My dreams rest on Freddy's feet

Last week in Sports Illustrated, Grant Wahl (my favorite SI writer) profiled 13 year-old soccer phenom Freddy Adu. What makes Freddy so special in a world full of pint-sized futbolistos? Well for one thing, he plays for the United States, which isn't traditionally known as a soccer hotbed. But the other thing that distinguishes Adu is the fact that he truly is one of the world's best teenage players and has already been courted by Inter Milan and several other big-time European soccer clubs.

Well last night, in his national team debut, Freddy led the American Under-17 team to a 3-0 win over Jamaica. Adu scored a goal and contributed to the other two, beginning what will likely be a long, high-profile career for the Red, White and Blue. While I know it's highly possible that the kid could turn out to be yet another phenom flop, I can't help but have visions of a 17 year-old Freddy making his World Cup debut in Germany; of Freddy shredding through the Manchester United defense while I cheer on via satellite; of Freddy triumphantly hoisting the World Cup trophy in 2014 at the Rose Bowl...

Sigh. It's far too easy to get carried away with the hype, but I do know one thing: It is my dream to see the US win the World Cup in my lifetime, and Freddy Adu gives us our first good shot.