Let’s be clear on this point: just because someone makes news, that does not make them an intriguing figure in my book.
Most intriguing figures? Two who won’t make the list
Cases in point: Freddy Adu and David Beckham.
I wrote a piece yesterday at SI.com on the 10 most intriguing figures in U.S. soccer for the 2011 year. You can probably guess a few on the list, but you’ll probably swing and miss on a few, too. It’s a subjective list, after all, and you may find disagree with the choices. One man’s intrigue is another man’s yawn.
You may believe Beckham and Adu deserve to be on the list because … well, honestly I don’t know why. Yes, I suppose I’m a little interested in what happens with these two personalities. But I’d file their continued action or inaction under “newsy but tiresome.” Honestly, I wish them well, but I’m a little weary of their story.
Beckham? I’m tired of the Beckham hype machine cooking up stories just to keep the man in the news. Will he go out on loan? I don’t know, but he shouldn’t. He should concentrate on the Galaxy, the team paying him all that money – but the one for whom he’s played just 18 regular season games over the past two regular seasons. (Look for more on this coming soon.)
So, honestly, I don’t want to hear any more about loans and other action that serves only to inflate the Brand Beckham enterprises. I just want to write about what Beckham is doing to assist the Galaxy cause, how he fits in the team construction, etc. Therefore, he’s no longer an intriguing figure in my book past his duty at the Home Depot Center.
As for Adu … sigh.
His story has become not just tiresome, but fairly predictable. He moves to the next obscure address. He fails to fit in and can’t contribute to the cause. He moves on. Rinse, repeat.
Predictability, by its very definition, means he’s not intriguing.
You might also have expected to find Bob Bradley’s name on the list. He’s certainly a figure who will continue to make news, mostly through his selections as the next World Cup cycle gets off the starting line. But he’s not on the list because his place is set. He would fairly be classified as “intriguing” last fall before we knew of his job status around U.S. Soccer. Now, he’s a solid news figure, but we more or less know where the man stands.
Check out the list. Alert me of any omissions.
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