Freddy Adu: Just Going Out To Play NEW YORK, March 25, 2004 (CBS) He is the youngest team professional athlete in over a century. He is the smallest guy on the field, but also the one with the biggest paycheck. And even people rooting for him say he’s going to be a huge target for opponents when he plays his first regular professional soccer game with Washington’s D.C. United team next week. But the diminutive adolescent tells Lesley Stahl he can handle the pressure, in an interview to be broadcast on 60 Minutes Sunday, March 28, 7 p.m. ET/PT. "I know it’s not going to be easy," says Adu. "They’re like, 'Why is this kid making more money than me? (He) hasn’t even played the game yet.' But you know what? I don’t have to prove myself to any of those guys that I’m better than them. I’m just going to go out and play." Playing well speaks the loudest, says Adu, who has received his share of rough treatment. He recalls his best moment on the field in a tie game against Sierra Leone, playing for the U.S.A. under-17 squad. "I mean, they’re hacking me, beating me up all over the field. One of my teammates, Jamie Watson, flicks the ball to me. I run by the defender, I take out the goalie and score," he tells Stahl. "When teams are abusing you like that, the greatest thing to do is just score on them. That was the greatest feeling." Some doubt that Adu is being honest about his age. His skills often are compared to those of Pele, and he possesses a remarkable confidence that belies his 14 years. "It used to bug me a lot…you’re telling me that my family's lying about my age and we're trying to really cheat," says Adu. "What do I have to cheat for? I’ve always been playing against people older than me." Despite the big money, including endorsement deals with Nike and Pepsi, and the calm demeanor, Adu is still a kid, and a very lucky one. "I just love it so much…when I’m out there on the field," he says. "I’m just having so much fun. [I am being paid] to have fun, yeah. I mean, I couldn’t ask for a better life, man."
60 Minutes was a really good piece for the non-soccer audience. Mots of us know all the details about his life. Ben Olsen and Bruce Arena quotes are quite telling. Arena basically saying he doesn't want to rush Adu, fearing Adu could lose confidence if hurried too quickly into the full national scene. I suspect Arena has a schedule for Adu, one cautious step at a time. Let Adu slowly get exposed to a higher level, and once he proves himself, take the next step.
Right. Expect the Adu schedule to mirror the DaMarcus Beasley development arc. Two seasons of MLS before the WC, invitations to camp and qualifers at the end of qualifying, a game or two (ideally when we are already in), Gold Cup, camps, and friendlies in the runup to Germany, on the announced roster in June '06. Barring injury or a real collapse in form, it says here you can book his ticket now.
Arena rarely reveals what is plan is. He has a method to his madness. He experiments and puts certain players in situations to see how they react to it. The idea of winning a friendly at the cost of learning how certain tactics or player combinations thrive is foreign to him. It's all about what begins in June and preparing for it. Looking towards June 2006, Freddy Adu coming off the bench at the 65 minute mark, would be the role I'd predict for Freddy. Now, if Freddy goes out and gets 30 goals this year in MLS and 40 the next, well, that role, could easily change!!