Bench 'em Like Beckham

The media went completely gaga again yesterday because the L.A. Galaxy, apparently a soccer team which most Southern Californians have never heard of, had their first game with David Beckham on the bench. And I emphasize, on the bench. The $250,000,000 man played only 12 minutes or so near the end of the game because of an ongoing ankle injury.

The stands looked like a Hollywood premier, full of celebrities shouldering each other out of the way to get close to Mrs. Beckham and bask in her limelight:

Beckham's wife Victoria, wearing her trademark huge black sunglasses, along with actress Katie Holmes and her infant daughter Suri, watched from a private box above the field. Actress Jennifer Love Hewitt was like a lot of spectators, attending her first soccer game.

Actress Eva Longoria, minus new hubby Tony Parker, comedian Drew Carey, NBA star Kevin Garnett, movie producer Brian Grazer, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and English actors John Hurt and Ray Winstone also made what were likely their first trips to Carson, a downright gritty suburb compared to the stars' usual haunt of Beverly Hills.

The whole thing is absolute nonsense. Oh, and after 90 minutes of regular play plus stoppage time, the game ended with a Galaxy 1-0 loss. How exciting.