4-14-2004: W-2, 1099, 1098-t

[JMU Soccer!]

Next up for Adu: Big Apple Debut (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/soccer/stories/041404dnspodaviscol.a86f0.html) - Dallas Morning News

Father-and-Son Quality Time Comes to the MetroStars (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/14/sports/soccer/14SOCC.html) - NY Times

Compared to England, This is Just Kid's Stuff (http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-penner14apr14,1,7549286.column?coll=la-headlines-sports) - LA Times

With Adu on the scene, MetroStars' attacker no longer a teenage novelty (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/soccer/04/13/bc.soc.mls.metrostars.gaven.ap/) - AP

MetroStars: Waiting for Adu the right play for Pope (http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/108192576476280.xml) - New Jersey Star Ledger

Soccer vs. Baseball (http://www.forbes.com/business/2004/04/13/cz_kb_0413match.html) - Forbes (day late)

Rain no match for MLS (http://www.thevistaonline.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/04/13/407c53f3be3c0) - Vista Online (Student Journalism, but I found it informative)

His Step Back Is a Step Forward (http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-galaxy14apr14,1,1651044.story?coll=la-headlines-sports) - LA Times

Saprissa host Fire in Champions Cup semis (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/soccer/04/13/bc.la.spt.soc.concacafc.ap/) - AP

Competition for starting slots intense (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9226-2004Apr13.html) - Washington Post

[Sachin]

I like the LA Times article from Penner.

Sachin

[Woodrow]

Veteran Galaxy attacker Cobi Jones had a little advice for the 14-year-old phenom: He said Adu should decrease the attempted trickery, simplify matters and use his speed a little more.


Yeah, because that is exactly what it takes to be a great player just like you, Cobi.

If any MLS players should be giving Adu advice about how to play it should be someone like Preki. Cobi is the poster child for athletic ability overcoming minimal soccer skills. So of course he thinks Adu should rely on athleticism.

[Etienne_72772]

Yeah, because that is exactly what it takes to be a great player just like you, Cobi.

If any MLS players should be giving Adu advice about how to play it should be someone like Preki. Cobi is the poster child for athletic ability overcoming minimal soccer skills. So of course he thinks Adu should rely on athleticism.

That's funny. I read the article and copied that exact line to quote and comment on. You beat me to it. I am now anxiously awaiting Gardner's column in the next SA about the failure of American Soccer (because of it's all-hustle, lack of pizazz style) embodied in the quote from Cobi Jones. And although I find his shtick gets a little old, I would have to agree with Gardner on this one. What the sport needs now is a player that can come in and do the "trickery", as Jones puts it. People tend to cheer for that, not hustle.

[GPK]

Fire flying in the fast lane these days-Daily Southtown (http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/dssports/pro/142sd3.htm)

Game in Senn’s honor tonight-Columbus Dispatch (http://www.1460thefan.com/tf.php?story=dispatch/2004/04/14/20040414-C7-03.html)

Home sweet KC-KC Star (http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/soccer/mls/kansas_city_wizards/8424788.htm)

Magee not expecting any handouts-North Jersey Herald News (http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkxMzcmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY1MTQ1MjkmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2)

MetroStars hunger for MLS crown-NY Post (http://www.nypost.com/sports/22767.htm)

Scrimmage scourge: College players injure Revs regulars-Boston Herald (http://sports.bostonherald.com/soccer/view.bg?articleid=125)

American soccer affiliate to train youths at UMD-South Coast Standard Times (http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/04-04/04-14-04/c02sp813.htm)

Injury not weighing on Ching-Mercury News (http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/soccer/8427587.htm?1c)

Haiti to play at OB-Miami Herald (http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/soccer/8417625.htm?1c)

[purojogo]

We need more Preki/Adu/Cancela/Guevara/Martino types than we do the "Cobi" types.....

[peledre]

I like the LA Times article from Penner.

