SO, WHO IS THIS GUY? RESIDENTS UNFAMILIAR WITH NEW STAR IN L.A.

Byline: GENE MADDAUS Staff Writer

David Beckham might be the world's best-known athlete, but to a lot of people in Carson, home of the Galaxy, he's going to need an introduction.

``Who is the guy?'' asked Sandi Pinio, a retiree who lives in a mobile home park across from Carson's Home Depot Center. ``I heard something on the news. He must be the Babe Ruth of soccer.''

``Did he do a movie?'' asked David Aldridge, owner of a T-shirt printing business in Carson. ``I didn't see the movie, I just remember the name.''

``I've seen the name, I've heard the name,'' Carson city councilman Elito Santarina said. ``But refresh my memory.'' Told that Beckham had signed a $250 million contract to play for the Galaxy, Santarina said: ``Oh my God. I need to meet with him.''

Carson assented to the construction of the Home Depot Center on the theory that it would put the city on the map. But four years later, the blue-collar community still hasn't caught soccer fever. The two professional teams, the Galaxy and Chivas USA, play to a mostly out-of-town audience. While city leaders hailed Beckham's signing Thursday as a boon to the local economy, many residents responded with a shrug.

``To be honest, soccer is not the No. 1 sport in the African-American community,'' said Aldridge, a member of the Carson Black Chamber of Commerce. ``Now if Serena Williams is playing there, that's another thing.''

The neighborhood around the Home Depot Center is mostly black. Two nearby mobile home parks are home to a mix of white, black and Asian residents, most of them seniors. South of the San Diego (405) Freeway, the city is predominantly Filipino.

``Basketball is the No. 1 sport in the Philippines,'' Santarina said. ``If we can get basketball players to come, I promise we can fill an arena. Filipino-Americans inhale the NBA.''

The city has strong historic ties with the Clippers, who used to practice at Veterans Park, but many residents are also loyal to the Lakers. The city's Samoan and Filipino residents have also become attached to the NFL and were able to watch the San Diego Chargers when they briefly held their summer training camp at Home Depot Center.

Some business leaders remain disappointed that the city did not pursue a bid for an NFL franchise, but see Beckham as the next best thing.

``It's phenomenal,'' said Tony Thomas, a former Economic Development Commission member. ``Beckham is going to bring tons of spotlight on the city of Carson.''

When he arrives, Beckham will find a city that is more Manchester than Madrid. Carson's skyline is dotted with refineries, and its dreams of becoming a regional shopping destination remain in the aspiration phase. The city is pinning its hopes on the Carson Marketplace, a massive shopping, hotel and residential development on a site once touted as a potential home to an NFL team.

Now the city can pin its hopes on Beckham as well. The city expects Beckham to be heavily promoted, and every home game in which he appears is expected to sell out, upping concession receipts and sales tax revenue.

``Obviously it's a hell of a boost,'' said Don Kott, founder of a chain of car dealerships and an Economic Development Commission member. ``Between him and the new Marketplace that's going in, this town's hot.''

``It's a prestigious thing,'' said John Wogan, president of the Carson Chamber of Commerce. ``Our image is going up, and that definitely is an image booster.''

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