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This topic reminded me of an email I just got:
From the Borowitz Report:
Date: Updated June 12, 2003
U.S. DEMANDS EXPLANATION OF WHO BECKHAM IS
Increased Beckham-related Chatter Has State Dept. On Edge
The U.S., deluged in recent weeks by press reports and television appearances by someone named "Beckham" has demanded that the British government offer a "full explanation of exactly who this Beckham person is," the State Department said today.
"We are not sure what he is famous for, but we would like to know who he is and why exactly we are being forced to care about him all of a sudden," Secretary of State Colin Powell told reporters in a press briefing today.
While concerns about a sharp uptick in Beckham-related chatter had already put many at the State Department on edge, Beckham's appearance with his wife Posh Spice at last week's MTV Movie Awards raised the State Department's anxiety to the boiling point.
"In addition to explaining who exactly Beckham is, we are asking the British government to remind us who Posh Spice is again," Mr. Powell said.
While relations between Britain and the U.S. have never been warmer, their close ties could be torn asunder by their differences over Beckham, experts fear.
"In America, almost no one knows who Beckham is, while in Britain, he is considered the most famous person on the planet," said Dr. Roger Cranepool of the Institute for Foreign Relations at the University of Minnesota.
"This is a recipe for disaster."
In his press briefing, Secretary Powell also put pressure on Britain's Tony Blair to explain the title of the recent British film, "Bend It Like Beckham."
"Not only do we have no idea who Beckham is, we have no idea what 'bending it' is," Mr. Powell said.
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