Synthetic 'Roo?

The California Supreme Court has banned the sale of soccer cleats popularized by soccer star David Beckham and other goods made from kangaroo leather.

The activists oppose kangaroo products because they say hunters mistakenly shoot endangered species. They also say abundant kangaroo species are killed cruelly -- sometimes shot during night hunting parties, and sometimes clubbed to death as babies.

The Australian government, which filed court papers siding with Adidas, said there were about 25 million of the kangaroos at issue bouncing around in 2005 -- and hunting them is sound wildlife management.

Adidas -- the biggest industrial customer of kangaroo leather -- uses the hides to make the popular Predator cleats. Beckham, who appeared in his first game for the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday, has worn Predator cleats for several years as part of his multimillion dollar endorsement deal with the company.

Last year, Beckham announced his Predator cleats would be made of synthetic leather instead of kangaroo hide.