Galaxy GM couldn't be happier with Beckham signing

                    

	David Beckham is on his way to America. News International/WireImage.com

LOS ANGELES -- His phone began ringing well before the sun rose above the Home Depot Center. Before "the news" began trickling over sports wires. Before Major League Soccer officially started living up to the first two words of its name. It rang and rang and rang. It never stopped.

That's what happens when you sign the most famous athlete in the world to the most lucrative contract in sports.

As the president and general manager of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Alexi Lalas probably never thought the preceding paragraph would describe one of his team's transactions. Then again, he probably never thought his team, with a $1.9 million salary cap, would be in position to make such a move. That was, of course, before MLS passed the "David Beckham Rule" in November which allowed each team to sign one player whose salary would not be limited by the cap.

It only made sense that Lalas and the Galaxy made Beckham the first beneficiary of his rule on Thursday, signing the former England captain to a five-year deal reportedly worth $250 million. After the signing, season ticket sales for the Galaxy spiked -- more than 2,000 were sold by the end of the day -- as did interview requests for Lalas, who was preparing for an official press conference announcing the signing of Beckham at the Ritz Carlton in Marina Del Rey this morning when SI.com caught up with him.

SI.com: When did you guys begin conversations with Beckham about playing for the Los Angeles Galaxy -- not just someday but next season?

Lalas: We've had a relationship with Beckham for awhile now but (Galaxy head coach) Frank (Yallop) and I sat down after the season and we said, "Who out there would fit into what we're trying to do with the Galaxy?" His name was the first that popped up. First and foremost because of his soccer ability. So when the market opened up at the beginning of this year the opportunity was there, and hats off to Tim Leiweke (President of the Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns the Galaxy) for pouncing on the opportunity. We are the beneficiaries of a lot of hard work from a lot of people in a very short amount of time.

SI.com: Where were you when you found out that the deal was done and that Beckham would be playing for the Galaxy?

Lalas: I've been all over the place. I've been at the (MLS) combine. I just flew back from Florida. I couldn't tell you what time zone I was in when I found out. This was a fluid situation to say the least. At the end of the day, the most important thing is that it got done. This is a vision and a relationship that Tim has, and that we've cultivated on a personal and a professional level with David and [wife] Victoria. I think when he was able to lay out what AEG had in mind it all fell into place and was very attractive for him on and off the field.

SI.com: What does this signing say about Major League Soccer and the growth of soccer in the United States?

Lalas: This is a watershed moment for the Los Angeles Galaxy, for Major League Soccer and for the sport of soccer. I think that we will certainly look back at this day and recognize the significance in terms of the growth of soccer. We talk about these big-picture things and they're all very important, but what tends to get lost, and understandably so at times when you're talking about David Beckham,  who is this world wide icon, is how good a soccer player he is. Ultimately that's what it all comes down to. He's going to make us a better soccer team.