The best soccer player America has ever produced is Freddy Adu and he's 18 years old. When he touched the ball (which wasn't nearly often enough), the Brazilians quivered for he was their equal. (The Brazilians were all fine but the only one that struck me was the dude up front, Jo. A big dude with good skill on the ball and a cannon shot--keep an eye on that guy) He changes the other team's D, he changes their counterattack even without the ball. And it only gets better from here. The great players raise the level of everyone around them. Freddy is the godsend that USA soccer has been waiting for. Americans, now you have a reason to watch soccer. And don't worry--you won't have to follow another regular season pro league, he'll be in Europe anyway. You only have to watch when he's wearing USA on his chest which will be a precious handful of times each year. This U-20 World Cup will be his swansong on the JV circuit, he'll be a starter on the varsity team from here on out and that is a good, good thing.
Basketball fans, I implore you to encourage your pro stars to go international. All the complaints Carmelo Anthony had to endure because people out there expect him to stay true to the Denver Nuggets. Yeah, man, who'd want to represent his nation in the greatest game on earth when he's all got that sweet Nugget action waiting for him 82 times a year? Michael Redd should prefer being a Milwaukee Buck to being an American? The international game is a totally new game, one that is every bit as compelling as the home league. And, if we fuck around we'll turn into the England of basketball instead of the Brazil. (Okay, basketballers won't understand that but the footballers will)
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