hello all... i am writing my thesis on the sociological and psychological devlopment of male athletes who turn pro at a young age (with or without any college experience). I have interviewed both former athletes and current athletes from other professional leagues in the US but don't know much of anything about who is young and successful in the MLS. So....you guys know all this so could you send me suggestions of who you think would be a good subject? I do need to interview the player (either via phone, email or in person) so please keep in mind players who you think would be willing to do it? Also, if you know a good way to get in touch with them?? I have been moderately successful so far, inteviewing Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Tyson Chandler, Francisco Rodriguez, and Paul Kariya. I would like some more athletes who grew up outside CA. Oh, and Landon...he has helped me with some research about his time in Germany before so I can use him but I would like a different perspective. Someone suggested Kyle Martino (?) can anyone suggest a good way to get in touch with him or his team?? THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!!!
Sounds like an interesting thesis. Best of luck to you. Along the lines of said thesis, might you want to interview Bobby Convey or Santino Quaranta at DC United? Both of those players turned pro in their teens, before the age of 18. And while this is a USA Men's sub-forum, maybe trying to get an interview with Mia Hamm may not be out of the realm of possibilities, either. After all, she was all of 15 when she made her international debut, and the rest, as they say, is history...
Martino was older when he turned pro. He'd been at UVA for a couple years already. Convey and Quaranta skipped college to turn pro. Alecko Eskandarian would be a good option too. Or DaMarcus Beasley. Or Justin Mapp. There are pleny of players like Martino who left college to join MLS. Check this thread for some names. https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=51285
I think it will be good to interview some of those who are not very sucessful (so far) in turning pro, e.g., Nick Downing (New England Rev). It is easy to be happy if you are success, but how they deal with the psycological part when they do not get to play the first team that much.
Send me an e-mail off line and I will give a couple of semi-direct ins to key people who might be able to help you. I think you should also interview those who turned pro early and who were NOT successful, or at least not as successful as those you've mentioned. Also, you need to interview some coaches, too. I think you should definitely contact Bob Bradley, who has been very successful, perhaps the most successful MLS coach, at not only picking young teenage players, but developing it as well. I bet he would have a interesting perspective at not only what makes such kids successful, but why some fail.
Off the top of my head, I think the most intriguing MLS interview would be Jamar Beasley. Jamar B. was the first high-schooler MLS signed (IIRC), had a rather rough stint, and eventually didn't stick, despite all his promise. At one point, he drew interest from a world famous team in Holland (Ajax), but bounced around the league, played in the Italian third division, and is currently playing in the A-League (the US second division, below MLS). His brother, on the other hand, also went pro out of high school, was voted the second-best player in the junior World Cup, has been a key figure in MLS marketing, and played an important role in the US success at the World Cup this summer. Come to think of it, that'd make a pretty interesting movie...
or Jose "Chino" Alegria with DC, for a different cultural perspective, as well as Eliseo Quintanilla if you're interested in an overseas perspective, or also Devin Barclay with DCU. And Kyle Beckerman in Colorado. Oh and Judah Cooks, now with the Syracuse Salty Dogs in the A-League (ask to speak with his brother Micah while you have him on the line). And of course John O'Brien moved from Ca to The Netherlands to train with Ajax of Amsterdam when he was like 16.