David Beckham was photographed using an inhaler as he prepared for extra-time in the MLS Cup final yesterday. Becks has dealt with a mild form of the condition since childhood but it had never had an impact on his soccer.
"David has suffered with this since he was a young boy but it has obviously had no effect on his performance," Oliveira - his agent - said.
"He has never sought to make it public but if it does inspire any sufferer to think they can achieve great things like many other sportsmen have done then so much the better. Some of the best athletes in the world suffer from asthma and there is no problem with his aerobic fitness."
Despite the difficulties of performing with asthmatic symptoms, many athletes have dealt still managed to reach the peak of their respective disciplines. Among them: Dennis Rodman, Mark Spitz, Justine Henin or Paula Radcliffe.
David Beckham has asthma
Becks to play against Barcelona and LA fans
The Los Angeles Galaxy will play FC Barcelona on Saturday night at the Rose Bowl. We will see how David Beckham responds to his team's most "intense" fans.
Beckham received a $1,000 fine -maybe the price of one piece of underwear- from MLS for the way he confronted a group called the L.A. Riot Squad during halftime of the Galaxy's game with AC Milan on July 19. The group's members booed Becks and displayed banners questioning his character and commitment to the Galaxy (did they do the same when Landon Donovan left LA to play in Germany? Of course they... didn´t). Beckham is not shay so he challenged the fans ("hooligans" in British English) to meet him on the field and even tried to lift himself -easy, dude- over sideline boards before security intervened.
"I wish I had the time to make banners," Beckham said.
"If they pile up more banners, then that's down to them. If it continues, then it continues. I'm not going to lose any sleep over these banners and these people."
Shaq plans to play goalkeeper against Beckham
Shaquille O'Neal is just another of the athletes who uses Twitter, the social networking tool. This time O'Neal has used his Twitter account to challenge David Beckham. O'Neal is starring in a new reality show where he challenges top athletes in different sports and he didn´t find a better way of promoting his show.
"Dear david beckham, I kno u heard about my shaq vs show, anyway u will never score a goal on me, I challenge you lil man"
"David beckham I kno u hear me, dnt be scared, dnt make me call u out, u will never score a goal on me"
"Dear david beckham, dnt make me tweet to 2 million people that yur scared of shaq, u betta respnd, if u scared get a dog"
Beckham is himself a big basketball fan, but of the Los Angeles Lakers, O'Neal's former team, and he is friends with Kobe Bryant.
"he can't score on me" boasted another O'Neal tweet.
"Its official, today is david beckham is scared of shaq, day, he should b scared, he can never score a goal on me."
Presumably, O'Neal plans to play goalkeeper against Beckham...
MSL tickets Summer 2009
-Chelsea FC vs. Seattle Sounders
Saturday, July 18 2009 - 12:00 PM. Qwest Field (Seattle, Washington)
-Chelsea FC vs. Inter Milan
Tuesday, July 21 2009 - 8:00 PM. Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)
-AC Milan vs. Chelsea
Tuesday, July 24 2009 - 8:00 PM. Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)
-AC Milan vs. Inter Milan
Sunday, July 26 2009 - 5:00 PM. Gillette Stadium (Foxboro, Massachusetts)
-Club América vs. Chelsea FC
Sunday, July 26 20099 - 6:00 PM. Dallas Cowboys Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
-F.C. Barcelona vs. Los Angeles Galaxy
Saturday, August 1 2009 - 8:00 PM. Rose Bowl (Pasadena)
-Real Madrid vs. Toronto F.C.
Friday, August 7 2009 - 7:30 PM. BMO Field (Toronto)
-Real Madrid vs. D.C. United
Sunday, August 9 2009 - 3:00 PM. Fedex Field (Hyattsville, Maryland)
