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Build it like Beckham: Does the soccer star's Lego obsession make him quirky or boring?
When it comes to expert marketing, forget Facebook and Twitter — the most effective method these days for increasing buzz is being revealed as a celeb's secret hobby. And in the most curious case, that celeb is David Beckham, and the product that's gone viral is a Lego Taj Mahal kit.
When Beckham revealed on BBC's Friday Night with Jonathan Ross that he takes secret pleasure in building Lego models, the superstar footballer's cultural weight spurred fans to purchase the 5,922-piece Taj Mahal set. The item, which retails for $300, increased in sales by 663 percent over the next day.
While Beckham said the Taj Mahal set kept him occupied while he worked as a Milan player, his admission has convinced fans that building the Indian palace for themselves will put them in closer touch with the high-profile athlete. Beckham went so far as to divulge that if he were not a footballer, he would love to be a Lego model builder. (He probably should avoid ever working as a career counselor.)
The Danish company has taken note of its debt to Beckham. Says a Lego spokesperson, "We have officially invited the Beckhams for a tour of the Lego factory in Denmark." David, along with wife Victoria, have yet to respond to the offer. Lego has also invited Beckham to submit any proposals he has for future kits.
If you want to build it like Beckham, you won't won't find the set in stores — this is an elite product for the most advanced of plastic block enthusiasts, and can only be bought online.