Los Angeles, November 4, 2007 – Highly compensated soccer star David Beckham played a match for free on Sunday – for a good cause.  The British athlete organized the soccer game to raise funds for victims of the devastating wildfires that recently swept his new home state of California.   Ticket prices were kept relatively low at $20, with 100% of sales revenue going to charity.  Plus, we hear that free parking was offered at L.A.’s Home Depot Center for the match. 

Becks’ L.A. Galaxy trounced the more amateurish Hollywood United, 12-4. (We overheard one Galaxy player say, "Wow, that's more goals than we scored all season!") Actor Anthony LaPaglia looked a bit incompetent as the Hollywood goalie, but, to be fair, he was trying to block Beckham’s powerful kicks, and he did manage to deflect one. 

Superman Returns star Brandon Routh suited up for Hollywood, jogged around the field and even messed up his helmet hair a bit, but it seemed he was stuck on the bench all throughout the game.

Beckham’s three sons, Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz watched the match from a skybox, and their dad kept waving to them from the field.