Estimate Freddy Adu's value to MLS...

[Michael K.]

Originally posted by QPR Kevin H
James Milner was sixteen and 309 days on his debut for Leeds

Wayne Rooney was 16 years and 10 months when he made his debut for Everton

I think Owen was younger than both.

No one under 16 to my knowledge.

Didn't Norman Whiteside play for Northern Ireland at 15?? Or was it 16?

[bostonsoccermdl]

With all this talk about how much $$$ will be spent, on Adu, you have to look at the clubs intentions.

Is it a club that:
a) could care less about winning over the US market?

b) A Man U who is trying to tap the US market and will pay up huge for a "tiger woods" esque (potentially) character.

Call this the Beckham phenomenon. The price doesnt always reflect the skill level. If buying a national sports icon can win over the nation, expect the buyout to be well over $35M..

[Real Ray]

I think for possible impact of Adu, it may be best to look at Wayne Gretzky's career and impact.

Wayne Gretzky turned pro at the age of 17 w/ the Racers, and then was traded to the Edmonton Oilers. If Adu's talent is what everyone says it is, I think he could have a similar effect for MLS and soccer at large in the US as Wayne did with hockey.

But I think caveat (and it is a big one) is that his play has to transcend soccer-it has to have a quality, flair, and excitement that is obvious to the non-soccer fan. If it lacks that-if it is only understood by the soccer cognoscent-it won't hurt MLS, but it won't reap the rewards some might want to assume.

Either way though, it's fantastic news.

[Frank Cunha]

If today's conference was in Europe they with have Adu on a DC United shirt, and on sale,
by the time he would get on the field they would have the 3 million dollars back just on merchandise sales.

According to MSG Channel he signed for 500 thousand dollars a year

[Andy_B]

According to MSG Channel he signed for 500 thousand dollars a year

Interesting. The Boston Globe reported this morning that the deal was much less than the league max per year.

Andy

[jri]

Andy- There is no way that I believe Freddy signed for less than league max (and really much, much more) UNLESS he negotiated to keep a significant chunk (higher than normal?) of any transfer fees on a sale...

Obviously, that would make the deal back-end loaded, with Freddy assuming some risk (infitescimal?) that he doesn't pan out, transfer market horrid, blah/blah......obviously, that would be "safer" deal for MLS, (less cash outlay), but less upside too.

Barring a total collapse, I can't see how MLS will not make out very profitability on this deal, since MLS is keeping a significant portion of any transfer fee (and you KNOW there will be one)- even at paying Freddy $500k a year- which I think is more likely (than less than league minimum)....this is a stupendous deal for MLS....no brainer really

[jri]

I say positive....nothing like a little (not too much, mind you) controversy, and gives this story even another angle that sport writers, etc. can appreciate.

Freddy's story is now good enough for debate on the Sports Reporters, and at some point will be hard for them to turn down. When the fossil-heads that hate soccer are forced to talk about the sport, MLS, Freddy intelligently in sports prime time, you know some barriers are being broken down, and I don't see how he doesn't make the pick list (including this controversy) at some point..

[monster]

Threads merged. No need to discuss it in two places.

[Bonji]

I want the Adu bobblehead for sure! Just thiink of all the Adu Jerseys they will sell. What if they give him #14? It is going to be a bonanza even before they sell him abroad. He will make sports center time and time again. His highlight reels will propel MLS onto the major US sports shows. I am totally pumped!

[Bonji]

Originally posted by Andy_B
Interesting. The Boston Globe reported this morning that the deal was much less than the league max per year.

Andy

I have got to assume the Nilke deal is part of his salary, this has been done in the past. Louis Hernandez got a ton of money from sponsors as part of his MLS contract.

[Frank Cunha]

I think Adu will get number #10, they will save number 23 for David Beckham, when he sign's with MLS

[Frank Cunha]

Originally posted by jri
Andy- There is no way that I believe Freddy signed for less than league max (and really much, much more) UNLESS he negotiated to keep a significant chunk (higher than normal?) of any transfer fees on a sale...

Obviously, that would make the deal back-end loaded, with Freddy assuming some risk (infitescimal?) that he doesn't pan out, transfer market horrid, blah/blah......obviously, that would be "safer" deal for MLS, (less cash outlay), but less upside too.

