Posted on 07/13/2007 6:28:49 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was greeted by a crowd of thousands Friday with something he doesn't usually hear - a booming chorus of boos.
The icy reception came as Villaraigosa took part in a welcoming ceremony for the newest member of the Los Angeles Galaxy - soccer superstar David Beckham.
But when the mayor was introduced, the crowd estimated at 5,000 turned on him with jeers and howls as if he was a member of an opposing team, while the moment was recorded by a vast array of international media.
It might have been payback.
At a 2005 match between the Galaxy and in-town rival Chivas USA, the then-mayor-elect took the first kick while wearing Chivas' red-and-white striped jersey with his name emblazoned on the back. Even his son wore a Chivas jersey.
And the mayor is also friends with Chivas' president, Antonio Cue.
Despite the racket, Villaraigosa maintained his signature smile and slipped on a Galaxy jersey. But he was all but ignored by the fans when he shouted, "Do we love David Beckham?"
Asked about the mayor's chilly greeting, Galaxy spokesman Patrick Donnelly declined comment. But a Villaraigosa spokesman, Matt Szabo, said the loud show of disapproval wasn't a surprise.
"The mayor is a very public and avid Chivas fan," Szabo said.
Villaraigosa has had a run of bad publicity - he has been the focus of days of unflattering media coverage over his affair with a TV newscaster and the breakup of his marriage.
The Galaxy's home stadium is in Carson, a suburb of Los Angeles.
Video (Thanks for the link, lainie!)
Cheers for Becks, Jeers for LA Mayor
http://www.breitbart.tv/html/3028.html
VillaRaigosa Caption anyone? ^
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1865490/posts
Looks Like Hillary's Grounded 'til I Get This Broomstick Back To Her! -- End_Clintonism_Now
No, no, really, it has nothing to do with my scandals and lack of work ethic, this is all about a sports event that took place two years ago.
What an awful way to treat his majesty. Don’t these peons know Salty Tony Villar is the next Gobernador of Alta California ?
Beck this, Beck that, yada, yada, yada.
How is he with high speed left hand turns?
:)
Have a good weekend.
Perhpas not. Imagine how the NY fans would feel/react if Bloomberg opened a Yankee game wearing a Boston Red Sox uniform........
Perhaps not. Imagine how the NY fans would feel/react if Bloomberg threw the first pitch at a Yankee home game wearing a Boston Red Sox uniform........
Two years after the fact? This is Los Angeles, the home of the 90 second memory.
Perhaps you are right about LA, but the Yankee fans would remember for the rest of the mayor’s life........
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.