This is Robbie Rogers.
Robbie Rogers is 25 years old.
He’s a helluva soccer player. He won an MLS Cup with Columbus, was a member of the US soccer team at the Beijing Olympics, and has played 18 times for the US Men’s National Soccer Team.
Today, on his blog and on Twitter, Robbie Rogers eloquently and emotionally revealed that he’s gay, and that he’s stepping away from soccer: http://www.therobbierogers.com/
The reaction from current and former teammates and the soccer community has been extensive and extremely supportive–the consistent cry has been, “PLEASE DON’T GO!”
From me, too. I would love nothing more than for Robbie Rogers to return to soccer and play in MLS, the first openly gay professional athlete active in any major sport in the US. I’d love for him to enjoy a breakout season and make the 2014 World Cup squad. For him, and for the statement it would make about the league, the sport, its fans, and this country’s readiness to confront the civil rights issue of our time.
Maybe he’ll return and do just that some day. Or maybe he’s decided his time in soccer is over, and that he’s ready for new challenges and new joys in his life.
Whatever he chooses to do, this brave young man will have millions cheering for his success and happiness.
UPDATE: The league’s site now has a compendium of supportive Tweets for Rogers, from a host of current and former players. The LEAGUE’S SITE. Makes me proud to be an MLS fan. If reading these Tweets doesn’t make your Friday, I don’t know what will. Maybe beer? But definitely combine the two for the best results: http://bit.ly/VlmiuL
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