiving an advance review copy of Wahl's 304 page work next week, and will give you our official review then. Click to continue reading...

Project 2010's love affair with Grant Wahl continues:

"Here's what I want to see [at the Gold Cup]: Freddy Adu being handed the keys to the U.S. midfield, told that he'll play in every game and given the freedom to show what he can do. I can understand why Adu hasn't been starting for the U.

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U.S. Men vs. Cuba
Saturday 09/06/2008 8:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM CT
Estado Pedro Marrero; Havana, Cuba

The game is being broadcast on ESPN Classic and as usual it will be on at Coester's. There's an MSU Men's game at the same time, they are playing Centenary following a 5 pm game between Drake and Cleveland State.

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U.S. Men vs. Cuba
Saturday 09/06/2008 8:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM CT
Estado Pedro Marrero; Havana, Cuba

The game is being broadcast on ESPN Classic and as usual it will be on at Coester's. There's an MSU Men's game at the same time, they are playing Centenary following a 5 pm game between Drake and Cleveland State.

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We've got some more quick updates and prognostications about tomorrow's USWNT match with Japan - first, from Japanese coach Norio Sasaki, who is full of confidence after Japan's run through Group G. It may prove to be a sad irony of the Olympics, however, that Japan's stellar play, particularly against Norway, may be the [. Click to continue reading...

Here's Beulah's match report. I'm always so pleased when one or two things I noticed show up in Beulah's write-up! I continue to be impressed with HAO's play - and was also very glad to see Mitts playing more like her old self. Hope A-Rod gets her scoring started against New Zealand [...]SHARETHIS. Click to continue reading...

Grant Wahl has another excellent article on SI.com - this one focusing on Heather Mitts. Who knew that she ran with the bulls at Pamplona? ... and from the St. Petersburg Times, another take on this evolving USWNT - this by John Romano. He offers a nice summary of the challenges faced by [...]SHARETHIS. Click to continue reading...