Hi everyone,

It seems like only a few weeks ago I arrived in Los Angeles with my family ready for the next chapter in our lives. A year later and we feel so settled here, everyone loves California and everyone has made us feel so welcome. I can’t imagine being anywhere else in the world right now.

Of course, I’m enjoying playing my soccer too. Last season was a bit stop start for me with the injuries which wasn’t helped by the fact that I arrived part way through the MLS season, but this year we’re playing well and I look forward to every match as well as visiting different cities and stadiums around this amazing country. You can see a real impact being made across the country, we play in front of big crowds and soccer is now more prominent in the media and more people seem to be aware of the league around the world.

My teammates have been great to me and we have a brilliant set of fans. I’m thankful to them and to the people of Los Angeles for making my family and I so welcome since we arrived here.

We played Chivas USA last Thursday in the second SuperClasico of the season at the Home Depot Center, which we both share. It was the sort of game that could have gone either way, but I think overall a draw was a fair result. I was happy with the way we came back from a goal down as it shows we’re playing with the right spirit and we’re confident that we can always fight back if things don’t always go the way we want.

Next up we’re off to New York to play the Red Bulls on Saturday afternoon. Last year was a particularly memorable, 67,000 people and nine goals, it summed up the potential for the game in the States. I’ve heard that 50,000 tickets have been sold to date for this game so it’s promising to see that people are coming back to see games. We lost to New York earlier in the season, so we’ll be going all out to get the right result.

I’m also looking forward to my first All Star game next week in Toronto. It’s great that we’re playing an English side in the form of West Ham, a team that I’ve played many times before in the past…I even remember getting a bit of stick from their fans on a few occasions! I’m sure they will want to come over and put in a good performance, whilst we will want to show the quality of the MLS. It should be a competitive game.

Well, that’s all for now.

Take care,

David

KEEP BLOGGING DAVID! 

Heath Ledger’s family attended last nights premiere of Batman’s “The Dark Knight” to see the late and beloved son/brother play the Joker.

Heath’s dad Kim and stepmother Ines at the AMC Loews Lincoln Center cinema.  Also in attendance were Heath’s mother Sally Bell and her husband, along with Heath’s older sister Kate.

Kim told the press it was “very good” to be in attendance. Co-star Christian Bale had encouraging words about Heath’s performance in the film. “Working with Heath was fantastic.  He steals the movie and I’m quite happy to say that. He’s a hell of a talent and created a joker that’s very iconic and one that will become a classic portrayal of the ages.”

CAN’T POSSIBLY IMAGINE WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE FOR THIS FAMILY TO ATTEND THIS PREMIERE!!! 

Batman’s “The Dark Knight” with Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman. Also appearing is Maggie Gyllenhaal, who replaced Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes.  Aaron Eckhart and Harvey Dent.

But, it was Heath Ledger as the “Joker” who stole the show!  The reviews are AMAZING!!!

I specially liked this quote from Kim Morgan.  ”Ledger’s Joker shows us the world is a place of two faces, of darkness and light, of organization and chaos. Gotham City’s criminal underbelly is a reflection of a world we sometimes walk through with willful ignorance”.

This movie is totally off the charts!

SEE IT IN IMAX!!! 

Miss Venezuela, Dayana Mendoza, was crowned Miss Universe 2008 in Vietnam’s resort city of Nha Trang on Monday July 14th. 

The 22-year-old brunette was given her crown, made of white and yellow gold and precious stones, by last year’s winner, Riyo Mori of Japan. The pageant finale was watched by nearly a billion television viewers worldwide.

Mendoza, the 57th winner told reporters… “I am excited. I cried a lot. I am really glad I made it,” 

The model and interior design student was among four finalists from Latin America, including first runner-up Taliana Vargas, 20, from Colombia.The rest of the top five were from the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Russia.

Communist-led Vietnam spent nearly $20 million on the event, including $7 million on a new resort and convention centre to host the pageant, in a bid to promote tourism to the Southeast Asian nation.

Angelina Jolie gave birth to her twins on Saturday night July 12. Angie and Brad Pitt are over the moon with their new babies.

The “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” co-star supercouple named their son and daughter, Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline. Angie delivered via Cesarian section at the seaside Fondation Lenval in Nice, France.

The little tiger, Knox weighed 5.03 lbs, while the little biscuit, Vivienne weighed an even 5 lbs. Mother & babies are reportedly doing fantastic. Brad and Angie are now the proud parents of six children. 

CONGRATS TO ANGIE & BRAD!!!