The high price of fame: A star of today could be a nobody tomorrow

England's national coach Fabio Capello feels that David Beckham is past his prime and he does not have what it takes to perform at the world level at a consistent pace. Beckham's chances of playing in the next World Cup are almost negligible after he ruptured his Achilles tendon which spoilt his chances of playing in the World Cup 2010. It was a dismal way of ending such a brilliant career and the celebrated position this man enjoyed in the world of soccer.

Selling his palatial home at Sawbridgeworth, Britain estimated at $27.83 million and moving to USA is symbolic of finally letting go of his legendary status in Britain.

Beckham's famous palatial home at Sawbridgeworth is nicknamed   "Beckhingham Palace" a take-off from Buckingham Palace. For somebody as high profiled as Beckham and his wife, Spice Girl Victoria "Posh" who have family houses in Los Angeles and France, selling Sawbridgeworth is indicative of his final move to USA. When he first bought his home in LA, several years ago, there was some talk of him moving but he finally ended up shunting between US and Britain for the love of soccer while Posh continued her first home in USA.

A star who lived in print, who's every tattoo, hair style details, minute account  of his lifestyle, dominated the media for many years, is moving out of the spotlight. At 34, Beckham is considered well past his prime.

The game of sports offers endorsements, dizzy heights of stardom, prize monies, bid amounts and during their heyday, some players make obscene amounts of money in 10-12 years of their prime.  At the same time, it cannot be easy to plan a retirement life away from active and direct sporting at the age of 34.

During the he last World Cup, big names and star players like Wayne Rooney did not perform. One explanation offered for why this happened is that players play with their local teams and clubs for 10 months in a year, whereas the football World Cup happens once every 4 years. They are able to perform individually because of the familiarity of their team mates.  The lack of tuning and jibing with the team which really makes them a star could be one of the reasons for  their non-performances.

The World Cup threw up this revelation when most of the star players failed to perform. It just drove home the point that no star is bigger than the team. Whatever the reason, one more bad season and Rooney may have to contend with a new star in the horizon, in this ruthless cut-throat world of sport stardom.

At the same age of 34, Tiger Woods, ranked the most successful golfers of our times and the highest paid professional athlete of the world, ruled the golf circuit until the bubble burst with a spate of personal scandals.

Sachin Tendulkar, the Indian star is still sailing high, steering clear of controversies and maintaining a disciplined life, avoiding the much talked about night party life of the cricketers and the rowdy scenes that sometimes follow after the wild partying.
Actors on the other hand, probably have a longer life span as stars.

A Shah Rukh and an Aamir Khan are still names to reckon with in their 40s.  If Amitabh Bachchan is any example to go by, Shah Rukh will be around for a long time. If Bollywood follows the Hollywood trend of special scripts being written for stars like Richard Gere, Julia Roberts and Meryl Steep, then the star life gets extended to 70 years.  Scripts are written keeping in mind the ages and the legendary acting styles of these actors.

Sports people and actors are the two distinguished categories of stars that society has acknowledged. If with stardom comes acclaim, recognition and popularity, the decline of stardom can be equally lonesome and de-glorifying.