Freddy Adu knows where the action is.The 18 year-old soccer phenom had his wish to play in Europe granted two weeks ago, when he was transferred to the Portuguese team Benfica. Today he made his debut to the applause of 55,000, or roughly the number of soccer fans in the entire United States.
After several frustrating years in the lackluster MLS, Adu had had enough. It seems that Adu isn't the only young American soccer star that feels that way. (And yes, I know that Adu was born in Ghana).
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Galaxy have signed aging European soccer star David Beckham to a contract projected at $250 million in salary and endorsements over five years. Since arriving on U.S. soil, Beckham has sold jerseys and sold out stadiums, but he's only played eight minutes.
That's hype, not substance, and hype without substance tends to fade pretty rapidly.
Thousands of soccer moms waste millions of dollars every year driving Chase and Bridgette to practices and tournaments in their Ford Excursions, but at a professional level, soccer is in big trouble.
Young, talented guys like Adu that lose interest in playing here represent a major wound to the sport, and the import of a big name, tired game guy like Beckham is just a Band Aid.
Problem is, the Band Aid won't stick long, and U.S. soccer will remain irrelevant.
1 comment:
I don't see Adu leaving as a "major blow to the sport." Its not so much that the MLS is bad, but they just can't offer A (the best competition) and B (competitive wages). Most of the U.S. national team plays overseas. If he goes to Portugal and is successful, that is great for American soccer and gives it a much higher profile.
It's like Dirk Nowitzki. He is a much bigger star in Germany because he went to the NBA and made a name for himself, rather than staying in Germany.
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