David Robert Joseph Beckham, 35 year old soccer star, celebrity, entertainer, and most of all a family man, is a living legend to many youngsters like me all over the world, and more so in a cricket frenzied part of the world. Many of us know Beckham only as a soccer star, a free kick specialist, and the man who scored from half line. But there is more to him than what meets the eye.
It’s the BUBBLE, as Beckham refers to his family and their effervescent world in his biography ‘My Side’. Beckham with Victoria and their 3 sons Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz make a wonderful picture. Beckham learned what comes along with all the fame the hard way when he had got various threat calls from kidnappers intimidating to kidnap his family. In his book ‘My side’ Beckham wrote “We were upset and scared, but you can’t just hide and hope it will all go away. My family’s safety is the most important thing in the world; it’s the same for any dad. So in the days after, it was a case of trying to work out what we could do.”
In his autobiography, Beckham mentions that they were like any other family; they shopped, went on holiday, and spent time with each other. With both mum and dad as celebrities; with the whole circus of paparazzi, publicity, finding their names on the front page every day they were still able to keep the ‘bubble’ bouncing. Beckham also underlined his joy on being a father, describing it as an unbelievable feeling only a dad can understand, the feeling was unique for all his three children but still not any one greater than the other.
Once when United were due training before their game against Chelsea, Brooklyn had his first nativity play at nursery school. Beckham like any other dad in the world was desperate to be at his son’s nursery school but he was denied permission from the coach and ended up winding up Sir Alex. This was a critical reason in the immensely written- about rift between Sir Alex Ferguson where Ferguson felt that life was never same for David after his marriage. He stated, “He was never a problem until he got married. He used to go into work with the academy coaches at night time; he was a fantastic young lad. Getting married into that entertainment scene was a difficult thing – from that moment, his life was never going to be the same. He is such a big celebrity; football is only a small part.”
His professional career has been a rollercoaster ride, he has seen his glory days come and go by. He has won accolades, silverware for his clubs, been through many tear-jerking injuries and some ghastly criticism (was held responsible for England’s 1998 world cup loss to Argentina where he was red carded). He was at his peak at United and people still wonder what if he hadn’t left, what if he was still at Manchester United? Probably, he would have achieved even greater heights but after all that has been said and done; the bottom line is that David Beckham in an illustrious career, in the face of ups and downs has been a perfect family person and an idol to many people in and outside the football fraternity.

Football has been the most popular sport on the planet for some time now, and not without reason. Each World Cup has left a mark in time. A gaze into history will tell you that the 1966 World Cup was remembered for the Geoff Hurst goal, 1986 for Maradona’s Hand of God, and more recently 2006 for Zidane’s head butt. But this world cup will be remembered for a lot more than just football. Here’s a fact – at 2.24 goals per match so far, the average this year is the second-lowest after the 1990 World Cup in Italy, which saw an average of 2.21 goals. Perhaps that is why news off the pitch managed to grab more headlines this FIFA.
Take Paul, the Octopus for instance. Who knew the biggest star of the World Cup would be an eight-legged creature who can’t even kick a ball. He made all the football pundits feel like mere parrots, who stealthily watched Paul’s predictions before every match. With the World Cup coming to an end, there have been talks hinting at Paul’s retirement. His owners stated, “He won’t give any more oracle predictions – either in football; or in politics, lifestyle or economy”(the task of predicting whether India would ever play for the FIFA World Cup probably did him in). Hearing this, Fabio Cannavaro (given no media coverage), who retired after Italy’s exit, just hit a new low in his career.
There was lack of entertainment on the field but off it, Paraguayan model Larissa Riquelme, like Maradona’s proposal for Argentina, promised the media to pose in the buff if her nation won the Cup. Now we know why Paraguay was cheered for more than Argentina. However, Paraguay’s loss didn’t stop her from posing nude for the team, while everyone is thankful Maradona did not follow suit. Also, it would be unfair to not mention the French mutiny. Even the vuvuzelas weren’t able to drown their voice. If only Nicolas Anelka produced some magic from his feet rather than his mouth, things would be different.
Another trend this World cup saw was the never ending spat between Pele and Maradona. These ‘men of honour’, in an attempt to bolster their own case, ended up criticising each other’s personal lives. The Brazilian accused Maradona of not being a great role model for children because of his history with drugs and even though too inexperienced to coach Argentina, he took up the responsibility solely for the need of money. To this Maradona, outraged, claimed that Pele lost his virginity to a man. It’s a pity that the two parties did not meet; nothing like an added fist-fight between the two legends.
Last but not least, ESPN deserves special mention for showing Shakira’s Waka Waka on replay, which proved to be more entertaining than watching goalkeepers dance to the Jabulani’s tune; and so does Iker Casillas who bade adieu to this World Cup with an on-camera kiss with his reporter girlfriend, Sara Carbonero. And with this, the FIFA World Cup 2010 ended on an entertaining note for football and non-football fans like. Now that’s what you call masala entrtainment for all.