Turku, Finland – Jordan, Manning, Gretzky, Woods. Names all associated with the peak of excellence in their respective sports, names that resonate through the game and fandom as not only some of the greatest players, but also the greatest
ambassadors for their sport. None of those names however, no matter how big they might seem to people in the United States, are as big as David Beckham. As the biggest star in the biggest sport in the world, there is little doubt that his name stands above all others as the biggest in sport.
Unlike those others however, Beckham’s on field performance hasn’t been at the peak of the sport. Married to a glamorous star, possessed of matinee idol good looks, and all kinds of charisma, Becks has become the greatest ambassador for his sport despite his sometimes mediocre play. While still in the upper echelon of players, Beckham is far from the greatest player today, never mind of all time. Still, his profile has meant huge things for the sport, particularly as it tries to break into the United States. Now with a torn Achilles tendon making it a distinct possibility that his career will be over, and he will certainly
miss the World Cup, soccer officials are unsure of which direction to take with their biggest star. His on field performance however is expected to be unaffected by his inability to play.
“He will have to take it very easy during the next two to three weeks or a month, and then he will continue with a recuperation program slowly. The foot won’t take much strain for two to three months,” said Dr. Sakai Orava who operated on the star. “It will be four months to running and a further two months before playing. It is a devastating injury that has ended the careers of many athletes by judging by the way he has been playing, particularly over the last few years, I don’t believe it will have a significant effect one way or the other.”
It’s believed that Beckham’s face was unaffected by the injury.
“This is a big blow no matter which way you look at it. In particular it is a big deal to World Cup organizers who are now realistically can expect to only have ridiculous levels of attention at the big game rather than the obscene levels they had hoped for. Beckham is as big a draw as there is in sport and his absence will no doubt result in more than a few fans passing on the games,” said Scrape TV Sports analyst Mark Marvins. “Of course they can expect to have the same old Becks out there on the field in six months. Sure he may be a little limpy but what else is new. This is David Beckham, no one watches him for the play.”
It’s expected that many of his female fans will actually swoon after seeing him in crutches, something that is expected to do wonders for his various contracts, which net him millions every year.
“Injury is simply a part of sport and always will be. There has been more than a few great players who have not been able to age gracefully, who haven’t been able to go out on their own terms, because of injury but luckily that won’t be the case with Beckham,” continued Marvins. “Realistically he could go out on the field with the cast and crutches and little will have been affected. If he did that the camera might be able to get better shots of his face which can only be good for him and for the sport.”
Odds makers bumped England from 11/2 chances of winning to 5/1 on news of the injury.
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