BECKHAM BACKLASH

 

Boiling point: David Beckham confronted an angry fan during his home return game in Los Angeles yesterday

Tension runs high:  The fan had to be held back during the confrontation

Losing his cool: The LA Galaxy star attempted to hurdle the advertising board to face the fan

Time to calm down: Security guards, Beckham’s LA Galaxy team mates and even a member of the opposition stepped in to restrain him

David Beckham was booed last night in his first home game with the Los Angeles Galaxy. At one point, Beckham confronted a fan at halftime of his team’s 2-2 tie with AC Milan. The English star returned after missing half of the Major League Soccer season while on a five-month loan to the Italian club. Some of the fans homemade included: “Go home fraud”, with a red slash through his No. 23 jersey number. Another said, “23: Repent,” while another read, “Hey Becks, Here Before You, Here After You, Here Despite You.” Another read, “Is evil something u are…or something u do.” At halftime, Beckham walked toward the L.A. Riot Squad section and motioned to a fan to come closer. A man jumped down from the seats and was subdued by security before being taken away.

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Becks and Becks Jr: David Beckham enjoyed a bonding session with his son Brooklyn at an Lakers game in Los Angeles.

Announcement from The Corporation for National and Community Service 

A new report showing that community service in America’s schools has reached a new peak, with 68 percent of all K-12 schools offering or recognizing service opportunities for their students.

Check out the right side of the page and try out some different service learning opportunities….There’s a  lot of different projects out there..

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Milan-bound: Loan move could help David Beckham keep his England place

Daily Mail – AC Milan claim they have agreed a deal to bring David Beckham on loan from Los Angeles Galaxy. The former England captain is determined to keep his place in the national team and a loan spell at Italy’s biggest club will keep him firmly in national coach Fabio Capello’s sights. Capello has warned Beckham he will be dropped from England’s squad for the international friendly against Spain in February if he is not playing competitive football. The 33-year-old is under contract with the LA Galaxy but their regular season finishes after Sunday’s clash against Dallas.

Milan vice president Adriano Galliani had indicated at the weekend that Beckham would be invited to train with the club during the coming months, however it now seems he could sign a six-month deal.  Galliani said: ‘We are speaking with his agent but we believe he will arrive for some months on a free loan. ‘Beckham has chosen Milan. Our squad is ultra-competitive and it will remain this way, but Beckham is something different and intriguing.’ The move to Serie A, which is being discussed today, would allow Beckham to continue playing competitively from January to March when he would return to the States for the new Major League Soccer season. Beckham’s agent Simon Oliveira said: ‘Nothing is confirmed yet, but the intention is to go to AC Milan on loan for January and February. He would be going there with the view to keeping fit and being available for selection for England.

‘The idea is he then goes back to the Galaxy to join up with their pre-season in March. He will not be joining AC Milan permanently. He had a five-year contract with the Galaxy
and has three years left and every intention of fulfilling that.’ Last January, Beckham was invited to train with Arsenal by manager Arsene Wenger so he could work on his fitness for the new MLS season and ensure he was fit for England’s friendly matches against Switzerland and France.

Down and out: David Beckham needs loan move after disappointing season at LA Galaxy

 Beckham had been linked with the Rossoneri before leaving Real Madrid for the United States in 2007. Milan head coach Carlo Ancelotti has given the blessing for the former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder to join up with his squad, and provide more competition for places. Ancelotti is looking forward to working with Beckham, who won his 107th England cap in the World Cup qualifying victory over Belarus last week. He would join a stellar squad at Milan, including Brazil standouts Ronaldinho, Kaka and Alexandre Pato, plus Italy’s Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso.

‘For me it will be a pleasure,’ Ancelotti said. ‘Beckham is a serious athlete, a great professional. If he’ll be available for four months with us, we’ll be very happy.’

Popular move: David Beckham trained with Arsenal in January so that he could keep fit during the American close season

Ancelotti also indicated Beckham could play for Milan in the UEFA Cup. ‘If he becomes available for Milan, evidently it will be for both in Italy and in Europe,’ the coach added. If Beckham moves to Milan – Capello’s former club – then he will have the chance to demonstrate in Serie A that he remains a world-class player. Regular club football would almost certainly help his England prospects. England have a busy start to 2009. They have a probable friendly against Spain lined up for February, plus a home friendly against Slovakia in March, and World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine in April, and Kazakhstan and Andorra in June.

107 not out: David Beckham after England’s 3-1 victory in Belarus

Former England boss Steve McClaren dramatically dropped Beckham in 2006 but was prompted to bring him back into the set-up because of his impressive performances under Capello at Real Madrid.
 Because of his move to America, and the schedule of the MLS season, Beckham was not playing competitive football at the start of this year and Capello left him out of the England squad for his first match, the February friendly against Switzerland. However, he quickly returned to favour and won his 100th cap in the friendly defeat by France in Paris on March 26. Beckham is clearly determined to retain his place in the England squad for the 2010 World Cup. With England boasting a 100% record after four qualifying matches, Capello’s side look set to succeed where McClaren’s men failed in their bid to reach Euro 2008.

Capello last week stressed that Beckham has a key role to play for the foreseeable future with England even if he is restricted to cameo roles for the rest of his international career.

Fresh-faced: Beckham wins his first England cap

Beckham has overtaken Sir Bobby Charlton and moved to within one appearance of the 108-cap tally achieved by World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore, with only 125-times-capped Peter Shilton having played more matches for England. But Capello stressed Beckham would not be selected to face Spain in February if he remained inactive during the MLS close season. ‘For the game against Spain, if he is not playing, he will not be in the squad,’ Capello said.

‘But, when I decide the squad, it is not for the few minutes that David Beckham plays. He is good for the group. This is important. In fact, this is very important – his influence. He knows everything. He transmits confidence in the other players. This is very important for the group. Former AC Milan and England striker Luther Blissett believes the move to Italy would do Beckham the world of good. ‘If he’s really going to be part of this England revolution he’s got to be playing regular, top-class football with top-class players,’ Blissett told Setanta Sports News. ‘I think he’d make a great addition to what they have. And for Beckham to be playing alongside the likes of Kaka and (Clarence) Seedorf in midfield would be great for him as much as it would be for Milan.” The move is likely to be short term, with Beckham likely to return to the United States for the start of the MLS season in the spring. Blissett claims Beckham would cope well in Serie A, saying: ‘He loves to play football, whether it’s for his country or the club he’s at, he just loves to play football. If you’ve got that attitude and mentality then it’s easy to settle anywhere.’ Mark Hateley, who also played for England and Milan during the 1980s, added: ‘There’s no better place for him to go and play, it’ll suit his style. Playing in a side full of big stars, great players will be a lot easier than it is at LA Galaxy. ‘They’ve had a slow start to the season but now they’re three or four points off the top team. I think it’s a good situation for David to be in at this stage of his career.’

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