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David Beckham on duck-sized horses, motorcycles and turning 40 David Beckham on duck-sized horses, motorcycles and turning 40
(34 minutes later)
David Beckham is slightly stumped. “Oh my goodness,” he says, as the assembled scrum of journalists laugh nervously. “Duck-sized horses.”David Beckham is slightly stumped. “Oh my goodness,” he says, as the assembled scrum of journalists laugh nervously. “Duck-sized horses.”
I have broken an unwritten social contract. Some topics are au fait for discussion here, in the flash Madison Avenue branch of Belstaff where Beckham is promoting his new line of biker jackets- fashion, his life, his family, likes and dislikes. Wallpaper magazine want to ask him about motorbikes. I have broken an unwritten social contract. Certain topics are de rigeur here, in the flash Madison Avenue branch of Belstaff where Beckham is promoting his new line of biker jackets- fashion, his life, his family, likes and dislikes. Wallpaper magazine wants to ask him about motorbikes.
I have asked him the famous internet question: would you rather fight a hundred duck-sized horses, or one duck the size of a horse? In doing so, I have committed the faux pas of non-sequitur. Apart from everything else, I was only supposed to be allowed one question. But Beckham is charming about it nonetheless, taking as much time to mull it over as he has questions about the jackets – if anything, more.I have asked him the famous internet question: would you rather fight a hundred duck-sized horses, or one duck the size of a horse? In doing so, I have committed the faux pas of non-sequitur. Apart from everything else, I was only supposed to be allowed one question. But Beckham is charming about it nonetheless, taking as much time to mull it over as he has questions about the jackets – if anything, more.
In a way, this is more Victoria’s world than David’s. She is the fashion designer in the family, he is clear about that, but when I ask if he feels in her shadow, he demurrs. “Obviously she’s doing something far bigger than what I’m doing,” he says, his voice at once familiarly comical and at the same time deeper and more grown-up. He is, after all, going to be 40 next year.In a way, this is more Victoria’s world than David’s. She is the fashion designer in the family, he is clear about that, but when I ask if he feels in her shadow, he demurrs. “Obviously she’s doing something far bigger than what I’m doing,” he says, his voice at once familiarly comical and at the same time deeper and more grown-up. He is, after all, going to be 40 next year.
He is clearly very proud of his wife. “Mine’s a capsule collection – and something that I’ve been obviously 100% involved in with every detail,” he says. “But obviously with Victoria’s it’s a whole different monster. She’s done so well; over the years, what she’s created, and how she’s gained the respect of the fashion industry.”He is clearly very proud of his wife. “Mine’s a capsule collection – and something that I’ve been obviously 100% involved in with every detail,” he says. “But obviously with Victoria’s it’s a whole different monster. She’s done so well; over the years, what she’s created, and how she’s gained the respect of the fashion industry.”
Celebrity fashion launches like this are high-pressure scenarios. Journalists are herded into small groups of five or six by nationality, and Beckham is presented to each group for a brief allotted period of time. The journalists are told they are strictly allowed one question each, which naturally means almost everybody asks two or three.Celebrity fashion launches like this are high-pressure scenarios. Journalists are herded into small groups of five or six by nationality, and Beckham is presented to each group for a brief allotted period of time. The journalists are told they are strictly allowed one question each, which naturally means almost everybody asks two or three.
“This is a cruel question,” one journalist from the Telegraph asks. “I noticed you’ve got a big birthday next year.” It is his second question. “It’s classic that when someone hit’s a certain age they get a bike, don’t they – how are you feeling about the arrival of 40?” Incidentally, this is roughly when I decide to ask the question about the duck-sized horses.“This is a cruel question,” one journalist from the Telegraph asks. “I noticed you’ve got a big birthday next year.” It is his second question. “It’s classic that when someone hit’s a certain age they get a bike, don’t they – how are you feeling about the arrival of 40?” Incidentally, this is roughly when I decide to ask the question about the duck-sized horses.
Beckham is equanimous. “I’m not one of those people that’s not looking forward to getting old,” he says. “I’m happy where I am in my life at the moment. I’ve had a pretty successful career, on the pitch obviously, and a year and a half ago it started off the pitch. There’s many things I’m working on; I have four amazing children, an amazing wife.”Beckham is equanimous. “I’m not one of those people that’s not looking forward to getting old,” he says. “I’m happy where I am in my life at the moment. I’ve had a pretty successful career, on the pitch obviously, and a year and a half ago it started off the pitch. There’s many things I’m working on; I have four amazing children, an amazing wife.”
“I started riding about eight years ago,” he goes on, “so the mid-life started early. But no. I’m happy with where I am in my life now, and I’m looking forward to my birthday. Hopefully it’ll be a low-key one,” he adds with a chuckle.“I started riding about eight years ago,” he goes on, “so the mid-life started early. But no. I’m happy with where I am in my life now, and I’m looking forward to my birthday. Hopefully it’ll be a low-key one,” he adds with a chuckle.
In fact, it is when he talks about motorbikes that he visibly comes alive. He had his own bike built, he tells the assembled journalists; a 93 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead, with 1920s and 1930s parts. “It took about a year to build the bike,” he says. “I was going in weekly, like, ‘How’s it coming along?’ ‘What are you doing?’”In fact, it is when he talks about motorbikes that he visibly comes alive. He had his own bike built, he tells the assembled journalists; a 93 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead, with 1920s and 1930s parts. “It took about a year to build the bike,” he says. “I was going in weekly, like, ‘How’s it coming along?’ ‘What are you doing?’”
That was the motorbike on which he had an accident, just a week ago. Papers reported at the time that he lost control and fell off; but when asked about it, he is clear that’s not what happened. “I got hit off my bike,” he says. “My first time. Not a great experience, but I was lucky. Riding bikes is dangerous at times, but so is walking down the street. It’s not a nice experience, but it happened. Luckily I only suffered a few bruises and cuts, and a dislocated thumb.”That was the motorbike on which he had an accident, just a week ago. Papers reported at the time that he lost control and fell off; but when asked about it, he is clear that’s not what happened. “I got hit off my bike,” he says. “My first time. Not a great experience, but I was lucky. Riding bikes is dangerous at times, but so is walking down the street. It’s not a nice experience, but it happened. Luckily I only suffered a few bruises and cuts, and a dislocated thumb.”
To everyone present’s surprise, perhaps not least his own, he gives the horse-sized-duck question genuine thought. One or two of the assembled flacks glance around nervously as Beckham, for a brief moment, looks at the ceiling. “Duck-sized horses. Yeah. That one, I think,” he says. Someone – the reporter from Wallpaper, I think it is – suggests that perhaps he could kick them. “Yeah,” he says, uncertainly, then muses, “maybe I’d let them win.”To everyone present’s surprise, perhaps not least his own, he gives the horse-sized-duck question genuine thought. One or two of the assembled flacks glance around nervously as Beckham, for a brief moment, looks at the ceiling. “Duck-sized horses. Yeah. That one, I think,” he says. Someone – the reporter from Wallpaper, I think it is – suggests that perhaps he could kick them. “Yeah,” he says, uncertainly, then muses, “maybe I’d let them win.”
Then, his handler calls time.Then, his handler calls time.