Alex Freeman has become one of the breakout stars for the U.S. in the World Cup, with an assist in the first game against Paraguay and a goal against Australia.
His connection to former NFL standout receiver Antonio Freeman would have been more obvious, if Alex had been named “Antonio Jr.”
As explained by Rick Maese of the Washington Post, Antonio didn’t want to put extra pressure on his son.
The pressure has found Alex anyway, thanks to his achievements on the pitch. And he’s still only 21.
“It was kind of good to be able to make my own path, make my own future and kind of my own person,” Alex Freeman said.
Alex sees the positives in having a father who competed at the highest level of sport.
“I think, for me, it just shows how great the family tree is,” Alex Freeman said. “He can be great, but I can be great in my own way as well. And I think it just shows how amazing it is to have a dad who’s successful and that can mentor me to be able to be ready for moments like these.”
Friday’s moment came in the same city where Antonio caught a pair of touchdown passes in a 31-10 win over the Seahawks, during Green Bay’s championship season of 1996. (Here’s one of them.)
“Before it was, ‘Hey, it’s Antonio Freeman, congratulations on a great career,’” Antonio Freeman told Maese. “And now it’s, ‘Hey, congratulations to your son.’ So that’s a good transition. And it’s healthy, and man, I love it.”
Would it still be happening if Alex were Antonio Jr.? It’s irrelevant at this point, because Alex Freeman is doing a great job of making his own name one to remember.
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