Sachin
I liked it to, except this part:
So MLS rigs it's draft, allowing Adu to stay close to home by playing for DC United, makes him the highest-paid player in the league, builds its 2004 marketing campaign around him and basks in a few early season sellouts that leave novice viewers...
"Rigs" is a pretty strong word. That would imply a situation where 9 teams suspiciously pass on Adu and DC United snaps him up in the 4th round or something like that. A league mandated trade isn't exactly fair, but the league owns all player contracts, and can legally have a say in where they could. "Rigs" implies shady dealings in backrooms and illegal activity.

And Freddy has definitely not been the centerpiece of the league marketing plan. He's been given a lot of free press, and individual teams may be using DC coming to town as a marketing tool, but I hardly call a split second cameo in the "Soccer Nation" marketing campaign being a centerpiece.

[SwissGCZ]

Críticas por la cancha: (Dave doesn't like the Estadio Nacional)
http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2004/abril/14/deportes2.html

Medford rotará a sus jugadores: (player rotation at Saprissa)
http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2004/abril/14/deportes3.html

- Bigsoccer sign-in works at La Nacion...

[kenntomasch]

I liked it to, except this part: "So MLS rigs it's draft, allowing Adu to stay close to home by playing for DC United...

Please, God, tell me someone in the Los Angeles Times didn't confuse "its" and "it's."



And Freddy has definitely not been the centerpiece of the league marketing plan. He's been given a lot of free press, and individual teams may be using DC coming to town as a marketing tool, but I hardly call a split second cameo in the "Soccer Nation" marketing campaign being a centerpiece.

"Centerpiece" is probably too strong a word, but I think you're understating it. How many other players have they done weekly teleconferences with (today is Freddy's third consecutive)? Is he on almost every banner ad you see for Soccer Saturday? Were the pop-up promos for the ABC opener of Freddy juggling or were they of Landon? Is DC United on TV an inordinate amount of times this year or not? I haven't seen the MLS Media Guide this year, so I don't know if he's on the cover or not (I hope not), but I'd have to submit that the answer lies somewhere between "centerpiece" and "split second cameo."

They've pushed him out there, and, let's be honest, there's been a lot of pulling on the other side, because somebody is requesting all of these interviews. If they tried to push Duncan Oughton out there every week or something, I doubt there'd be many takers.

I think they have gotten a little too caught up in the contact high from all the attention, and they're doing a little too much with him. Hopefully he'll continue to do good things on the field and create some highlights that all these average sports fans can appreciate, else I fear that we're only a few weeks away from the same media that's embracing Freddy now turning and falling all over each other writing articles asking, "This is the kid they're pinning their hopes on?"

And FYI on the title of the thread: Y'all do know that your taxes aren't due in by midnight tonight, they just have to be postmarked by 11:59 pm Thursday night the 15th. My tax guy told me that if you do send it tomorrow, send it certified just so you have a receipt that you actually sent it. But I sent mine tomorrow.

Then again, the title could just reflect the fact that many Americans won't actually start filling in the forms until sometime tonight. :)

[kenntomasch]

Hey, you can't edit posts here!

I meant to say I sent my taxes yesterday, not tomorrow. Sorry. Writing that big a check has fried my sense of time.

[Dave Brull]

Originally Posted by peledre
I liked it to, except this part: "So MLS rigs it's draft, allowing Adu to stay close to home by playing for DC United...

MLS can move its players legally due to the structure of the league. OK, not great but surely legal. The draft had to be rigged so it looked innocuous when Adu went to DC. Everybody who follows the league knew the 2004 draft had to have DC at the #1 pick since that is where Adu wanted to be and it would seem odd if the scenario you described took place and he went other than the #1 pick.

But, the league gave the #1 pick to a team that did not deserve it and took it from a team that did not want to give it up. If "rigged" offends you, choose a synonym of choice.

[peledre]

Please, God, tell me someone in the Los Angeles Times didn't confuse "its" and "it's."

I was on a mac, and don't know how to copy and paste on them, so I transposed and probably made the mistake.



