D.C. United sells out home opener

[db44]

Fourteen-year-old Freddy Adu is set to debut tomorrow afternoon for D.C. United. The game is in RFK Stadium and although they don't open the whole place for "soccer," they open a large chunk of the place.

U.S. fans are excited for this. Adu could elevate the sport at least some degree. Nike has already signed him to a major endorsement deal.

Oh, tomorrow is going to be a great footie day here in the States: MLS opens up, Adu premeires, and it all kicks off at 6 AM Eastern watching the FA Cup Semis! :D

[kev316]

I've heard about Adu. I saw an interview last week with him and he said his ambition was to play in the Premiership.

[muffins]

Whaaaaaaaat!!!!!!! 14 years old? You are kidding me right? I thought Rooney was young at 17!

[db44]

He's 14, on line to be a superstar and already a college grad to boot! Talk about a prodigy... And so far not playing today. :mad:

[glamour-gal]

14?? isn't it a way too young?!? :confused:

[muffins]

I think it's too young. Aside from the emotional part of it with pressure etc. there's the physical side too. OK, it's not exactly rugby but it's still physical and there is such a thing as playing too much. At 14 he must still be growing.

[glamour-gal]

exactly!!!
14 is just too young!!

i can't remember his name, but there's a lil kid from the states, who playes basketball and who got signed with reebok.

isn't that insane?! :eek: i mean this lil boy's just about 5 years old!!

[db44]

The problem is though there's no where else in the U.S. for him to play. He's so ahead of his peers; he's done with high school and college, so he's inelligable to play in either league. The U.S. doesn't have the same youth league clubs that Europe has, so that's not an option. They want to keep him in the U.S. for now for reasons such as to promote the sport here and hopefully make it somewhat competitive as a business/spectator sport to the "big four" in the States (baseball, football, basketball, hockey).

One day he will play in the EPL. That is his goal and I think he will achieve it. But until then, they want him to make a name for himself and the sport here, and the only way to do that is in the MLS.

[glamour-gal]

well, i'm sure it might be a good representation and introduction to the americans, who aren't so familar with soccer.
however i still believe this 14 year old boy might have trouble to deal with so much attention and pressure!!

[db44]

Yet you are a regular in the Backstreet Boys Forum. Wasn't Nick about 14 when they first signed with Jive? 17 when the first album came out?

[glamour-gal]

Originally posted by db44
Yet you are a regular in the Backstreet Boys Forum. Wasn't Nick about 14 when they first signed with Jive? 17 when the first album came out?



:eek: i don't know about bsb and nick?! i'm not using the bsb forum, only a certain thread there, where it's not about bsb!!!!!

however, it's just my opinion.
no one else has to agree!!

[db44]

When I did a search, you seemed quite a regular there, hence the reason I connected you to them.

The arguement can be made though. If Adu can't handle it, why do we have forums here for bands that were child performers (or still are)?

[muffins]

To be famous that young it requires a certain strength of character and a good family to stay grounded and able to handle it all. I hope Adu can handle it and good luck to him but I'm pretty sure I've heard managers say that playing too young at the top level could harm the person physically. I'm no doctor so I couldn't be sure. The kid must have amazing talent to be picked at such a young age. Has anyone seen him play?

[db44]

Well, Adu is coming into the station I work at today. I'm looking forward to it.

[muffins]

Ooooh, cool. You'll have to tell us all about it hehe. :)

[glamour-gal]

yeah!!!!!
how was it then????

[db44]

It was good. Adu is something.

After meeting him and now hearing people rumble that he's not really 14, I can kind of understand that. As a part-time teacher, I've met only a handful of kids who would look as past his age as he does. But it is possible that he really is 14.

Honestly, so long as he doesn't break any rules playing in U-17/U-20, etc. competitions, I don't care too much.

On Satuday I got to see him play... And notch his first professional goal! :D

[glamour-gal]

oh, you've to tell us then how well he did in the match!!