Oh, Canada Gets Herculez!

Herculez Gomez will now play in Canada for Toronto FC, making him a true North American soccer player, now that he has plied his trade in clubs located in all of the countries that make up NAFTA. 

Having been in Canada recently, I can vouch that it's a cool spot.

 And Herc has always been a cool dude. 

Thus, it should be a good combination. 

Herculean Effort at Understanding

It's probably the headline of this piece quoting Herculez Gomez on yet-uncapped Mexican-American Ventura Alvarado that threw me off a bit. 

Herc, who played in the 2010 World Cup with the USA, is as red-white-and-true-blue as they come, encouraging other young Mexican-Americans like Paul Arriola to cast their lot with the USA. But I remember years ago asking a young, as-yet-uncapped Herc about his chances with Mexico - and yes, he was open to that possibility. Mexico never came calling, but the USA did. Thus, I was surprised that he would judge Ventura (a bit harshly, I thought) for doing something similar - saying he was undecided as to his final choice, but open at this point to both countries. 

I tweeted that opinion and then went on to do something else. While I was gone, Herc responded in a couple of tweets. But on my phone, this was the first one that popped up. 

@soccercanales get offended. I can’t control how the media spins it. Or how much of the interview the decide to print.
— herculez gomez (@herculezg) March 4, 2015

While I thought it was odd that Herc would tell me, "Get offended," I figured it was short for "I can't control if people get offended," or something. 

@soccercanales I never said you were offended. I’m confused as to what your gripe is. Respectfully speaking.
— herculez gomez (@herculezg) March 4, 2015

Now I was confused. I scrolled down and saw that the first Tweet I responded to was actually the second part of another one. 

@soccercanales never judged him.. Told the reporter I once felt the same, but you need to think things through before u speak. Fan bases can
— herculez gomez (@herculezg) March 4, 2015

So Herc was explaining that there was more to the quote in the article and he was actually cautioning Ventura about possibly offending fans, not really blasting him at all. Now it was my turn to try to explain. 

@soccercanales for some reason Twitter separated the tweets. They’re not connected (in responses) . Even though they’re on both TL. Weird.
— herculez gomez (@herculezg) March 4, 2015

Herc was pretty forgiving about it all. 

@soccercanales haha no worries. I was getting confused myself. Saludos Andrea!
— herculez gomez (@herculezg) March 4, 2015

  Ultimately, Ventura Alvarado will have to make his choice - like Herc and Omar Gonzalez, Joe Corona and many others to come. Honestly, I think part of the fun of the rivalry involving the USA and Mexico is watching what happens with those choices. 

Xolos - Puebla, Liga MX Running Blog

This game is slightly delayed on the Azteca America channel I'm watching, but hey, I'll survive. 

1 - Benedetto and Pellerano attack, earn a Xolos corner, than another.
2 - Beasley is backed up by ref - too close to corner. Benedetto scores!
3 - Dude is a scoring machine. I think Arce sent the ball in. Benedetto scored via header near post.
4 - I think Orozco should have been marking Benedetto. Ooops.

Venezuela Vino

My best friend is from Venezuela, and the news of unrest in that country has grown. I was curious if it affected Cesar Farias, the Venezuelan Xolos coach who previously coached the country's national team, known as the La Vinotino for their burgundy uniforms. 

I didn't get to ask Farias himself if he was following the protests, but I did ask Herculez Gomez if the coach seemed concerned or worried about the events in his home country. 

"No, he’s a pro about that. I don’t think he’s ever brought it up."

Media A-Changing

I may not have noticed if I wasn't sick and lying in bed surfing the Internet a lot, but my blog post on Herc's quotes got a lot of attention. 

Here's the NBC Sports story on it. 

Here's the MLSsoccer story on it. 

I mean, I figured it might be on a message board somewhere, with a link to this blog and then people would discuss it here. But there isn't a single comment on that post on SV. The story on the MLS site has around a hundred (and counting!).

Maybe people didn't comment here on SV or even come over, though both the articles included the link, because the quotes used were so numerous and complete, they didn't feel they had to bother. 

