Robbie Rogers has become the first openly gay soccer player to take the field in a U.S. professional league.
He was put into the Major League Soccer game — Los Angeles Galaxy versus Seattle Sounders — on Sunday night as a substitute, The Associated Press reported. His Galaxy team won, 4-0.
“I guess this is a historic thing,” he told the AP, “but for me it was just a soccer game.”
The crowd of nearly 25,000 gave him a loud round of applause as he entered the game, while at least one of his teammates, Landon Donovan, recognized him for his openness.
“Because of the nature of the way sports has been for so many years — the macho culture that’s been embraced by everybody — it’s of interest to everybody,” Mr. Donovan said in the AP report. “Now, hopefully, the hype about it is over, and he can get back to being a soccer player, which is what he wants to do.”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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