SOCCER: BECKHAM TO BE AN `AMBASSADOR'.

Byline: BOB HOLTZMAN  Staff Writer

David Beckham's live satellite transmission on Friday morning didn't pack a large hotel ballroom in Marina del Rey, but he delivered on something even more significant than live bodies, television cameras.

More than 20 cameras were in place when Beckham made his introductions to media members and a few of his future Los Angeles Galaxy teammates via a live satellite transmission.

Dressed in a black suit with a white shirt and skinny, black tie, Beckham did his best to remind everyone he isn't coming to Hollywood to co-star with his pal Tom Cruise in the next Mission Impossible movie or see his wife, Victoria, the former Posh Spice of the Spice Girls, shop until she drops on Rodeo Drive with Katie Holmes.

``I think soccer has huge, huge potential,'' Beckham said. ``I would't be doing this if I didn't believe in this project. If I didn't believe I could make a difference and take soccer to a different level, I wouldn't be doing this.''

Beckham, 31, isn't expected to hit the California coast for another six months, yet Anschutz Entertainment Group officials said the $100,000 event was the largest press conference yet for a Home Depot Center event. Pat O'Brien served as the event's emcee, and was the only person who got a chance to ask Beckham any questions.

AEG and Galaxy officials joined Beckham in assuring the crowd this marriage of Major League Soccer and an international icon was about boosting the world's sport in its least popular country.

``We built the Home Depot Center for this moment,'' AEG president and chief executive officer Tim Leiweke said.

``We believed, Phil Anschutz believed, in our hearts that there would be a greater opportunity for MLS. But it wouldn't ultimately become a reality until we were committed to building these soccer-specific stadiums.''

Beckham said he hopes his fusion of Hollywood looks, an All-American family life with the beautiful wife and threeadorable children, along with a legendary right foot, can help him further the interest of soccer beyond the youth playing fields while making all those invested in him plenty of money. He called himself an ``ambassador'' as part of MLS.

``I'm not saying me coming over to the States is going to make soccer the biggest sport in America,'' Beckham said. ``That's going to be very difficult to achieve. I would like to say that would happen but there are so many great and major sports here in the States like baseball, like basketball and American football. You know it's hard sometimes to compete with some of those when they've been around and have the history.

``I recognize I'm not as recognized in the States as I am around Europe and other parts of the world,'' Beckham said. ``Hopefully, playing for the Galaxy will change that.''

Leiweke said he hopes so because Beckham retained 100 percent of his image rights when he's not on a soccer field or in a Galaxy uniform. He is reportedly going to make around $10million a year and should make another $40 million a year in outside endorsements.

And then, it will be up to MLS.

``He's going to bring us eyeballs,'' Leiweke said. ``He's going to bring us attention. He's going to bring us opportunity. Once we capture people's attention, we're going to have to find a way to keep it.''

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David Beckham appears during a video teleconference Friday in Marina del Rey, taking questions about his pending appearance with the MLS' Galaxy.

Nick Ut/Associated Press