MIAMI -- David Beckham hopped onto the stage, his back to sun-splashed Biscayne Bay, and a pack of photographers jostled for position as admirers cheered and chanted. "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. The deal will be finalized when the former English national team captain can secure a financing plan and location for a new stadium. Beckham attended a news conference with MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez to discuss their progress. "This is an exciting time, and something were really looking forward to bringing to Miami," Beckham told a crowd of more than 300 people on a downtown museum plaza. The event was frequently interrupted by cheers for Beckham, whos popular around the world and especially in celebrity-smitten Miami. The retired soccer icon has scouted possible stadium sites and is seeking investors to assist with startup costs such as construction and player acquisitions. Among those who might become involved is Miami Heat star LeBron James, who has had recent conversations with Beckham about bringing a team to Miami. "LeBron has become a friend over the last few years," Beckham said. "We spoke about this on the business side and also as friends. Hes very interested in this." Beckham, looking the part of a businessman in a suit and tie, said city officials have promised the teams stadium will be downtown, which is his preference. "We dont want public funding," Beckham said to applause. "We will fund the stadium ourselves. We have worked very hard to get to this stage where we can fund the stadium ourselves. We want to create a football club that is the peoples football club." Gimenez -- who at one point referred to Beckham as "Beckman" -- said theres political support for a plan. "We started our negotiations last week," Gimenez said. "We have to get rolling. Theres a time crunch. We are willing partners. We are very grateful that Mr. Beckham and MLS have chosen Miami as the site for their next franchise. Were going to do all in our power to make sure we get the stadium built in the right place as quickly as possible." New teams have been announced for 2015 in New York City and Orlando, Fla., increasing the leagues total to 21. Beckham declined to offer a timetable regarding when Miami might play its first game, but a likely target is 2017. The former Manchester United, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Los Angeles Galaxy and Paris Saint-Germain star has the right to an expansion team at a discount fee of $25 million. MLSs Miami Fusion played in Fort Lauderdale from 1998-01 before folding because of poor attendance, but this time, Beckhams star power could make a difference. "Miami is a vibrant city with a lot of passion," he said. "I know this city is ready for football -- soccer -- this time around. I know this is going to be successful." The crowd at the news conference included a throng of chanting, singing fans. "People here love this sport," Garber said. "We together have no doubt it will be a very successful MLS team." Beckham said he also wants to start a childrens soccer academy in Miami. Shareholders in the team will include Beckhams business partner Simon Fuller, the "American Idol" creator who is the driving force in franchise negotiations, and Marcelo Claure, president and CEO of Brightstar Corp. Beckham said hell finalize his group of investors over the next couple of months. He declined to say what players he would like to bring to the team. "We have a list," he said. "We want to bring some of the best players in football to Miami to play on this team. Ive seen what happens to teams when you bring great players in. Im talking about the Heat." That brought cheers from the crowd. James and the Heat have won the past two NBA titles. Beckham laughingly ruled out hiring his former manager, Alex Ferguson, to coach the team, but said he has ideas regarding that search, as well. "I kind of know what makes a great coach and what doesnt," he said. "Well have a good coach here." Beckham praised the growth in recent of years of MLS and said hes optimistic about the leagues direction. Regular-season attendance increased from an average of 15,504 in 2006 to a record 18,807 in 2012 before dropping slightly this season to 18,594. "Ive seen the change in this league," Beckham said. "Ive seen the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Barcelona come over to America. They want to play against the MLS teams. 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A pending match-fixing case involving Fenerbahce at sports highest court means the Turkish club could be expelled from the competition even if it wins. The first leg is scheduled Aug. 21 in Istanbul. . Listen to the game on TSN Radio 1050 Toronto at 7pm et. The club dropped three in a row before ending the slump with Saturdays 4-2 win over visiting Buffalo.IRVING, Texas - Tony Romo kept his notes on Philadelphia after Dallas blowout loss on Thanksgiving with the NFC East lead on the line.They will come in handy for the rematch two weeks later with the teams again tied atop the division at 9-4 following the Eagles loss to Seattle.The Dallas quarterback said the challenge before last weeks 41-28 win over the Bears was not letting his mind drift to the defensive scheme the Eagles used in one of Romos worst games of the season. Philadelphia won the first meeting 33-10.I think that well be able to do some things that we wanted to do previously, Romo said of the Eagles, not long after beating Chicago in yet another efficient showing. A lot of times you just forget and go right on. Well, I didnt want to forget everything because I wanted to utilize it again. Thats a long way of saying youve got to compartmentalize and figure it out and move on and come right back to it.Receiver Dez Bryant admitted in the moments after Philadelphias easy victory that he couldnt wait to face the Eagles again. Now that the rematch has arrived, the Cowboys have to figure out why NFL rushing leader DeMarco Murray had one of just two games this season without at least 100 yards.The Cowboys also had trouble stopping the run, with LeSean McCoy getting a season-high 159 yards — the most Dallas has allowed this year and one of only two 100-yard games for opposing rushers.We can look at different things in that game and say we did things the right away and we had some success, we didnt do things the right way and they had some success, said coach Jason Garrett, who wasnt very interested Monday in revisiting details of the first meeting. Control what we can control. That game is done with. Its been done with. It aint coming back.The biggest difference is that the Cowboys have 10 days to prepare for the rematch after getting about 90 hours between the end of a Sunday night win over the New York Giants and the Thanksgiving afternoon kickoff against the Eagles.Philadelphia was in the same position the last time, although with a few more hours while having to make the long trip.dddddddddddd. This time the Eagles get a regular week.Romo never considered the short week an issue despite that being the first time he had done it on his surgically repaired back. He later acknowledged that he didnt take an injection for pain against the Eagles, and said it was a mistake. On two of his four sacks in the first meeting, Romo quickly went down without trying to escape.Getting a full week is a game-changer I feel like, said Romo, who also acknowledged he was overly protective of his back against the Eagles. I think it will be that way the rest of the year.After the Chicago game, Romo said he was dealing with a rib issue in addition to a back injury that wasnt related to surgery last December. Garrett said Monday that Romo had rib cartilage damage, not a fracture as the quarterback indicated Thursday.Either way, another few days off not too far removed from the bye is helping the 34-year-old Romo.Its getting toward the end I feel like, Romo said of the injuries. Itll be nice when its just about the back improving instead of all the other little junk.Philadelphias loss to Seattle was a bit of a mixed blessing for Dallas because if the Cowboys cant win the rematch, their likely path to the playoffs through the wild-card race got more complicated with the Seahawks win.The best illustration: Seattles win meant Dallas would be out if the playoffs started this week.Garrett isnt worried about that illustration.The biggest thing we have to do is focus on ourselves, Garrett said. We control our destiny as a team. If we focus on doing what we need to do to play our best football, things will all work out fine.Starting with take two against the Eagles.NOTES: Garrett said he expected S Jeff Heath (broken thumb) and CB Tyler Patmon (knee) to return to practice this week. ... CB Micah Pellerin was waived.___Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL___Follow Schuyler Dixon on Twitter at https://twitter.com/apschuyler [url=http://www.cheapnfljerseyschinastore.us.com/]cheap jerseys cheap nhl jerseys ' ' '