Robbie Rogers continues to make headlines and history as the first out male athlete playing in a professional sports league. The LA Galaxy player sat down with CBS This Morning to discuss the happenings inside and outside the locker room since coming out.
On the locker room culture in England versus America:
The locker room there was brutal [in England]. I mean, awesome guys. I wouldn’t say they’re homophobic, I’d say that pack mentality is a bit malicious. But here you know, there’s the banter, there’s the jokes, and sometimes you can hear things that get quite malicious and that’s what kind of scars you and builds that fear.
On the future of prospect of gay athletes:
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Once athletes figure out that or realize that they won’t be treated any differently, and that they’ll be judged on their performance, just like any athlete, then I think they’ll all feel free to be open with people.
On whether or not he would encourage other athletes to come out:
I’d be a hypocrite if I pressured people into coming out because it took me a while, 25 years. What I’d love is for different athletes to come out and then they could reach Middle America. They are the heroes in Tennessee or in different areas, these basketball and football and baseball players. Soccer’s getting bigger. It’s the biggest sport in the world but not in the United States, so my platform isn’t as big as these guys. So I’d love that, but I can’t pressure them into doing it.
MikeE
He’s 26… it didn’t take him “25 years to come out”. Let’s at least not spout nonsense.
Hankreal
He is an amazing athlete ! That’s what it’s all about! not who he loves
Kieran
Robbie Rogers….professional athlete, all-American, good looking,
well-spoken, intelligent, the dream son or son-in-law……. openly gay.
Robbie Rogers is a homophobes worst nightmare come true.
Katbox
Fuck david beckham. This guy has it all. Nice teeth lips eyes eyebrows hair and no stupid tattoos. Lucky guy.
rcs831
@Kieran: He’s English. How could he be All-American?
RichieW
I whole heartedly agree with Kieran… I hope this is the beginning of many athletes
coming out. Once it is known in sport and accepted, society as a whole will begin
to accept it, much more than today.
yaoming
@rcs831:
He’;s English? The interwebs say he was born in California.
Anyway, dude’s a dreamboat and Kieran is right: RR is a homophobe’s worst nightmare come true – a great (gay) role model for all the soccer-playing youth of America.
yaoming
Soccer-Playing Youth: “Dad, when I grow up, I want to be like Robbie!”
Billysees
This is what is sorely needed in the world today.
Noteworthy folks who aren’t afraid to “come out”.
miagoodguy
He has a good publicist I think.
mlbumiller
@rcs831:
Get your fact stright first. I was reported when he left soccer on a English team he was an Ameriacan. A simple lookup on the internet
Robert Hampton “Robbie” Rogers is an American professional soccer player who plays for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer. He plays as either a winger or as a second striker.
Born: May 12, 1987 (age 26), Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Height: 5′ 10″ (1.78 m)
Team: LA Galaxy (#14 / Midfielder)
Siblings: Alicia Rogers, Timothy Rogers, Katie Rose Rogers, Nicole Camilla Rogers
Parents: Theresa Rogers, Robert Hampton Rogers II
Education: Mater Dei High School, University of Maryland, College Park
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robbie_Rogers read read read your Wikipedia
mlbumiller
@rcs831:
Get your fact stright first. I was reported when he left soccer on a English team he was an Ameriacan. A simple lookup on the internet
Robert Hampton “Robbie” Rogers is an American professional soccer player who plays for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer. He plays as either a winger or as a second striker.
Born: May 12, 1987 (age 26), Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Height: 5′ 10″ (1.78 m)
Education: Mater Dei High School, University of Maryland, College Park
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robbie_Rogers read read read your Wikipedia