Comments on: Got It!

By: Diane

Diane — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 02:15:55 +0000

Plus, after reading Nick Green’s column with the excerpts on Gordo, who could resist…

By: Diane

Diane — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 02:13:52 +0000

Thanks for the reviews! It does look like something I have to read. Whatever I think about individual players, you both know how I feel about everyone else who has a finger in the pie (or their own pie cubbard, see Simon Fuller, yuch).

By: jen

jen — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:04:53 +0000

Laurie’s right — or I agree with her. And Diane, you WILL appreciate the book.

I’m halfway through. Will post something soon . . .

By: Laurie

Laurie — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:10:02 +0000

Diane, I’m only four chapters in, but I think you will appreciate the book. It’s not a hatchet job on Beckham by any means — more a look at the clash of cultures that created the disaster. So far Beckham comes across as decent and largely unaware of what’s going on with the celebrity aspect.

Quote:

“For if there was a common theme among Beckham’s inner circle and 19 Entertainment in any matter connected to Beckham, it was their insistence on a breathtaking degree of control. They were the gatekeepers of the Beckham Brand, and they had discovered they could make detailed (and occasionally outrageous) demands of any groups — team executives, sponsors, media outlets — that wanted a piece of the Beckham magic. If some of those demands compromised the ethics of those organizations, that wasn’t 19’s problem to worry about. Besides, it was remarkable how often those groups ceded control that they wouldn’t ordinarily dream of giving up, kowtowing to the star power of David Beckham — who was almost always unaware himself of the ultimatums issued in his name. Beckham’s advisers kew all too well: At the highest levels of celebrity, handlers were usually fired for exhibiting too little control, not demanding too much.”

By: Diane

Diane — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:52:47 +0000

Thanks for sharing your book notes, I was hoping to find a designated reader for this one in case the book turns out not to be a cause I want to support!

It’s bothered me that after all the f*ck ups by club/league/managers, that the spot light on “what went wrong” came squarely down on the shoulders of these two players once those excerpts were published.

I was hoping the scope of the book broadened that view and it sounds like its at least taking in 19 Entertainment (yuch). Jen, Beckham’s always claimed that he can separate “that side” from what goes on in the locker room or on the pitch, but no one else can and he should look at the impact it has around him — at least here where he’s not surrounded by other players whose busy brands and branders are part of the parcel.

By: Laurie

Laurie — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 05:39:56 +0000

I’m maybe forty pages into this, and I’m finding it painful. So much hope. I remember that hope.

Sigh.

Rocky, what’s even scarier is that I know exactly what you’re talking about.

By: Rocky Cole

Rocky Cole — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:17:40 +0000

The book will be interesting, but as with all these kind of exposes, the truth of what actually happened will be perhaps nearby, but not between the covers. What I am more interested in is what may have been discussed between Beckham and Donovan this week. Even more interesting will be how Beckham fits into the gameplan for Thursday night. I plan to watch for sure. This is better than General Hospital during the Luke and Laura days. (I know, scary that I used that as a reference but what can I say.)

By: jen

jen — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 01:55:13 +0000

Will do, Laurie!

By: Laurie

Laurie — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:19:29 +0000

I lied. It’s here! We’ll have to all compare notes and link to each other’s reviews.

By: jen

jen — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 23:17:57 +0000

Hmmm . . . mine was sent out on July 9th — a few days later than the July 6th date we were told. ’s okay though, because it’s a free book about *my* team. I’m already getting some great glimpses into some of the guys’ personalities. Alan Gordon is a crack-up!

And this just in . . . the “feud” is over:

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-galaxy-david-beckham14-2009jul14,0,6311084.story