Beckham in £12m global tug of war

David Beckham In demand ... 

DAVID Beckham is at the centre of a £12million global tug of war that could make him football’s highest paid player. Becks, 37, yesterday began a bidding battle as he confirmed he will leave current team Los Angeles Galaxy in ten days’ time. 

 Big-money clubs in China, Australia, Brazil, South Africa, America and France are now ready to break the bank to get the ex-England skipper. 

 Chinese football giants Shanghai Shenhua are said to be willing to pay Becks more than £350,000 a week to uproot wife Victoria and family from LA. 


 But they face competition from Aussie clubs Melbourne Hearts and Adelaide United, France’s Paris Saint-Germain, Brazil’s Botafogo, South Africa’s Kaizer Chiefs and the New York Cosmos. 

 The clubs are less interested in Beckham’s ball skills than his ability to boost their global TV audience. Sources in LA said Becks could easily make at least £12million from the deal.

 One said: “It doesn’t matter he isn’t the greatest player any more. He makes clubs great in terms of sponsorship. A club could pay him £500,000 a week and it would still be worth it.” The biggest earner in football is 31-year-old Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o, who is paid £345,000 a week by Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala.

Is this Harley Davidson’s latest model? Artist creates human motorcycles

Racey ... models make up street bike

NOW that’s what you call a bunch of Hell’s Angels.

From a distance they look like the latest motorbikes off the production line, but closer examination reveals they are models of a different kind. 

The nude human motorbikes are actually the creation of body paint artist Trina Merry whose amazing work blurs the lines of reality. 

Stunning model ... naked girls form Harley Davidson

It takes up to 18 hours for Trina to paint the lifelike bikes and they have now been chosen to front a huge US motor show. 

  Trina, from San Francisco, California, said: “I am a conceptual artist and often I am inspired by the bodies themselves by what they can and can’t do. 

“Everyone has seen the pictures of scantily-clad women next to motorbikes and cars and it can look a bit trashy.

Paint job ... dirt bike looks realistic

 

“I wanted to take the idea of a beautiful woman and the motorbike and turn it on its head by making the bike from the bodies of the models. 

  “Nothing like this has ever been done before.”

Trina’s latest work featuring the three types of motorbikes for the Progressive International Motorbike Shows that will be touring the US this year.

How it's done ... models practice posing as bike

Smashing pumpkins

Spooky sculptures carved out of veg

Halloween horrors ... scary figures carved out of pumpkins

SAY Hallow to these spook-tacular sculptures – all carved out of the humble PUMPKIN.

Artists Ray Villafane and Andy Bergholtz created the Halloween horrors in their workshop.
Former art teacher Ray, 43, began carving without any training and only discovered his talent after offering to shape a pumpkin for one of his pupils. 

Spook-tacular ... pumpkin looks a little like Ghostbusters' Slimer

 

Now he can carve a fully detailed pumpkin in just two hours. 

Scare art ... veg carved in the image of horror doll Chucky

 

Ray, from Bellaire, Michigan, US, said: “Very often I don’t have a preconceived idea of what I’m going to carve, I just start carving and the creative ideas come to me. 

“It doesn’t always turn out the way I wanted and there’s always times when I have to throw away the pumpkin and start again. 

Smashing ... pumpkin gets 'punched'

 

“The pumpkin is the most important element in my work, I’ll pick up around 50 different pumpkins before I even find one which is suitable to carve. 

Pumpkin art ... incredible detail in the sculptures

 

“The best pumpkins are the ones that feels heavy for its size, that tells me it’s going to be a thick pumpkin, you need the pumpkins to be thick so you can carve a 3d face out of it.” 

Pumpk-incredible ... is it King Kong?

 

Ray is now something of a celebrity in the States and designs pumpkins and giant Halloween sculptures for corporate Halloween parties and displays across the US. 

Seeds of terror ... spooky pumpkin carving

 

He said: “It’s particularly busy at this time of year, but I love my job — it’s fun and I feel like I’m creating something almost magical. 

