Freddy Adu Goes to Salt Lake City: What Does This Mean for MLS? Bad News for Opponents

For Freddy Adu, the former phenom and the youngest player to ever don a professional soccer uniform in any sport at age 13, the news couldn't have been any sweeter. After reportedly running into John Ellinger at a youth soccer symposium several weeks ago-and having a heart-to-heart with his former youth national team coach about his current situation in D.C.-something happened between that meeting and now that propelled into motion the machinery bringing Adu to, of all places, Salt Lake City.

That machinery was unhappiness, in part, as well as some crafty thinking by Adu's people, who obviously knew something had to be done for their client. In less than 90 games played, Adu had only scored 12 goals-and that's in four seasons of play at D.C. United. The latest word is that Freddy became unhappy playing wing midfield in United's 3-5-2 and despised learning defense, which in the case of anyone playing a 3-5-2 is vital, particularly if you're a wing player. His long-coveted ACM spot was taken by Christian Gomez and he could do little to reclaim the position, especially in his later years at United though he was still just a wee lad.

And the timing couldn't have been better for RSL, now in the midst of trying to talk local taxpayers into forking over some dough for the new stadium scheduled to be built in Sandy, a Salt Lake bedroom community 10 miles south. In the past week, RSL has also had: A. It's finances reviewed by Salt Lake County; B. three players released, including Douglas Sequiera, an attacking midfielder; and C. the shocking news that MLS owner Lamar Hunt, a friend of the team, has passed away at the early age of 74.

So Real Salt Lake-and MLS for that matter-needed something to take their minds off of what has certainly been a trying week.

Enter Adu-and the news even made "Monday Night Football," for it was so surprising. After the reality of the decision set in the RSL players tried to make sense of the situation and now we certainly know why a player the caliber of Douglas Sequiera (a Costa Rica international) was let go. Though RSL did lose a promising player in Jay Nolly they did receive Nick Rimando from United in return. And though RSL did lose a major allocation (read: that which applies to the new "Beckham Rule," or a player the caliber of Ronaldo, for example) to United for the rights to Adu, the RSL players seemed genuinely happy about the decision to bring Freddy out west.

The move could help RSL striker and Golden Boot winner Jeff Cunningham in ways even he never imagined, as well as Jason Kreis, who has been known in the past when RSL lacked a strong ACM, to fall back in that spot and feed balls into Cunningham. Now that RSL is well beyond playing a 4-5-1 and more into a standard 3-5-2 predicated on ball possession, the change will allow Real to move ever-dangerous Mehdi Ballouchy, the heralded rookie, to the wing and allow Carey Talley, the crafty veteran, a chance to settle in at the holding position without having to watch for Besagno. It will be interesting to see what RSL does at the other central midfield spot, for there is some talk that Eddie Pope may be next on the trading block and is not what he used to be.

In my mind talk like this is premature and RSL should really examine what it is they most need, which is another striker to complement Cunningham. And RSL did just that recently signing another towering presence on the field in Luis Tejada, the Panama international capable of forming a large presence with Cunningham. And the move should allow U.S. fans to finally see what all the hubbub is about Cunningham, the player most likely to get a long look from Bob Bradley in part to his scoring knack but also an improved camaraderie with his teammates, which seemed to be the big knock on him before under Bruce Arena. Look for Ballouchy to benefit from Freddy as well, as Ballouchy will now be able to use his speed and foot skills a la Ronaldinho at Barcelona, where the Brazilian plays in a 3-5-2 and has benefited from the move out wide.

But the team itself will benefit from Adu, as the region already has enjoyed tremendous fan support in their short time in the league but has lacked some serious superstar power that Freddy should now bring. For marketing prowess and savvy, they don't come more equipped to do either than Adu. What's more is Freddy will be looking in about a year to take his show to the Estadio Bernabeu, home of Real Madrid, a team with whom RSL has an indirect partnership. Probably the other most-happy team in this scenario is the Galacticos who are hoping Adu can put the ball in the net as often as possible. If this happens, it's a win-win for them and a win-lose for RSL.

But that's the price RSL is willing to pay for an MLS Cup. The team has just bettered its chances of not only making the playoffs for the first time with the additions of Adu and Rimando, but also the possibility of beating rival Colorado for the Rocky Mountain Cup and capturing the U.S. Open Cup.

Though after reading, like, 400 replies that amounted to the effect of "we got robbed," particularly from FC Dallas fans on bigsoccer.com, the soccer fans' message board, I've looked back on that moment and have had some time to reflect.

What I've realized is this. It may be time to pen an open letter to all FC Dallas and MLS fans and will do so below. I think this will open the door for more sophisticated conversation and benefit others as well.

AN OPEN LETTER TO FC DALLAS AND MLS FANS

Dear sirs and madams:

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA!!!

HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, (throat clearance), HA!

- Thank you, I needed that.

As it is for the rest of MLS, the news may well have not been welcome that Adu is headed out west to Real Salt Lake, but if you're a long-suffering RSL fan-or a Freddy Adu fan, for that matter-all the better.