"I did what?" asked Fisher when he hears the news.

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"It's on the TV now; they're reporting you just signed with the Lakers," said Heussenstamm. "I haven't signed anything yet," he said. "We'll see."

While Fisher's future may have been up in the air, there was no doubt that the future of Leinart's foundation looked to be in good hands as he celebrated the evening on the second level of Geisha House at his after party. "I've wanted to do this my whole life," said Leinart. "I always wanted to give back to the community and it feels good to be able to do that now."

Red, White and The Blues

The Beverly Hills Hotel is often called "The Pink Palace," but at the moment it has a slightly darker hue as it is the home of "The Blues" with Chelsea players and coaches walking around the lobby decked out in their appropriately colored warm-ups. While socialites sip martinis in the Polo Lounge, John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba chat on their way past The Cabana Club Cafe. The talk of the afternoon is the signing of David Beckham, and as Jose Mourinho sits on the red carpeted stairs leading up to the hotel, he thinks the newest addition to the Galaxy could be just the man to raise soccer's profile in the United States. "It's a big moment for Los Angeles and U.S. soccer," he said. "It's a pity he couldn't remain in Europe but he will do well here."

No European soccer club has done more to raise soccer's profile in the States than Chelsea. For the fourth straight year they are making a U.S. summer visit and this year they are planting roots and showing their commitment to future visits by hiring former U.S. women's national team player Lorrie Fair as its U.S. brand ambassador, bridging the gap between club and its American fans.

"Chelsea are committed to the development of soccer from top to bottom in the U.S. and every year we have come to America we see more and more supporters," said Chelsea Business Affairs Director Paul Smith. "Having a U.S. soccer icon like Lorrie Fair as Chelsea's ambassador will expand interest and generate broader excitement for the sport."

While the arrival of Beckham is a step in the right direction for the sport's growth in the U.S., Fair doesn't envy the position of the highest paid soccer player outside of Europe. "People are putting a lot on his shoulders," she said. "The average American who doesn't grasp the sport believes he's going to change the culture of American soccer. They want to see him live up to the money that he's making and if he doesn't they're going to quickly forget about him."

Lucky Luc

I had the pleasure of having dinner at the Bel Air Country Club last week with former L.A. Kings left winger Luc Robitalle and Linda McCoy-Murray, the wife of late Pulitzer Prize winner sports writer Jim Murray. The future of NHL Hall of Famer will be honored by the Jim Murray Memorial Foundation in December and he mentioned how much the 14-time sportswriter of the year meant to him. He attended Murray's funeral on his own in 1998 after never forgetting a column Murray had written about him during his rookie season, which he kept in his wallet for years. "I'll never forget him," he said. "He was a great man and this is a great honor."