David Beckham Falls Short, Soccer Great Fails to Make the British Olympic Team
David Beckham’s got underwear ads, Burger King commercials and all the whoppers he could eat, but what he doesn’t have is an Olympic team to play for.
His body might look like that of a 20 year old but competing against Olympic Athletes that are more than 10 years your junior is a tough task and Beckham just couldn’t get the job done.
The British Olympic team had a short list of 35 “would be” teammates to be selected for the final 18 man team. To increase the odds even further the team only takes 3 players over the age of 23.
The press is calling it a snub indicating that he could have received an honorary type place because of all the work that Beckham has done to help London secure the games. I don’t see it as a snub and I think Beckham, who is a great competitor, would have appreciated a spot any other way then it being earned outright.
Beckham addressed he situation graciously,
“Naturally I am very disappointed, But there will be no bigger supporter of the team than me.”
“Everyone knows how much playing for my country has always meant to me, so I would have been honored to have been part of this unique Team GB squad,”
As a Londoner, I will have been really proud to have played a small part in bringing the Olympics to my home town as part of Seb’s team, and I can’t wait for the games to begin and enjoy every moment along with the rest of Great Britain,”
England’s Goalkeeper Peter Shilton, put the decision not to include Beckham into perspective,
“He’s been a fantastic player over the years, certainly when he was at his peak, but he’s nowhere the player he was. It would have been great from a publicity point of view, but Stuart Pearce obviously feels he’d struggle in that type of tournament.”
The fans worldwide will be disappointed including fellow Olympians. Tennis player Laura Robson said,
[source][photo] [more…]For contests, gossip, exclusive coupon codes, and giveaways subscribe to our newsletterObviously, I’m disappointed that he’s not going to be joining myself and Heather in the Olympic Village, [We] won’t be able to stalk him.”
