The Beck Pages
‘ONCE upon a time, the back pages of the newspapers were just that – the back pages.
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| Next stop Mars |
But in the past few years they have become the Beck pages as the sports hacks run a rule over every aspect of the England captain’s life.
The 28-year-old spent the weekend aboard a horse on a carousel in Disneyland, but that ride gets more attention than Kieron Fallon’s Derby win aboard Kris Kin on Saturday.
Of course, most of the speculation surrounds Beckham’s possible transfer, with Barcelona still the destination favoured by most of the papers.
The Express claims Beckham will make up his mind whether he is interested in going to the Nou Camp in the next 48 hours.
AC Milan have also thrown their hat into the ring, according to the Mirror, and have immediately jumped to the head of the queue.
But the Star says Manchester United will not sell to one of their European rivals for fear of a Beckham backlash in the Champions’ League.
”They know it would be a PR disaster for the club,” says the paper, ”and Sir Alex Ferguson would come under immediate pressure for forcing the fans’ favourite out of the door.”
Beckham is currently spending his summer break on a promotional tour of America and the Far East – and that, according to the Mail, has spelt the end of his Old Trafford career.
Ferguson, it says, had wanted to keep the midfielder at the club ”despite his disapproval of the player’s showbusiness lifestyle and a suspicion that he saves his energy for internationals”.
But his paternal instincts ”were stretched beyond breaking point” by Beckham’s summer plans – and he is now prepared to countenance his sale.
As for Beckham himself, the Sun claims that he feels betrayed by the club he has played for since he was a boy, saying he is being traded round ”like a piece of meat”.
”All he has ever done is give his best to the club,” a close pal says.
All of which sadly leaves us (and the papers) no space for the other sports news – how David Beckham inspired England cricketers to an innings victory, how David Beckham backed Kris Kin to win the Derby, how a swing tip from David Beckham put Gary Orr on track to win golf’s British Masters…
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Posted: 9th, June 2003 | In: Back pages Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
