Eddy

U.S. soccer might be hoping for a surge in popularity with the arrival of English star David Beckham, but some fashion critics are also hoping he can teach U.S. sports stars a thing or two about clothes.
"Hopefully it will inspire them to lift their game," said Adam Rapoport, style editor at men's fashion magazine GQ. "I think athletes respond to competition well. If someone's looking better than them they want to get on par with them."

Beckham, 31, has signed a $250 million five-year deal to move to the United States later this year and play for the Los Angeles Galaxy club, but even before he has arrived he has graced the covers of U.S. fashion magazines.

So is the U.S. sports scene in need of a style icon?

"Desperately. And they're in need of a tailor," said Wendell Brown, senior fashion editor at Esquire magazine. "I hope Beckham has a major impact."

Rapoport agreed, saying there had been a fashion void on the U.S. sports scene since the 2003 retirement of basketball star
Michael Jordan, who is now one of the world's wealthiest former athletes with endorsement contracts and business interests.