Photo Credit to USA Today Sports
Robbie Rogers trained with the Los Angeles Galaxy this past week, and many are wondering when and if he will return to soccer. He left soccer after coming out earlier this year on his personal blog and received much praise. NBA player Jason Collins even mentioned Rogers as the trailblazer for openly gay players after coming out himself.
Rogers was recently on CNN to talk about his coming out and his future, mentioning how he could feel normal again back on a soccer field.
“To be honest, I had no plans of going back to football at all and definitely not this soon. But I was looking over some video clips that MLS sent to, I think it was CNN or ABC, of me just training, fooling around and just enjoying football. … And it kind of just like, ‘Oh my gosh, I miss this stuff.’
“I just need a bit more time to evaluate and to see how things play out, but I’ve really enjoyed myself [with the Galaxy]. It feels normal to be back. I’ve grown up playing soccer my whole life. I’ve always been on a soccer field, so I feel at home on a soccer field.”
Currently, the Chicago Fire own Rogers’ rights, but he has made it clear he does not want to play for them and prefers playing in California for the LA Galaxy.
“I don’t want to go to Chicago. I think if it comes down to you can only play in Chicago, then I probably won’t go back. I need to do it somewhere where I’m totally 100 percent comfortable so … I would most likely do it closest to my family. … I’m not closing the doors or saying no to anyone else that I’ve talked to but … that would be my priority.”
I can’t really blame him for wanting to play in his home state and close to his family — the people who you usually go to when you are struggling and need help.
It will be great for soccer and sports as a whole if Rogers returns to the MLS, which has a “Don’t cross the line” campaign that shows no tolerance against bullying, racist or sexual comments.
Sports should be about the quality of the players playing, not their sexuality or skin color. Rogers’ return to soccer would show that teams don’t care he is gay, but that he is a talented soccer player and can help them succeed. Chicago will definitely have suitors for Rogers’ rights once he returns.
Phil Naegely is a Soccer writer for www.RantSports.com. Like him on Facebook, follow him on Twitter @pnaegelyRS and add him to your circles on Google.
