He's Messing up MLS

Shepp Messing’s comment during the NY-RSL match on April 7 that Freddy Adu should be called “Freddy Who” until he “does something” was not only retarded, it was possibly the dumbest thing the former 3rd-rate goalkeeper and Pele jock strap holder has ever, ever said. And that is saying a lot. Messing represents the very worst of the MLS broadcasting effort, which is essentially to hire former players (i.e. Balboa, Wynalda, etc.) and then put them with hockey play-by-play guys.

Adu was signed to be a professional before he could drive and told constantly that he was the messiah of U.S. soccer. He, no doubt, got more money (and more tail) than a 14-year-old would know what to do with, and then he was thrust into the spotlight, as the poster boy for a fledgling league that needed a boost after Florida contraction, lost money and minimal press. And Adu brought that attention in a big way. They talked about him on PTI, Sportscenter, The Today Show, even on terrestrial sports (read: baseball) talk radio. He “did something” before he even played a game. He might have even saved American pro soccer before he laced up. Messing should be on his knees thanking Freddy Adu for providing him with a job.

Lest we forget, he could have fled to England or Spain and finished secondary school in a soccer-specific country, instead of hoping for some soccer-specific stadiums to play in. He chose America, chose patriotism and was rewarded with a spot on the DC bench. Oh, former DC United coach Peter Nowak played him -- mainly late in games and out of position -- and expected the small-framed finesse player to play like a big, ugly bulldozer (read: Peter Nowak, Chicago Fire ’98). I suspect Nowak was a bit jealous of the youngster, and so when Adu finally acted his age and complained, Nowak gladly played the part of the bitter teacher who takes his own failures out on his brightest students.

And bright Adu is. A spark that could light the engine of Real Salt Lake this season. Adu is still the most skillful dribbler of any American I have ever seen play in my 15+ years of watching American soccer, and he’s only 17 years old. And now he’s in a much better situation. Former U.S. youth national team coach John Ellinger gets him and understands where he should play, and mark my words, Adu will flourish this year.

As for that stupid comment from the NY Energy Drinks cheerleader…all I can say is, Shepp who?

P.S. Check out the moustache in the pic. Does he have to alert his neighbors every time he moves?