MANCHESTER, England - When David Beckham went shopping during a break in
England training this week, he was "kidnapped" in a prank by a teammate, then
mobbed by hundreds of fans when he got to the store.
England's soccer captain David Beckham
applauds the crowd after the side's International friendly soccer match
against Jamaica at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, England, Saturday
June 3, 2006. England will play against Paraguay, Sweden and Trinidad and
Tobago in Group B during the upcoming soccer World Cup in Germany.
[AP] |
Just another day in the fishbowl life of one of the world's most recognizable
soccer players.
Beckham has been in the soccer spotlight since 1996, and his fame only grew
when, a year later, he began dating "Posh Spice" Victoria, a member of the pop
band Spice Girls.
He moved from Manchester United to Spain's Real Madrid in 2003, but it's not
stopped the British fascination with "Becks" and his life with Victoria and
their three sons.
"I come back to Manchester, where I spent 15 years of my football career and
my life, and get the reception like I did," Beckham said. "And even in London a
few weeks ago, I had the same. I couldn't get out of the shop and six policemen
had to help me out.
"It does still surprise me, but it's a nice thing to have that sort of effect
— when people want to shake your hand or want to get autographs or want to nick
your hat."
Beckham fell foul of a prank by England teammate Rio Ferdinand on Wednesday,
filmed for a television program. Ferdinand arranged for a car chauffeuring
Beckham to drive aimlessly through Manchester's less attractive suburbs.
"I saw the headlines after, but there wasn't one minute that I thought I was
being kidnapped," Beckham said. "I just thought I had a really, really
pain-in-the-backside security man."
When the driver wouldn't stop, Beckham decided to escape. Such is his world,
he didn't find the sight of a camera crew in the car behind unusual.
"In Spain, that happens to us every day," he said. "It's not paparazzi every
day, it's camera crews. I'm thinking, 'Right, if I get out quick enough and run,
they're not going to be able to catch me.'
"The car was actually still moving slightly, so I just ... jumped out and ran
across the other side of the road and ran for a black cab."