“When you put a cool face on the pumpkin it feels almost animated, like you’ve bought the pumpkin to life.” 

Unzipped ... pumpkin

 

Villafane studios recently created a sculpture of Johnny Depp's character, Barnabas Collins, in new movie Dark Shadows. 

The film - which is released on Blu-ray and DVD today - sees imprisoned vampire Barnabas wake up from a multi-century sleep to discover that his past is back to haunt him. 

Work in progress ... Johnny Depp is carved out

 

Uncanny ... Johnny Depp in spooky flick Dark Shadows

 

Helmet head ... pumpkin

Baumgartner lebih pantas daripada kelajuan bunyi

TERJUNAN yang dibuat Baumgartner.

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WASHINGTON - Pelagak ngeri Austria, Felix Baumgartner menjadi manusia pertama bergerak lebih pantas daripada kelajuan bunyi di luar sebuah kapsul kelmarin.

Dia terjun dari kapsul tersebut yang berada setinggi 39 kilometer (km) dari Bumi.

Kapsul tersebut bergerak ke udara dengan menggunakan belon helium.

Ia mengambil masa lebih dua jam untuk tiba pada ketinggian 39km dari Bumi.

Kelajuannya mencecah 1,342 kilometer sejam (km/j). 

Lelaki itu 265km/j lebih pantas daripada bunyi.

Baumgartner, 43, kemudian mendarat dengan menggunakan payung terjun di sebuah kawasan di sebuah gurun di Roswell, New Mexico, Amerika Syarikat (AS).

Laman web syarikat minuman tenaga Red Bull menyiarkan aksi pelagak ngeri itu yang memakai pakaian seperti angkasawan semasa dia berada di dalam kapsul tersebut.

Baumgartner menanggalkan topi dan menggenggam kedua-dua tangannya selepas dia mendarat dengan selamat.

"Apabila saya berdiri di atas dunia, anda berasa rendah diri. Anda tidak berfikir tentang memecahkan rekod lagi. Anda juga tidak memikirkan untuk memperoleh data saintifik.

"Satu-satunya perkara yang anda fikirkan ialah pulang dengan selamat," katanya selepas dia selamat mendarat kepada wartawan stesen televisyen CBS.

Dia turut memecahkan rekod sebagai manusia pertama membuat terjunan dari altitud tinggi.

Sebelum ini seorang bekas pegawai tentera udara AS, Kolonel Joe Kittinger memegang rekod itu dengan terjun dari sebuah gondola pada ketinggian 31 kilometer dari Bumi dengan kelajuan 988km/j pada tahun 1960.

Baumgartner menyatakan pengalamannya terjun dengan lebih laju daripada bunyi itu sukar untuk digambarkan.

"Anda tidak mengetahui kepantasan anda," katanya. 

Rekod itu kemudian disahkan oleh jurucakap Persekutuan Aeronautik Antarabangsa (FAI) pada sidang akhbar di Roswell, New Mexico.

Presiden Austria, Heinz Fischer mengucapkan tahniah ekoran kejayaannya dalam projek terjunan anjuran Red Bull Stratos.

Baumgartner pernah terjun dengan menggunakan payung terjun dari Bangunan Petronas di Kuala Lumpur pada 1999. - Agensi

Monkeys hitch a hairy ride

Animal autobus ... a capybara ferries a family of spider monkeys around

FOUR mischievous spider monkeys hitch a ride on the back of a capybara, the world's largest rodent.

In another hilarious snapshot, one of the cheeky critters rides his hairy companion like a horse. 

The adorable animal interactions took place at a zoo in the Netherlands, where both South American species share an enclosure. 

Giddy-up ... a monkey rides the rodent like a horse

It was caught on camera by Dutch photographer Corey van Loon during a visit to the Beekse Bergen safari park near Eindhoven. 

Corey was stunned to discover the creatures are inseparable. 

The unlikely best pals eat, sleep and play together - and they even help groom each other. 

Pals ... South American species share an enclosure and are inseparable

She said: “The capybaras don’t seem to mind the monkeys climbing all over them and riding on their backs at all. I think they love each other's company. 

