TexasHSFootball
04-01-2004, 12:37 PM
Freddy Adu is basically being dubbed as the Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods of American soccer and could possibly be the greatest American soccer player to ever play the game. Just out of curiousity, I am going to watch this kid play on Saturday. Below is a link to Freddy Adu's profile and a preview of Saturday's match up which features Adu. I know soccer is soccer is soccer but will you watch?
Freddy Adu Profile (http://www.dcunited.com/index.cfm?section=team&cont_id=player&personnel_id=1478&roster_id=15)
Saturday at 3:00pm on ABC
San Jose Earthquakes (0-0-0) vs DC United (0-0-0)
14-year old phenom begins professional career Saturday
Although the San Jose Earthquakes are the defending MLS Cup champions, they won't be the main story in the league's 2004 opener.
Major League Soccer's ninth season begins with Freddy Adu, the 14-year-old soon-to-be high school graduate from Ghana, making his debut for D.C. United when it hosts San Jose.
Adu, selected by United as the first pick in January's MLS draft, was a high school All-American as a freshman and attended the U.S. under-14 boys' national team camp in 2001.
He began playing for the U.S. under-17 team last year at 13, scoring 22 goals in 2002 and a team-leading 29 goals in 46 games in 2003.
He led the U.S. team to the quarterfinals of the under-17 world championships in Finland in August, scoring three goals in the opener and the winner in the second game.
Several top European teams were interested in Adu, including Manchester United, Chelsea and PSV Eindhoven. But European soccer's complicated rules probably would have limited him to a youth team rather than a top club until 2007, when he turns 18.
Adu will be the youngest major American team sports player in more than 100 years. His $500,000 salary is the highest in the league, he's got a $1 million endorsement deal from Nike, and he's already completed his school work and will get his diploma on May 21.
He is expected to help pump up a league that struggles to get fans to pay attention during the regular season.
"I'm not here to be the savior of American soccer,'' Adu said.
But there are a lot of people who want him to be.
"It's a lot of pressure, of course,'' said D.C. coach Peter Nowak, who has yet to announce whether Adu will start or enter as a second-half substitute in Saturday's opener. "But Freddy is very smart, and he understands what his role is on this team. I'm not concerned about this pressure because he knows what to do to make himself better and help the team win.''
Adu will be counted on to score because United's leading scorer from a year ago, Marco Etcheverry, is no longer with the team. He had a team high-tying six goals last season for a D.C. club that scored an Eastern Conference-low 38.
San Jose had the second-most points in the league last season, and went on to defeat the Chicago Fire 4-2 in the MLS Cup in November.
The Earthquakes have their own young star in Landon Donovan, who had 12 goals and 30 points during the 2003 regular season. The 22-year-old forward had four goals -- two in the MLS Cup -- and 10 points in four playoff matches.
San Jose has a new coach, promoted assistant Dominic Kinnear, but the pressure of opening as defending champions is eased somewhat in its first game -- because it happens to be Adu's debut.
"Our job is to try to avoid the media and try to concentrate on the 90 minutes on Saturday,'' Kinnear said. "We do know that Freddy Adu is a very talented player and will be highlighted.''
2003 STANDINGS: Earthquakes - 51 points, 1st place, Western Conference. United - 39 points, 4th place, 14 PB, Eastern Conference.
2003 TEAM LEADERS: Earthquakes - Donovan, 12 goals and 30 points; Brian Mullan, 9 assists. United - Etcheverry and Dema Kovalenko, 6 goals; Etcheverry and Ben Olsen, 7 assists; Etcheverry, 19 points.
GOALKEEPERS: Earthquakes - Pat Onstad (14-5-8, 9 SO, 1.04 GAA); Jon Conway (0-2-1, 1, 1.93). United - Nick Rimando (10-9-6, 7, 1.13); Doug Warren (0-2-2, 1.34).
