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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 2:01 p.m., Thursday, June 28, 2007

Soccer: Beckham to make L.A. debut on July 13

By Beth Harris
Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — Mark your calendars, America.

David Beckham will be officially introduced as the newest member of the Los Angeles Galaxy on July 13 at the team's stadium in Carson.

Beckham, currently vacationing after helping Real Madrid win the Spanish League title, will arrive in Los Angeles a few days before his introductory news conference and first training session with the MLS team.

Beckham is expected to make his playing debut in an exhibition against England's Chelsea on July 21 at Home Depot Center.

Appearing with the 32-year-old midfielder at the news conference will be MLS commissioner Don Garber, Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas, coach Frank Yallop and Tim Leiweke, president of AEG, which operates the team

The Galaxy could use a boost one-third of the way through its season. The team's 2-5-3 record is second-worst in the league.

Meanwhile, Victoria Beckham is set to make a splash on U.S. television three days later when NBC airs a one-hour special titled "Victoria Beckham: Coming to America" on July 16.

The show will follow the soccer star's wife as she prepares to move from Europe to the United States with her husband.

Initially, NBC had announced a six-episode series in February that would air during the summer. However, Victoria Beckham's shooting time was limited by her and the couple's three children spending time in Europe as Beckham wound down his playing career there.

So NBC decided it had enough footage to air a one-hour special. Among the executive producers is Simon Fuller, who managed the Spice Girls pop group that launched Victoria Beckham to fame.