Who knows. It's not that I'm mad, but it's more that I'm noting how things have changed. It used to be that soccer fans would check several places for bits of news and post them to other fans via message boards, but now regular websites have editors who search the web for those kind of stories. Whether it's an article written about what a soccer player posted on Twitter, or what a freelancer posts on her blog, they're on it to make a story out of it. 

Incidentally, some fans have really reacted to Herc about the quotes on Twitter, wishing for him to tear his ACL, even. Part of me thinks it's because of the way the stories were packaged. I put what Herc said on my blog without a lot of comment, but both articles presented it as "ooooooh! Look what "inciendiary" "calling out" Herc is doing".  That's teeing it up to provoke.

Then people wonder why players don't want to say anything non-generic to the press. 

So folks, how do you like the media shift?  Thoughts? 

Xolos Left Over

I was at the Wednesday Xolos - Galaxy CONCACAF Champions League match. 

I am sick today. 

Possibly not related. I'm in the middle of finals week where I teach and everyone is tired and stressed. 

It was a nice game with lots of action despite the relatively modest goal total. Galaxy won 1-0. 

I wrote a feature for ESPN.FC that will hopefully be posted later today. 

I got a few good quotes on my ancient minirecorder that I will post here, though. One highlight was that Herculez Gomez came over to say hi and ask me how I was. It's always nice to be remembered. 

Herc had a lot to say, so here's some of what didn't make the article. 

Herc

On the number of TJ fans at match

I think it was disappointing for L.A. You can’t claim to be one of the best fanbases and the flagship team of the league and get shown up like this. I’m sure their players feel disappointed.

On if the support surprised him

No, I’m not surprised. I expected it. We’re really popular. People keep saying MLS should go to San Diego, but that’s maybe not such a good idea.

On the Galaxy/TJ rivalry: 

I’m sure if the ownership groups and the marketing had their way, it would  be huge. 

On the game atmosphere: 

A few thousand people shouting one way, a few thousand people another way, that’s not a good atmosphere.

On playing in Estadio Caliente:

That’s going to be a good atmosphere.

On the match: 

I thought we were lucky in the first half not to be down 3-0. I do feel we reacted well in the second half. We played with a great sense of urgency, but it was too little, too late, especially at this level.

On if TJ was unlucky not to score:

Absolutely, but that’s the way football goes. You have to give them credit for looking for it in the first half. Maybe in the second half they weren’t very proactive offensively, but they did enough to get the result. It’s maybe not the best result they would have hoped for, but it’s still a result.

On importance of tourney:

When I came to TJ., it was made very clear to me that they wanted to win trophies. They wanted to be an international team. They wanted to compete. They loved that I brought that experience, that I’ve been in this tournament before, that I’ve played at the Club World Cup. I immediately took to that and thought that’s something that I wanted to be a part of. I think that’s great. I relate to that.

Is chip on shoulder the key to scoring vs MLS teams in the CCC:

There’s a chip on my shoulder that I didn’t get more time today, that’s for sure. I think you should maybe know your players better. This is a tournament that I get up for. I’ve done a lot of things that have been positive in this tournament. I would have loved to have had more time. I was proactive, I was getting looks, it just wasn’t enough. I would have loved to have done more.

On happy LA memories:

Absolutely. I love LA. They gave me a chance and an opportunity when not many would. I still have a house here.

Great American Hope

Herculez Gomez will play at Estadio Azteca tonight for Estudiantes. Azteca is of course the most hallowed ground in all of Mexico. One of the nation's most popular club teams plays there as America calls Azteca home. But more significantly, Azteca is home to the Mexican national team.

Azteca though has been conquered by Americans before - at least individually. The U.S. has always done miserably there but Eddie Lewis and Charlie Davies have scored goals there in World Cup qualifying matches.

But have any Americans scored there in a club game? Might Herculez become the first American to score there for a club team?

No.

If he scores there, it will be a great accomplishment both for himself and for Americans abroad. But he will join a list that has already been started.

Cle Kooiman scored for Cruz Azul in a Clasico Joven at Estadio Azteca on Nov. 29, 1992. Match stats here. Funny thing is, the Ontario, Calif.-born Kooiman scored three goals during his career in Mexico and one of them happened to be in Azteca.

But is Kooiman the only American to ever score a goal at the Azteca for a club team? I don't even know if that information exists as to how many Americans have scored goals for club teams there but so far Kooiman is the only one I can think of or discovered when researching it.

