I know, I know, it's not the classiest move to wish ill to a 14-year-old boy, but my intense lifelong hatred of hype is overcoming my generally decent moral character. Sure the league stands to gain if he develops, and the US nats stand to gain if he develops, and the game in this country stands to gain if he develops, but I just can't take the hype any more. I just think it would be the ultimate comic opera if this kid fell flat on his face. Imagine the endless, multi-directional recriminations, because after all, the totally idiotic and unrealistic expectations held by many on these boards couldn't possibly be off-base, right? It would have to be the coaches fault, or the club's fault, or the league's fault, or the country's fault, or anyone else's fault. Think of all the desperate spasms of fault-finding over how "the next Pele" could have been allowed to fail. The gnashing of teeth around here would make our current standard of hype and hyberbole seem like an accountant's convention. Just a daydream.
nope. i'm not hoping for that, and it has nothing to do with me being a DC fan. we are at too precarious a time in MLS history to have to deal with our first homegrown bust. if he were playing for another team, i would say the same thing. my love of the sport, and my desire to see the sport grow in the US would still override my dislike of the hype. once the league is more established and the fan base more secure, my answer would be different in many of these cases ....... but not here, and not now. most of your first 2 paragraphs said it all.
What hype has there been lately? I haven't seen a word, except for here on BigSoccer, which is mostly a bunch of immature jibberish anyway (self included). Of course, that doesn't mean the hype machine won't hit full throttle come spring, at least as far as soccer hype can go. I actually am petrified he'll crash and burn, and everyone within a 1000 miles of him will have bigtime egg on their faces. I'm rootin' for the kid from the get go.
I'm trying very hard not to tear Jambon a new one, but Adu didnt get hype for no reason. He was a leading scorer on the U-17's as a 14 year old, & scored 2 goals in the U-17 clash with the MLS chicago fire as a 13 year old- breaking the ankles of several defenders in the process. Just watching the highlight reel goals Adu puts up as a 13 year old show how special he is. Adu is NOT gonna be a bust.
We'll blame you and come stalk you if Adu doesn't pan out. Sheesh, you obviously spend too much time on BigSoccer. There really isn't much Adu hype anywhere in the U.S. - very minor compared to LeBron or Tiger, for instance. It's just that here on BigSoccer every tidbit is snatched and gazed at under a magnifying glass. Plus, people feel compelled to compensate for the lack of hype by writing their own here - every tidbit of Freddy news. You might be the personality who doesn't mind losing as long as no one else wins - who secretly doesn't want the guy to get the girl, who prefers Shakespeare's tragedies to the comedies simply because the ending is gory or sad as opposed to happy. You forgive the traffic if the glimpse of the scene of the accident is satisfyingly disgusting, who gets a kick out of the fall from glory of athletes and celebrities, who longs to knock all heroes of their pedestals, because, ultimately, you don't want anyone to have it better than you - you'd rather say, "Huh, I knew all along it was hype." Just a guess. Or you could just be a bitter Dallas Burn fan, twisted into sick thoughts because of the monumental losses and the idea that Freddy has spurned the team by wanting to stay close to home. Whatever the case, I think your fantasies of Adu's failure and your joy in this concept says much more about you than about any hype about the boy. Most of us know very well - he's a kid. A great kid, talented and personable, but only 14. We wish him the best.
My only hope is that DC and Nowak have the guts to not throw the kid out there as a starter this year.
Um, no. Geez, this kid's the feel good story of the year; not only is he an amazingly promising athlete, he comes across as being mature far beyond his years. Raised by a single mom. Recent immigrant. Grow a heart jambon.
You know, I've felt this way about LeBron James. He is just begging to have the universe throw him a curve ball. But Freddy Adu? I think this hype is very good for the league. Anything, other than hooliganism, that gets more soccer in the news is a good thing. Beyond that, the hype has been pretty muted compared to other young phenoms.
I only hope he fails to get a drivers license for another 2 years, meaning that he really is only 14.
What a great post. You have single-handedly restored credibility to fans of the US national team. Well, not quite. But good stuff anyway.
Why would anyone want Adu to fail?!?! That's terrible for the sport. As bad as the fools who thought the WUSA going under would be good for MLS. WAKEUP!!! Soccer is lumped together as it should be in the USA, by ignorant sports media. Thugs, soccer moms, Adu, Hamm, etc. A hit for anyone is a black eye for the entire sport in the USA. Idiot.
i'd like to see adu excel but i don't think the future of the sport, professionally or internationally rides entirely on his shoulders. i think mls and us soccer would survive even if he doesn't develop to everyone's expectations.
Um, no I just hope he doesn't get hurt, that he doesn't get rushed out there, and that he doesn't beat the Rapids too often.
You're problem isn't with Freddy Adu, it's with US sawker fans. And judging by a few of the nutty personal attacks, I don't blame you. You want the fans to eat crow, get dropped off a cliff, hung, public stoning, something like that. I recommend you do this. Say: "F*** US fans", and be on with your life and enjoying the sport in America. That might include taking a little break from Bigsoccer. So relax. In reality the majority of the country (and others) doesn't even care about Freddy Adu or MLS. I'm rootin' for him to do well - he seems like a very good kid and a likeable person. Heh, sorta interesting... if a black dude happens to be the best footballer the US ever produced.
Originally posted by Alex_1 Heh, sorta interesting... if a black dude happens to be the best footballer the US ever produced. https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8047&perpage=15&pagenumber=1
Sorry, but LeBron has lived up to every single bit of the hype he had. He is extremely good, and watching him now after watching him at the beginning of the year....let's just say he's gonna be somethin special. As for wishing ill upon Adu....hell no. *#*#*#*# you jambon.
Last time I checked I had no sense of humor. But, wanting Freddie to fail because of the hype is like wanting the US to lose the war on terrorism because you don't like W.
the more accurate analogy would be you want the US to win the war on terrorism because you're sick of seeing and hearing about it on the news all the time. i dont see what the big deal is. he said 'guiltily' he admitted it was probably wrong, and everyone just personally attacks him. the league doesn't live or die around freddie. if he fails (which he wont, i'm guessing) the mls wont collapse. i think it's that sort of thinking that's precisely what people are sick of.
Re: Re: Anyone else guiltily hoping Adu is a bust? pretty funny thread.But that toot guy is demented.Is he Mexican?
Whatever...you are an idiot. Given the situation/hardship his family has come through to make in the US. Good for him... Adu hit the BIG LOTTO winning ticket. Hell...he deserves to get paid if EVERYONE will make money of him a la Tiger Woods...They said your same BS about him too... Oh I'm sure when you saw he was making 500K ...a 14-year old from Ghana...was making 500k over our beloved "All-american-whatever" college kids from Indy U or from the rural areas of Pennsylvania probably is at the root of your disdain. What a prejudice notion you have. I'm sure when all the hype was around Landon Donovan coming to play for MLS from germany or starting for the Olympic team when Charles wouldn't play you didn't put up this BS Thread! It was oohhhh...Landon is god...oh Landon is the savior to american soccer... You full of it ...in a Facist/"good 'ol boy" kinda way...