2007年VOA标准英语-Football Superstar David Beckham Leaving Real M

By David Byrd
Washington
11 January 2007

In a move that is sure to send reverberations throughout international football, English star David Beckham has decided¹ to sign with the U.S. Major League Soccer League. As VOA's David Byrd reports, the man known as much for his image off the field as his performance on it stands to make nearly $250 million. 

David Beckham (file photo)

Beckham, 31, said Thursday that, after discussing several options with his family and advisers², he decided to sign a five-year deal with the Los Angeles Galaxy³.  The midfielder could earn as much as $250 million.   

The former English national team captain said that he is proud to have played for two of the biggest football clubs in the world, Manchester United and Real Madrid.  However, Beckham said he looks forward to the challenge of raising the profile of the world's most popular game in the United States, where the most popular sports are homegrown, American football and baseball. 

"Soccer in America is the biggest played sport up to a certain age," he said.  "And that's where I want to take it to another level, because, potentially, it can go higher than anyone can probably believe in America."

Beckham was one of several high-profile players signed at Real, including French hero Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo of Brazil and Portugal's Luis Figo.  However, the Spanish club has not won a major trophy⁴ during Beckham's time in Spain. 

David Beckham is as much an international celebrity⁵ as he is a sports star. He receives millions of dollars annually⁶ in endorsements⁷, and also has a sports academy in southern California. His wife, Victoria Beckham, a former member of the pop music group, The Spice Girls, has been house hunting in Los Angeles.

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 advisers   

顾问，劝告者( adviser的名词复数 )； （指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• a member of the President's favoured circle of advisers 总统宠爱的顾问班子中的一员
• She withdrew to confer with her advisers before announcing a decision. 她先去请教顾问然后再宣布决定。

3 galaxy   

n.星系；银河系；一群(杰出或著名的人物)

参考例句：

• The earth is one of the planets in the Galaxy.地球是银河系中的星球之一。
• The company has a galaxy of talent.该公司拥有一批优秀的人才。

4 trophy   

n.优胜旗，奖品，奖杯，战胜品，纪念品

参考例句：

• The cup is a cherished trophy of the company.那只奖杯是该公司很珍惜的奖品。
• He hung the lion's head as a trophy.他把那狮子头挂起来作为狩猎纪念品。

5 celebrity   

n.名人，名流；著名，名声，名望

参考例句：

• Tom found himself something of a celebrity. 汤姆意识到自己已小有名气了。
• He haunted famous men, hoping to get celebrity for himself. 他常和名人在一起, 希望借此使自己获得名气。

6 annually   

adv.一年一次，每年

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。

7 endorsements   

n.背书( endorsement的名词复数 )；（驾驶执照上的）违章记录；（公开的）赞同；（通常为名人在广告中对某一产品的）宣传

参考例句：

• He must make much money on those tennis shoe endorsements he does. 他替那些网球鞋珍重广告，就赚了不少钱。 来自互联网
• But celebrity endorsements remain an important promotional tool for marketers. 尽管如此，邀明星助阵仍是营销人员重要的推广手段之一。 来自互联网