Freddy's all growns up and growns up and growns up

Our boy is going to Europe! I hope I'm in the majority, here, of people who realize what a great, positive step this is in Adu's development as a player. His performance at the U-20 World Cup showed that he is perfectly capable of being that talisman that US Soccer is hoping he can become... provided he has any sort of viable talent surrounding him. That means more polished teammates held to a higher standard. That means leaving the misery of Real Salt Lake and, to a certain extent, the appauling play of MLS in the rear-view. It's always been my contention that the primary reason our talent at the youth level never seems to translate to the senior national level is because during the ages of 18-22, they're either mired in our low-grade domestic league or in college. The level of competition just isn't there. Not the way it is in Europe. Benfica is a top flight club who have made serious waves in the Champions League the last couple seasons. I expect a player of Adu's flair and accumen to excel there. Playing in Portugal is ideal, too, as Freddy can avoid the harsh spotlight felt in top leagues like the Premiership, La Liga, and Serie A, while still mixing it up with class European competition. This will be a great period of growth in his career.

The name of the game for US Soccer is cultivating talent. That should be the focus, not Major League Soccer. If we cultivate our talent at the highest level, it trickles into our national team and it is the success of the national team that will directly affect the relevance of MLS. Nothing else. And that's what people need to understand when they moan about Adu flying the coup.

Do it, Freddy.

And the big loser of the Kevin Garnett trade IS...

*drumroll*

... The Lakers. Duh. DUH! You're telling me that the marquee team in the league with the marquee player in the league couldn't throw expiring junk at Kevin McHale and gotten away with it?!? Surely, you jest.

Look, Al Jefferson is going to be a star in this league, but even a mensa like Danny Ainge knows that Kevin Garnett, now, is better than Al Jefferson, now. All of a sudden, Boston, with KG, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen, looks like the best team in the league... if the year was 2004. Regardless, I think it's more than fair to compare Al Jefferson and his promise to someone like... oh... Andrew Bynum. I'll state, clearly, that I think Jefferson will be the better of the two, but there's no denying -- even from an unbiased point of view -- that Andrew Bynum is going to be a stud in a couple years' time. So what you're telling me, now, is that Andrew Bynum's potential has once again derailed a monumental trade that would've vaulted the Lakers back into the throws of title-land...

...

...

... my God...

Again, look at how little Boston actually gave up in return for one of the league's best. It's ridiculous. In effect, the Lakers could've parted with Bynum, Sasha Vujacic, the rights to Sun Yue, Phil Jackson's chest hair, and a gift certificate to Starbucks and landed KG. I'm sorry, but all I want to do is pull my hair out and shove it down Buss' and Kupchak's throats. That's right, I'm going to make them choke on my hair... The Celtics? Really? Them?!

Who am I kidding. We're not making any big moves any time soon.