| When you watch David Beckham with a ball you | | | | mentality that will win over the American |
| watch someone at the very pinnacle of their | | | | sports fans. |
| profession. The master craftsman, perhaps | | | | |
| even a great artist! Europe is in mourning as | | | | Of course, it helps that he has developed |
| he leaves for America and yet many in his new | | | | into one of the greatest passers the game has |
| homeland aren't sure what it's all about. | | | | ever seen and his free kicks aren't bad |
| | | | either. The high level of skill was achieved |
| As we all know, soccer is continuing to grow | | | | through sheer bloody mindedness and years of |
| in America and with the arrival of Beckham | | | | endless practice. You see, our David was |
| it's about to get a nice boost. Even sports | | | | never a natural soccer player like say a |
| fans who don't follow soccer are wondering | | | | Maradonna or a Pele for instance. David |
| what makes this guy so special. | | | | Beckham started life as a young teenage |
| | | | winger at Manchester United with a problem - |
| It was the Manchester United fans who first | | | | he couldn't get past a defender! |
| fell in love with him. Followed by England | | | | |
| and Real Madrid soccer fans and to understand | | | | He soon realized if he was to progress under |
| the Beckham phenomena you have to understand | | | | the ever watchful eye of the great coach Sir |
| why they adored him so much. It wasn't his | | | | Alex Ferguson he needed a solution. So |
| ball skills, his hair style, his choice of | | | | instead of trying to beat the defender and |
| bride etc. | | | | losing the ball he simply learnt to cross the |
| | | | ball into the danger area for others, |
| David Beckham has won the hearts of the teams | | | | learning how to make it swerve around the |
| fans he has played for because of his | | | | defense and thereby completely removing the |
| determination, belief in himself and most of | | | | need to worry about a little thing like |
| all, because he simply never ever quits. When | | | | defenders! |
| others around him are hanging their heads and | | | | |
| giving up a lost cause, Beckham is running | | | | All this practising with a moving ball meant |
| like his life depends on it. He'll chase that | | | | his dead ball skills went through the roof |
| ball right up until the referee ends the game | | | | and he soon established himself as Manchester |
| and he'll believe the game can still be | | | | United's and then England's free kick |
| salvaged up to the very end. It is this | | | | specialist. His peers regard him the finest |
| playing "with his heart on his sleeve" | | | | free kick taker in the world. |