Insuring That Fleet Must Cost a Bundle

Soccer star David Beckham and his wife, Victoria, formerly Posh of the Spice Girls, are said to be worth more than $82 million.

Among their possessions: 15 automobiles that together are worth more than $3 million, according to the Web site luxuryfashion.com.

Victoria drives a $400,000 special-edition BMW 750i Saloon. Among David’s cars is a $265,000 V8 Bentley. The couple also own a Mercedes limo valued at more than $230,000.

Beckham picked up another car because Real Madrid, the team that made Beckham more than $28 million richer, has a sponsorship deal with Audi. The car company let every player on the team pick out new wheels and Beckham chose a $90,000 A8 model and asked that it be bulletproofed.

As if he might drive it.

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Trivia time: Jon Barry signed a one-year contract with the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday. Name the six teams he has already played for.

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Energizer coach: St. Louis Ram offensive line coach Jim Hanifan, who turns 70 next month, just keeps on going. The 1951 graduate of Covina High was the head coach of the St. Louis Cardinals from 1980-85.

“At the age of 70, Jim Hanifan is still one of the best coaches in the NFL,” John Madden said on the telecast of the Rams’ exhibition game against Tampa Bay on Monday night.

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Iron men: Gary Dimkich, who owns the DeLacey Club 41 restaurant in Old Town Pasadena, and his friend John Pintarelli will stage an unusual golf tournament at San Dimas Canyon Golf Course on Sept. 12.

Participants in what is being called the “4+1 tournament” must hit every shot, including putts, with a five-iron.

There’s also something called the “Ballast Rule,” requiring players putting for par to do so while holding a drink. Note: Alcohol is not mandatory.

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Reader’s choice: Travel & Leisure Golf magazine conducted a survey in which readers were asked to name the world’s best golf resort. The U.S. winner was Pebble Beach. Second was the American Club in Kohler, Wis., near Sheboygan.

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Streaking: A year ago, when Art Howe was managing the Oakland Athletics, they began a 20-game win streak on Aug. 12.

This year, Howe’s New York Mets, who are in last place in the National League East, also began a win streak Aug. 12. But it ended at six games when the Mets lost to San Diego on Tuesday night.

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Trivia answer: Barry played for the Lakers during the 1997-98 season and has also played for Milwaukee, Golden State, Atlanta, Sacramento and Detroit during his 11-year career.

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And finally: Brian Kingman, the Oakland pitcher who was the last major leaguer to lose 20 games in a season -- he was 8-20 in 1980 -- has been having fun with it lately.

He says he’d like to retain the distinction of being “on trivia death,” even though there was nothing fun about the 1980 season.

“When I was doing it, it was a nightmare,” Kingman told ESPN Radio’s Bob Valvano. “My dream as a kid was to get to the big leagues. I guess I wasn’t specific enough.

“I should have said my dream was to get to the big leagues and be successful.”

-- Larry Stewart