Sunday, July 22, 2007
A New Era Begins
Photo credit: Wireimage & Splash News
David Beckham began his daunting challenge to convert America into a soccer-mad nation with an uneventful 12-minute debut for the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday night. Beckham got into the exhibition against Chelsea in the 78th minute, jogging onto the field amid huge cheers and a sea of camera flashes from the sold-out crowd of 27,000. "The atmosphere is incredible," he said after Chelsea's 1-0 victory. The 32-year-old midfielder spent most of the game on the bench because of a nagging left ankle injury. There were cheers each time Beckham touched the ball, the highlight being a corner kick he took in stoppage time. After taking about 10 minutes to get loose on the sideline, he entered as a substitute for Alan Gordon, who slapped hands with the English superstar before Beckham took the field for the first time. "I'm not fit. I haven't trained since I got here," he said. "But it's nice to be out there." Chelsea captain John Terry scored in the 49th minute on a 19-yard shot that ricocheted off the right post and left post before caroming into the net. Beckham got off the bench in the 66th minute to warm up, exciting fans who had waited most of the game to see him. He jogged up and down the sidelines and a roar went up when Beckham tapped an out-of-bounds ball back to the referee, his first kick of the night. He briefly ran off the field with the Galaxy's trainer before returning and peeling off his warmup shirt to reveal his favored long-sleeved jersey on a warm night when the other players wore short sleeves. Beckham's debut was crazy from the start. When he took his seat on the end of a metal bench, he was quickly surrounded by about 100 photographers pushing and shoving to get a shot. He calmly took in the scene as the scrum furiously snapped away within inches of him before being shoved back by about 10 security guards. He chatted with teammate Peter Vagenas while the Galaxy's starting lineup on the field was all but ignored. Beckham's wife Victoria, wearing her trademark huge black sunglasses, along with actress Katie Holmes and her infant daughter Suri, watched from a private box above the field. Actress Jennifer Love Hewitt was like a lot of spectators, attending her first soccer game. Anyone who knows me knows that I am not a big sports fan by any means (the only sport I ever seriously played was tennis ... but now that I can play the game on my Wii, well, let's just say I don't even play tennis that much anymore -- oh, and there was my brief but stellar career in kickball but that, too, has fallen by the wayside) but being at the Galaxy game yesterday was so much fun. The atmosphere was electric and even tho I'm sure the American soccer experience isn't quite on par with the fandom that exists in the rest of the world, I think I can see what the appeal is. Even tho Becks didn't play for most of the game, I still had an amazing time watching the other players on the field. Sitting with the cheering fans in the stands was really very fun. I showed up at the game thinking that it would be the only one I'd haul my cookies down to Carson, CA to watch in person but I left trying to figure out if I could fit the rest of the Galaxy home games into my schedule. I definitely plan on going back to watch more games. [Source, Source]
Here is a short video I took of David Beckham entering the game at the 78th minute, the first moments of his first game with the LA Galaxy:
At the 19th second of this video you can see him picking up a piece of the grass and either he smelled it or he tasted it. Despite his injured ankle, he was ready to play.
