# Freddy Adu: America's Youngest Pro Athelete Since 1887? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 20, 2003, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freddy-adu-americas-youngest-pro-athelete-since-1887/214244 "2003-11-20T03:26:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freddy-adu-americas-youngest-pro-athelete-since-1887/214244/1 "2003-11-20T03:26:05Z")
Freddy Adu signed a professional contract with DC United yesterday. The terms were not disclosed. He’d already signed a $1 million endorsement with Nike last summer. He’ll start with DC United in May, graduates from high school in March, and turns 15 next June. He’s far and away the most hyped young talent to ever come down the pike in American soccer. But that’s not all. He’s on Letterman tonight. It was announced today that he’ll be a sub for the US under-20s in the Youth World Championship in UAE starting November 27th. He just played for the under-17s in Helsinki this past summer, where he had mixed results, scoring a hattrick in one game against the South Koreans, but being manhandled a bit (some would say mercilessly fouled, but that’s how FIFA likes it sometimes) in the second round. It will be interesting to see if he can develop into a full-fledged superstar in a game that many Americans know little about. According to his agent he had offers from Man U, Chelsea and PSV Eindhoven. But the immigration rules that kept Bobby Convey from moving to Tottenham(?) also played into MLS’s favor, making it more attractive for him to stay home. DC United will send a player to the Dallas Burn, who had the first pick in the upcoming draft so that Adu can play in Washington near his home. Afterall, his mom would have trouble driving him to soccer practice in Dallas. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freddy-adu-americas-youngest-pro-athelete-since-1887/214244/2 "2003-11-20T07:28:54Z")
Let’s hope he can turn DC United’s fortunes around. ---
**Author:** ![UselessGit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/74df32/32.png) [@UselessGit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UselessGit)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freddy-adu-americas-youngest-pro-athelete-since-1887/214244/3 "2003-11-20T11:05:22Z")
I’m pretty sure italian serie A giants Inter Milan tried to get him when he was 12 for 750.000 pounds. Not sure about the amount, though. I’ve only seen a few clips with the kid and he looks amazing. I bet he got “manhandled” against the european defenders, he can expect a lot of that like all the great football players. If he even comes close to fulfilling his massive potential he will be a fantastic players for the next 15 years or so. I just hope all the hype doesn’t get to him, but considering what I’ve seen of him in interviews he’ll be just fine - he seems to be a very mature young man. Do you know where I can find videos of him online? I’ve been very excited (like so many others) about young Freddy for some time now but it’s rather difficult to find clips of him in action. Doesn’t Quaranta play for DC as well? ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freddy-adu-americas-youngest-pro-athelete-since-1887/214244/4 "2003-11-20T11:21:42Z")
[You’re quite right](http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/1513328.stm) , **UselessGit** I read about him a few months ago, [here’s what the BBC have on him.](http://newssearch.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/search/results.pl?scope=sportukfs&tab=sport&q=Freddy+Adu) Early days though, still. Obviously got a good agent to get himself such a profile, already. ---
**Author:** ![UselessGit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/74df32/32.png) [@UselessGit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UselessGit)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freddy-adu-americas-youngest-pro-athelete-since-1887/214244/5 "2003-11-20T11:29:05Z")
…knowing football agents, especially european ones, I’m sure they were all over him at the under 17’s in Helsinki. He could probably choose from dozens of great agents. By “great” I mean for his career, no football agent is a great human being by any standards. And no, I will not call it soccer. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freddy-adu-americas-youngest-pro-athelete-since-1887/214244/6 "2003-11-20T12:23:06Z")
Well, I prefer to call it football but that does get confusing for a lot of folks around here. Stayed up late to watch the Letterman interview. He’s got great composure especially when you consider how young he is. Dave tried fairly hard to get him to talk about how much money he was making and he just smiled and said that was his personal business. He seems very personable which should help him go far. I hope he stays that way since it could make him an incredible ambassador for the sport here. They did show at least one clip as the intro on the Late Night Show, where he went through the entire South Korean defense, juked the goalie, then tucked the ball in the empty net. It was almost as if he was playing at a different speed. They say he’s 5.8" and 140 and Letterman towered over him, so I hope that he grows a bit more. That would help him absorb some of the punishment he’s sure to receive in the major games. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freddy-adu-americas-youngest-pro-athelete-since-1887/214244/7 "2003-11-20T13:27:39Z")
Don’t forget ‘thirteen-year-old-Jennifer-Capriati’. She was certainly acting like a pro at a very young age. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freddy-adu-americas-youngest-pro-athelete-since-1887/214244/8 "2003-11-20T14:39:41Z")
