Quite a few years ago, the soccer community was abuzz about a 16 year old soccer phenom named Freddie Adu. The teenager was signed to a lucrative contract with DC United. After some time http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifwith the club, Adu was off to play in Portugal with powerhouse SL Benfica. After this point, the wires were silent. What ever happened to Adu? I had the chance to ask Tom Kundert, editor of PortuGoal.net, about the American star.
My journey in the sport of soccer has been filled with conversation. Whether I have a ball in my hand or not, the subject alone has been a starting point for thousands of small conversations and shared moments with people who I otherwise wouldn't have entertained me.
During a taxi cab ride in New York this past February, the driver told me of an illustrious career that his son had in Europe. This conversation was the introduction to an even bigger story about his life as a retired engineer, taxi cab owner and world traveler.
On a more recent occasion, I sat beside a teacher from New Jersey who played soccer with her 5th grade class. She spoke about the girls in her class and their love of Cristiano Ronaldo, and the opportunity for 10 of her pupils to meet Pele at the Tribeca Film Festival during the upcoming week.
Now mind you, these interactions aren't started by some sort of waving of a soccer pamphlet or flag by yours truely. These are conversations that happen just as organically as a shared comment about Oprah between two people standing in line at a grocery store.
I say all of that to say that I am a firm believer in the language of soccer to give Americans an added dimension to their conversations. Most recently, I had the opportunity to share the idea, Embrace the Universal Language of Soccer, with about 400 people at TEDxGreenville.
I encourage you to take a listen, brood it over, discuss the thoughts with others, and...give a child a ball. Who knows what conversations it will allow them to participate in?
With everyone abuzz over the latest Arsenal Developments and the upcoming Chelsea match, it’s only fitting that we keep our eyes focused on Europe. There is a wealth of new talent ready to make a transition to the global stage, and my in-depth conversation with PortuGoal.net Editor touched on that quite nicely. Check out who Kundert thinks will be the names we will be talking about in the not-so-distant future.
In 2010, Coors became the U.S. beer brand to sponsor the Mexican Premier League. Now, the top division sponsor wants to give American fans an opportunity to experience all of the pageantry and excitement of the 2011 Torneo Clausura.
Soccer fans have until May 15th to enter to win a trip to Mexico for the semifinals and finals of the 2011 Torneo Clausura (Closing Tournament). The winning fan(s) will watch the game alongside Mexican soccer legend and sports commentator, Jorge Campos. Also, selectees will have an opportunities to win framed, autographed memorabilia such as soccer balls, an assortment of Primera Division jerseys, goalie gloves and much more.
For more information on how to enter the contest, see Coors Light displays at retail locations or visit the "Pase de Primera" tab on the Coors Light Espanol Facebook page (www.facebook.com/CoorsLightEspanol).
