Chad Ochocinco will try to play a different kind of football during the NFL lockout. Never short on publicity-grabbing ideas, the Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver is set for a four-day tryout with Sporting Kansas City of Major League Soccer starting Tuesday. The club said Wednesday that after the tryout, it would determine whether to extend the trial period. "We're always searching for players who can help our team and bringing in new talent," Sporting Kansas City manager Peter Vermes said. "We know that Chad is an exceptional athlete and that he loves the sport of soccer, and he did play a lot when he was younger. We're excited to see how his skills will translate once he arrives next week and begins training with our team." Ochocinco started playing soccer at age 4 but chose to focus on football in high school. Read more: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6224036
Sporting KC is streaming video from their training sessions while Ochocinco is participating. You just have to joining a mailing list with info about Sporting Club to watch. As for the try-out, its a publicity stunt for both sides. Ochocinco is all about self-promotion, so this is a pretty clear "look at me" from him. As for SKC, you can't look at Chad without looking at the rest of the players in the process. This also does a lot for MLS and the perception that any athlete could dominate a "weak" league since there's no shot in hell that he'll make the squad. This will point out that the MLS players are good players. For every soccer fan on ESPN.com's boards who say he has no shot, there are four or five who mention Bo Jackson, Dieon Sanders, and Brian Jordan as two-sport athletes. Ochocinco has the athleticism to play well and, from what I've read, probably could have been a pro if he dedicated himself to it when he was in high school, but MLS started in his senior year and football was going to be a money maker for him.
He could be good at soccer, like you said - Multi-sport athletes are not uncommon. I'd like to see him play, I won't lie. I'd also like to see he get schooled by Dwayne DeRo!
The multisport athletes I mentioned were multisport athletes at a high college level and worked their way through the professional ranks in baseball. Ochocinco hasn't played competitive soccer since he was 18.
I still consider Ocho a "professional athlete" meaning I feel he can compete but he may not be very successful.
He's got the size, speed, and strength to do it. I don't think he can follow the game on the field at that level because he hasn't played in 15 years. Assuming he worked enough ahead of time to get in soccer shape, I don't think he'll completely embarass hismelf. I just don't see him being considered for a roster spot.
Reality Check Humble Ochocinco finds the going rough in Day 1 Sporting Kansas City welcomed Ochocinco here to their Swope Park Training facility on Wednesday for the first day of a four-day trial in which the outspoken NFL wide receiver will try to shake off the rust and live his dream of playing soccer at an elite level. And despite being eased into things, even Ochocinco acknowledged he was nowhere near the level of the other players with whom he was sharing the field. “The only thing I’m probably good at is just being fast as hell,” Ochocinco said, surrounded by a mass of cameras, microphones and recorders. “That’s about it right now. To play this game there is an art to it, a skill to it. That skill takes a long time to perfect and master. “That’s why they call it the beautiful game,” he added. “I’ve missed all that time, but I’ll see what ways I can contribute.” With fans in Cincinnati Bengals No. 85 jerseys watching from behind a chain link fence and the press contingent out in full force to document the festivities, Ochocinco warmed up with the team before receiving some one-on-one instruction from assistant coach Zoran Savic. He also played right forward for the reserves in a full-sided game. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/humility-not-hubris-story-day-1-85
VIDEO: Day two of tryout - Ellis, Bunbury & Ochocinco analyze today's session http://kctv.neulion.com/mlsvp/console.jsp?catid=2002&id=12987
