# 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:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freddy-adu-americas-youngest-pro-athelete-since-1887/214244/21 "2003-11-21T00:37:34Z")
As I understand the new E.U. labor laws made it more attractive for him to stay in the USA. He does want very badly to play in the Premiership, and if he continues on this pace I’m sure he’ll get his shot in about 4 years. But one thing that US Soccer is very careful of in developing young players is making sure that they actually get to play and can fit in with the environment where they are sent. They’ve been down that road before and seem to have learned from it. ---
**Author:** ![if6was9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@if6was9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/if6was9)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freddy-adu-americas-youngest-pro-athelete-since-1887/214244/22 "2003-11-21T00:55:13Z")
Don’t get me wrong… I’m absolutely not a sports snob. I love sports and love talented newcomers. But this guy will graduate HS at 14??? Couldn’t his “talents” be better used elsewhere? Say college? And then a lab somewhere??? ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freddy-adu-americas-youngest-pro-athelete-since-1887/214244/23 "2003-11-21T01:26:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Neurotik \* > \*\*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. \*\* Wanna bet? $100 says this kid plays in Europe before he’s 18. There’s a couple of very good reasons for that. First, he WANTS to. And I’m sure all talented American players want to play in Europe or South America. I’m thrilled at the fact that football is finally growing in the US, but let’s face it, MLS cannot be compared to the Serie A or the Primera Division. FWIW, neither can the Dutch competition, which is why we lose all young talent early on, too. Secondly, the top European clubs are always looking for talent. Anywhere. Money be damned, who cares about budget deficits: if this kid is as good as he’s hyped up to be, he _will_ be bought before the end of his 6 year contract. The true way for this kid to develop is at the highest level, as soon as he can handle it. If he serves out his contract, he’ll be 20 and will still be playing for DC United. I’m sorry, but that does not constitute “the highest level”, nor will it in 6 years time. He’ll be gone long before then. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freddy-adu-americas-youngest-pro-athelete-since-1887/214244/24 "2003-11-21T02:23:17Z")
So who was the younger kid in 1887? ---
**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, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freddy-adu-americas-youngest-pro-athelete-since-1887/214244/25 "2003-11-21T03:42:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > **Wanna bet? $100 says this kid plays in Europe before he’s 18.** Maybe when he’s 17 and a half. But I promise you he’ll be in MLS for at least 3 years and I believe 4. Definitely not the full 6 years of his DC contract. When’s his birthday, anyway? That factors into the equation. Did he just turn 14 or is he almost 15? > [@](#): > > **There’s a couple of very good reasons for that. First, he WANTS to. And I’m sure all talented American players want to play in Europe or South America. I’m thrilled at the fact that football is finally growing in the US, but let’s face it, MLS cannot be compared to the Serie A or the Primera Division. FWIW, neither can the Dutch competition, which is why we lose all young talent early on, too.** I agree. > [@](#): > > **Secondly, the top European clubs are always looking for talent. Anywhere. Money be damned, who cares about budget deficits: if this kid is as good as he’s hyped up to be, he _will_ be bought before the end of his 6 year contract.** I agree with this, too. > [@](#): > > \*\*The true way for this kid to develop is at the highest level, as soon as he can handle it. If he serves out his contract, he’ll be 20 and will still be playing for DC United. I’m sorry, but that does not constitute “the highest level”, nor will it in 6 years time. He’ll be gone long before then. \*\* If long before means 2 or 3 years, then I agree. I have to go with **Shibb** , he will be in DC for at least the next 3 years. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freddy-adu-americas-youngest-pro-athelete-since-1887/214244/26 "2003-11-21T03:50:14Z")
> [@](#): > > _[Originally from CNN/SI](http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2003/soccer/11/19/adu.mls.ap/index.html)_ > When he plays his first game with D.C. United next spring, he will become youngest player for a major American team since 14-year-old Fred Chapman debuted for Philadelphia of major league baseball’s American Association in 1887, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Note that the mention about youngest pro was on a sports team, which is why the Jennifer Capriati’s and other weren’t include. When I titled this thread I was going for brevity, and some of the meaning was lost. And I’d have to go with **Coldie** on this one. I think he’ll transfer, if his skills merit, at about 17 years old. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freddy-adu-americas-youngest-pro-athelete-since-1887/214244/27 "2003-11-21T04:08:34Z")
I have exactly two things to contribute: 1. I’ve seen footage of Adu playing. He kicks hardcore ass. 2. I really fuckin’ hate MLS’s team names. WTF is a MetroStar, for God’s sake? And don’t get me started on having teams named “Fire” _and_ “Burn.” Yeesh. ---
**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 21, 2003, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freddy-adu-americas-youngest-pro-athelete-since-1887/214244/28 "2003-11-21T06:22:27Z")
[I don’t know about other European countries but he won’t be playing in the UK anytine soon](http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/tottenham_hotspur/3190155.stm) - anyone know how many international games he’s played so far ? ---
**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, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freddy-adu-americas-youngest-pro-athelete-since-1887/214244/29 "2003-11-21T12:35:47Z")
Why was his app rejected? The column doesn’t say. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freddy-adu-americas-youngest-pro-athelete-since-1887/214244.md?page=1)