S1 Preview: Finding Freddy

American Prodigy: Becoming Great

Blue Wire

Sports

4.8 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 12 November 2020

⏱️ ? minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

When Nike signed thirteen-year-old Freddy Adu to a million dollar contract, they thought he could be bigger than Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and LeBron James. As it turned out, however, Freddy never lived up to the hype. Soccer journalist Grant Wahl investigates the impossible expectations that were placed on the teenager, and discusses with Freddy just how much of the blame lies on the media, MLS, and Freddy himself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This podcast is brought to you by Coors Light. Cors Light's the one I choose when I need to unwind. So when you need to hit reset, reach for the beer that's made to chill. Get Coors Light and the new look delivered straight to your door with Drizzly or Instacart. Coors Brewing Company, Golden Colorado. Celebrate responsibly. Do I owe you an apology?
0:21.7	No, you don't.
0:23.3	No, you don't.
0:25.0	I'm going to tell you straight up, look. In 2003, Nike signed 13-year-old Freddie Adieu to a seven-figure contract.
0:32.3	Nike's founder told me, Freddie could make a bigger impact on his sport than LeBron James, Tiger Woods, and Michael
0:40.4	Jordan had on theirs. But Freddie didn't live up to the hype. Was he a failure? Was it partly
0:48.1	my own fault for overselling him? What even happened to Freddy a do? I've had a lot of questions for Freddie,
0:55.5	but he has turned down every single documentary project
1:00.1	looking closely at the details of his career.
1:03.7	Until now.
1:06.5	I had completely decided I wasn't going to do any interviews,
1:12.8	any podcast, anything.
1:16.8	I mean, I get bombarded with these things all the time.
1:18.8	But they vouch for you, my man.
1:19.3	They do.
1:21.2	So that's why I'm here right now.
1:22.4	I'm Grant Wall.
1:25.7	And this is American Prodigy, Freddie Adieu.
1:27.4	The expectations. It was a lot, man. And people don't realize this, Freddie Adieu. The expectations.
1:29.0	It was a lot, man.
1:30.8	And people don't realize this,
1:34.3	but this stuff messes with your mind as a young player.
	...

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