Maybe a ? is needed. Nonetheless, would be great to have another young talent within a top-notch organization over there. Zimmerman an interesting talent. Moves kindof like a vaccumm cleaner, which is not all bad (just different). Maybe he becomes our Ruud?
More teams are looking at our kids at a younger age and more seriously now. Very, very good. I can't wait to see what our YA list looks like 3 years from now. Dave M is going to be overwhelmed.
I'm really glad for this kid, at the U-17's he worked his socks off. With this type of experience he can become a good one for club and country
No. http://www.washingtonpremiersoccer.com/Zimmerman.html The above URL links to a very interesting, but long read in which Preston tells us about growing up as a youth soccer prospect and the rare heart condition that almost ended his playing career at 14. Amazing story.
Wow great find. That's a wonderful view at Zimmerman's tumultuous life so far. He seriously was on the brink of death, and was prepared to die, and has dedicated his life to soccer. A very inspiring story.
Well I hope he likes Germany better than Twellman and Donovan did -- at least professionally. On the other hand, if he escapes and becomes a player at their level, we'll be fine.
Now, Dylan would probably be allowed to gain a German residency since he's a Jew ... unless he converted to some other religion while I was writing this post. Anyhow, Bundesliga allows up to 3 non-UEFA players on the senior rosters and the citizenship requirements are 5 years, I believe. By the time the kid is ready for senior play, he could probably apply for the passport. PS. Steve Cherundolo's been there for ~ 7 years. I wonder if he's thinking of applying for one also. Up until last year, Germany's been pretty liberal for non-EU players but now EU citizenship can be a major plus.
a lot of Jews have German or Germanic names but families are not from Germany.Most European Jews spoke Yiddish a dialect of German, and many had German names even if they were from Russia or Poland ( like mine).
I am well aware of that. My point is that Germany is inviting all Jews, regardless of their origin in the last 100 - or, for that matter, 1000 - years, to settle in it. That's why many Russian Jews who had never set foot in Germany beforehand are emigrating into the country. They are given all sorts of financial assistance, immediate residency and work permits. They are allowed to apply for German citizenship after the same 5 years. PS. Yiddish is basically the 14th Century German with some Slavic words thrown in for good measure. Oy, gewalt!
Morgan Pressel, Preston Zimmerman -- Duke obviously needs to dial down the recruiting and find some people who'll actually show up on campus.
Grella will still be there, and he's quite a player. He'll be one of the best in the country next year.
Re: Dylan. Um, he was born here, in 1941; his family weren't refugees from Hitler. But his real last name was Zimmerman. <sigh> I think my joke was too clever by half.
Tied for second (with short-term Dukie Brittany Lang) in exciting finish at U.S. Women's Open, then just earned her card in Q-school (along with Lang). Currently the subject of all sorts of procedural questions since the previous LPGA administration didn't want to let her be a "real" LPGA touring pro until she turns 18 in May. Had committed to Duke a while back, but she's just too danged good at golf. Hey, I have other sports interests. And Duke's women keep winning the national title every couple of years, while Rennie last won one before I was a freshman.
You're #2 (and, of course, correct) -- I need to come up with a new one. Anyway, I can't blame Zimmerman if he goes. Kid has obvious talent, and you have to respect how hard he plays.
Grrrr... you missed my point entirely. Dylan, if currently a Jew (did you get the point about his multiple conversions?) would be eligible to become a German resident regardless of his place of birth. BTW, he is of Russian/Ukrainian/Polish heritage.
We went through this with Feilhaber. He'd only be eligible if his forebears fled the Nazis. A Jew of German descent whose people came here in 1904 can't claim German citizenship. On Bob...is he back to being a Jew now?