Gary A. Vasquez – USA TODAY Sports
For the last three months or so, Robbie Rogers had a busy and somewhat chaotic life. He came out via his personal blog, retired from soccer, and had now returned to the sport he loves.
Tonight was the night many sports fans and gay rights activists had been waiting for. The first openly gay male athlete has now played on an American professional team. For Rogers, he entered in front of 24,811 and a national audience on ESPN2.
The support has been overwhelming from fans, players, coaches and others throughout the sports world. It was a special night that will most likely be remembered up there with Jackie Robinson becoming the first African-American to play sports.
Rogers’ coming back to the MLS and soccer is something to be cherished by everyone. It shows that we now live in a society that has become more accepting of who you are.
For Rogers, a weight has been lifted off his shoulders. The L.A. Galaxy traded for Rogers in exchange for Mike Magee not because he was gay, but because of his soccer skills and his potential. No longer will a person’s sexuality be judged, but their skill will be the deciding factor of whether they play or not.
Before the match tonight, the Seattle Sounders‘ coach hugged Rogers pregame, and then in the 77th minute, Galaxy supporters and those sitting at home cheered Rogers onto the field. Rogers only played 13 minutes, but his return to soccer has just begun. In the next coming days and weeks, Rogers will now consistently train with his team and work towards becoming match fit.
Magee was a goal-scoring machine for the Galaxy, but it is unfair to judge who won the Rogers-Magee trade before Rogers is match fit. That moment should come in the next few weeks or so, and we will watch keenly as Rogers tries to become the player he was.
His last MLS stint occurred in 2011 with the Columbus Crew, and Rogers is looking to return to that form. If he can do that, the Galaxy have found a versatile midfielder that ends more depth to a skillful squad.
Before we know it, Rogers could be starting for the Galaxy and fighting for a spot on the U.S. Men’s National Team.
