Freddy Adu

It's just something I thought about saying just within the last 10 seconds.

Is this the Freddie Adu rant again?

Well, I'm reckoning it might get us some clickbait.

So I can put that out as a clip and then people can get angry about it and message us and therefore spread the podcast.

talking about you, a soccer player.

I thought we had Freddie Adu.

Yeah,

yeah, but he ain't paying off.

He's running with him all the time.

I don't think he likes that Freddie Adu comparison, but I mean, it is, everyone kind of looks at, I mean, that you're right.

Like that's the big name that you think of when you think of like young star.

But yeah, my, my husband actually, like he interned in DC and, I think it was our senior year of college.

And he ended up in a car with, like he was doing a story on Freddie Adu and ended up riding in a car with him because, you know, Freddie couldn't drive.

He had a driver.

And so I just think it's like, anytime I hear Freddie Adu, like I just think of Eric sitting in a car, like as this college intern talking to who was supposed to be this incredible player and unfortunately never ended up Living

up to it.

So grew up casually going to games.

some of the big ones, right? When Freddie Adu signs or when David Beckham comes into the league and, you know, is playing at RFK and they fill the upper bowl too.

And so it was always sort of in my awareness.

I played soccer, you know, through high school, but I had a friend in high school who was part of the Barra Brava, you know, the supporters group.

A certain amount of appearances as a pro to qualify for a work permit to play in England.

What happened to Freddy Adu?

[laughs] Bro.

What happened to him?

No, no, no, no.

He's got a comeback coming soon.

No, no, shout out Freddy Adu, man.

Freddy, Freddy Adu's what happened when you put expectations on a player that's not ready for it, and you want the league to be bigger than what it really was.

The first touch, the dink.

Freddy Adu dink.

I mean, can't replicate this type of...

I mean, our defenders, shall we put them up front? Shall we put Calafiori and Tim- Okay, I'm taking it too far.

That's tied for the most goals ever.

plus assist this season by a teenager and to remind you he spent most of this season as a 16 year old he turned 17 last week so again you know he this is the most goal contributions in a season by a teenager and that includes guys who are 17 18 and 19 years old for full seasons he's just way way ahead of the curve in what you would expect of even the most talented players at this age Most gold contributions by 16-year-old, the record for that had stood since the mid-2000s because it was held by Freddie Adu, who had held that record previously.

Just to kind of give you a sense, if you weren't all that familiar with Kavin already, kind of the waters we are swimming in when it talks about what he's doing at the age he is doing it.

I mean, a do is the comp more than Christian Pulisic is the cop, which is really kind of insane.

He's already scored three goals for the national team, so why aren't we seeing the same excitement, media coverage, and recognition? [lips smack] What determines who becomes the next big American soccer star? Is it purely talent and performance, or is it also about marketability, commercial interest, and who fits the image that sponsors and investors want to sell? Are we promoting the best talent, or are we promoting the talent that fits the most profitable narrative?" Jermaine then gauged the reaction.

A lot of people brought up Freddy Adu to refute his thesis, and he said, "Interesting how I split the room with this one.

I never said this was a fan issue.

My point is about business and the love of the game.

More kids relate to them, more kids want to play, and more shoes and jerseys get sold.

At the end of the day, it always comes back to money.

Let's talk about Freddy Adu.

He was once the face of American soccer, heavily promoted, then quickly pushed aside.

And I think it has happened over here n- naturally.

There was a player called Freddy Adu who was, who was touted as the next Pele.

Right.

He made his professional debut at 14.