In a feature on the CBS News program "60 Minutes" on Sunday, David Beckham said his move to Major League Soccer and the Los Angeles Galaxy was one based on his belief that soccer will grow in the United States, a big reason why he said he made the well-publicized jump from Real Madrid last year.
"I'm passionate about this game, I'm passionate about this move, I'm passionate about the fact that the sport can grow here and the potential is huge here," Beckham said.
Beckham wasn't as happy about his first season with the Galaxy, when he was limited to just five league games because of an ankle injury.
"It was a nightmare to be honest," he said of his first season in MLS.
That might be the case for Beckham the soccer player, but for Beckham the brand, with league attendance up 9 percent and his No. 23 jersey the highest selling jersey in the world, it was a great move.
"David Beckham had a good year," said Tim Leiweke, the president and CEO of Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns the Galaxy.
Still, Beckham seemed to indicate that the financial part of his move to the U.S. top flight held little interest for him. When told his contract reportedly pays him an annual salary of $50 million, $40 million coming from seven endorsement deals (according to a Beckham source, the show said), Beckham's response was "Apparently."
And when he was told he was reported to be making $250 million over the course of five years, Beckham said, "I've heard that as well."
Galaxy midfielder Peter Vagenas expressed his sense of humor on the program, when asked about being teammates with the highest paid player in the league.
"I purposely sit next to him in the locker room and when he leaves every day I kind of check around to see if he dropped any $100 bills," he said. "I've supplemented my income that way."
Beckham knew exactly who the joker was before being told.
"I bet I know what player it was. It wasn't Pete, was it? I better watch my locker," he said.
On the program Beckham also spoke about, and displayed, his patented free kick, which inspired the movie "Bend It Like Beckham."
"I literally stand here, take one look at the goalkeeper and then just concentrate on the ball," he said. "Because I know that if you put it in the exact spot that you want it, there's no way the goalkeeper's going to get it."
Beckham also displayed the newest of his 15 tattoos, in honor of his wife, Victoria, and spoke about his love of body art.
"I think everybody's got a way of expressing their feelings," he said. "Mine is through my tattoos."
Before Beckham embarks on his first full MLS season when the Galaxy play at Colorado Saturday, he'll put on the England jersey and could earn his 100th cap in a friendly against France on Wednesday in Paris.
And if he does join the likes of Peter Shilton, Sir Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore and Billy Wright as the only England national team players to reach the milestone, Chelsea defender John Terry believes he should again be wearing the captain's armband when he does.
"David is a credit to himself and what he has done is exceptional," Terry told BBC Radio on Sunday. "If he is going to start or come on, he fully deserves to wear that England armband."
Terry was named England captain after Beckham stepped down from that role after the 2006 World Cup, but was injured and wasn't included in Fabio Capello's debut as manager last month in a friendly against Switzerland. The Chelsea defender is fit, as is Beckham and Terry hopes to see Beckham on the field in Paris.
"He's proved his fitness and he was really disappointed not be involved in the last game," Terry said. "The whole country is hoping he gets his 100th cap, because if anyone deserves it, David Beckham does."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
