Los Angeles, July 13-22 – While the jury is still out on whether the presence of David Beckham will spark the American public’s interest in pro soccer, a look at the British superstar’s first ten days in the U.S. indicates that he might be smarter than we think.

A few thousand folks played hooky from their offices on a Friday to be there when the L.A. Galaxy presented Beckham with his team jersey. The hundreds of journalists on hand at the Home Depot Center for the ceremony were delighted when Becks’ wife, Victoria, nonchalantly strode across the field wearing a photogenic bubblegum pink dress – she was expected to leave the spotlight to David that day.

The fact that the Galaxy lost Saturday’s exhibition match against England’s Chelsea Football Club was beside the point; a standing ovation greeted Beckham’s entry into the game, and the crowd cheered every time he touched the ball. Even home viewers got to ogle celebrities in the crowd as cameras repeatedly zoomed in on Eva Longoria, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mary-Kate Olsen and Mrs. Beckham during the game.

On Sunday, the Beckhams were warmly enveloped in the bosom of Hollywood when A-listers Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith hosted a party welcoming the British couple to L.A. Guests included Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore, Bruce Willis, Jamie Foxx, Jim Carrey, Forest Whitaker, rapper Lil Kim, Cruise’s former foe Brooke Shields, and Hollywood producers Ron Howard and Brian Grazer. Grazer’s ex-wife Gigi also showed up at L.A.’s Museum of Contemporary Art for the party, and when photographers called her “Mrs. Grazer”, she corrected them, saying, “It’s ‘Miss’ now”. “And I’m really rich”, she added as she stepped into her car.

There were a few photographers allowed inside the party, but they wouldn’t say who they were working for (Church of Scientology?). They insisted that they were only there to make a photo album for the Beckhams.

However, our hosts didn't forget the working hacks. OAN had already left by 1 A.M., when, we hear, Tom Cruise sent food from the party – burgers and such – to the press still waiting outside.