Projo Sports Blog

FOXBORO – They came from all corners of New England and beyond, some driving hours, some even flying, to get to Gillette Stadium for last night’s Major League Soccer match between the New England Revolution and the Los Angeles Galaxy.

In the stands, there were the usual Revolution faithful, those who have followed their hometown team as its made its way to the top of the Eastern Conference standings this season.

But there were also many first-timers in the sell-out crowd of 35,402, and their mission was clear: ``We want to see Beckham,’’ Madison and Darian Helgerson, of Middletown, said in unison.

The sisters, who have been playing soccer since they were toddlers and compete on the Portsmouth Pirates U-12 team, were referring, of course, to David Beckham, the English soccer star who signed a 5-year deal reportedly worth $250 million with the Galaxy.

The 6-foot tall midfielder with movie star looks and a trademark kick that inspired the movie title Bend it Like Beckham, has created a fervor wherever he goes, on and off the field, since coming to the United States.

There are those who appreciate what Beckham has accomplished on the soccer pitch and the championships he has contributed to as a member of the English national team, Manchester United and then Real Madrid.

``I think it’s because he’s so good and he chose to come to America,’’ said Traci Helgerson, who accompanied her daughters to the game as part of a caravan that had been coordinated by a local soccer coach. ``Hopefully it will bring a greater knowledge of the sport because a lot of people don’t know about soccer.’’
For others, Beckham’s draw isn’t so much about his ability as a soccer player.
``She thinks he’s sexy. No joke,’’ Reid Plimpton said of his older sister’s fascination with the Englishman.

``I like the Revolution,’’ said Cassie Plimpton, 17, who drove 2 hours from Belmont, N.H. with her brother and two friends to see last night’s game. ``I just like Beckham more.’’

Indeed, Beckham has made more than a few non-soccer fans take notice of the sport.
``I’m not a soccer person, but I’m here to see him,’’ said 46-year-old Karen Sullivan of Saugus, Mass., who was at last night’s game with 15 family members, including her husband Jim and their two daughters, Kelly and Cassidy.

``It doesn’t matter’’ if he doesn’t play, she said. ``As long as I get a glimpse of him.’’
And, in fact, a glimpse is all that anyone caught of Beckham, who has been plagued by a left ankle injury all season and was not in the lineup.

Dressed in team warm-ups, he signed autographs for fans sitting in the first row behind the Galaxy’s bench and was greeted by Robert Kraft before taking a seat next to his teammates to watch the struggling Galaxy drop a 1-0 decision to the Revs.

While Revolution coach Steve Nicol said that his team wasn’t going to get caught up in the buzz created by Beckham’s arrival, he conceded that there was ``just a wee bit’’ more excitement surrounding this match than most and that the interest in soccer that Beckham has been generating around the country is undeniable.

``It’s tough to think there’s anybody else that could have had the impact’’ Beckham has had, he said. ``It’s fantastic.’’

``The one thing that sticks out about great players is they love to play the game, and you can see he enjoys playing the game,’’ Nicol added. ``You saw him come out in D.C. up against it. You see him coming out wanting the ball and wanting the ball and wanting it again. If you have a great touch and a good soccer brain, you’ve got a (heck) of a chance, and he’s got all those things.’’

Beckham says the attention he has received in the U.S. is greater than anything he has experienced anywhere else at any time in his much-publicized career.

``I’ve had a great reception in every place I’ve visited so far,’’ he said in a brief press conference on Saturday. (He was not available to the media last night.) ``The other night was incredible in Washington [when Beckham made his MLS debut, playing 18 minutes]. Almost 50,000 people and to get a crowd like that I think is not just great for our team and myself, but it’s great for the MLS. That’s the sort of interest that we need to have in this sport and this country, and we hope it continues because I believe it’s the best sport in the world and we need to convince many more people that it is.’’
Apparently not everyone was satisfied with just catching a glimpse of Beckham on the sidelines last night, though.

When his image flashed across the Jumbotron in the 89th minute, a round of boos rose up from the crowd.

``It’s very hard because ticket were sold’’ out by Aug. 2, said Galaxy coach Frank Yallop, adding that the decision not to play Beckham was made yesterday morning. ``David wants to be on the field. I think he feels very bad. . . . . It is a disappointment, but it’s reality. We can’t get him out there for 20 minutes because we could set him back. But I do feel for the fans because they’re excited to see him play, and we are too. But we’ve got to make sure we do the right thing by him.’’

--CAROLYN THORNTON

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