Vicki B. and her eldest sons Brooklyn and Romeo (the littlest one, Cruz, was nowhere to be seen) were holed up in a private box at one end of the stadium (I understand it was the CAA corporate box) and Sara and I spent a considerable amount of time trying to figure out what was going on up there from our vantage point. We couldn't really see what was going on but by the looks of these photos, it appears that Vicki B. was getting tipsy on champagne and the boys were cheering for their dad just like the rest of us:
There was a red carpet set up for the celebs who attended yesterday's game (it was a Hollywood soccer match, after all) and Eva Longoria had arrived right as I did (I was not on the red carpet, I was only watching the craziness while I waited to meet up with Sara) and now I can see that she was whisked away up to the private CAA box to chill with Vicki and the boys. [Source]
Katie Holmes with daughter Suri was also on hand for the game and she, too, was seated in the uberexclusive CAA box ... here are a few really cute pics of Katie and Suri cheering on their hometown team:
Even tho we couldn't make out Vicki or Eva from our seats, we did manage to make out Katie and Suri. Coincidentally, we were seated right next to Pink readers Holly and her daughter Quinn and they lent us their binoculars so that we could peek into that box and we were able to see Katie bouncing Suri in her arms ... they were both surrounded by a bunch of very large & scary-looking men in black suits, natch. Tom Cruise must still be in Germany because he was not at the game (which is weird because I thought Tom, Katie, Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith were supposed to be throwing a big Welcome to LA party for the Beckhams this weekend). [Source]
And there were even more celebs in the building for Beckham's big debut ... as I mentioned, the red carpet was rolled out for celebs like Alicia Silverstone, Mary-Kate Olsen and Jennifer Love Hewitt:
Photo credit: Wireimage
Alicia was seated in the stands with the rest of the normal people and J. Love and her boyfriend were seated on the field seats right next to the action. I also know that Alyson Hannigan and Alexis Denisof were also at the game but they decided to forego the red carpet and enjoy the game like regular people. I don't really expect that every Galaxy home game will be this crazy with celebrities (and I really hope they get rid of that ridiculous red carpet) but you never know. Paris Hilton might become a season ticket holder and she might become a regular staple in Carson, CA. [Source]
In extremely sad news, I found out during the game that Tammy Faye Messner had passed away. The news of her death was released late yesterday afternoon but it turns out that she had died early Friday morning. Succumbing to colon cancer, Tammy Faye died at age 65:
Live one day at a time, without fear, Tammy Faye Messner said earlier this month as she battled cancer, weighing just 65 pounds. Messner, who as Tammy Faye Bakker helped her husband, Jim, build a multimillion-dollar evangelism empire that collapsed in disgrace, has died, her manager said Saturday. She was 65. Messner had battled colon cancer since 1996 that more recently spread to her lungs. She passed away peacefully Friday at her home near Kansas City, Mo., said Joe Spotts, who was also Messner's booking agent. A family service was held Saturday in a private cemetery, where her ashes were interred, he said. Messner had frequently spoken about her medical problems, saying she hoped to be an inspiration to others. "Don't let fear rule your life," she said. "Live one day at a time, and never be afraid." But she told well-wishers in a note on her Web site in May that the doctors had stopped trying to treat the cancer. In an interview with CNN's Larry King earlier this month, an emaciated Messner — still using her trademark makeup — said, "I believe when I leave this earth, because I love the Lord, I'm going straight to heaven." Asked if she had any regrets, Messner said: "I don't think about it, Larry, because it's a waste of good brain space" ... Jim Bakker said in a news release that his ex-wife "lived her life like the song she sang, 'If Life Hands You a Lemon, Make Lemonade.'" "She is now in heaven with her mother and grandmother and Jesus Christ, the one who she loves and has served from childbirth," he said. "That is the comfort I can give to all who loved her."
Jay Bakker, Tammy Faye's son and minister of Revolution Church, released this statement on his mother's passing:
July.21.2007
TAMMY FAYE MESSNER 1942-2007
After fighting cancer for eleven years, my mother passed away on July 20 at 4AM. She had a very peaceful death and is no longer in pain. To grant her wish she was cremated today and her ashes were buried at a private ceremony. The service was performed by my good friend Randy McCain of Open Door Community Church in Sherwood, AR.
Thank you to everyone for their prayers and support over the years - it has helped me more than you will ever know. Please continue to pray for her husband Roe as well as the rest of my family.
A public ceremony is currently being planned - an update will be sent once the details are finalized along with where to send flowers. I ask that all press would please allow me to grieve privately at this time. Thank you.
