22 Tuesday, February 7, 2017 SPORTS Leaked emails tarnish golden-boy Beckham

Houston ady Gaga dazzled the Super London Bowl on Sunday with a high- avid Beckham’s squeaky-clean image as a British tech,L tightly choreographed half- cultural icon has taken a battering following the time show celebrating American Dleaking of expletive-strewn emails in which he apparently diversity and unity as she chose raged about not receiving a knighthood. the power of showbiz over direct The former England football captain is said to have provocation. sworn in emails to his PR team after being told he Performing at American football’s would not be made “Sir David” by Queen Elizabeth II title match -- generally the most because of concerns about his tax affairs. A spokesman watched US television event of the for the 41-year-old said the emails, released by the year -- the pop diva electrified Football Leaks website, were “hacked and doctored” NRG Stadium in Houston with a to give a “deliberately inaccurate picture”. pulsating medley of her greatest But there has been a backlash against Beckham hits. from sections of Britain’s tabloid media. From the outset, Gaga Monday’s Daily Mail spoke of the “Shame of Saint served notice this was no Becks”, with a columnist pronouncing him “a foul- ordinary halftime show -- mouthed, determined egotist” who had used charity she began her performance work as part of an “increasingly desperate” bid for a from the lip of the stadium, an knighthood. army of 300 drones forming a Reports which emerged on Friday said the former twinkling American flag in the sky. United and Real Madrid star refused to Then she took flight. put his own money into his humanitarian 7 Fund and The singer, clad in a sparkling silver tried to obtain reimbursement from the UN children’s bodysuit and knee high boots, leapt from agency UNICEF for expenses met by his sponsors. the edge of the retractable roof onto the stage with the help of some sturdy wires -- and the Brand Beckham performance was nonstop from there. Born in Leytonstone, east London, Beckham was a member of Ahead of the show, all eyes were on Lady Gaga the fabled “Class of 92” crop of young players who emerged at to see whether she would use the platform to rip United, along with , , Nicky Butt and into President Donald Trump at a tense time Gary and . in US politics. Blessed with an extraordinarily accurate right foot, Even with Vice President Mike Pence in Beckham was renowned for his dead-ball prowess and his attendance, Gaga -- a sworn foe of Trump -- seemingly limitless stamina, as well as his ever-changing kept with the game’s guidelines to steer clear of overt politics. hairstyles. He won six titles, two FA Cups Instead the singer, known for her audacious outfits, delivered what seemed and the 1999 Champions League with United, creating both to be a more subtle message. injury-time goals as ’s side stormed back to “How are you doing tonight, Texas? How are you doing tonight, America?” beat Bayern Munich 2-1 in the final. Gaga asked. After his relationship with Ferguson deteriorated, he “We’re here to make you feel good,” she said. joined the Real Madrid “Galacticos” to great fanfare in She opened with “This Land is Your Land,” the anthem by leftist folk legend 2003, but would win only one league title during his time Woody Guthrie that has come to be seen as an alternative national anthem for in Spain. Beckham moved to Los Angeles Galaxy in a the United States. trailblazing trans-Atlantic move in 2007 and won two Gaga then mixed up her biggest songs -- from “Just Dance” and “Poker MLS Cup titles, whilst also spending time on loan at Face” to “Born This Way” -- an anthem of inclusion in which she speaks of European giants AC Milan and PSG. acceptance of people regardless of ethnicity or sexual orientation. He captained England for six years and played at three She was backed up by an upbeat, ethnically diverse cast of dancers, who at World Cups, his 115 caps making him his country’s one point joined in a group hug. third most-capped player behind Peter Shilton and “No matter gay, straight or bi... You’re Lebanese / You’re orient,” she sang. . Beckham’s global celebrity turned him “Whether life’s disabilities left you outcast, bullied or teased / Rejoice and into a one-man marketing phenomenon with a glut of love yourself today!” lucrative endorsements. He is the face of firms including Gaga literally dropped the mic -- and caught a football at the end of the Adidas, fashion chain H&M and Haig Whisky and his show as fireworks shot into the air. shared fortune with Victoria, dubbed “Brand Beckham”, Given that the Super Bowl is the most coveted advertising venue of the year, is believed to exceed £500 million ($624 million, 582 the drone army -- designed by chip-maker Intel -- ended in another show of million euros). (AFP) Americana, commercialism, as they created the logo of sponsor Pepsi. (AFP)