“They often lie down in the grass and let the monkeys clamber all over them. 

“It is really very cute to watch them together. It’s so much fun to see the two species get along so well."

Snakeskin-covered car promises luxury on new scales

Specially modified ... snakeskin Bentley GT

A LUXURY car customising firm has unveiled a specially-modified Bentley GT - covered in snakeskin.

Latvia-based Dartz Motorz's upcoming Bentley SS - which stands for Snake Skin - will be available in 2013, the Chinese Year of the Snake. 

The motors come with specially-treated skin covering their exterior, as well as the interior detailing and dashboard. 

But it will set car enthusiasts back a little more than your basic paint job, with prices starting from a whopping £8,000. And that's without the £125,000 or more you'll need to buy the Bentley GT in the first place. 

Customised ... Snakeskin Bentley GT

The skin used is taken from snakes specially bred on farms for the leather industry. 

But animal lovers who have fallen for the luxury look shouldn't despair - as cars can also be fitted out with a vinyl cover made to look like snake skin. 

Company boss Leonard F Yankelovich said: “We are sure the Snake Style will be hit car covering during 2013 Snake year!” 

Exterior ... skin comes from snake farms

Big appetite? Eagle swoops and snatches deadly Nile crocodile

Lunchtime ... the plucky bird flies off with its wriggling meal

 

AN EAGLE swoops down and grabs a crocodile in its claws before flying off with the dangerous prey.

This incredible scene was captured on camera by a British safari guide working in Tanzania.

The image is all the more amazing because, fully grown, the Nile crocodile is one of the world's most deadly creatures. 

Adults can grow to six metres long and weigh up to a ton - thanks to a diet of hippos, giraffes, buffalos and the occasional human. 

But when they're still infants, the amphibians are vulnerable to passing predators.
In this case, opportunist birds of prey. 

Eagle-eyed ... the bird sneaks up on the croc at a watering hole

 

Safari guide Mark Sheridan-Johnson, 32 who was raised in Tanzania by his Newcastle-born parents, insists he's never heard of an eagle attacking a crocodile before. 

Mark - who took the photos - said: "In nine years of being a safari guide I would never expect to see this. It's unheard of. 

"I think this eagle could be a lone individual who has learnt how to hunt for crocodiles. 

"It certainly knew what it was doing."

Chinese £250k a week for Lamps

EASTERN RICHES ...Lampard could pick between huge Chinese offers

FRANK LAMPARD will be offered a Chinese takeaway of £250,000 a week AFTER tax.

The England midfielder is wanted by former Chelsea team-mate Didier Drogba’s club Shanghai Shenhua, as well as their Chinese Super League rivals Beijing Guoan. 

And both are ready to offer that mega-bucks £1MILLION a month jackpot. 

Lampard, 34, can talk to any club in the world in January as he will be a free agent next summer when his Blues contract finishes. 

He appears on his way out at Stamford Bridge after 11 years, as Chelsea have a policy of offering players over 30 only a one-year extension to their current deal. 

Lamps could bank around £36m from a three-year stint in China with Drogba and Co. 

But, already financially secure for life, he has always told pals he is more interested in a challenge than money. 

Sunsport also exclusively revealed that David Beckham’s LA Galaxy are interested in Lampard — as an eventual successor to 38-year-old Becks.

Barcelona 2 Real Madrid 2

PAIR OF ACES ... Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo cross paths

IT will be remembered as El Clasico when Lionel Messi squared up to Cristiano Ronaldo — and football was the winner.

Messi’s double and Ronaldo’s brace will have this country talking for weeks to come. 

Barcelona could and should have won it at the death but, in a way, they did — as they are still eight points clear of Jose Mourinho’s Real side. 

So, just this once, let us forget the diving of Mourinho’s lieutenant Pepe and that second-half tumble from the otherwise brilliant Mesut Ozil, along with some nasty tackles and the odd iffy refereeing call. 

For this was a night to savour — the world’s top two footballers going at it hammer and tongs in front of an estimated TV audience of 200million. 

