Adu Back in Spotlight
Why make Freddy Adu an All-Star?
Why not?
After all, the game is an exhibition played for fun, and that’s why the 15-year-old rookie, who has started only seven games and scored only two goals for D.C. United, was a special pick by Commissioner Don Garber to play for the Eastern Conference in today’s Major League Soccer All-Star game at RFK Stadium in Washington.
“With Freddy, we recognize with these games that it’s part about competition, it’s part about celebration -- and it’s also about fun,” Garber said. “People want to see Freddy.”
Never mind that a chance to see established stars such as Carlos Ruiz, Landon Donovan, Eddie Pope and Jaime Moreno all on the field at the same time is always a treat. Or that 1994 U.S. World Cup stars John Harkes, Alexi Lalas and Cobi Jones will be featured in a preliminary game.
The fact is that no one has had the type of immediate impact on the league as the teenager who earns a league-high $500,000.
“You have guys who have better years, but maybe don’t have the name that other players have,” veteran defender Jeff Agoos said. “You see that in every sport. I think soccer’s the same way. But to be 15 and just to be able to step on the field, look like you belong and that you can play is quite an achievement.”
Adu might be the best gimmick yet in the league’s attempts to draw attention to its midseason showcase game. Different formats have been tried over the years -- East vs. West, MLS vs. U.S. national team, U.S. vs. world -- with last year’s game featuring MLS stars against 10-time Mexican league champion Chivas of Guadalajara.
This year, the MLS stars were going to play Spanish club Real Madrid -- featuring superstar David Beckham -- but Real pulled out after a disappointing season, so the format again will be East vs. West.
Quick Passes
Brazilian striker Carlos Alberto scored in the 85th minute to earn European champion FC Porto a 1-0 victory over Liverpool in a ChampionsWorld Series exhibition at Toronto.... Scottish team Celtic completed the loan signing of Senegal international striker Henri Camara from Wolves in England.... Nigerian striker Kanu signed a three-year contract with newly promoted West Bromwich Albion in the English Premier League, leaving Arsenal on a free transfer.... Luis Fernando Suarez of Colombia replaced countryman Hernan Gomez to become national-team coach for Ecuador, the country’s soccer federation said.... Former VfB Stuttgart and Vienna coach Joachim Loew was named an assistant to Germany Coach Juergen Klinsmann. Loew joins Oliver Bierhoff as the second hire to Klinsmann’s staff.... Host China advanced to the semifinals of the Asian Cup with a 3-0 victory over Iraq at Beijing. In another quarterfinal, Bahrain beat Uzbekistan, 4-3, on penalty kicks after the teams had tied 2-2 at Chengdu, China.
