Generation Adidas is a joint venture between Major League Soccer and U.S. Soccer aimed at raising the level of young soccer talent in the United States. The program, sponsored by Adidas, encourages early entry (without college graduation) of American players into MLS. Until 2005, the program was sponsored by Nike and was called Project-40.
Carlos Parra was the first Project-40 player when he signed with the league and was allocated to the New York/New Jersey MetroStars in 1997. Since then, the program has included players such as Tim Howard, DaMarcus Beasley, Maurice Edu, Carlos Bocanegra, Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, Ben Olsen, Sacha Kljestan, Freddy Adu, Brad Guzan, Michael Bradley, Nick Rimando, and Kyle Beckerman.
Generation Adidas players do not count against the MLS senior roster and usually earn a much higher salary than the league minimum. Entering into the program automatically classifies a player as professional, and thus disqualifies them from playing college soccer. As a result, Generation Adidas players are also guaranteed scholarships to continue their college education should their professional career not pan out.
Somehow I lost my way
And now it’s clear to me
All that I fought so hard to keep
Is all I had to leave
I know you can't hear me
And you won’t believe me
But there is something I must say here
Before I fade away
(This is the world ends…again)
Forever we will be…
Forever we will be hollow
Hollow again
So I'm left here waiting
So long I'm contemplating
And now I know how it is
But now it’s far too late
How will we open the eyes of the dead
When we are hollow
Hollow…
And all along here I was told
By fallen men in their charade
That we could find a hope inside