Kooiman was a bit of an oddity. He captained Cruz Azul during his time there, in the early 1990s. For an American to be on such a high-profile Mexican club then was very rare but to be captain... I remember finding out that he was American. One of my aunts - a staunch Cruz Azul supporter to this day - defended him and said he was one of their toughest players and how she was a big fan of is. I wonder if she had that defensive position right away because Azul fans had to defend an American as captain or if she just had a thing for the guy and stuck up for him because of that.

Anyway, Kooiman so far as in the list, and Herculez Gomez could make that at least two Americans who've broken through at Azteca for a club team.

Herc's real space

And now a break from the David Beckham coverage...

---
Herculez Gomez posted a bulletin on myspace.com regarding imposter sites. Apparently, there have been some fake Herc sites posted and people have been duped into thinking that Herc was big-timing them.

His real myspace.com page is at myspace.com/herculezgomez.
---

Now back to our regularly scheduled program.

Herc fans in the house

Herculez Gomez made a definite impression on Galaxy fans in 2005 and they haven't forgotten his heart and effort. This sign is hanging at tonight's Galaxy/Revs game.

First name wonders

Ok, so the tracking of the first name players versus Herculez Gomez was actually a contest this week. Interestingly, I'm thinking that Herc probably doesn't mind too much that he's got some company, since both of the players who scored are old teammates of his.

Herculez - 2 (Should've been 3, but you've gotta wait for the whistle, Herc!)

First-namers

Ezra - 1
Cobi - 1
Fred - 0
Thiago - 0
Sinisa - 0

Herculez in disguise?

The comment on the end of this article by Mark Zeigler made me wonder if it could have been left a former player from San Diego. Herculez Gomez used to play for the Guachos and the San Diego Sockers.

For that matter, Hugo Sanchez once played for the Sockers as well.

But the comment implied that person is still working for an MLS team. Of course, it could just be a ticket-seller who left the message. It's no fun to imagine that, though.

Sound off on MLS names

Soccer365 doesn't usually post a lot of reader reaction, but this time, they did.

First name - no goals

Well, the Herculez Gomez count versus those given special permission (or those who just decided it was better to ask for forgiveness than permission) to have their first names on the back of their jerseys continues.

Herculez = 2

Fred = 0
Thiago = 0
Cobi = 0
Sinisa = 0

I'll also add that if the league wants to make the jerseys look professional, they need to do something about Dave van den Bergh. The letters look like they are falling down his back. What sense does it make to group them like that also: van denb ergh?

On one hand, if I'm a Colorado Rapids fan, I'd want hardworking Herc to get rewarded for his effort and either get the first name exception or I'd want MLS to be consistent and not make special arrangements for any of its players. On the other hand, if this is the way Herc plays when he's a little pissed off and looking to prove something to the world, maybe I secretly hope the league continues to slight him by denying him the use of Herculez on his shirt.

The Fight for Herculez

Someone got organized and political about protesting the league's new policies and their "exceptions".

Background info here.

Herculez, Herculez, Herculez

After I finished writing up my article on MLS granting certain players uniform exceptions and others not, I had a few leftover Herculez Gomez quotes. So if there's any Colorado Rapids fans checking out the blog, enjoy.

Herculez

On moving to the midfield and taking on 10 as his new number:

“I want to change – I want to be a different player. Coach wants me to play midfield; he wants me to play winger. I want to be that player who takes people on, who is quick with the dribble, who is going to use his feet, who is going to have that nose for goal. There are players all around the world who do that and I want to be that guy. It just so happened that number 10 was available and I thought that this could be a really big challenge for me. Accepting this number is a big responsibility. This is the year that I want to change things not only for myself, but in the city of Denver, Colorado. I think great things are happening here and people are starting to take notice. It’s definitely a big responsibility, but one that I feel I’m up for.”

On joining Colorado:

“I’ve got a great group of guys here. Everybody here is just awesome, They roll up their sleeves and they get down to it. They’re full of grit and full of heart. There’s a great feeling, being on a team that’s full of passion.”

