How bad was the debut of David Beckham on national television Saturday night? It mirrored the time Geraldo Rivera took us on a tour of the “Secret vault of Al Capone,” only to find it was empty.
Sure, Beckham?s first game as a member of Major League Soccer?s Los Angeles Galaxy was a major hit in the ratings ?it was seen by approximately 947,000 people, the most ever to watch an MLS game on an ESPN station ? but what did Americans really see?
Beckham, who is nursing an injured left ankle, played the final 12 minutes of a meaningless exhibition game against English club Chelsea. He didn?t score. But that didn?t stop him from seizing the spotlight, as ESPN?s “Beckham Cam” made sure everyone watching at home had a great view of the world?s most recognizable soccer star sitting on the end of the bench.
It could have been worse: Victoria Beckham, David?s wife who was a member of the musical group the “Spice Girls,” could have performed at halftime. But instead, she stayed in a luxury suite hanging out with actresses Katie Holmes and Eva Longoria, who stars on the hit show, “Desperate Housewives.” ESPN showed their faces nearly as often as Beckham?s.
I felt sorry for ESPN?s broadcast crew of Dave O?Brien, Tommy Smyth and Eric Wynalda, along with sideline reporters Allen Hopkins and Bonnie Bernstein.
For most of the night, O?Brien, Smyth and Wynalda were reduced to talking about Beckham?s past as the $250 million man sat on the bench talking to the equipment manager.
Finally, Smith said it best: “I have never looked at an ankle for so long in my life and I know most of the 27,000 people here are doing the same thing.”
Both Wynalda and Smyth had some good lines over the long night. They were amused when in a pregame interview when Galaxy captain and forward Landon Donavan said he would decide who would take the corner kicks and set pieces ? the two plays in which Beckham is considered the best in the world.
Wynalda remarked: “Yeah, like that is going to happen, Landon is going to tell the best dead ball kicker in soccer when he will be allowed to play his game.” Smyth countered: “Beckham will let Landon take a few and then he will pat him on the back and say ?ok, now let me do it.?”
Beckham got his chance to show off his skills in the 89 minute, when he lined up to take a corner kick with his team trailing by a goal. The ball strayed from its target, and the Galaxy lost, 1-0.
Said Wynalda: “Can we go home now?”
I?ll say this: the gang who covered the game for ESPN should receive combat pay. They went into a bad situation and salvaged it with entertaining interviews of actor Drew Carey and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who were in attendance.
As a soccer fan, I know watching Beckham play on television will only improve ? it can?t get much worse.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