2003 SEASON SERIES: Earthquakes, 2-1.
LAST MEETING: Sept. 13; United, 2-1. At Washington, Jamil Walker the game at 1-1 in the 80th minute for the Earthquakes, but Olsen scored the winner about a minute later on a shot from 22 yards out that slipped inside the left post just beyond Onstad's reach.
Freddy Adu Profile (http://www.dcunited.com/index.cfm?section=team&cont_id=player&personnel_id=1478&roster_id=15)
Saturday at 3:00pm on ABC
San Jose Earthquakes (0-0-0) vs DC United (0-0-0)
14-year old phenom begins professional career Saturday
Although the San Jose Earthquakes are the defending MLS Cup champions, they won't be the main story in the league's 2004 opener.
Major League Soccer's ninth season begins with Freddy Adu, the 14-year-old soon-to-be high school graduate from Ghana, making his debut for D.C. United when it hosts San Jose.
Adu, selected by United as the first pick in January's MLS draft, was a high school All-American as a freshman and attended the U.S. under-14 boys' national team camp in 2001.
He began playing for the U.S. under-17 team last year at 13, scoring 22 goals in 2002 and a team-leading 29 goals in 46 games in 2003.
He led the U.S. team to the quarterfinals of the under-17 world championships in Finland in August, scoring three goals in the opener and the winner in the second game.
Several top European teams were interested in Adu, including Manchester United, Chelsea and PSV Eindhoven. But European soccer's complicated rules probably would have limited him to a youth team rather than a top club until 2007, when he turns 18.
Adu will be the youngest major American team sports player in more than 100 years. His $500,000 salary is the highest in the league, he's got a $1 million endorsement deal from Nike, and he's already completed his school work and will get his diploma on May 21.
He is expected to help pump up a league that struggles to get fans to pay attention during the regular season.
"I'm not here to be the savior of American soccer,'' Adu said.
But there are a lot of people who want him to be.
"It's a lot of pressure, of course,'' said D.C. coach Peter Nowak, who has yet to announce whether Adu will start or enter as a second-half substitute in Saturday's opener. "But Freddy is very smart, and he understands what his role is on this team. I'm not concerned about this pressure because he knows what to do to make himself better and help the team win.''
Adu will be counted on to score because United's leading scorer from a year ago, Marco Etcheverry, is no longer with the team. He had a team high-tying six goals last season for a D.C. club that scored an Eastern Conference-low 38.
San Jose had the second-most points in the league last season, and went on to defeat the Chicago Fire 4-2 in the MLS Cup in November.
The Earthquakes have their own young star in Landon Donovan, who had 12 goals and 30 points during the 2003 regular season. The 22-year-old forward had four goals -- two in the MLS Cup -- and 10 points in four playoff matches.
San Jose has a new coach, promoted assistant Dominic Kinnear, but the pressure of opening as defending champions is eased somewhat in its first game -- because it happens to be Adu's debut.
"Our job is to try to avoid the media and try to concentrate on the 90 minutes on Saturday,'' Kinnear said. "We do know that Freddy Adu is a very talented player and will be highlighted.''
2003 STANDINGS: Earthquakes - 51 points, 1st place, Western Conference. United - 39 points, 4th place, 14 PB, Eastern Conference.
2003 TEAM LEADERS: Earthquakes - Donovan, 12 goals and 30 points; Brian Mullan, 9 assists. United - Etcheverry and Dema Kovalenko, 6 goals; Etcheverry and Ben Olsen, 7 assists; Etcheverry, 19 points.
GOALKEEPERS: Earthquakes - Pat Onstad (14-5-8, 9 SO, 1.04 GAA); Jon Conway (0-2-1, 1, 1.93). United - Nick Rimando (10-9-6, 7, 1.13); Doug Warren (0-2-2, 1.34).
2003 SEASON SERIES: Earthquakes, 2-1.
LAST MEETING: Sept. 13; United, 2-1. At Washington, Jamil Walker the game at 1-1 in the 80th minute for the Earthquakes, but Olsen scored the winner about a minute later on a shot from 22 yards out that slipped inside the left post just beyond Onstad's reach.