"Centerpiece" is probably too strong a word, but I think you're understating it. How many other players have they done weekly teleconferences with (today is Freddy's third consecutive)?

They haven't done these in the past (with any frequency), simply because the demand was not there. They aren't forcing these teleconferences on anyone, simply making Adu available because of the demand for his time. It's the media that are propagating this Freddymania image, not MLS.


Is he on almost every banner ad you see for Soccer Saturday? Were the pop-up promos for the ABC opener of Freddy juggling or were they of Landon? Is DC United on TV an inordinate amount of times this year or not? I haven't seen the MLS Media Guide this year, so I don't know if he's on the cover or not (I hope not), but I'd have to submit that the answer lies somewhere between "centerpiece" and "split second cameo."

I agree.

They've pushed him out there, and, let's be honest, there's been a lot of pulling on the other side, because somebody is requesting all of these interviews. If they tried to push Duncan Oughton out there every week or something, I doubt there'd be many takers.

I wouldn't say "pushed", he's definitely had more media appearances and interviews than anyone before in MLS history. But for the most part, MLS is simply succombing to the demand, they are not actively trying to create it, pushing it to the customer (the media is doing that for them). They've capitalized on the media storm surronding the kid. That's just good business.


I think they have gotten a little too caught up in the contact high from all the attention, and they're doing a little too much with him. Hopefully he'll continue to do good things on the field and create some highlights that all these average sports fans can appreciate, else I fear that we're only a few weeks away from the same media that's embracing Freddy now turning and falling all over each other writing articles asking, "This is the kid they're pinning their hopes on?"

It is a gamble, pinning a lot of hope on the kid, but I think it's a measured gamble, and it will probably pay off in the end (attendance and TV wise it already has). Even if Adu bombs out, is MLS any worse off than it was before he came along?
[/QUOTE]

[kenntomasch]

If he bombs, I think it's a step back. Not only among the so-called "casual fans" (who are, for the most part, going to see him once and then go back to their lives), but, I think, among soccer folks.

That being said, I don't think he will bomb. I think he's a talented player who is in a good situation and who has a good head on his shoulders. I think he'll do fine, but I don't know if that'll be at Giants Stadium this week or in 2005.

And I think I mentioned that media demand was partially to thank for the many interviews and conference calls, but I think MLS has done a fair amount of pushing as well. That's what you do when you have an angle and you're a publicist. You don't just sit and wait for the phone to ring.

I haven't talked to any players yet, but I wonder if there are any experienced players who are starting to resent it just a little bit, even if they realize on the other hand that if he's as good as advertised, it helps them all in the long run.

[dawgpound2]

I haven't talked to any players yet, but I wonder if there are any experienced players who are starting to resent it just a little bit, even if they realize on the other hand that if he's as good as advertised, it helps them all in the long run.

I can confirm that Cobi was practically running outta the lockerroom after the game saying he didn't want to answer any more questions on Freddy, because he had already faced that question for three weeks!

Of course, Copbi always triess to bolt the lockerroom asap.

[uclacarlos]

I like the LA Times article from Penner.
Cool story about Penner:
He was a correspondent for the Times in France '98 and literally was enraptured by the world of futbol. He really got into it, started playing in rec leagues, making regular trips to Europe (and Latin America?) to check out derbies and key matches. My impression is that he is just waiting for that (the passion, the atmoshpere) to happen in the US as well.

He's fairly knowledgeable and represents the potential (both in the media and in the stands) that MLS/USMNT could reach one day.

So the media and general public don't care about MLS Cup. But w/ more and more big-time events ('94, '99 and '03 WCs in the US, Champions World and now Freddinho, plus 2002 WC abroad), our media is getting more and more exposure. Baby steps, baby steps.

[kenntomasch]

Maybe that's what made his throat sore.

[efren95]

I like the LA Times article from Penner.

Sachin

Republic of Texas agrees with you. Few PENS as clever as Penner's soccer articles...

[odg78]

--It's nice that those New Jersey Herald links go directly to the article without requiring editing anymore.