Since a lot of people in SoCal -and the rest of America for that matter- think that LA soccer begins and ends with Goldenballs, it's a good time for Grahame L. Jones of the LA Times to remind folks who the O.G. of the Galaxy is. With his club's unlikely comeback and Beckham's long awaited comeback looming, it will be easy for his anticipated retirement at the end of this season to get lost in the shuffle, forgotten about until after the fact.
Grahame L. Jones won't forget though. On a personal level my older brother & I certainly won't forget, because for 2 soccer-loving black kids growing up in Texas in 1994 Cobi Jones was a near deity; he was the footie equivalent of Living Colour (the rock band) and In Living Color (the sketch TV show)....someone who looked like us doing stuff we'd never seen people like us doing.
And what's he done? How about reping for the Yanks at the Barcelona Olympics and the 1994, 1998, AND 2002 World Cups. How about suiting up for a record 164 U.S. caps in 28 different countries. He has played a record 349 games for the Galaxy, his only MLS club, which he has been with since the first year of the league. He also has a team record 76 goals and 104 assists. He scored the first-ever Galaxy goal and helped Los Angeles win two MLS titles, the U.S. Open Cup and the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
In New York some people refer to Clint Mathis as "13 Legend". I've only met Mathis once, but I'm reasonably sure that he wouldn't mind sharing a nickname with another number 13. So let it begin here...Cobi Jones, 13 Legend.
14 comments:
Well, since I got a shout out in the piece, I'll go first. =-)
Cobi Jones was a major player in my coming up. Whenever someone would tell me that American blacks didn't play soccer, I could point to Cobi and tell them to shove off. So Cobi, thanks for being 'that' guy.
Monty C. Francis
I agree with the first comment. Back in the 90's Cobi was always the guy I pointed out when people said black people didn't play soccer. Cobi was one of my favorite players and always will be.
I agree with the first comment. Back in the 90's Cobi was always the guy I pointed out when people said black people didn't play soccer. Cobi was one of my favorite players and always will be.
Regardless of color, the man was well spoken, well read and over-time we've seen him not rely on his excellent athleticism, but in-fact, have seen a creative, hard-working, and a top-notch competitor and footballer.
Although I have never liked LA, when they came to town, I'd show up and watch him play and cheer him on.
Obama/Cobi in '08.
With numbers like his Cobi is the real "Captain America".
I knew Cobi was well-respected, but I didn't know he was such a legend. Good to hear about.
Cobi is just a class act and an American soccer hero. Pure and simple.
The man is an American pioneer and one of the most capped players of all time from any nation. For me, the most lasting image of Cobi will not be scoring, passing, blowing by somebody on the wing, or even lifting the MLS Cup. My most lasting image will be the level-headedness he showed, despite taking a physical pounding, while running out the clock against Mexico in the World Cup.
If I remember properly, he's one of the guys who came back to the US from overseas (Brazil?) to kick-off the first MLS season. Thats fucking legend right there.
He's more like the Bad Brains, as hardcore as ever and still teaching the kids how to do it right. He's got the right hair, too.
"My most lasting image will be the level-headedness he showed, despite taking a physical pounding, while running out the clock against Mexico in the World Cup."
Too right. He's exactly what they mean when they say someone has a 'soccer brain'. He's so intelligent in his decision making. I hope he has kids to pass this on to...my son and 2 nephews will need a winger like him when they bring the US a World Cup in 2027.
I always liked Cobi, that is until my kids tried to get his autograph at a game. He wasn't playing and he was talking to some reporters in the ground level seats. After the interview was over several people approached for autographs and he gave us a look like "Do you know who I am? I can't be bothered even though I'm not busy". I got the immediate impression that he was self centered and a jerk. I snapped a photo of him glaring at us. My kids didn't understand what arrogance was so I couldn't give an explanation for his behaviour.
Despite anonymous above, I've always liked him. He's been a great ambassador for the sport, and I hope he continues to do so after retirement. I'm glad LA is doing so well right now, and I hope they make it into the playoffs just to give Cobi a high note to go out on (as long as they don't beat DC).
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