LA locals know the name, but not much else

DAVID Beckham may be the world’s best-known athlete, but to a lot of people in Carson he’s going to need an introduction.

“Who is the guy?” asked Sandi Pinio, a retiree who lives in a mobile home park across from Carson’s Home Depot Centre, where Beckham will play for the LA Galaxy.

“I heard something on the news. He must be the Babe Ruth of soccer.”

David Aldridge, owner of a T-shirt printing business in Carson, asked: “Did he do a movie?

“I didn’t see the movie, I just remember the name.”

Carson City councillor, Elito Santarina, said: “I’ve seen the name, I’ve heard the name. But refresh my memory.”

Told that Beckham had signed a $250 million contract to play for the Galaxy, Mr Santarina said: “Oh, my God. I need to meet with him.”

Carson assented to the construction of the Home Depot Centre on the premise it would put the city on the map. But four years later, the blue collar community still hasn’t caught soccer fever. The two professional teams, the Galaxy and Chivas USA, play to a mostly out-of-town audience.

And while city leaders hailed Beckham’s signing this week as a boon to the local economy, many residents responded with a shrug.

“To be honest, soccer is not the No 1 sport in the African-American community,” said Mr Aldridge, a member of the Carson Black Chamber of Commerce.

“Now if (tennis star) Serena Williams is playing there, that’s another thing.”

The neighbourhood around the Home Depot Centre is mostly black. Two nearby mobile home parks are home to a mix of white, black and Asian residents, most of them seniors.

South of the San Diego (405) Freeway, the city is predominantly Filipino.

“Basketball is the No 1 sport in the Philippines,” Mr Santarina said.

“If we can get basketball players to come, I promise we can fill an arena. Filipino-Americans inhale the NBA.”

Some business leaders remain disappointed the city did not pursue a bid for an NFL franchise, but see Beckham as the next best thing.