When Worlds Don't Collide

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Wednesday May 9, 2007 04:08 PM

Matthew Hall

If they could, would Australia's Indigenous kids want to be David Beckham?

Two very different stories. Two very different worlds.

The first takes place in Arlington, Virginia, outside of Washington DC, a few years ago.

David Beckham, who had only just joined American Major League Soccer team Los Angeles Galaxy, had taken his teammates out for dinner at a steakhouse.

Beckham's recent arrival in the US had won headlines around the world, not just because of his reported potential USD$48 million salary but because, well, Los Angeles Galaxy?

It wasn't Real Madrid was it?

This dinner, with 10 teammates, would demonstrate how Beckham's world was so far from his fellow Galaxy players.

When the steaks were eaten and the bill arrived, tension mounted.

Landon Donovan, the team's captain, knew this moment, insignificant in many ways but totally revealing in many others, could make or break how Beckham would fit into his new team.

Here was the thing: Beckham's salary was 100-times more than many of his new teammates.

Donovan, the next-biggest earner at Galaxy after Beckham on close to USD$1 million, had previously picked up bills for his less enumerated teammates.

But on this occasion? Egalitarian Beckham put in his share of the bill and passed it along for teammates to put in what they owed.

Regardless of how the bill was split, and regardless of whether millionaire Beckham should have picked up the check for his first team dinner, perception is everything in professional football.

It's apparent with what players wear off the field, with what vehicles they drive to training, with their choice of wives or girlfriend.

For Beckham, who should have known better, the perception among his poorer teammates was that the superstar millionaire new boy was a cheapskate.

"You can look at it two ways," said Galaxy player Chris Klein. "Here's this guy that's making a lot of money, and maybe he should pick up the tab. But the other side of it is, maybe he's trying so hard to be one of the guys, if he's paying for everything then he's not one of the guys anymore."

It's a highwire walk and Beckham, who always wants to be "one of the guys", was likely to fall off no matter which decision he took.

If indeed he actually did make a conscious decision.

At the other end of the football universe, so far away from the showbiz circus of Becksmania that you can barely see it, Indigenous kids from Australia will gather in Townsville Queensland this week for the first Indigenous Football Festival.

As a Football Federation Australia press release claims, the festival is "an integral part of the National Football Development Plan. The Indigenous Football Development Program is a 10 year national plan to increase the number of Indigenous people playing football."

Said FFA CEO, Ben Buckley: "We believe we have a responsibility to encourage more young people of Indigenous background to play football as a way to improve their life through better health, better education and improved skills."

Buckley is right, if only because football/soccer/whatever-you-want-to-call-it has a poor track record of developing Indigenous talent even when it claims a high profile roll call local soccer legends that includes the legendary Harry Williams, the late Charlie Perkins, and James Moriarty.

You can head into the bush and see thousands of Australian kids wearing Socceroos, Barcelona, Manchester United, and Liverpool shirts. The catch is most of them play their football Aussie Rules style.

That's not a bad thing but maybe this week's tournament, that includes games between Yallorin Of The North, Borroloola Cyclones and Giralang Galang, is a step toward an Indigenous player one day being at the same table as David Beckham.

And picking up the tab.

In totally dud news, former Sun Herald sports editor James Carey passed away last week after an illness, aged 41. Among other great things, it should be noted James was a driving force behind Fairfax's Sydney publications adopting the word "football" over "soccer" as editorial policy. RIP.

I have been on Twitter for a while. You can follow me here.

COMMENTS

Matthew, are you an American? "Outside of"? "Check" not "cheque"!

Dear Pedant: No. Arlington is located "outside of" DC, In the US, where this event occurred, the "check" is your "bill". It is not a "cheque" used for bank transactions. MH

by Pedants Rule on July 04, 2009 at 10:17 PM

Two different stories ...two different stories.

Was there a link I missed?

by Steve Kolef on July 04, 2009 at 10:23 PM

Do they expect Beckham to pay for everything? I think it is being a little unfair and he is just trying to be one of the boys.

by Ben Jones on July 05, 2009 at 11:58 AM

Matthew, correct me if I am wrong but your article is about values. No matter whether you have all the money in this world, like Beckham playing in the LA Galaxy or Real Madrid. It is important not to forget where you came from! Once upon a time, David Beckham was not making millions of dollars (pre Manchester United days). David may have the millions now but that was not always the case or in the future (we do not know what tomorrow will bring). David Beckham represents what happens when you put hours and hours of time into your skills and craft for years and reach the top of your profession. The Indigenous Football Development Program is developing football further in the indigenous community. This is about creating opportunities for indigenous children and young people who have skills, the willpower and the commitment to go further with their football. In the past, as Matthew writes we had the legendary Harry Williams, the late Charlie Perkins, and James Moriarty. Currently, Jade North is playing for the Socceroos and is of Aboriginal descent. These gentlemen are good role models for indigenous youth. This is about doing the ground work and creating a start and a future, particularly for those boys or girls who wish to make football their vocation. I am all for promoting and developing to as many cultural backgrounds and communities in this country. It is also important to remember where we came from, who gave us our first chance or opportunity and to treat everyone equal and with compassion.

by Travelling_Max on July 05, 2009 at 03:12 PM

so beckham paid for his own meal? shock horror.

by oly on July 06, 2009 at 09:13 AM

I'm no fan of Becks but i think he was doomed no matter what he did. If he picked up the tab he'd be accused of being 'patronising'... he didn't pick it up so he's a 'cheapskate'. Tall poppy syndrome alive and well in the US too it seems.

by talk football not gossip on July 06, 2009 at 10:12 AM

Becks is known as a tight wad. All power to him, I wish I could be. And you're right, he was damned if he picked up the tab, and damned if he didn't...

