USA: Soccer star David Beckham and family finally arrive in America

Uber soccer player David Beckham, his wife Victoria, and their three children are now officially residents of the United States. On Thursday (July 12), the Beckhams hopped the pond, flying from London to Los Angeles about British Airways Flight 269. Not surprisingly, one of world's most famous couples arrived to find hundreds of media and fans gathered behind steel barriers just outside the international terminal at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to capture the first moments of their new life in America. 32-year-old Beckham, wearing a long-sleeved black jacket, jeans and a huge smile, escorted Victoria, 33, in a sleeveless black dress and enormous dark sunglasses, waved to members of both the British and U.S. press corps as the two walked towards their waiting vehicle, but said nothing as he passed by the dozens upon dozens of flashing bulbs and television cameras trained on their every move. The newest member of the L.A. Galaxy Major League Soccer (MLS) team showed himself to be a true gentleman by first helping his wife into the black Lincoln Navigator before walking around to the other side and getting into the SUV himself. The Beckham's three children, Brooklyn (8), Romeo (4) and Cruz (2), were nowhere to be seen. There was also no sign of any luggage. It seems the younger Beckhams and their suitcases were being transported to their new home privately in separate cars. One reporter from the British newspaper, The Sun, waited with a huge bouquet of red and cream colored roses. When asked how Beckham and his wife will fare in the U.S., Emily Smith told Reuters she believed the couple will continue to stay in the spotlight. "But I think he could bring a lot more spotlight onto, onto soccer in the U.S.," opined Smith. "And, you know, she's going to be touring again with the Spice Girls. So, you know, I think we'll be seeing a lot of them. I got them these flowers, and I tried to give them to them. But the security guard gave me the, so I guess I'll just have to keep them myself." A British woman traveling to Los Angeles on vacation was enthusiastic about getting here at the same time as the Beckhams. "Yeah, we love them," smiled Nicole Beamish. "Yeah, most people in England do. So, yeah, real big fans of both of them. I hope they really well out here." Another Londoner who rode on the same plane as the Beckhams said he thinks Beckham will make his mark in the soccer world, but could not say whether the same would happen for he and his Spice Girl wife in the realm of Hollywood. "Oh, uh, yeah, well, in a footballing sense definitely, um, I can't really speak for any other sense. Yeah, he's a good guy, I mean, he's a good guy. And everybody in England loves him anyway. I'm Scottish so I don't really mind too much." Beckham recently told Sports Illustrated that he hopes to help raise the profile of major league soccer in America. And, the former Real Madrid star will have no time to recover from jet lag, as he seems to be getting right on the job. Beckham will be officially introduced by his new soccer team, the L.A. Galaxy, on Friday (July 13) morning and then speak to the press individually.

ITN Source | July 20, 2007

Tags:. .flashing. .jeans. .airport. .wearing. .waved