Pele to be honorary captain

NEWARK, New Jersey -- Pele will be the honorary captain for the expansion club New Jersey Ironmen of the Major Indoor Soccer League when they host Detroit on Dec 1.

“Pele was my childhood hero,� Ironmen general Manager Tony Novo said Thursday. “It is very emotional to have the greatest player that ever played the game to be part of our opening ceremony.�

The Brazilian soccer legend signed with the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League in 1975, leading the team to a championship in 1977.

He was inducted into the American National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1993.

“This adds so much more to what will already be an amazing night,� head coach Omid Namazi said.

The MISL is a 23-year-old U.S. indoor league that plays a six-a-side game on turf covered ice hockey rinks.

David Beckham and wife Victoria visited a hospital where the England midfielder’s father was in stable condition after a heart attack.

A day after arriving back in Britain from the United States, Beckham and his wife spent nearly three hours with Ted Beckham at the London Chest Hospital. Victoria Beckham flew in Friday from Japan where she was promoting a cosmetics firm.

The 59-year-old Beckham had a heart attack Wednesday night. He is in stable condition, according to the hospital.

Beckham, a former England captain, joined the Los Angeles Galaxy of the MLS in July. He hasn’t played a game since Aug. 30 because of a right knee injury.