Who is the youngest athlete in professional soccer? Mr. Freddy Adu. At the age of fourteen, he is the youngest player to play in a professional soccer league. There are a number of benefits by being the youngest player to play professional soccer: a contract with Nike, playing for the DC United team and receiving much media exposure. Many people disagree with his decision and say that he is too young to play professional soccer and should finish his high school education and wait until his body and mind has physically and emotionally matured.
Think about being able to make one million dollars at the age of fourteen. Freddy Adu has already achieved that. Freddy signed to do a one million dollar endorsement deal with Nike. In the article I read, Freddy compares himself to another young rookie, Lebron James. “We are in the same situation except I am not making ninety million dollars” said Freddy (60 minutes). Also, during the same interview, he said, “to keep his contract and reviews up he will need to play with intensity to help his team win, and make himself a better player.”
Freddy was offered the opportunity to play professional soccer and play for the United State’s U-20 men’s National team. Freddy signed with DC United to take the place of an injured player. In addition to that contract, on November 19,2003 he was named to the United States National team. His two goals while he plays for the national team are: to finish high school in the spring and get the opportunity to play in the FIFA World Cup in 2006. Freddy is planning on graduating in early May (2006) which will allow him to play in the ’06 World Cup competition.
Weighing, one hundred and forty pounds, standing, five feet, eight inches tall, is the physical appearance of Freddy Adu. Do people believe this is what the makeup of a professional soccer player should look like? The vote at this time stands divided. Right now it is good enough for Freddy Adu to play for the USA National team and DC United.
More than his parents have been telling him. Paul playing soccer is contradictory to his blindness. While playing soccer, he participates and plays like everyone else. He is moving beyond his disability. In fact, Paul is an outstanding goalie, “The ball stuck in my outstretched hand like it was Velcro.”
It is becoming more and more a trend for high school and underclassmen basketball players to forgo their college eligibility to enter the NBA draft. Most professional sports have restrictions to limit mentally and physically immature players from throwing away their college education to be unsuccessful in the professional ranks. In the National Football League, NCAA football players are not allowed to declare for the pro draft unless they have been in the school’s program for at least three years. In professional baseball and hockey, although they do draft players straight from high school, they have a minor league system set up. These minor leagues allow players the time to develop and still play against an excellent level of competition. This helps their growth process so that when they get into the real big leagues, they are somewhat ready to play and be a factor.
“As an athlete he’s dropped his 200-meter and hurdle times. He’s become a leader on the track and he’s matured in the classroom. He’s really become an all-around student athlete, and the face you’d want for your organization.”
...s worth far more." Certainly a 22 year old kid can live on $126 million quite alright. Before doing an in-depth analysis of pro sports salaries, one ignorant person would conclude that these salaries are way too high. However, sports salaries are "okay" to be enormous. This is because high salaries show that the economy and basketball revenue are up, because that is where the owners get the money to pay the athletes. After Glen Taylor signed upcoming superstar Kevin Garnett, season ticket sales went soaring. Finally, if a player is allowed to make the money, why is it such a bad thing? More power to them. Yet athletes should be satisfied with their current salary status. As you can very well see, salaries have risen to unbearable heights, yet it is inevitable. With the economy as it is who knows when it will begin to level off. All we can do is sit back and watch.
Erick Brian Colón moved from Cuba to the U.S. with his mother and sister in 2012. The 17 year-old, enjoys playing soccer and his favorite team is Real Madrid. Erick stole the hearts of the voters and the judges in La Banda, who saw in him a very unique talent. His main motivation has always been his family, many of whom still live in Cuba.
I have played soccer my entire life. At twelve years old, I completed a Bryst soccer camp after which I decided that I wanted to play at a higher level than house league. My goal was to make a Bryst Academy team.
The opportunity to play with the first team came when Cesar was around 17 years old. One player had been injured, one player was sick, and one player had been suspended. It was at this time when Cesar was called up to play with the first time.
The person speaking today is a professional NBA player who is currently playing for the Milwaukee Bucks. He was born in Athens Greece and is the son of Nigerian immigrants. He would scavenge for items around the city along with his brother to sell and provide some type of support for his family after they struggled to find work in Greece. He touched his first basketball in 2007 and knew this is what could get him and his family out of their situations. With hard work and dedication he made the youth team for a Greek team and by 2012 he was able to start for the senior team and days after turning eighteen many professional Spanish teams were interested in him. He was able to make himself eligible for the NBA draft in 2013 with a dream to become
To be a part of the squad for my schools' soccer team has been one of my life's goals and has finally been fulfilled. My previous attempts to get on my high school soccer team in Jamaica failed because I wasn't skilled enough at the time. Since arriving to the United States, I have trained diligently and have accomplished my goal of making my school's soccer team.
In recent years, the NBA and “trouble” seem to have become synonymous. In the past year alone, some of the biggest names in basketball have had run-ins with the law. To try to avoid this trouble the National Basketball Association started the NBA rookie transition program ("The problem," 2012). This training program serves to provide knowledge of what players can expect while playing in the NBA and how to balance the pressures and demands that come with their chosen career ("The problem," 2012). The program is cited as only having “modest success” and Harry Edwards, a noted sports psychologist and advisor in Oakland, California said, “I think they ought to send players to those courses every year, every season. It should be like renewing your driver’s license and driving test” ("The problem," 2012). No one disagrees that many professional athletes have problems that are not being resolved, and that reflect negatively on the whole league. NBA players are referred to as “high maintenance” by sports agents and the media. “Basketball players start getting pampered very young” says sports agent, Peter Schaffer. “Twelve and 13-year-olds are being brought to training camps, they get free shoes, they’re deemed to be special at an early age” ("The problem," 2012). The $475,000 rookie minimum is more than 10 times the starting salary for a college graduate and rookies are typically in their early 20’s ("The problem," 2012). Over the last decade, high salaries have had a variety of negative effects on NBA players including, the way the law is viewed, bankruptcy, family values, and production. Sometimes, these things ruin their career, or more accurately the way they earn a living.
Players are entering the draft with the least amount of development then the NBA has ever seen.If kids are not ready why are they going pro so early if they can get a education.
The rise to stardom of a young soccer sensation by the name of "Francesc Cesc Fabregas Soler" has been nothing short of remarkable. Better known as Cesc Fabregas, Cesc has achieved more in his career at the slender age of 20 years old then most soccer players have achieved in their whole careers, and yet his skills and stardom can only increase with more seasons behind him
Playing basketball is an activities of the job. Play good in college and get drafted to a team. Be a good basketball player. A nba basketball player gets 5 to 10 million dollars a year.
I encourage you to carry your soccer career to college and even farther. Don’t forget about the burning passion that started as a little kid. You've always dreamed of being a professional soccer player or maybe even a coach. Even making the high school soccer team is a great accomplishment because you’ve had a few setbacks. Let no obstacle stop you from what you want. Don't give up on your dreams because you will forever be disappointed in your decision of
When I grow up I will become a soccer player. I will become this because I really love the sport. I have played for soccer for seven years and I don’t plan to quit. I play as a forward on a select soccer team named the St. Louis Prospects.