In a world where sports is incredibly big business, the race to secure talent is starting to get a little ridiculous. FC Racing Boxberg, a Belgian club, signed 20-month-old "prospect" Bryce Brites late last year to a "long-term contract."
Now, granted, this kid's got some game, but he's no Baerke ven der Meij, a YouTube phenom that was signed to a ten-year contract as an 18-month-old by Dutch team VVV-Venlo.
Apparently, the topic of identifying young talent in the game is important enough to merit academic research.
What is striking about this is how insulated the U.S. has been from the whole phenomenon, considering this is the country where a 14-year-old Freddy Adu was the youngest American athlete to sign a professional sports contract in a team sport in nearly a century. I mean, what this kid was doing is waaay more impressive in my mind than what Bryce or Baerke are pulling off, and he didn't start walking around in the Swoosh's red shirts at 3 years old.
Or what about this guy? Shouldn't my beloved Celtics be wrapping this kid up already so we can start talking about raising an 18th banner in 2039?
While it is not at all uncommon for phenoms in individual sports like tennis or golf to start racking up sponsorships at an early age, we can thank the NCAA - flaws and all - for keeping most of these activities at bay for team sports here in the States. With parents probably reluctant to give up the potential for a college scholarship down the road, signing away Junior's rights as they toddle around seems unlikely in most cases. That said, if Tiger and Lindsay have a kid, I'm sending a representation contract to the hospital.
