Beckham crowd boos Villaraigosa *

Spectators booed LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa this morning when it was his turn to speak at the welcome press conference for international soccer star David Beckham.

According to Daily Breeze soccer columnist Nick Green: "Embattled Carson Mayor Jim Dear received a better reception than embattled Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who was roundly booed."

Ah, but the mayor's office said the negative reaction had nothing to do with Villaraigosa's recent admission that he cheated on his wife of 20 years with a television reporter. Rather, the mayor is an avid fan of Chivas USA _ rival of the LA Galaxy.

"He's been booed before by Galaxy fans," explained Matt Szabo, spokesman for the mayor.

Of course.

* So maybe it wasn't Chivas after all. Daily News sports columnist Tom Hoffarth said the crowd's anti-Antonio mood probably was related to his sexcapades. Amid the boos as the mayor stood to speak, reporters heard someone yell, "Is your girlfriend here to cover this?"