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Beckham Sidelines Soccer Debut?

Fri., Jul. 20, 2007 10:33 AM PDT by Gina Serpe

Before he's even taken to the field, David Beckham is getting benched.

On Thursday, the right-footed wonder gently killed the hopes of thousands of weekend ticket holders, announcing that, due to a still-swollen ankle, it was unlikely he'd make his Major League Soccer debut, as promised and hyped, on Saturday.

"At the moment it doesn't look good that I'm going to play," he told ESPN. "It's more important to me personally that my ankle is right, and I don't think it'll be right for the game."

Still, the 32-year-old midfielder did offer a small glimmer of hope for those hoping to witness Beckham's U.S. debut, teasing the sports fans, who sold out Carson's Home Depot Center, that "maybe I will play some part toward the end of the game if it's all right, but we'll see."

Beckham was fittingly due to hit the home turf in a friendly exhibition match against Britain's Chelsea FC, many members of which are teammates of Beckham's on the England national squad.

Beckham has been nursing the swelling on his left ankle, receiving treatment since first injuring it during a game for England on June 7.

Of the letdown his benching may have on fans, Beckham told ESPN the decision is better for the long run: "I'm here for five years," not just for Saturday's game.

Alexi Lalas, the president and general manager of the L.A. Galaxy, said he absolutely supported Beckham's decision to hold off on suiting up, saying they would not bow to the advertiser expectations and media pressures, no matter how self-perpetuating, in hurrying his debut if there was a chance of worsening the injury.

"It's ultimately up to our coaching staff and our medical staff to evaluate our players and to do what's right for the player and to do what's right for the team," Lalas told the Los Angeles Times. "Not just for the short term but for the long term."

While he remains in training and treatment, Beckham has not played a game since June 17, when he helped his former team Real Madrid win the Spanish league championship.

However, while he may be postponing his debut Saturday afternoon, he'll still have plenty to celebrate Sunday night.

New neighbors and old pals Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, along with new neighbors and not so new old pals Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, are cohosting a welcome bash for Beckham and his wife Victoria at downtown L.A.'s Museum of Contemporary Art.

According to People, invitations to the bash, printed in gold lettering on dark gold cardstock, asked would-be revelers to "Please join Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes and Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith in welcoming David and Victoria Beckham to Los Angeles."

As it is, his sidelining, though not, regrettably, the party, will be chronicled and explained in full on the latest reality show to spring from the Beckham bubble.

The Fox Soccer Channel has ordered up 13 episodes of David Beckham's Soccer USA, a half-hour show that promises to chronicle his debut season with the Galaxy. In addition to game highlights, the show will feature behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with Beckham—but it is not expected to delve into his personal life, à la his wife's recent hourlong special, Victoria Beckham: Coming to America.

Like that Beckham-based show before it, the sporty series will also be shown in the U.K. and various other markets around the world.