Beckham’s ready to get his feet wet in Hawaii

When the Galaxy flies to Hawaii on Monday, it will be taking with it a fitter, healthier, more motivated David Beckham, who is ready for the Major League Soccer season to begin.

The Honolulu trip is part of a three-week, five-game exhibition swing that will also include stops in Seoul and Shanghai, where South Korean and Chinese teams, respectively, will provide the opposition.

Getting in some real games, even friendly matches, after a couple of weeks of physically grueling training will come as a relief, Beckham said.

“It’s always tough when you’re in preseason and you’re running every morning and every afternoon and there are no games,” he said. “We’re looking forward to going to Hawaii. It’s my first time there.

“It’s always been great when I’ve visited different parts of Asia with Real Madrid and Manchester United and also England. Every time I’ve been there the fans have been exceptional, so I’m looking forward to that as well.”

The first two weeks of Galaxy training have been an eye-opener, especially the amount of fitness work being done compared with past seasons and new dietary restrictions imposed on the players.

“There are quite a few things that have changed,” Beckham said. “We’re training mornings and afternoons, which a lot of the players have not done before. [Galaxy Coach Ruud Gullit] is working us hard, but we need it. That’s a good thing.”

Beckham’s own goal for the season is clear.

“To stay fit, to play every game possible, and to win the championship,” he said. “It’s important because last season was very disappointing. It’s up to us to put it right, and we can do because we’ve got the players.

“You’re always disappointed when you don’t win things. It was also extra-frustrating for me because I didn’t play every game, I kept on getting injuries one after the other. Physically, I’m a lot better and stronger this season, so hopefully it stays like that.”

Elsewhere in MLS news, two new stadiums have moved significantly closer to reality.

Philadelphia appears likely to be awarded an expansion team to begin play in 2010 after the Pennsylvania Legislature pledged $47 million toward the economic development of suburban Chester, including a soccer-specific stadium. City and county officials are kicking in another $30 million.

In Washington, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty has proposed using $150 million in public funds to help D.C. United build a 27,000-seat stadium on the Anacostia River as part of a $2.5-billion redevelopment project.

The Chicago Fire has reacquired Costa Rica national team striker Andy Herron after obtaining his rights from the Columbus Crew. Herron, 29, played three seasons for the Fire, scoring 15 goals, before being traded to the Crew in 2007.

The New England Revolution, the MLS runner-up the last two seasons, has signed Honduran national team midfielder Mauricio Castro, while Real Salt Lake has acquired defender Nat Borchers, who played for two seasons with the Colorado Rapids before joining Odd Grenland of Norway in 2006.

Galaxy defender Ty Harden, 23, who became a regular starter in his rookie season last year, has opted to retire. Also leaving MLS is FC Dallas defender Chris Gbandi, the league’s No. 1 draft pick in 2002. Gbandi has signed for FK Haugesund in Norway.

The Galaxy’s Gullit was thrown a curveball the other day when a reporter asked: “Have you ever heard of a man named Joe Torre? Does that mean anything to you?”

Gullit’s blank stare was answer enough. “No,” he said. “Who is that?”

Chances are, the Dodgers’ manager has never heard of Gullit, either, even though the Dutchman is – by a sizable margin – the most internationally famous coach working in Los Angeles, far ahead of Torre or even the Lakers’ Phil Jackson.

“The thing is, we don’t see so much baseball in Europe,” Gullit said. “In American football, they show the Super Bowl, of course. You see basketball, but you don’t see so much baseball.”

Being able to go unrecognized in Los Angeles is something of a novelty for Gullit, who is enjoying the privacy.

“I don’t mind so much,” he said. “I’ve been there. I’ve done it. So to be a little bit not in the spotlight is good.”

grahame.jones@latimes.com