We are putting up new PICS from TODAY, Wednesday, of Beckham in his
new number 23, as well as from the stadium publicity shoot. We have
our own photogs (in the Stadium and in Madrid) who will send some
exclusive pics for our site, Soccer-Football Fans Worldwide. You can
see a preview on the front page at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sffw
and if you join our group (open membership) you can see more in the
Files and Photos sections during the next several days. You can send
a greeting from the new Photo Album (choose from today's public and
private pics) if you join our group. We have also created a new
Photo album where you can post your own favorite Beckham pics.

Here is a sample of the news coverage in the U.S. and in our home
city of San Diego, which David and Victoria visited in June:

Fox News Channel and CNN both showed live pictures this morning (from
3 a.m. our time on...) of his activities, and it is a top sports
story today on those and the other cable news & sports networks.
You can also check today's Union-Tribune soccer page for a preview of
the deal, and tomorrow will have more.

What follows is an excerpt from the news story as written for ESPN
only a few hours ago...
...
The England captain was unveiled by the Spanish giants this morning
and was given the number 23 shirt by Real legend Alfredo di Stefano.

'I have always loved football,' he told Sky Sports News.

'Of course I love my family. I have a wonderful life, but football is
everything to me and joining Real Madrid is a dream come true.

'I would like to say thank you to everyone coming and joining me in
my arrival.'

Beckham quipped: 'Gracias - hala Madrid!'

Real president Florentino Perez began the formalities flanked by his
club's new prize acquisition.

He said: 'Despite all that's going on, we're not going to lose sight
of the fact that we are unveiling this great player.

'He is a great player who is going to become part of the club's great
history.

'He's got a global appeal. He is a man of our times and a symbol of
modern-day stardom and what is certain is Real have signed Beckham
because he's a great footballer and a very dedicated professional.

'His team spirit is unsurpassed and he is one of the best English
players of all-time and if only because of that he is with us.

'We love Beckham because he makes us the best team on and off the
pitch.

'Nobody doubts Beckham has the correct amount of character to live up
to this. He thinks about nothing but football and wants to step on
grass at the Bernabeu stadium.

'We believe in him as a footballer and our obsession is work, work,
work to make our team better. The only limit we have is our own
imagination.

'Beckham is fundamentally here because he wanted to be. He is
fulfilling his dream by playing for the team of his dreams. We know
what we mean to him and we are going to live up to those
expectations. Welcome David to the league of your dreams.'

Beckham will take a three-week break after today's unveiling before
joining up with his new team-mates for pre-season training, under the
watchful eye of new Real coach Carlos Queiroz, who worked with
Beckham as Sir Alex Ferguson's number two at Manchester United last
season.