CARSON, Calif. – To understand the evolution of Robbie Rogers as a person and as a soccer player, one must recognize his ability to consistently reinvent himself.
Just two years ago, Rogers made international headlines when he came out and subsequently announced his retirement in a heartfelt letter that displayed the raw emotion of a man who had hid his true self for his entire life.
Less than six months later, Rogers was back on the field for the LA Galaxy en route to becoming the first openly gay athlete to play in a major American professional sport. Soon after making sports history, Rogers and noted author Eric Marcus set forth upon writing his autobiography Coming out to Play which hit finally bookshelves last November.
However, his first campaign with the Galaxy proved to be a difficult one as he was limited by injuries and inconsistent performances, which quickly turned him into the object of scorn among Galaxy fans after he was acquired for club favorite Mike Magee.
At the time, it seemed like Rogers’ career in Los Angeles was hanging by a thread.
But in 2014, the 27-year-old found new life after a successful transition from the midfield to left back, which allowed Rogers the chance to not only rediscover his form on the field but more importantly his peace of mind off of it.
“I feel happier now and more calm and peaceful. I’ve kind of recreated myself the past three years. I mean, three years of evolution, I’m like David Bowie,” Rogers told LAGalaxy.com flashing a smile. “I just feel more peaceful now. I know who I am and so does everyone else.”
The fact that Rogers’ compares himself to a figure like Bowie is of little surprise as both musicians and athletes understand that their sense of reinvention is the primary key to longevity.
“Last year was insane. It is weird looking back because I had all these goals and a lot of them were accomplished. I won a championship, I contributed in a way that I want to contribute on the field, and the book for me was a success,” said Rogers who embarked on a nationwide book tour just hours after winning MLS Cup. “This year, I just really want to focus on soccer and become one of the best outside backs in the league. I know that everyone feels that we have such a good team with a strong core group. I want to continue to grow and become one of those core guys. I’m really enjoying myself.”
Despite Rogers’ fariy tale 2014 season, it’s been a difficult journey for the now happy-go-lucky defender.
In Rogers’ book, he details the years of introversion and denial that turned even moments of supposed happiness into frustration. Perhaps no moment best captures Rogers’ own difficulties than his celebration after winning the 2008 MLS Cup with the Columbus Crew in his hometown of Los Angeles.
Whereas the rest of his team were partying till the wee hours of the evening, Rogers quickly excused himself from the party and found himself alone simply wondering what was missing from his life.
“I was home by 10 or 11 and in my bed at my parent’s house sleeping. I remember thinking ‘what is missing? This is one of the biggest nights of my career and I should be out partying, making bad decisions and being a goof.’ But I was home in bed and ready to call it a night,” Rogers remembers. “In 2014, it was different because when my family came onto the field, I was in tears and I was able to celebrate with them and just really be myself and be emotional and be in touch with all of that. Afterward, we went to the [team] party and I was dancing, having fun and joking just totally comfortable with myself and who I am.”
For those that know him best, like Rogers’ college and club teammate, A.J. DeLaGarza this change in his spirit has been a profound and welcome one.
“We were freshman and he was still one of the best players in all of college soccer. He always had that skill but I’m sure that everything off the field was driving him crazy,” DeLaGarza said. “He wasn’t playing much [in 2013] and was injured so when all that cleared, and there wasn’t as many stories [in the media] about him then he was able to play—with a clear head—you saw the caliber of player that he is when he’s got no weight on his shoulder. He’s a pretty good player.”
Veteran left back Todd Dunivant, whose frequent injuries in 2014 allowed Rogers to find his place on the field, added that Rogers’ adaption to LA was always in the cards once he overcame the injuries that hindered him during his maddening first season at StubHub Center.
“How you integrate with a team is by being comfortable on the field. The more that he’s done that then the more he’s become a real part of the team,” Dunivant said. “The biggest thing is that he’s been healthy. When you’re out of form like that and just constantly fighting to be healthy, it’s just such a struggle to take your game to another level. Once he did that and found that rhythm then he was off and running again. He’s always been a good player and it just took him a little bit to find that form.”
Rogers' successful reinvention as a left back a year ago not only earned him considerable plaudits from fans, teammates and media, but also made him a candidate to return to the U.S. National Team for the first time since 2012. That call-up never came, however, as U.S. boss Jurgen Klinsmann opted to bring in a youth-laden squad to the team's annual winter training camp in Carson, leaving Rogers on the outside.
His exclusion by Klinsmann quickly became a national story due to the close relationship between the pair during Rogers' formative years. The media focus stemmed from Klinsmann not returning repeated e-mails from Rogers after his coming out announcement, which became a major talking point in the Galaxy defender’s book.
A speculated rift between Klinsmann and Rogers soon became a hot topic resulting in a back-and-forth discussion in the media that left the Galaxy star frustrated as he sought to mend fences with the U.S. boss.
“It was just stupid. I think that it was stupid that it became a back-and-forth in the press. It’s not about soccer, it’s about me and my relationships,” Rogers said. “Anyone that has read my book knows that I love soccer, but if there was one thing that I cherish more, it’s my family, my friends and my relationships. But Jurgen and I have shared a few emails, and we’ll talk now which is a good thing. The book did its job.
“This was something that when I was writing the book was bothering me, but last year, I didn’t think about it once. If the people close to me knew what I wrote in the book, they wouldn’t even ask me because they knew that I was over it. I never think about it anymore and the only thing that I thought was dumb was going back in forth in the press rather than having a conversation. I’m sure that he feels the same way. We both don’t have time for that kind of stuff."
The Klinsmann chapter closed, Rogers must now turn his focus back to a Galaxy side that may ask him to reinvent himself once more heading into the 2015 campaign.
With Dunivant finally healthy and DeLaGarza an option in central defense, Rogers may transition to the right side of defense for the 2015 campaign. Such a switch is likely to be a smooth one for the defender who is naturally right-footed and has already seen minutes along the right flank during the club’s preseason.
But whether it’s at right back or left back, Rogers just wants to be remembered for his play on the field.
“Legacy wise, people will think of the fact that I went to the White House and President Obama talked about how I am one of the first gay players. That will always be spoken about when my name comes up, but last year and this year; I haven’t thought much about it,” Rogers said. “But even when Obama talked about that, I was just surprised and shocked because I really don’t consciously think of myself as a gay athlete anymore.
“That’s why I’ve enjoyed the sport so much more than before when I thought that ‘oh, I’m the gay one.’ Not that it is a bad thing, but now I can just enjoy my sport and not think about it. I think that as time goes on and hopefully I can stay healthy and contribute then hopefully people will just start to think of me as a great outside back.”
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