Mourinho said: “It should be banned to talk about who is the best in the world. 

HEAD TO HEAD ... Barcelona boss Tito Vilanova greets Jose Mourinho

 

“Those two are on a different planet. I’d like to see mine win World Player of the Year because he was the winner of the most important league in the world.” 

The huge red and yellow mosaic from over 90,000 Barca fans, forming a giant national flag, proclaimed their Catalan allegiance at the start. 

In fact the cry for independence went up on 18 minutes — harking back to the moment in 1714 when the siege of Barcelona ended as the Catalan capital fell to what became the Spanish crown. 

OPENER ... Cristiano Ronaldo strikes the first goal of the match

 

By then busy bee Ronaldo had crossed for Real striker Karim Benzema, who miscued a glorious chance. Sergio Ramos then headed Ozil’s corner wide. 

It was no surprise Ronaldo put Madrid ahead on 22 minutes. Benzema turned Javier Mascherano and set up Ronaldo, whose left-footer beat Victor Valdes. 

Seconds later, another lovely move carved up Barca but Benzema stumbled and knocked Sami Khedira’s pass against a post before Angel Di Maria missed with the follow-up. 

CHEEKY ... Ronaldo gestures after his goal

 

On the half hour, Barca’s Pedro crossed, Pepe failed to clear and it fell to Messi six yards out.
No prizes for guessing that the world’s best player levelled. 

We learnt two things yesterday. One, how important Gerard Pique is, not just in Barca’s defence but also in their build-up. Two, how the balance of power has shifted to the middle ground. 

ALL SQUARE ... Lionel Messi pulls Barcelona level

 

Mourinho should thank his lucky stars Barca had to line up without their centre-halves Pique and Carles Puyol. They also lost right-back Dani Alves midway through the first half to a thigh strain. 

Just after the restart, Messi went on a 50-yard run but Alvaro Arbeloa snuffed out his pass to Cesc Fabregas, who was ready to tap home. 

Andres Iniesta went down in the box under Pepe’s challenge but ref Carlos Delgado Ferreiro gave a corner. On the hour, Messi produced a moment that will live long in the memory. 

PACKING A PUNCH ... Lionel Messi celebrates

 

The Argentina hero swung in a 28-yard free-kick and the ball seemed to stop in mid-air before swerving into the top corner. 

A classic for El Clasico and Messi is now just one goal behind Madrid legend and honorary president Alfredo Di Stefano, who is the all-time top scorer in this deadly duel with 18 goals. 

If the next Ballon D’Or has been decided, no one has told Ronaldo — who ended up going to hospital last night to check on a shoulder injury. 

CURLY WORLDY ... Lionel Messi's free-kick beats the Real wall

 

The Portugal star desperately wants to reclaim the crown he won whilst at United in 2009.
And, six minutes later, he showed why it should be him when he picked up Ozil’s pass and slotted past Valdes. 

The Nou Camp still rose as one to acclaim their team but they might as well have done it for both of these giants. 

Messi and Ronaldo that is. 

FLOORED .. Iker Casillas is left stunned by Messi's goal

 

JOY ... Lionel Messi celebrates his second goal

 

HOLD UP ... Ronaldo levels to make it 2-2

Ney way for Oscar

FAMOUS NEYM ... Santos star Neymar

BRAZIL superstar Neymar says Oscar has pleaded with him to join Chelsea.

The Santos ace, 20, has been tipped to join Spanish giants Barcelona or Real Madrid next season. 

But after playing with Chelsea new boy Oscar at London 2012, Neymar says his mate is desperate for him to ignore Barca’s Dani Alves and move to Stamford Bridge. 

Neymar said: “Oscar messages me to tell me what a great club Chelsea is and what a great city London is. 

“He and Dani are both very good salesmen for their clubs. 

“When the time is right I will listen to the right offers that my agent has for me. 

“It is very simple — if Barcelona are interested you listen, if Real Madrid are interested you listen, if Chelsea are interested you listen. 

“There are maybe five clubs in the world that you know you must at least listen to.”