Barring a total collapse, I can't see how MLS will not make out very profitability on this deal, since MLS is keeping a significant portion of any transfer fee (and you KNOW there will be one)- even at paying Freddy $500k a year- which I think is more likely (than less than league minimum)....this is a stupendous deal for MLS....no brainer really
MSG said the deal was for 3 million, didn't say if it was for 4 or 6 years.
believe ADU signed for 4 years + 2 optional years.

[Andy_B]

Andy- There is no way that I believe Freddy signed for less than league max (and really much, much more) UNLESS he negotiated to keep a significant chunk (higher than normal?) of any transfer fees on a sale...

I have no idea one way or another. I was just posting about what the Boston Globe was reporting.

Considering that MLS rarely if ever mentions money to the press, every one is probably just guessing.

Here is the article from the Globe and the part about the salary. Please note that this was the reporter who proved that the amount the Inter supposedly offered to Freddy when he was 11 was totally bogus and over blown, so that may be biasing him a bit.

http://www.boston.com/sports/articles/2003/11/19/14_year_old_adu_to_play_in_mls/

Adu's salary has not been announced, but it is believed to be far less than the league maximum of $250,000 annually.

Andy

[dark knight]

Originally posted by Andy_B
Please note that this was the reporter who proved that the amount the Inter supposedly offered to Freddy when he was 11 was totally bogus and over blown, so that may be biasing him a bit.


Did he actually prove this? I thought that he was still just going by someone else's word on it.

[FlashMan]

Of course, Wahl was reporting yesterday that Adu would be the highest paid player in the league, FWIW.

[Real Ray]

Originally posted by jri
Freddy's story is now good enough for debate on the Sports Reporters, and at some point will be hard for them to turn down. When the fossil-heads that hate soccer are forced to talk about the sport, MLS, Freddy intelligently in sports prime time, you know some barriers are being broken down, and I don't see how he doesn't make the pick list (including this controversy) at some point..

It will be talked about, but IMO it won't be quite the fodder for media debate that you note. It was talked about a bit today in NYC, and his age was the story.

As soccer is considered "outside" the US sport mainstream in the way that tennis, or some Olympic sports are, IMO the debate won't have the same intensity as it would if it were a baseball or basketball player. In Europe and SA, we have seen teens make the starting XI. Raul was signed at Atletico Madrid at 13; started at Real Madrid at 17. Beckham was first noticed at 11; signed at 14. And of course there is now Wayne Rooney. "It's a a soccer thing"-similar to the attitudes with hockey in Canada or teens in tennis. I suspect this will be the view of many in US Media. Alien.

Also what I think will hurt the debate, is that very few people in mainstream media have a good enough soccer background to frame the debate properly-as in being able to watch MLS matches and determine whether he is being brought along too fast; judging his play in the proper context, etc. With baseball, football, or basketball, there would not be that kind of ingnorance. But how many "important" US media voices can place him in the context of recent teen phenoms like Raul, Michael Owen, or Wayne Rooney? Who can measure his progress/talent? The only regular on "Sports Reporters" who I would think could articulate this with any degree of clarity and context, is Bob Ryan, who I have seen/heard speak about Manchester United, Maradona, and Zidane. And he's limited.

Certainly an exciting time but (and I know this is the ultimate "no duh!") Adu has to deliver the goods. And we should be careful about the hype. The difference in talent between Jimmy Arias and Boris Becker was not that great. But their careers...

[counterattack]

$6,542,378,117,963.18

[MikeLastort2]

Saw Freddy on Letterman last night.

He's a smart kid, and a great spokesman for the leage.

You know, soccer moms and dads all over the country are going to want their kids to "be like Freddy."

He could do for soccer what Tiger did for golf.

Wow.

[Real Ray]

I was watching the coverage yesterday, then read George Vecsey's piece this morning, and it struck that even more than the Pele comparsions re: Adu's impact, he so strikes me as a young Magic Johnson.

I went this morning and dug out some old video of Magic.

http://www.geocities.com/castmind/magic.html

http://www.geocities.com/castmind/magic.jpg

They both have the winning smile, poise and that Willie Mays joy vibe-it comes right through. Amazing for a kid that age.

[Frank Cunha]

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=ap-jimlitke&prov=ap&type=lgns