Fast Break

Soccer

Beckham can still bend them

David Beckham scored on his trademark bending free kick in his first start since Dec. 20, helping Real Madrid beat Real Sociedad 2-1 Saturday in the Spanish league.

Beckham’s goal at Anoeta stadium in San Sebastian may have saved Madrid coach Fabio Capello’s job. The Italian coach, who had said that the former England captain would never again play for the Spanish power, reportedly would have been fired if his team had lost again.

Beckham displeased Capello by announcing on Jan. 11 that he would leave for the Galaxy when his contract expires in June.

Football

EWU assistant gets NFL job

Keith Murphy, wide receivers and special teams coach at Eastern Washington, has accepted a job as offensive quality control coach for the St. Louis Rams, whose head coach is Scott Linehan, his former boss.

“I never had a plan, I just wanted to move up,” said Murphy, who has been with the Eagles eight seasons. “I always figured if I worked hard where I was … things would work out. The thing I’m most proud of is I didn’t pursue it. He called me. He knows me, but it’s been 10 years.”

Murphy was a graduate assistant at the University of Washington when Linehan was an assistant coach. He came to Eastern in 1999.

He is the third assistant to leave Eastern this off-season. Defensive ends coach Brian Strandley went to Idaho State as the defensive coordinator and offensive coordinator/quarterback coach Beau Baldwin is the new head coach at Central Washington.

“The good thing is the guys leaving are going upward to better things,” Eagles head coach Paul Wulff said.

Wulff hopes to have his staff set in the next week.

“Well make a few announcements once we get an offensive coordinator. We’ll move a few people around,” he said.

Linehan, who was also an assistant at Idaho in 1989 and ‘90, called Murphy on Tuesday and offered the job Friday.

Murphy replaces Randy Hanson, who had two stints at EWU. He was a part-time coach from 1993-95 and assistant secondary coach in 1998.

Baseball

Mom, can I have another $1,000?

Philadelphia Phillies slugger Ryan Howard slugged 58 home runs and won the National League MVP award. Soon he’ll have an allowance to match.

Howard, profiled on HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” in a segment to air next Monday night, talks about how his financial adviser – his mother – gives him an allowance out of the money he earns.

“She handles the funds. Like, I’ll get it, and then I won’t see it. She’ll let me look at the check, and then it’s gone,” Howard said.

The 27-year-old St. Louis native made $355,000 last year.