On this day 13 July

Captain America

AKA David Beckham: Soccer pioneer...

 

Today way back in, er, 2007, David Beckham officially became Captain America, as he was unveiled in front of literally hundreds of screaming "soccer" fans as LA Galaxy's new signing at the wonderfully-named Home Depot Stadium. Earning a reported $7billion every 37 seconds, Beckham claimed that despite many offers from some big sides in England and Europe, it was the task of bringing the world's greatest game to the ignorant Yank masses that most appealed to our Dave. Which, even for a man who freely admits to wearing his Mrs' knickers, is a pretty bold task given that footballing unknowns such as Pele, Beckenbauer and Cruyff failed to do the same. Good luck and Godspeed Dave.

Born on this day in 100 BC, Julius Caesar is undoubtedly the most recognised of all Roman political figures. Known as the 'perpetual dictator' for his ten-year reign, his assassination by conspirators has been well documented, but he was also a military strategist of some repute. There are various stories as to why the name Caesar became the moniker of Emperors; that the first Caesar had a thick head of hair (Latin caesaries); that he had bright grey eyes (Latin oculis caesiis); or that he killed an elephant (caesai in Moorish) in battle.

So it's Vsetko najlepsie k narodeninam! as they say in Slovakia to Welsh charmer Craig Bellamy (29), George Lucas' muse Harrison Ford (66), stoner Cheech Marin (62), ex-Heavyweight champ Michael 'Jinx' Spinks (52), and Private Eye editor Ian Hislop (48).