Do they have “enforcers” in soccer like they have in hockey? ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freddy-adu-americas-youngest-pro-athelete-since-1887/214244/9 "2003-11-20T14:53:24Z")
What’s an enforcer, exactly? I’m curious about this kid. I believe EU labour laws prevent clubs from hiring someone this young. I seem to recall the age limit for foreign talents is 16. So, be sure to tune in again next year, and watch one of the big European clubs buy him. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freddy-adu-americas-youngest-pro-athelete-since-1887/214244/10 "2003-11-20T15:30:29Z")
Apparently, Tony Yeboah (ex Leeds) is his uncle. For whatever that’s worth. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freddy-adu-americas-youngest-pro-athelete-since-1887/214244/11 "2003-11-20T16:46:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ludovic \* > \*\*Do they have “enforcers” in soccer like they have in hockey? \*\* If it’s what it sounds like, then yes. Some of the more, er, “robust” defensive midfield players or defenders might fit that category. Not so common as in the 1970s, but not unusual. Vinny Jones springs to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freddy-adu-americas-youngest-pro-athelete-since-1887/214244/12 "2003-11-20T17:00:00Z")
Would [Mark](http://markwalker.reebok.com/) [Walker](http://slate.msn.com/id/2084027/) be considered a professional athlete? He _is_ being paid for his “athletic ability”. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freddy-adu-americas-youngest-pro-athelete-since-1887/214244/13 "2003-11-20T17:40:29Z")
**Coldfire** wrote: > [@](#): > > What’s an enforcer, exactly? From my understanding, a player that is hired for his brawling/underhanded prowess as much as his playing skill. Sometimes used to “retaliate” (in-play) against those who would harm star players. I would assume that enforcers are not common in soccer, but I do not watch either sport, so I don’t know. I’m just saying that _if_ players will have a propensity to get rough with this new player, and he is all he is cracked up to be, soccer-wise, this may be one of the times you might want your more burly players around him. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freddy-adu-americas-youngest-pro-athelete-since-1887/214244/14 "2003-11-20T19:32:13Z")
Ah! Yes, in that case Vinnie Jones fits the bill nicely. 😃 Also, for those of us who survived watching the dreadful 1996 European championships: Dieter Eiltz of Germany. He was MVP of that tournament, which was very telling, as all he did was tackle people by kicking them into two separate parts, or kick balls into the stands to break up an attack. They do exist, but thankfully they’re rare at top level. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freddy-adu-americas-youngest-pro-athelete-since-1887/214244/15 "2003-11-20T20:13:23Z")
I just hope the kid proves as good as all the hype. After all, we don’t want to see this all boil down to much Adu about nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freddy-adu-americas-youngest-pro-athelete-since-1887/214244/16 "2003-11-20T21:00:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\*I’m curious about this kid. I believe EU labour laws prevent clubs from hiring someone this young. I seem to recall the age limit for foreign talents is 16. So, be sure to tune in again next year, and watch one of the big European clubs buy him. \*\* How would they do that? Adu will bring in attendance for DC United and for MLS in general and help them establish their league in the US. So why would DC sell him? ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freddy-adu-americas-youngest-pro-athelete-since-1887/214244/17 "2003-11-20T21:10:53Z")
To cash in? Unless he brings in a lot of attendance, they may decide the money now is much more valuable than a player who - at 16 - is still unlikely to be a first team regular. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freddy-adu-americas-youngest-pro-athelete-since-1887/214244/18 "2003-11-20T21:57:33Z")
Doubtful. The team and MLS is very mindful of what Adu represents and DC United is not really in any need for a one time cash infusion. They’ve got the kid under contract for six years and will give him time to develop. Don’t look for him to book to Europe for another 4-5 years. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freddy-adu-americas-youngest-pro-athelete-since-1887/214244/19 "2003-11-20T22:46:24Z")
You may well be absolutely right. But to place your financial future on the hope that a talented 13-year-old becomes a world-beating 20-year-old may be beyond clubs in the long term. Cf. Wayne Harrison, Danny Cadamarteri, Michael Branch for examples (albeit not in Adu’s league!). ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freddy-adu-americas-youngest-pro-athelete-since-1887/214244/20 "2003-11-21T00:00:19Z")
I’ve never heard of those guys, and I don’t really follow soccer at all aside from a passing interest during the World Cup. But, to be honest, I don’t think they are placing their financial future on Adu. They just need a draw. If Adu doesn’t pan out, DC United is not really much worse off than they are before they signed him, and they aren’t on the verge of bankruptcy or anything. If Adu isn’t helping, either by drawing interest or winning games, then I could see DC selling his rights to someone in Europe, since he’s going to be heading there after his contract with DC is up anyway. So better to get something than nothing. But I don’t see it happening before Adu is 18. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freddy-adu-americas-youngest-pro-athelete-since-1887/214244.md?page=2)