Let the sideshow begin.
NFL wide receiver Chad Ochocinco begins his tryout with Sporting Kansas City Wednesday morning (11 a.m.), when he'll try to impress coach Peter Vermes and secure a contract with Major League Soccer.
Sporting Kansas City is streaming the tryout live on its Web site, although it is closed to the public in Kansas City.
On Tuesday, Ives spoke with Vermes for his latest column on Fox, and the coach said that he believed Ochocinco was serious about the trial but that it was a long shot that he'd make the team.
Give the rest of the interview with Vermes a read and let us know what you think about this unique trial.
Do you hope Ochocinco makes it? Think this is a waste of time? Wish it was't happening? Like the publicity for MLS? What position do you see Ochocinco playing?
Share your thoughts below.
SIGN HIM UP, BOB!!!
MUTE!!!
They both would have been like Marvell Wynne. Stronger, faster, beefier, but with a ham-footed first touch and cross.
Last interview I saw of Ochocinco talking about soccer, he said he was a Drogba type player. I can see it: he’s relatively big, we all know he’s pretty fast. Hopefully his touch is alright because speed and size do nothing if you can’t keep the ball with you.
If they’re enterprising they’ll start printing jerseys with ESTEBAN or OCHOCINCO on the back, even if he doesn’t make the team. I’m a fan of the guy, so what if it’s a circus, and since when has the league’s real fans cared what anyone, domestic or internationally, had to say about the league. Let’s step out of this huge American soccer insecurity shadow and appreciate it for what it is. A solid up and coming league that isn’t big enough for it’s teams to decline free publicity. Go Ocho!
Great a stop and start stream……
I met Chad in L.A. when he was filming the perfect catch. He was a giant D-Bag. I really hope he won’t get a chance. It could make our sport and league look like a joke to none fans. They already think it’s a joke any way.
I completely disagree with you. MLS games are not going to getter higher attendance from shameless, superlame publicity attempts such as this. Does it hurt anyone? I don’t think so.
Is it going to help grow the game or MLS? No chance, Lance.
It doesn’t make people interested in MLS other than to scratch their head for a minute and laugh.
If you are all of the cheap publicity stunts then I am going to give you a freebie and if it is a hit then you owe me Mr Survival of the Fittest–you gotta share a part of the profits with me.
Wait for it…
Why doesn’t Sporting KFC sign Diego Maradonna to a one game contract? he can be used as a late match substitue–he can come on in the 78th minute.
If the Puerto Ricans have somehow managed to finda way to get him down the there for a fundraiser match against Puerto Rico Islanders after his US ban over the last 16+ years then hey, Sporting should be able to top that.
Remember–we split the glory for my genius idea 50-50.
That would really get MLS some attention!
How do you like that for cheap publicity???
Deion would have been a SICK winger/striker.
Bo Jackson could have been anything he wanted to be.
+1
I think this is hilarious and awesome! Who cares if he has absolutely no chance at actually making the team. Maybe he’ll live the dream like MJ and go buy some USL team to play on. I can’t really see any negatives about this. Are people really that scared? Folks gotta give Vermes more credit.
Of course, it’s farcical to think he could earn a contract right now. The most optimistic result would be that the team see enough to let him keep practicing with the team, with an eye towards a formal invite to next year’s preseason.
I agree with William. He may have picked the wrong person to call a “gangsta,” but he is right that this phenomenon of athletes constantly making plays and then getting into their “look at me, look at me” attitudes is a big turn-off for a lot of fans. I remember a reporter asking Walter Payton why he never did any end zone celebrations. Walter quietly responded that he “did not want people to think it was the first time he had ever scored.”
Every week, the headlines in American sports have some reference to an athlete being arrested for some criminal act or a drug offense or beating their girlfriend. Most of our football and basketball players never graduate from college and don’t even take college seriously. They are awful role models for the kids who worhip them.
This reminds me of Master P in the NBA and Michael Jordan in minor league baseball. It sparks curiousity, but Chad Johnson is unlikely to make a huge impact on MLS.
Stupid abuse? I’m sure you could elaborate…
+1
He’s the guy that we are discussing. Here.
I juggle a soccer ball everyday too!!! There is hope!!!
Uhm. Not sure if I should be laughing, crying or both right about
Ochocinco:
“Egocentric”? No doubt.
“Gangsta”?
When is the last time that Chad went to court for punching a guy for not playing a Phil Collins song?
Or that he went to jail for assault?
Or for drug possession?
Ya know, the kind of stuff that has been known to take place with some knuckleheads in the “other” football.
Was that Ochocinco in Jersey allegedly brawling in a bar with his brothers?
Did Chad brag about breaking a guy’s leg because he didn’t care for him only to smirk about it later?
Let’s take about 5 seconds to look at all of the wonderful football players who have egos.
You still follow soccer?
Yep. I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that you are dead “wrong” about the “gangsta” tag that laid on Mr. 8 5
But hey, that’s just my opinion–I could be wrong…
Some entertaining comments here …. keep them coming …. while many questions will remain unanswered, if Chad makes the team at least there will be no doubt what number uniform he will wear.
f**k this toad… he could be f**kin pele and earn a spot and still wouldn’t take it, not when he hears he’ll only get $2k-per-week. oh wait he’ll be paid a million by whatever f**kin gay tv show carries his triumphant conquering of my lame sport & club. I hope running for 3 SUSTAINED MINUTES causes him to keel over from years of steroid and stupid abuse
I am all for cheap publicity stunts. The more people interested in MLS, the fewer MLS games will be played in local obscurity with no coverage for the MLS fan.
Win/Win/Win
KC gets some pub from outside their normal market.
