It has been just over two years since Robbie Rogers returned to the soccer field on May 26, 2013, just three months after announcing his retirement and coming out as gay.
But in that short time, he has seen, felt and helped accomplish change.
"Just a couple of years ago, there were no 'out' athletes," Rogers told ESPN FC's Bernardo Osuna in an interview ahead of Wednesday's game against the Portland Timbers (11pm ET, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes in US, TSN2 in Canada). "It's crazy how quickly the landscape changes."
Rogers, now a regular at left back for the defending MLS Cup champions, will speak to fans following Wednesday's game at StubHub Center as part of the Galaxy's Pride Night. It is just part of Rogers' busy public profile, including publication of a book, that he said slowed him down briefly upon his initial return to the game.
"I was so busy doing appearances and interviews and all this different stuff that I didn't actually enjoy the game that first year," he said. "I was trying to be comfortable with being the only gay soccer player and the only gay guy on my team. At first, I kind of struggled with it. Then last year I realized that it didn't really matter, that nobody on my team cares. I focused on being a good soccer player, because I felt that that would be more of a statement."
Rogers' public presence has inspired countless others, including an old foe, former San Jose Earthquakes player Matt Hatzke, who came out in a piece published on Outsports.com this week and said that in Rogers, he "finally felt that [he] had a role model," one whose story made a profound impact.
Appropriately enough, after facing Portland on Wednesday, the Galaxy will travel to take on their California rivals, the San Jose Earthquakes, at Stanford Stadium on Saturday (10:30 pm ET, MLS LIVE) and at Avaya Stadium on Wedneday, July 1, in the US Open Cup (10:30pm ET, YouTube).
