Barstow Sports Blog

Pandemonium ensued in Los Angeles Friday. Soccer star David Beckham arrived in L.A. Thursday and held a press conference Friday to introduce himself to the L.A. Galaxy.

Confetti flew like there was already a championship won, Victoria Beckham (AKA Posh Spice) posed for many, many photo opportunities and David forgot that we call it soccer — not football. Welcome home!

So what does this all mean? Who knows. He has yet to play a minute, but could there be a more heartfelt welcome to the U.S.A. than to be celebrated on national TV? Either way, we were totally enthralled by the day’s events and decided to capture the essence of this Friday the 13th. Follow the links for all things Beckham, Posh and L.A.

So … where have you been for the last month?

I think I may have seen this before … in a commercial.

One day in the town and Posh is already making media demands.

Get your Beckham jersey for just $80.

Mayor Villaraigosa already got his jersey, but he also got booed.

He’s not just in L.A., he’s in cyberspace now too.

But other people have been following this stuff for years.

L.A. likes its celebrities … who knew?

Pele captured soccer fans, Beckham captures soccer moms.

Maybe this means Peyton Manning will sell less stuff.

David Beckham for Phil Mickelson, a second round pick and future considerations.

- Matthew Peters and David Heldreth

If Kobe Bryant can blog all day long, why can’t the Desert Dispatch?

You can find the melodramatic Lakers star’s blog posts in the “Truth” section of his www.kb24.com Web site. Bryant’s recent “truths” included simultaneously asking for a trade from the Lakers and wanting to stay with the team. I guess there can not only be two sides to every story but two sides from one person to every story.

This is the blog world the Desert Dispatch Sports Department is about to enter. Athletes post their versions of stories, journalists try to add depth to their printed stories, and fans often join in from the sidelines. Just where does that leave the Desert Dispatch? We are still trying to figure that out.

Our staff consists of Sports Editor Matthew Peters, reporter David Heldreth and freelance photographer Steve Sanez. Desert Dispatch Editor Scott Shackford and reporter Aaron Aupperlee were the first to jump into the blog pool, and now we’re joining them. You’ll see our — hopefully less melodramatic — post at this very spot. We promise we won’t be demanding any trades.

Even while we are settling in, feel free to start leaving comments.

- Matthew Peters, sports editor