That said, perhaps he could've said "I'm the new bloke and this one's on me... You can buy me a drink some time if you feel the need to, but this is what I do when I join a new team so I get to know people... We'll go Dutch next time."

Getting on to the real issue, indigenous football... It is a well of untapped potential that could be life changing for an individual or a community if executed well. Can we expect the next Becks to come from Alice? Maybe, but we'd do well to remember that one of the best role models would be Ronaldhinio (or however it's spelt, it's not his real name anyhow). Win lose or draw, he enjoys the game and plays with a great grin on his face. He's not dating brainless celebrities. It'd be great to know what he does, if anything, for the disadvantaged in his own community.

by Lexi on July 06, 2009 at 10:37 AM

I think the idea of being "one of the boys" was always doomed in the LA Galaxy situation. It was never going to happen. But if you can afford to take the guys out to dinner and shout them for it, then that's always a good way to break the ice. I've shouted friends meals on many occasions, I couldn't afford to do that for a whole team, but if I could, I'd love to do that.

Of course, you have to avoid getting into a situation where everyone just expects you to pay for everything all the time, but certainly for a one off meal like that it's only reasonable.

Especially if you "took them out" for dinner!

I think Becks liked the idea of moving the LA because he could be just like a normal person there, instead of the big superstar. Outside of the team, in a place like LA, that may have been possible, but within the team itself, it just isn't going to work when there's that discrepancy there!

As for the other part of the story, it would definitely be great to see indigenous football take off in Australia and see a number of such players gracing the first choice socceroos in future years!

by Chris on July 06, 2009 at 12:46 PM

Yes an article of stark contrasts.

I do recall when Becks joined Real, at the unveiling there was some marvellous TV capture of a very young fan evading security at the open training session and getting close up to hug his idol - Becks took in his stride and even got the kid a shirt - despite his huge riches and fame there is some humbleness still evident though not the phony set up type. Hope one day after his professional footballing days are over that the UN and FIFA make the best use of his ambassadorial skills and huge profile that benefits impoverished and developing countries.

However, it very important that our Indigenous footballing kids have their own local "home-grown" icons and stars to aspire to and be inspired by. Jade North shines as such an example, on and off the field. Also, his predecessors like Perkins, Williams and Moriarty need to be celebrated and youngsters educated on how they broke new ground during the decades when the national body and State associations gave little encouragment or support.

That FFA, the Johnny Warren Football Foundation and other associations now have specific programs for Indigenous football development shows we are starting to let go of a discriminatory and blinkered past.

Also, thanks to Matthew for a reminder of media contributions by James Carey to football (not "soccer") who past away very recently. This shows how we can all make a positive difference in the broader football family through many diverse roles -fans, players, media, administrators, coaches, sponsors, politicians, leaders, etc. Vale James Carey.

by Pablo on July 06, 2009 at 12:56 PM

World no. 1 - Your article states that Beckham "had taken his teamates out for dinner at a steakhouse"
In this context, I would assume that the tab is on Becks. If someone invites me out for a meal or vice versa, the tab is on the invitor.
The obligation to pay is pretty much in the wording of the invitation. Get an invite to a wedding...tabs on them. "we're all heading to the RSL for a steak"...split the bill.
Our perception of Becks in this instance lies pretty much in what we don't know....so lets not be too hasty. Matt...more info required.
World no. 2 - a pretty timely article considering felow Herald journo Paul McGeogh's articles on the NT interventions. Regardless of your politics or background we all owe it to these communities to provide a leg up in a positive way...not just doling out the cash.
Well done FFA - proud to be a Football tragic with stories like this.

by Cav on July 06, 2009 at 02:02 PM

Matthew, you should have also mentioned Donovan's latest book in which he slams Beckham for his attitude during his time in the US, saying that he treated the entire ordeal as a "joke".

To be honest, I think they're both overpaid prima donnas but I have to side with Donovan on this occasion. My perception of Beckham is one of arrogance; a man driven purely by fame & more importantly, money. To say the whole "Beckham Mania" episode has gone to his head would be the understatement of the century. It's a shame really because I rate him very highly as a footballer and an athlete, and always will.

Finally, the example of the dinner is a petty one and could go either way. He may have not paid because he doesn't want to flaunt his money around and/or rub his new team-mate's faces in the fact that he earns a hell of a lot more than they ever will. I wouldn't read too much into it.

"Donovan's latest book" is actually a book by Sports Illustrated writer Grant Wahl called The Beckham Experiment. I have linked to an excerpt above. MH

by Dave on July 06, 2009 at 02:28 PM

The Sun-Herald

Matthew Hall

When Worlds Don't Collide

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