David Beckham

The Brits really do love them some David Beckham. The footballer’s ad campaign for Armani underwear hasn’t even launched in the land of fish and chips, but lads in the U.K. are already clamoring for a piece of his Giorgio pie. Some three months before Mr. Beckham’s face will grace ads for the Italian fashion label, sales of white Armani briefs ($30) have jumped 50 percent at Selfridges stores. (The sales spike came just after the British press leaked the news of the Beckham-Armani deal.) “David Beckham is a global style icon, appealing equally to men and women. Where he goes, fashion is bound to follow," said David Walker-Smith, menswear director at Selfridges. [WWD]  read more »

Last night, Barbara Walters’ much anticipated The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2007 aired on ABC. Before viewers got a chance to assess the lineup, Ms. Walters said that she was going to avoid any “tabloid stuff.” And she did…sort of. As promised, Bill Clinton, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Don Imus were all in fact honored. But so, too, were Victoria and David Beckham, who were asked to dish on their much-publicized friendship with Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. (Even Bill O’Reilly asked Ms. Walters “Why? Why? Why?” after learning that Posh ‘n’ Becks would be featured on her program.) Then came Justin Timberlake. The former ‘N Sync pop singer told the television journalist, among other things, about his romance with Hollywood starlet Jessica Biel—also a topic touched upon a time or two in, well, the tabloids. Katherine Heigl, who called her recent hit film, Knocked Up, “sexist,” was also on Ms. Walters’ short list. From Heigl, the former 20/20 anchor learned that the actress is not happy that her Grey’s Anatomy co-star was fired after he slung homophobic slurs at T.R. Knight.

If David Beckham putting his junk in your trunks can't sell them, then nothing can. Or at least that’s what Giorgio Armani is likely hoping by asking the soccer stud, 32, to be the global face (and bod) of the designer’s new underwear collection. Mr. Beckham shot part of the ad campaign last week in Los Angeles with glammed-out fashion-photog duo Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott.

In related news, it was reported over the weekend that the LA Galaxy player is, according to England’s head coach, Steve McClaren, hoping to win over 100 international games, or caps, for his home team, effectively proving his critics wrong. Mr. Beckham is currently three caps short of his goal. On Friday, Mr. Posh will partake in England’s friendly with Austria, following that game up with the Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia five days later.

Beckham Strikes Armani Deal [WWD]

Beckham can go past a century with England [AFP]  read more »

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The Forward strikes a blow for inclusiveness, and calls David Beckham "probably the greatest Jewish soccer player ever." It does so (because he is a star, yes, but) because he has 1 Jewish grandparent, and probably too because he and his wife have embraced Kabbalist practices.

Compare to Maya Gottfried's experience. Gottfried, who has 2 Jewish grandparents, is a contributor to the new book Half/Life: Jew-ish Tales From Interfaith Homes. She read from her essay "Untitled," Thursday night at Makor. She described going to a Passover seder at which a rabbi's wife kept saying to her, "You're not Jewish," even as Gottfried, who was on a spiritual path and trying to explore her Jewishness, explained that her father was Jewish. Up till then, Gottfried had felt that she had "the best of both worlds." She walked away feeling that she "was nothing." The experience of feeling rejected was an important step in Gottfried's ultimate decision to be baptized as a Christian.

And the answer is No! to those vicious readers who say, You hate your Jewish background, why don't you convert like Maya Gottfried. I love my Jewish background. I love my scientist father and artist mother, I love my thinking sensitive fairness-loving Jewish DNA. I have always loathed my tribe's air of sanctified exclusivity, as I loathed that air among WASPs. The air that sent Gottfried tumbling the other way. God bless the Forward, god bless Gottfried, god bless America.

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