"Bench it Like Beckham" marks first U.S. season

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By Jill Serjeant

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - He arrived in July on a mission to inject new life into U.S. football.

But persistent injuries -- topped by this week’s sprained knee that will sideline him for six weeks -- have turned David Beckham’s first season for the Los Angeles Galaxy into a "Bench It Like Beckham" saga likely to test American fans’ patience.

With luck, the midfielder whose legendary ball skills inspired the 2002 movie title "Bend It Like Beckham," could be fit enough to return for the final three games with the struggling LA Galaxy. But for now, some sports writers have already sounded Beckham’s U.S. death knell.

"Party’s Over For Beckham" ran Friday’s headline in the Los Angeles Times, noting that the English superstar had played only 310 minutes and scored one goal in six games for LA Galaxy at a guaranteed salary of $6.5 million (3.2 million pounds) a year.

The 32-year-old England international suffered a sprained ligament in his right knee while playing on Wednesday, adding to woes begun with an ankle injury that had already marred his first Major League Soccer (MLS) season.

"It’s just gone from one thing to another thing. Maybe it is a sign to give it a rest, get it right and not come back until it is right," Beckham said after Wednesday’s .....continued below

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But despite repeated appeals to fans to take a long-term view of a five-year contract reportedly worth $250 million, the new injury was seen by many sports writers as a crushing blow.

"David Beckham: One Goal and Done?" wrote CNBC sports business reporter Darren Rovell, saying he was "tired of all the hype, all the misinformed people who said Beckham could turn soccer in the next big thing."

GONE, NOT FORGOTTEN

In commercial terms, Beckham’s arrival in Los Angeles has already reaped unprecedented returns for a sport that is a poor relation to U.S. baseball, American football, basketball and hockey.

Sports apparel maker Adidas said fans in 10 different countries have bought 212,000 of the Beckham number 23 Galaxy shirt -- making the shirt the biggest seller in the game. It’s also the first time English fans have bought MLS shirts in large numbers.

"He is making MLS soccer into a truly global sport. We have seen a 40 percent increase in Beckham gear since the announcement of his Galaxy contract," said Adidas spokeswoman Andrea Corso.

Season ticket sales for Galaxy matches have soared and visitors to the official mlsnet.com Web site jumped 117 percent in July 2007 from the previous year, digital measuring service comScore said this week.

Despite the nagging ankle injury, Beckham has transformed Galaxy in his brief outings. Galaxy midfielder Landon Donovan praised Beckham’s leadership on the field and his ability to get the team out of pressure.

As for that trademark, bending free kick that brought Beckham’s first goal for Galaxy on August 15, Donovan told reporters; "When I turned round, I went ’Holy Jesus, you’ve got to be kidding me? Unbelievable."

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