BECKHAM’S WORLD WE’RE JUST LIVING IN IT

He no longer plies his trade in the U.K., but according to researchers at the University of Warwick, David Beckham has assumed the title of England’s Rose. Sociologist Andrew Parker analyzed Beckham’s place in his countrymen’s hearts and found that he’s as popular as Princess Diana ever was. “Both are glamorous figures, supremely beautiful,” Parker wrote. In other Beckham news, Adidas will sew feng shui symbols into the star’s new line of shoes. Eastern monks watched hours of footage of Beckham in action and then gave design advice. Only 723 pairs of the $900 shoes will be made (Beckham wears number 7 for England and 23 for Real Madrid)--but if you’re not built like Beckham, don’t bother. They will only come in Becks’s size 9.

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CARLOS ALVAREZ/GETTY IMAGES (BECKHAM)