Beckham, dog fighting & normal blokes playing footie Despite ankle knack David Beckham is expected to make at least 10 minutes of his much hyped debut later tonight for LA Galaxy in a friendly against Chelsea, who are touring the States for the 2nd consecutive season.

I have never seen so many column inches given over the 'soccer' this week. Typing 'Beckham debut' into Google produces 846 results, and mostly from sports sections of American newspapers, not just Entertainment Tonight.

As I wrote earlier in the week I really hope that Beckham's time in the States opens American sports fans eyes to the rest of the planet's game. There has been a lot said about his salary, but it is a lot less than gridiron's Michael Vick, who picked up over $8m last season for the Atlanta Falcons. And I don't expect that Posh & Becks will be hosting illegal dog fighting in their back garden, unlike pea-brained Vick.

Beckham's actual playing salary of £3.3m is dwarfed by today's opponent John Terry, whose new contract is worth £6.8m a year and fat Frank is expected to agree something similiar next week.

Footballers money, illegal dog fighting, it ain't the real world is it? And Vick and Beckham, and even the bloke down my road who had all of his bling stolen at gun point last week, are so far removed from normal blokes it's silly but hang on, it's not all glitz, glamour and having so much money you buy pedigree pit bulls so you can kill them, some of Beckham's new team mates actually have their football boots in the real world.

Courtesy of the public stated MLS salaries, we know exactly how much Beck's new team mates earn, and it makes for some interesting reading. Perhaps when Becks is pulling on his new number 23 shirt later in the dressing room and takes off his Jacob & Co watch, he might spare a thought for some off his fellow players around him that will make just £8,500 a year (honest).

This is the Galaxy team likely to take the field later against Mourinho's Millionaires, and Becks would be forgiven if he thinks he is lining up at the wrong end of the pitch.

pos.......player........salary
GK Joe Cannon $192,000
Born in California. 2 caps for USA. Signed from Colorado Rapids in 2006. Let in 18 goals this season. Spent 7 years in the MLS, 4 times All-Star. He did spend a season at RC Lens in France but never got a game.

DEF Ty Harden $17,700
Born in Oregon. 2nd round college draft in 2007 from University of Washington.

DEF Abel Xavier $175,000
Born in Mozambique. 20 caps for Portugal. One of the game's true itinerants, received a 12-month ban for a positive drugs test two years ago and his reputation has never recovered. At 34, he could fairly be described as entering a career twilight zone. Made his debut in June.

DEF Ante Jazic $114,250
Born in Nova Scotia. 8 caps for Canada. The most famous footballer to come out of Nova Scotia! 2nd season in the MLS, previously played in Croatia for Hajduk Split, then moved to Austria with Rapid Vienna and 2 years in Russia with for 2nd Division side Kuban Kraznodor.

DEF Kyle Veris $17,700
Born in Ohio. LA's big young hope. The giant defender is in his 2nd MLS season.

MID Peter Vagenas $131,875
Born in California. 2 caps for USA. At 7 seasons one of Galaxy's longest serving player.

MID Kyle Martino $55,297
Born in Connecticut. 8 caps for USA. Talented and skilful midfielder signed from Columbus Crew last season.

MID David Beckham OBE $6,500,000
Born Leytonstone. 96 caps for England. One of the most recognisable sporting figures on the planet. Mission: to bring the world's favourite game to America.

MID Cobi Jones $95,000
Born in California. 164 caps for USA (the countries most capped player). 11 years with LA, and 300 appearances. A local legend who is is 37 and played for Coventry City for one season in 1994/5.

FOR Carlos Pavon $180,000
Born in Honduras. 67 caps for Honduras (countries top goalscorer with 41 goals). Another recent signing at the end of his career with 11 clubs under his belt including Napoli and Udinese in Italy.

FOR Landon Donovan $900,000
Born in California. (National team captain). Signed in 2005 after a failed time in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen. Criticised for 'bottling' his time in Europe and carried the can for the countries poor display at the 2006 World Cup. From a sporting family and lives and very low key life despite being married to an actress.  ¶ 21:06