Jay Bakker
Tammy Faye was a wonderful and caring woman who suffered much in her life but always managed to remain steadfast in her conviction that life is worth living and all people are worth loving. Tammy Faye only had the nicest, most positive things to say about everyone, including her most vile detractors and really stood as a testament to what Christianity should be all about. I urge you to watch the documentary The Eyes of Tammy Faye to get a real good understanding of what this woman was all about. I know I'm going to miss her charming personality and her ever-present smile. May she rest in eternal peace. [Source]
The Simpsons Movie had its first premiere in the town of Springfield, Vermont yesterday afternoon. Here are a few pics of Simpons creator Matt Groening and the Simpsons family at yesterday's premiere:
Photo credit: Wireimage
Of all the towns of Springfield in the US, Springfield, VT was chosen as the site of the first premiere. The Hollywood premiere will take place here in LA this Tuesday but I think it's great that the fine folks up in Vermont got to check it out before anyone else could. [Source]
Here are a few pics of Johnny Depp, who apparently finds that he is too sexy for his shirt when he takes to the open seas:
Johnny and his fiancee Vanessa Paradis spent part of their weekend enjoying a little yachting excursion in the Mediterranean together. Um hmm, I don't think there are many people out there who mind that Johnny got half-nekkid. [Source]
Speaking of half-nekkid hotness, here are a few pics of Ian Ziering playing a little game of volleyball with a few of his friends in Malibu, CA yesterday afternoon:
I am utterly amazed that Ian Ziering still looks the same as he did when he played Steve Sanders on the hit show Beverly Hills, 90210 17 years ago. He must've made a really great deal with the devil to be able to hang on to his youthful good looks ... and that would explain why the poor chap hasn't had a hit show since. He got close with is appearance on Dancing with the Stars, tho. Ah well, I guess we'll just have to appreciate his hawtness instead. [Source]
Here are a couple of really cute pics of "Just Friends" Lance Bass and Pedro Andrade making their exit from the opening party for Justin Timberlake's new NYC restaurant Southern Hospitality earlier this week:
Oh whatever! Landro are sooooooooo boyfriends. They pretty much spend every waking moment together and they do seem to coordinate when dressing. It might be time to pick out china patterns very soon now. [Source]
Hayden Panettiere was the special guest vocalist for Heroes co-star Greg Grunberg's star-studded covers band this weekend. Here are pics of Hayden and the rest of Band from TV rockin' the stage at the Orange County Flyers baseball game at Cal State Fullerton in Anaheim, CA last night:
Photo credit: Wireimage
Band from TV is made up of members Greg Grunberg (Heroes) on drums, James Denton (Desperate Housewives) on guitar, Hugh Laurie (House) on piano and Bob Guiney (The Bachelor) and Bonnie Somerville (Kitchen Confidential) on vocals. I've actually had the pleasure of seeing/hearing Band from TV live once ... they were among the performers at the TV Guide Emmy party at Social Hollywood that Jim and I attended last Fall ... and they weren't that bad. I understand that Hayden sang two songs with the band, Bitch by Meredith Brooks and Ironic by Alanis Morrissette. [Source]
And finally, it's time for the Hot Dude of the Week. One can never get tired of hot musclely guys, right? In that case, let's say hello to hot dude Wyatt:
Photo credit: All American Guys
Sure, Wyatt looks all mean and serious with that scowly pout of his but that's okay. The serious look on his face goes well with those seriously ripped abs and those seriously protruding veins popping out all over his body. Yeah, muscles are seriously nice :) [Source]
Les News:
- Borders sells 1.2 million copies of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in the first day of sales, the highest ever for a single title.
- Lindsay Lohan will be tangoing in her new movie.
- Faith Hill and Tim McGraw got robbed, y'all.
- Rufus Wainwright is 34, Keith Sweat is 46 and George Clinton is 66 years old today. Click HERE to see who else is celebrating a birthday today.
- 50 Cent sues an internet advertising company for using his face in their ad-game Shoot the Rapper.
- THIS has got to be the most insightful news story on Paris Hilton ever.
And here are a few of the pics that I took at yesterday's game:
Not only did I get to hang out with Sara but I also got to meet a bunch of other Pink readers -- Holly and Quinn were sitting right next to us, Annalise and Nicole were sitting right near us and I ran into another Nicole and her friend Leslie after the game was over. It was amazing meeting all of you :) Sara tells me that I have to give a shout out to her friends Molly, Mia, Genae, Christina and Bex. And I have to give much love and thanks to Glenn who hooked me up with this ticket giveaway contest.
After the game, I met up for a late night dinner with Mike at Mexicali and it was there that I ran into Pink readers Carly and Vanessa who were there celebrating their birthday:
Happy Birthday, ladies ... I hope it was a great one for you both :)
Woo ... it's been a bizzy weekend. I still need to pick up the new Harry Potter book and get to readin'. I hope everyone is having a great day today ... I am out.
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