On any #10s that he admires:

“I definitely look up to Diego Maradona, how he handled the ball. Anything he wanted to do, he could do. These days, I enjoy watching Cristiano Ronaldo. I’m trying to study the guy and pick up things. He’s just so exciting and a joy to watch. Players like that – that people like to watch, is the player that I want to be. I know it’s going to take a lot of work. It’s going to take a whole new mental thing, restructuring the way I’ve been taught as a forward into working as a midfielder, but I’ve got good people around me that are helping me do that.”

The Plot - it thickens

Ok, maybe there's no plot per se, but I'm still confused. I just got off the phone with Daniel Jankowski, the Chicago Fire press officer. He was returning my call about Thiago, answering whether or not the league had forced him to comply with the new regulations that don't allow first names on the back of jerseys.

"Thiago is wearing Thiago," Jankowski confirmed. "He was "grandfathered" under the rules that allowed him to use his first name before these new regulations were implemented, according to our equipment manager."

Of course, Thiago joined the league in 2005 - the same year Herculez Gomez reentered the league, and both wore their first names on their jerseys that season.

I'd thought that Thiago was getting the "Brazilian exception" given DC United's Fred, (though Thiago wasn't mentioned as one of the "two exceptions" in the league email denying Herculez the right to use his first name).

Now, according to the Fire, it's not because Thiago is Brazilian, it's because he's used his first name on his jersey since 2005. Except that's exactly what Herculez has done as well.

Something stinks. The league doesn't even have agreement on this issue among the teams.

What's in a name?

When I was in school, "calling someone out of their name" as the practice was termed, was considered a really personal insult. People identify strongly with what they prefer to go by.

I first asked Herculez Gomez about his name back in 2005, though a lot of what I wrote then got cut for the espn.com article that eventually ran.

--Herculean Start
To begin with, he nearly wasn’t Herculez at all.

“My dad fought with my mom and the nurses to name me Herculez,” explained Gomez. “He really liked the name. He wanted to give me something strong - something that would stand out.”

"Mom’s objections were that it was very out of the ordinary. But I was the first born son, and my dad wanted the name. She’d get to name the next two girls.”

Gomez admitted his mother’s concerns were partly justified.“I was definitely getting teased a lot as a kid, but that’s part of growing up. As I got older and as I stood out a little more, people started telling me they liked the name. I learned to like it.”--

Having his first name on his jersey is something that Herculez had done for years, so I was surprised to get a general media email from Herc's agent, David Kim, that Herculez wasn't going to be allowed by the league to do that any longer.

I decided to call Herculez about the situation. After he picked up, I realized - well, he told me, actually, that some Rapids players were at his place, where they were all watching the Champions League games. According to his former Galaxy roommates, Herculez is a mean cook, by the way. In Colorado, he'd made carne asada for the get-together. Anyway, as we're talking, Chelsea scores, and Herculez gloats to all his visitors that he called that Chelsea would strike.

"Never bet against a guy from Vegas," he said.

I felt badly about interupting, so I asked him to call me later.

When he did, he told me that he hadn't understood what I was talking about at first because he didn't know his agent was going to send an email about the situation.

Herculez then admitted that the league's denial hurt partly because he felt that the organization was telling him he didn't merit any consideration, when players such as DC United's Fred, who haven't been in the league before, got exceptions.

It used to be that teams would individually set policy - and the Rapids had no problem with Herculez being Herculez. They supported him completely in that.

The thing is, Herculez going by his first name actually helped MLS fans differentiate a bit, because another famous Gomez, Christian, in the league. So people could say, "Didn't Herculez have a great game?" without the confusion that might ensue if they used his last name.

So far, by the way, Fred, who was somehow considered more deserving than Herculez, has 0 goals, while Herculez has one goal against Fred's team.

The league clamping down on this seems to be a reaction to the idea that more eyes will be on the league this year. They want to be taken seriously, apparently, and are willing to snuff out both individuality and team autonomy to do so. It's a shame.

History of Herc

Just to remind those who might have been surprised by Herculez Gomez and his performance for the Rapids on Saturday - it's not the first time he's impressed.

Of course, 2005 was a magic year for him and the Galaxy. Though he had five goals in 2006, Herc struggled a bit, too. He seems revived with the Rapids.

A tip for those who haven't noticed it yet - his first name ends with a "z", just like his last name.