With an election season revving up and pundits endlessly debating Bush- Kerry ’04, the soccer world is ready to begin its own campaign, starting with its San Jose-D.C. United opener on Saturday. The options for a new leader for the sport are varied–from golden boy Landon Donovan to attacker Taylor Twellman–but it seems that there’s one phenom who could swing public opinion, taking the world’s favorite sport to unprecedented new heights in the United States. He’s already selling out fundraisers (er, stadiums) before his campaign even kicks off. He plays in Washington, D.C. And he’s only 14. Freddy Adu for President. –Amalie Benjamin.
Freddy Adu
D.C. UNITED — FORWARD
Everybody’s just wild about Freddy, the soccer sensation and America’s youngest professional athlete. Nike signed him to a reported $1 million endorsement deal, he appeared last week on CBS’s 60 Minutes and the league plans to showcase its prodigy in Saturday’s opener on ABC. A native of Ghana, Adu came to the United States at age eight and lives with his mother and brother in the Washington, D.C. area. Last year he played for a U.S. Under-17 national soccer team that reached the FIFA Under-17 World Cup where he scored four goals in two games. In November, 2003, he was called up to the U.S. Under-20 team and started four of five games in the FIFA World Youth Championships.
Time will tell if he becomes America’s Pele. New coach Peter Nowak, the former Fire star and team captain, cautions against raising expectations too high. Adu makes his Soldier Field debut on June 5.
RUNNING MATES:
Landon Donovan — SAN JOSE — FORWARD
When the pressure’s on, the 22-year-old Earthquakes’ star seems at his best. He scored two goals in last November’s MLS Cup title game to help sink the Fire and earn MVP honors. A two-time MLS player of the year, he’s also no slouch on the world scene either.
Taylor Twellman — NEW ENGLAND — FORWARD
A healthy Twellman, 24, should return to the form he displayed as a rookie in 2002 when he led MLS in scoring with 23 goals and 52 points. Plagued by an up-and-down season in 2003 with sinusitis, pneumonia, broken bones in his face and a broken left foot, Twellman still scored a league-high 15 goals.
Chris Armas — FIRE — MIDFIELDER
Teammate Jim Curtin voices sentiments about Armas that are shared league-wide. “He’s the best center-midfielder in the league by far. He’s the engine of our team.” The Fire captain came back from surgery to repair a torn ACL and proceeded to lead the Fire to the MLS Cup game.
Kevin Hartman — GALAXY — GOALKEEPER
The 29-year-old goalie played on a team that struggled to a 6-19-5 record last year, yet he still recorded the league’s third-best goals-against average (1.13). The previous year he had a 1.09 goals-against average as the Galaxy won the MLS Cup. Hartman is the league’s all-time goalkeeping leader (1.12 GAA).
Jack McCarthy.
– – –
KEY 2004 DATES
April 17: Fire plays hosts to Dallas to open first full Soldier Field season since 2001
May 1: Ex-Fire coach Bob Bradley returns to Chicago with rejuvenated MetroStars.
June 5: D.C. United and the would-be freshman from Ghana, 14-year-old sensation Freddy Adu, make first Soldier Field appearance.
June 19: Defending champion Earthquakes in town for MLS Cup rematch. Ralph Nader will not roll out the first ball.
July 11: Soccer doubleheader between U.S. and Polish national teams followed by Fire vs. New England only weeks before Democratic National Convention in Boston.
Late summer: Possible groundbreaking for new Fire Stadium in Bridgeview.
Sept. 25: Home game with New England could be critical match in conference championship race and playoff picture. Three weeks earlier, George W. Bush will be nominated at the Republican National Convention in New York.
