MIAMI – The FASL (Freddy Adu Soccer League), otherwise known as Major League Soccer, held its draft Friday, and – surprise, surprise – 14-year-old Adu was the No. 1 pick. D.C. United is the lucky team that gets the phenom, but the entire league will benefit from his presence. This is a kid who was coveted by Manchester United and Chelsea, a kid who likely will be the star of the 2006 U.S. World Cup team.

at age 17, a kid who already has appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman. He is a bona-fide star in a league desperate for attention.

Adu instantly became the highest-paid player in the MLS with a base salary of $300,000 and guaranteed money totaling $500,000. Josh Wolff of Kansas City is No. 2 with $350,000 base and $418,571 guaranteed, according to Soccer America magazine, which also reported that more than 80 players make less than $50,000.

MLS commissioner Don Garber admitted Adu could have a huge impact.

“I think this thing has taken on a life of its own,” Garber said. “It’s a great story; he’s a special young man, both on and off the field. I think the media, in this country, always look for a good soccer story.

“Now, Freddy comes, and we’re not billing him as the savior of soccer, that’s not something one person could do. We’re billing him as a great young talent that was being sought by the great clubs around the world and somebody that will help us get the attention that this sport deserves. We do believe that Freddy will … give us some of the pop cultural appeal that the league has not been able to achieve.”

Adu said he can’t wait to get on the field, and his primary goal is to “earn the respect of my teammates.” He plans to finish high school this spring, train with the under-17 team and get his feet wet with D.C. United.

“I’m not expecting to dominate or get right in the starting lineup,” he said.

In fact, he didn’t even get the jersey number he wanted (11). He had to settle for No. 9 because forward Alecko Eskandarian, last year’s first-round pick, wears No. 11.

“I would rather have No. 11, but you can’t always get what you want,” he said. “You have to earn it.” Adu attended the U.S. under-14 boys’ national team camp in 2001 at age 12. He began playing for the U.S. under-17 team last year at 13, scoring 22 goals in 2002 and a team-leading 29 goals in 46 games this year.

He led the U.S. to the quarterfinals of the under-17 world championships in August, scoring three goals in the opener and the winning goal in the second game.

In other MLS draft news, Columbus selected defender Chad Marshall of Stanford with the No. 2 pick. Los Angeles then picked Joseph Ngwenya of Coastal Carolina, Kansas took UCLA forward Matt Taylor, and San Jose selected defender Ryan Cochrane of Santa Clara.

QUOTE OF WEEK

“Instead of talking about tight shorts, FIFA should be focusing on increasing its support for the women’s game by instituting another world championship for youth women, pushing federations around the world to support their women’s programs, or giving prize money to teams in the Women’s World Cup. We’ll start wearing tighter shorts when he FIFA president Sepp Blatter starts doing press conferences in his bathing suit.” – U.S. captain Julie Foudy, responding to Blatter’s suggestion that female players should wear tighter shorts and more “feminine” uniforms.

AROUND THE WORLD

England: Goalkeeper David James, who worked out with the Miami Dolphins last fall, was traded from first division West Ham to Manchester City of the Premier League. West Ham was relegated last season, and James, 33, felt it would be harder to stay on the national team without top competition.

Meanwhile, Chelsea midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron returned to Argentina to seek medical advice on a back problem that has kept him out two months. Fellow Argentine Hernan Crespo (calf) also will miss Sunday’s game with Birmingham City.

Arsenal, in a battle with Manchester United and Chelsea, faces Aston Villa on Sunday.

Romania: Dinamo players posed for a religious calendar, saying it might help their fortunes this season.

Spain: League leader Valencia plays No. 2 Real Madrid, highlighting the two-legged King’s Cup quarterfinals. Alaves is the only second-division side left.

USA: MetroStars forward Clint Mathis is trying out with Hannover of the German Bundesliga… . Chicago Fire defender Carlos Bocanegra signed a three-year deal with Fulham, joining fellow Americans Tim Howard (Manchester United), Claudio Reyna (Manchester City), Brad Friedel (Blackburn) and Kasey Keller (Tottenham) in the English Premier League.

ON THE TUBE

Sunday: Manchester City vs. Blackburn Rovers (11:30 a.m., Fox Sports World), Arsenal vs. Aston Villa (2 p.m., FSW), USA vs. Denmark exhibition (3:30 p.m., ESPN), Marseilles vs. Lens (5 p.m., FSW)

Monday: Newcastle vs. Fulham (3 p.m., FSW)

Tuesday: English Premier highlight show (5 p.m., FSW)

Thursday: Sao Paulo vs. Ponte Preta (11 p.m., FSW)

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(c) 2004, The Miami Herald.

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PHOTOS (from KRT Photo Service, 202-383-6099):

Freddy Adu

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