4-9-2004: A cat named Ljubica

[JMU Soccer!]

Just be patient, he's only 14 (http://www.newbernsj.com/SiteProcessor.cfm?Template=/GlobalTemplates/Details.cfm&StoryID=14779&Section=Sports) - New Burn Sun Journal (Finally someone who can both sides of the issue!)

Earthquakes acquire forward Chris Brown (http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/8389749.htm) - San Jose Mercury

Heavy load for a young man (http://www.citizenet.com/sports/articles/040804/commentary1.shtml) - Faquier Citizen

Adu Plays First Pro Game (http://www.thesentinel.com/280233163856668.php) - The Sentinal, Montgomery County

Adu's challenge: Live up to star billing (http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/soccer/20040409-9999-1s9adu.html) - San Diego Union

Mayor proposes baseball stadium at RFK (http://washingtontimes.com/national/20040408-115053-7612r.htm) - Washington Times

Why Hockey's Pucked (http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4695614/) - Newsweek

Lalas suits up for new duty (http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2004/04/09/SPGDP62D1V1.DTL) - San Francisco Chronicle

Kovalenko FIned (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=296614&cc=5901) - ESPN

Ring of Fire getting hotter every game (http://www.suntimes.com/output/fire/cst-spt-fire09.html) - Chicago Sun TImes

ABC and MLS Score with HI-POD as Goal Camera for Freddy Adu Seaon Opener (http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2004/4/emw117236.htm) - E-media Wire

White returns to U.S. following mob incident in Belgrade. (http://www.soccertimes.com/americans/2004/apr08.htm) - Soccer Times

[Sachin]

From the MSNBC article:

And this past week saw the most excitement in the relatively brief history of Major League Soccer, the arrival of 14-year-old wunderkind Freddy Adu. Adu's debut with D.C. United was a sellout, attracted some 230 journalists and scored a 1.8 percent rating on ABC, 64 percent higher than last year's season kickoff and higher than the average NHL rating on the same network. A new ESPN poll indicates that 43 percent of those between ages 12 and 17 have an interest in the MLS, twice the level among Baby Boomers. And that higher number is mirrored by Hispanics, America's fastest-growing demographic.

43 percent? That's pretty astounding.

Sachin

[bert patenaude]

From the MSNBC article:



43 percent? That's pretty astounding.

Sachin

That doesn't surprise me. I see a lot of enthusiastic teenagers at Metros games. MLS must hold onto these fans.

[ShadowNC]

One thing to remember is that we now have people in their late teens who grew up with a full fledged 1st division soccer league to follow. In a few more years they'll be graduating college, entering the workforce, and hopefully have $$ to spend on season tickets and DirectKick packages.

I'm 35 and I feel so robbed that the NASL folded when it did, and that it took so long for soccer to get re-established in this country. I really envy kids growing up today that have MLS, and the Nats to follow.

[kingwho]

from adu article at citizennet.com

"I can tell you one thing, though. I’m definitely gonna pay closer attention to Major League Soccer."


i think this is one of the many reasons that freddy has already earned his salary for this year!

[okcomputer]

Thats a great point how kids in the 12-17 year old age group are the first generation that grew up with mls. Last spring, I was at my cousins high school graduation party and I was shocked to see a bunch of the kids at the party crowded around the tv watching the metros game. They knew all the players and everything. I asked them and they all told me they have followed the metros ever since they started playing soccer. It was quite a revelation and MLS must really make an effort to build on this age group.

[Mimir19]

When i look at all that money that DC is talking of throwing at baseball, i get a sick feeling in my stomach.. Am i the only one who thinks there are no more available markets for baseball in the country? How can DC think they can recoup this money??

Possibly bad news in my mind for DC's future at RFK.. What would a move to one of the nearby neighborhoods do for their attendance (Landover, College Park, etc)?

[Rickster]

Thats a great point how kids in the 12-17 year old age group are the first generation that grew up with mls. Last spring, I was at my cousins high school graduation party and I was shocked to see a bunch of the kids at the party crowded around the tv watching the metros game. They knew all the players and everything. I asked them and they all told me they have followed the metros ever since they started playing soccer. It was quite a revelation and MLS must really make an effort to build on this age group.

I have always said that the most important thing for MLS to do was to survive and convince everyone they are here to stay.

[mpruitt]

From the MSNBC article:



43 percent? That's pretty astounding.

SachinWow. Yeah it is. I know a poll is a poll is a poll but that is an incrediable number. In one of the 'When did you become a soccer fan?' threads I talked about remembering growing up with MLS in many ways because WC '94 and MLS started just about the time I began playing high school ball. Unfortunately after the first couple of years I sort of lost interest until about 2000-2001 but even having it there helped my spark. Anyways, I thought that it was extremely important to have this available so kids can emulate and dream about being a pro in America when they're on the pitch. Now that MLS is creeping into the forefront it's even more in that consciousness. I just questioned how many teenagers were actually watching. 43% of them would be an amazing number.

[Goodsport]

FREMONT - City gives costly pro soccer stadium the boot; Earthquakes to kick around other ideas in the South Bay (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/04/09/BAGHL62HSE1.DTL) - San Francisco Chronicle

[mpruitt]

Mon dieu! That frenchy saying for "you idiot!" (among other things) came to mind last Saturday. With a rare weekend off I was all settled in at 4 p.m. ready to watch 14-year-old soccer phenom Freddy Adu make his professional debut for the DC United.

Mon ADU! He wasn't going to start were some of the first words to trickle out of ABC announcer's mouth. My god! Someone actually coming up with some good writing or a good play of words when talking about Adu? Kudos to this guy.

[Rodan]

[
Kovalenko FIned (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=296614&cc=5901) - ESPN

What people don't understand is that this was just Dema's proactive way of defending Freddy. He probably didn't like the way Mullan was looking at Adu.

And I think we all know that preemptive action is the only way to go.

[purojogo]

From the MSNBC article:



43 percent? That's pretty astounding.

Sachin

Is this an internet poll? I really want the #s to be accurate, but one must be slightly skeptical as well....

[Rickster]

Sports Guy name-checks Cobi (although Stoner seems to have dropped out of the mix):

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/040409

[alf]

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/sunpub/naper/sports/n0409fire.htm

[Roxnrolls]

Thats a great point how kids in the 12-17 year old age group are the first generation that grew up with mls. Last spring, I was at my cousins high school graduation party and I was shocked to see a bunch of the kids at the party crowded around the tv watching the metros game. They knew all the players and everything. I asked them and they all told me they have followed the metros ever since they started playing soccer. It was quite a revelation and MLS must really make an effort to build on this age group.

The reason so many kids quit soccer by highschool is the lack of American teams & role models. Hopefully Freddy will change all that.