Categorized | Thoughts

The Danger of Hype

I logged on to my internet browsing machine this morning and found my way quickly to Sport, where the top headline of the moment jumped out at me: “In Argentina, Barça finds the new Messi” (El Barça encuentra el nuevo Messi en Argentina) along with the subheading of “He’s from Rosario like Leo and he’s 12″. There is no shortage of danger in this type of absurdity, not only from the particular player’s viewpoint, but from a club’s, too.

This kid, Guido Vadala*, is apparently really good and is working out with Barça right now to see if he’ll join the cantera. That he’s from the same town in Argentina and has some skills obviously means he should be compared to the best player on the planet, right? Messi may be the new Maradona (he isn’t), but at least Maradona has retired and is no longer playing professionally. Leo, on the other hand, is about to embark on his first World Cup adventure as the biggest name on Argentina’s national team. Oh and he’s twenty-two freaking years old. Leo doesn’t even have a wife or kids yet, but he has an heir apparent? Didn’t he just move out of his parents’ house?

These comparisons mean that Guido Vadala will have relentless pressure on him from the age of twelve (you know, right when you’re learning what boobs are and enjoy watching Spongebob Squarepants without the influence of drugs) and that Barça will be forced by the hype machine to consider him a viable option years before they might otherwise do so. None of that is good. A child of 12 should not be thrust into the international spotlight for any reason. I mean, it worked out for Danny Bonaduce, right?

If you see another Barça blogger just starting up and they’ve got some talent, they’re obviously The Next Isaiah/Kevin/Hector. And we’ll have to visit them and tear them apart for something or other. Especially if they’re 12.

Liveblog at 4pm, folks. Stop by.

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*Kid’s more likely to be a star on Jersey Shore than at Barça, with a name like that.

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20 Responses to “The Danger of Hype”

  1. Kari says:

    OMG! David Silva hinting alert! http://www.goal.com/en/news/12/spain/2010/01/05/1727060/barcelona-thats-not-up-to-me-valencias-david-silva

    I agree about the hype as well. They’re (Sport) also reporting another ‘Ibra’. Nevermind that he’s from Senegal and plays for Atleti.

  2. Tutomate says:

    I don’t know if you guys have seen this but it’s really touching. It made me almost cry and by “almost cry” I mean sob.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXb5xHeche0

    it’s an interview with Eto’o the part that is sad/beautiful/touching is when they show him videos of FCB fans watching Eto’o highlights.

  3. Eduard says:

    there was also the “New Messi and he’s from Korea” article a week or two ago.

    But here’s a funny commic http://www.elmundodeportivo.es/web/gen/20100105/53861574720.html

  4. Tajh says:

    Any news on the lineup??

  5. Kxevin says:

    Here’s the second part of the Eto’o video that Tutomate was so kind to post above.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-q2kPvKu68k

  6. mike in africa says:

    leo is the new maradona!!

  7. mike in africa says:

    barca doesn’t need to do anything they don’t want to do, not sure about this ‘being forced cuz of the hype’ thing… the comparison is perfectly understandable (especially by the media), since the boy is an argentine being scouted by barca, at such a young age and from the same town.

    however, i’d like to know how small he is; whether he’s left-footed, has amazing dribbling ability and close-control, has good vision while also able to finish. wait… sounds like i’m describing maradona here… sorry.

  8. Gracias estaba buscando data de estos temas!

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