Adu era with RSL begins

Jump online and Google Freddy Adu, and you'll quickly be inundated with countless stories, blogs, photos and other miscellaneous information about Real Salt Lake's newest and most well-known midfielder.

The predictions will range from Adu having a breakout year to him continuing to toil in mediocrity, not to mention dozens of other more modest opinions. Some believe he's poised to lead RSL to new heights, while others are convinced his new team is headed for a Western Conference last-place finish.

In the technological age, everyone's entitled to a published opinion — filtered or unfiltered. Beginning today, however, we'll begin finding out whose foresight about the 17-year-old Adu was right and wrong as Real Salt Lake kicks off the 2007 season at 4 p.m. against FC Dallas at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Soccer fans in Utah have been consumed with Adu hype since RSL acquired him in an early December trade, and the teen phenom is excited to set the hype aside and simply play soccer.

"I'm a soccer player, first and foremost, everything else that comes with it is just extra stuff," said Adu. "Definitely the goal is to be out there playing and making a difference, and help this team out, and I'm happy that's finally here."

Adu insists he's happier than he's ever been in his four-year career, and that he always plays best when happy. His coach, John Ellinger, says Adu is playing very well right now and is "anxious to prove at a ripe old age of 17 that he can still do it."

Perhaps no one is more qualified to make an objective opinion about Adu than new Real keeper Nick Rimando. The duo — the only new faces in RSL's projected starting lineup today — were D.C. United teammates for three years prior to heading West this past offseason.

Rimando's been with Adu every step of the way, and he sees great things in Adu's future.

"He's always been a happy kid, smiling all the time, laughing all the time, but this year on the field he seems to be expressing himself a little bit more and seems a little bit more motivated," said Rimando.

Much of that comfort and motivation stems from being reunited with Ellinger, his former U.S. youth national team coach. Ellinger has revealed on numerous occasions that he has absolute confidence in Adu's abilities on the field, and he's hopeful that helps Adu take his game to new heights.