This is replayed in three hours, so check your local listings (if you're still awake). Cliff's Notes Version: This is CNN's major nightly newscast, for those of you who watch other networks. About 40 minutes in, they spent 4 or 5 minutes on Freddy and his contract. They had his agent on as a guest, and Aaron Brown asked him a 6 or 7 questions, mostly softball in nature. The agent (forgot his name - sorry) didn't handle himself very well. Especially considering how soft the questions were, his responses left a lot to be desired. After watching Outside the Lines, I think Freddy would have represented himself much better, and it's pretty bad when you make your living representing people and a 13 year old puts on a better interview . . . Anyway - glad to see the coverage, but in the future I'd like to see Freddy doing these types of pieces. Hell, 80% of us would have been able to come up with better soundbites then that guy.
Both Freddy and Convey were great in the ESPN piece. They'll both be big stars and it will help a lot that they make good interviews. Now we just need the news that Freddy has signed with MLS to get a lot more buzz on him and the league in the mainstream media. He seems like the kind of kid that can handle it well, so far (hopeful guess).
I think the U-17s are on their way to Korea. Not sure if the plane has left. EDIT: They left late last night.
A little aside about Freddy and the media... Kornheiser and the Duke were just talking about Benito Santiago - and how he's having a great season, even though he's older than dirt. Tony then says, "that guy looks older than Freddy Adu" Nice line
Isn't his agent Richard Motzkin, same as Donovan? I know he signed with the same agency, but I may be wrong on the specific agent.
Not to excuse his inability to handle softball questions, BUT... players deal with the media all the time, agents are "back-room" folks and rarely show up on TV or radio. The skills needed to negogiate a great deal for your client are not the same as the skills required for live national TV interviews. If Adu were to get a publicist, or if his agent's firm is big enough to have a media relations person, you would expect them to be very comfortable on camera.