The crowd was buzzing. David Beckham was sending an inbounds kick towards D.C. United’s goal. After enduring a heavy rain on a hot night, fans were being rewarded by watching soccer’s celebrity do his thing.
OK, Beckham didn’t score in United’s 1-0 victory at RFK Stadium Thursday night, but at least the British star played 18 minutes for the Los Angeles Galaxy. It’s called a win-win situation.
The capacity crowd of 46,686 was United’s third largest ever and remindful of Dutch star Johan Cruyff helping the old Diplomats average a franchise-best 19,205 in 1980 before closing two years later.
The muggy night produced an international air. Maybe Beckham heard the bagpiper emitting a British tune near the player’s entrance or saw the seemingly endless number of teenage girls wearing his No. 23. British flags waved throughout the stadium amid the steady din of drums, whistles and horns.
There were even Beckham fans in The Squire’s old box. Novices also came wearing Nats caps, Wizards jerseys or Maryland Terps gear. Plenty of kids donned their rec team jersey. There were a few clever banners.
“Where the Heck’s Beck” and “We sing better than your wife” in a slap at the absent Mrs. Beckham formerly known as Posh Spice.
Washingtonians love an event and Beckham certainly qualifies for some reason.
This country, with a lukewarm passion for a sport the rest of the world loves, still adores celebrities even if they’re imported. People magazine was among the press box horde that has rarely seen an overflow since the Redskins left in 1996. German TV and Venezuelan radio crews came, too. Even Capitals owner Ted Leonsis watched while probably wondering why some of the foreign NHL stars can’t draw like the blond Brit.
When Luciano Emilio put Washington ahead 1-0 on a laser to the net’s corner 27 minutes into play, the thunderclap of applause and “D.C. United” chant showed Washingtonians came to see Beckham but still backed the home team.
The midfield bleachers bounced without a Redskin in sight. In the end, it was a bloody good night.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
