Robby Rogers, openly gay soccer player, makes debut for L.A. Galaxy
Phil Collin, Los Angeles Daily News
Robbie Rogers walked down the hallway at Home Depot Center and carried the confident posture of a professional athlete.
That was on the outside, just a little more than an hour before he was in position to make history.
A day had passed since the Galaxy had announced the acquisition of Rogers, who was coming out of retirement and the closet. He had spent a whirlwind Saturday at a press conference that announced his arrival.
Now he was preparing for his return to Major League Soccer, this time as an openly gay player.
"When I left yesterday I just wanted to be by myself, just kind of get away from everybody," Rogers said. "Then I saw some friends, had dinner with them; it was great to get away from soccer a little, not focus on it.
"Then waking up this morning it was totally fine, just going though my game-day routine. I was excited."
By this time, the fans were filing in but it was business as usual. They were there to see the Galaxy win, they were there to perhaps see Rogers, who was replacing fan favorite Mike Magee, who was traded to Chicago in the deal.
Magee, who made a habit of scoring clutch goals for the Galaxy since 2009, led the Galaxy this season with six goals. But as Galaxy coach/general manager Bruce Arena and team president Chris Klein negotiated, Magee saw a move to his hometown of Chicago would be the right fit.
"We never would have done anything that would have torn our team apart," Klein said.
"We're not naive to the situation but this never was about that. We never would have made a deal just because of the fact that Robbie was gay, and the flip side, we wouldn't have not made a deal because of it. It was just normal.
"We had other things in there like Mike Magee being from Chicago and wanting to go home. You don't always have those situations, but we've always been an organization that takes very good care of our players and Bruce has always been a coach that doesn't hold people back. So when Mike indicated he would want to go home, it sort of made it easier on us.
"It was never our intention to trade Mike Magee to Chicago or anywhere else for that matter. But his desire made it something we were OK to do."
Rogers was aware of all that surrounded him.
"A few hours before I got here I was nervous and scared, I don't know why," Rogers said. "I've played in thousands of games, but this once does feel a little different to me.
"Once I got here, it's been normal, fine, not nervous, just an excitement and eagerness."
Did he have any idea what kind of reception awaited him?
"No clue," he said. "I don't know. It's a great question. I know my family and friends are here supporting me."
Rogers went out and warmed up with the team. It was just another warmup, and Rogers had his wish. He was being treated like a regular soccer player.
He wasn't in the starting lineup, but he was among the reserves who could be called upon by Arena, who has three substitutions allowed per game.
Rogers already was picturing his return to the field and what it would mean.
"First I go out there to try to help the team, but maybe after the game it will be a bit emotional to me because it's been quite a journey for me," Rogers said. "It's been a long road.
"In the moment, I'll just be excited to play but after that, we'll see."
The last time he appeared in an MLS game was in 2011 with the Columbus Crew. The only MLS coach he ever played for, Sigi Schmid, stood across the away as coach of the Sounders.
Schmid, the former Galaxy coach, once had Rogers kick the ball around when Rogers was a kid.
"I'll just give Sigi a hug," Rogers said. "I've known Sigi since I was 6, 7 years old so it'll be great to see him. I'm sure I'll talk to him tonight."