MLS gets some potential crossover from the NFL. NFL fans are restless as the draft approaches and there still is no CBA.
Chad Johnson/Esteban Ochocinco gets to live one of his dreams, training with a pro soccer team. He probably should have played in a few celebrity charity matches first just to get some of his skills out there before a “tryout”.
All in all, it is hard for me to see this as anything more than a ‘visitor’s pass’ for 85 while he has no offseason programs to attend. I am holding out some slim hope that he impresses enough to make the reserves and works his way up. It would be one hell of a story.
MLB gave MJ a trial, how is this any different? In Houston, we will take Ochocinco over Oduro any day. I am sure he can miss what Oduro missed on the weekend.
Except he touches a soccer 3 out of 7 days a week before practice. Get the facts straight. His warm up before football practice from Tues-Thurs consists of juggling a soccer ball.
I think it’s obvious that Chad is just using SKC to make a jump to Europe, probably a Scandinavian team or possibly Eastern Europe. A couple of quality seasons and if he can get a work permit he hopes to jump to Belgium or France. A good showing there would put him in a position to finally earn a decent paycheck in one of the top leagues and be able to support his family. Good luck, Chad!
It IS a little bit like “Pros vs. Joes” in a way. The fitness for football is a lot different than for futbol, but I would love to see this work out for Chad. Oh, the goal celebrations…..
The only good outcome here would be lots of free publicity for SKC and Ochocinco/Johnson getting absolutely smoked on the field, and admitting it. The notion of a guy who has not touched a soccer ball seriously in 20 yers, and never played in a serious way, thinking he has a shot a making a professional team rankles.
MLSsoccer.com says he will be trying out as a forward…….
So its not a publicity stunt but they are offering a live stream of the tryout???
Wow, how does it feel to be so out of touch and watching the world pass you by?
Exactly how is Ochocinco a gangsta?
You need to get out more.
Hey KFree, quit sullying this comment stream with inteligent well thought out comments.
Do you ever watch European soccer? The sport is full of ego centric players trying to draw attention to themselves at the expense of the team. Further, why is Ocho a gansta? Although arrogant, he has never been linked with any type of crime. I just don’t understand your post.
this tryout certainly raises skc franchise awareness. as for the brand, not sure what there brand actually is? maybe with this pr move, i’ll find out.
the promotinal angle of this aside, i have no issue with chad trying out. elite athletes and non pros tryout for other pro sports all time. master p with the charlotte hornets a few years back, his son was actually on the USC bball roster a few year ago. roy jones jr. played in the NBA D-league (or was it CBA before it folded) several years ago. tony romo and jerry rice have been trying to get thier pga tour card for sometime now. everyone knows about jordan and baseball.
the common theme is that none of them made it to the pro-level and the world moved on, intact. i think it will be fun to watch. on some level it’s interesting because for those who’ve ever had pro sport dreams deferred – this “tryout” gets to heart of “hey, i wonder if i could hang with these guys?” even if i couldn’t, which is likely, no questing i would have a blast trying. there are no villans here peverting american soccer.
I could see him starting out wide left and making post, i mean goal runs and scoring 4 goals, drawing 4 PK’s and two red cards.
Or they could use him as a CB, but that would be a waste of his talent.
Nicely done, sir.
He’s not just going to make a 10 to 30 yard sprint twice and sit on the bench for 15 to 20 minutes during commercials and while the other team has the ball, like in the NFL… Does he realize that this sport actually requires constant movement? NFL games are so stinking slow (up there with baseball)…
Who is Chad ochocinco? And why should we care?
I think this is payback for Tony Meola trying out for the jets.
White “gangstas” are gangsters, like in the mob. Get your stereotypes straight!
I could see him as a forward or goalie. that would be where his skill sets as a widereciever would be best utilized. I am not saying he will make it but those are the two positions that would allow him to use his speeed or his hand skills from the NFL.
Other than being black, what about Chad Johnson makes him an “egocentric gangsta” to you?
a large portion of MLS players are retured by the time they are his age (33) and those guys were playing competitively for most of their life. I refuse to believe they are serious, but whatever. Maybe that means I still have a shot, where is my tryout?
ANy MLS fan who is upset by this is just being ridiculous. MLS has the opportunity to gain some attention because of the NFL lockout, why in the world is that a bad thing? I say we should let any NFL player have a tryout who wants one. It only stands to add fans by exposing the league to more people. WHat harm is done by giving someone a tryout. Ive seen and heard more MLS references leading up to this tryout then I have ever heard from major media outlets.
Remind me which one of them had a successful tryout with a professional soccer team after not having played competitively for almost 20 years.
I’ll tell you one team that would not be interested in his services. The Revs. Krafty Bob doesnt like to much exposure.
This is clearly a ridiculous publicity stunt. For starters, you need to give SKC your email address, name, and birthday. Just imagine how many people are going to watch this compared to their normal fanbase. Thousands of Ochocinco fans, for starterts. I’m not saying its a BAD idea, but man, pretty obvious.
Do they even have a roster spot open?
Michael Schumacher was the best non-soccer player I’ve seen; he holds a fundraiser every year in Europe, and easily holds his own.
I love the sport because of the fact that soccer is not infected with a huge population of egocentric gangstas who are always seeking to draw attention to themselves at the expense of their teams. That kind of behavior is what’s wrong with American football and basketball and what caused me to stop watching those sports and to actually grow to despise them. This is a stupid idea which will cheapen the game and which certainly taints the reputation of KC. Of course, that’s just my opinion. I could be wrong.
If Deion Sanders and Bo Jackson did it, then I’m sure Ochocinco can.