You might consider it a badge of adulthood in the LA Galaxy empire: Sitting down for a personal one-on-one with Cobi Jones.
The Galaxy original and US national team icon is still closely involved in the club he helped build, serving a television analyst and the host of LAGalaxy.com’s “Cobi’s Corner,” a series of in-depth and behind-the-scenes video features on the five-time MLS Cup champions.
Last week Jones focused on LA’s hottest, newest young talent, 18-year-old attacker Bradford Jamieson IV, delving into the Homegrown product’s background and rise.
Signed to an HGP contract last year, Jamieson has rewarded LA’s faith with steady improvement that has earned him four MLS starts in 2015. He took another step forward with a superbly-taken goal in a nationally-televised showdown at the New York Red Bulls on April 26, and will soon depart the Galaxy to travel to the FIFA U-20 World Cup as a member of coach Tab Ramos’ US squad.
“It's a good feeling, always, to be acknowledged for something that you've worked hard for. To get a goal in a game that was pretty big, on ESPN, it felt good, obviously,” Jamieson told Jones of his debut MLS strike. “You don't want to let those things overwhelm you don't want to look into it too much, but it's nice to live in a moment like that.”
He also admitted that the rest of that evening was spent on his phone, answering to countless congratulatory phone calls, texts, emails, Snapchats and Instagram messages.
“It’s heartwarming. Some people, I didn't have their number saved,” said Jamieson. “I was like, ‘I can't give them a real sincere thank-you because I don't even know who it is!’”
Jamieson also revealed the value of his USL stint with Galaxy II, recalled the moment at which he gained a place in the senior team’s locker room and explained his approach to the multiple roles he’s already been asked to play in his budding pro career. It’s an conversation worth watching, for both Galaxy and USMNT fanatics.
