It’s obvious to observers of the beautiful game in the US that Freddy Adu wasted too much time screwing around in the MLS and finger banging JoJo. He should have gone to an Italian, Dutch or French soccer academy where he could have developed his game at a top level as opposed to starring in a league that doesn’t do anything for players of his age and raw, undeveloped skill.
Adu’s been unable to secure a starting place in Portugal or France let alone regular playing time. Could this be the end of the boy wonder? Four Four Two takes a look at the premature demise of Freddy Adu.
Take Giuseppe Rossi of Villareal. Not only does he start for a La Liga (Spain) team but he’s also made his way onto the Italian national team. No small feat for a kid from Teaneck, New Jersey. His parents sent him to Italy in his teens and the results speak for themselves.
Adu’s not finished yet but he needs to establish himself somewhere and fast as opportunity is quickly passing him by. If his run of poor form and bad luck continues, he won’t even be able to bag a Kardashian. It’s not all bad. He’ll always have Ja Rule.
The last thing I remember about Bolivia is eating an Argentinian steak in Santa Cruz and not being able to taste it due to some type of flu-like sickness I picked up in Chile. For all I know, it could have been a horse or a homeless Quechua man. I’m pretty sure it was one of the two. All I know is that I was robbed of what should have been a great culinary experience. What’s this have to do with 12 year old kids starting in the Bolivian professional soccer league? Nothing.
12 year old Mauricio Baldivieso came on as a substitute for Aurora in a Clausura championship match against La Paz last weekend. His father, also Aurora’s manager, put him on with seven minutes left in the match. How did he do?
Freddy Adu spits in Mauricio’s general direction. At least he has passing back and rolling on the ground like an Italian down to a science. In case you were wondering, he was crying as he rolled on the ground. Anyone can see that challenge wouldn’t have done much to a grown player although they might have eaten it up a bit. Dad needs to chill on pushing his kid into the big time. There’s plenty of time if he’s any good. In the meantime, somebody give us some steaks. Enough with these Gatorade and sports drink offers. Give us something good.
Unquestionably, Freddy Adu had a great Under-20 World Cup. He was one of the reasons the US advanced to the quarterfinals along with several other US players like Altidore, Zizzo and Seitz. Does this mean he’s on his way out of purgatory and back on the path to potential European success? It may if Celtic have anything to say about it.
Adu’s agent claims that Celtic representatives are coming to the US to discuss a possible move to Parkhead. European club interest has increased after his performance in the World Cup.
Adu claims that he’s finally playing his proper position and that’s why he blew up in Canada. I won’t speculate on that or whether success at the under-20 level will result in success overseas but I will say that if he has an opportunity to move abroad, he needs to do it now before he turns into a “should have been”. The proper training and competition will allow him and everyone else to see whether he is a wunderkind. We don’t think so but then again he doesn’t have to be a star. No one would call Brian McBride or Brad Friedel superstars but their European experience has made them better players, invaluable members of their respective club teams and better contributors to the USMNT.
There has to be a better name for the senior team. Actually US Soccer should replace the senior team with the under-20 team. There was more heart and creativity than I’ve ever seen at the senior level besides 2002. You watch that, Landycakes?
P.S. There is a rumor that Nigeria international Jay Jay Okocha could be moving to Real Salt Lake. I haven’t seen any confirmation of this but it would be a great pickup for them. If he’s willing to move to Qatar, he’ll move to SLC. Talk about two extremes. No thanks to both places.
It’s always tragic when a child turns his or her back on a parent or when the student becomes the teacher and stabs the teacher in the back. First jazz moves from New Orleans to Utah and now its fans are being accused of racially insulting black players.
Stephen Jackson and Jason Richardson alleged that Jazz fans yelled racial insults at them during their Game 2 loss to the Jazz in Salt Lake City. KUTV in Salt Lake City reported on the story and got reactions from Jazz fans. Most vehemently denied that it could have happened with the overwhelming opinion being that Jazz fans aren’t racist and the Warriors were just mad that they were down in the series.
“I like Bryant Gumbel and that nice negro boy from Whose Line Is It Anyway.”
Now we don’t know what happened because we weren’t there but how can one state that nothing happened if one wasn’t witness to said incident? Then again we shouldn’t be surprised to hear Jazz fans claim they aren’t racist. They’ve enough bad publicity as it is. First the Mormons use Mitt Romney to pick a fight with Rev. Al Sharpton and then white golf balls attack Real Salt Lake ex-wunderkid Freddy Adu on the gold course.
