ESPN and Kickball, Vol. 2: Hey, Becks, what's it worth to you?

The Associated Press

ESPN paid David Beckham's management company to produce a one-hour documentary on the soccer star that aired two years ago, according to a new book on the Galaxy midfielder, called "The Beckham Experiment," by Sports Illustrated senior writer Grant Wahl.

The book call's ESPN's payment to management company 19 Entertainment for the documentary called "David Beckham: New Beginnings" an "example of checkbook journalism" and labeled the show a "Beckham Brand infomercial."

Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment, during the same period in 2007, denied interview access to Beckham for ESPN The Magazine and approached Sports Illustrated with an exclusive interview that landed Beckham the SI cover for its July 16, 2007, issue, Wahl wrote. That was around the time of Beckham's Galaxy debut.

"We hired 19 Entertainment to produce a special on Beckham. It was not something that came out of our news and information division of the company," ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz said Wednesday. "It was a programming arrangement We did provide editorial input to the show. 19 Entertainment was credited."

The book is scheduled for publication on July 16, when Beckham is scheduled to play his first match for the Galaxy following a half-season loan to AC Milan. Review copies have arrived to some journalists this week.