CARSON, Calif. - On the field, Herculez Gomez is as fierce a competitor as you'll find in MLS. Off the field, he's a humble young professional with a great sense of humor. When combined, the two personalities make the Los Angeles Galaxy striker one of the more endearing stars to emerge in recent MLS memory.
His fiery nature on the field was never more apparent than in his last game against FC Dallas. It wasn't that he scored two goals to lead the Galaxy to a 2-1 victory, but rather a yellow card that he picked up in the first half. After receiving what he felt was a cheap shot from Dallas center back Greg Vanney, Gomez pulled himself up off the ground, got right in the U.S. international's face, shoved him back and earned a yellow card for his efforts.
After the game Gomez was apologetic and almost embarrassed, calling the play a stupid yellow card. But what it showed was that despite his lack of experience, Gomez won't back down to anyone - even if that someone is an MLS veteran, one with experience abroad and at the ineternational level.
Gomez's relentless pursuit of the back of the net has made him a danger man to opposing coaches and a marked man by rival defenders. That has hardly slowed him down en route to 11 league goals, six goals during the Galaxy's U.S. Open Cup title run and three more goals in reserve play.
At the beginning of the season, Gomez was working hard in training just to fight his way into reserve league games. Then, as fate would have it, the Galaxy were decimated by national team call-ups and productivity on the offensive side of the ball suffered greatly. Searching for options, Gomez got his chance, and hasn't looked back since.
The fans in L.A. have recognized his contributions so far - and so has the Galaxy front office. Gomez started the season as a developmental player, but as the season progressed and his production increased, the Galaxy were faced with a decision. During the summer transfer window, the Galaxy traded Jovan Kirovski to Colorado, and rather than filling the senior roster spot left vacant by Kirovski with another player, they offered it to Gomez.
To Gomez, it was the first step in what he hopes will be a long and rewarding career in MLS.
"I was an L.A. Galaxy fan before I was a player," said Gomez. "When I was 14, 15 years old I got excited to watch Cobi Jones. I idolized the guy - now I get to play with him. It's definitely a big deal for me to be playing here."
Rewarding Gomez not only with a senior roster spot but a new contract is something that will have to be dealt with as well. Developmental players make far less than the league minimum, and while the contract negotiations are not going to be conducted until the season is over, both sides hope that the future of Gomez and the L.A. Galaxy will go hand in hand.
"This is a great organization. I'd love for when people think about the Galaxy for my name to come up," said Gomez. "But I don't know. The Galaxy has things they want to do with their future plans. If I'm in them great, if not, I'll keep working hard and see where life takes me."
Galaxy coach Steve Sampson would like nothing more than to see Gomez in green and gold for a long time to come, as would Galaxy GM Doug Hamilton, the Galaxy boss said.
"I think Doug (Hamilton) is a fair man, and Doug will reward those players that deserve to at the end of the season. The one thing he won't do, is get into contract negotiations during the season," said Sampson. "He's a businessman, and he'll try to do what's in the best interest of the Galaxy. Those players who have done well will be rewarded."
The smart money is on Gomez playing in Los Angeles for a long time to come, something that should make Galaxy fans very happy. The fans in Los Angeles have embraced Gomez as one of their own - probably because he hasn't forgotten that 15-year-old teenager who was first a Galaxy fan.
"The fans, I owe them a lot ultimately," said Gomez. "Whether they want to believe it or not, they're the reason we have jobs. It's a good feeling when you do something well and they acknowledge you."
Gomez has been doing a lot of things well during the last half of the season. So well that he was recently invited to the White House to meet President George W. Bush in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. It's an experience most Americans will never have, and one that Gomez will cherish forever.
"I was very privileged and honored to be invited. It was a great experience and something that I'll never forget," said Gomez of his time at the White House.
It wasn't picture perfect though. While being introduced, the President accidentally called him "Hector" Gomez. Herculez, true to form, recalled the experience with a smile and a joke.
"I guess it's karma. I voted Kerry. Things happen," he said.
Gomez might get another chance to meet the president as a member of the U.S. national team. It's a long shot right now, but his current run of play has brought attention around the country.
"I think he's caught Bruce Arena's eye," said Sampson. "The way he's scoring he should catch our national team's coach's eye. But I know Bruce, and he's got his group of players. The time he might bring Herculez in might be in the winter camps."
However, Gomez isn't limited to just the U.S. national team. He holds dual citizenship in the USA and Mexico. When pressed who he'd play for given the opportunity to play for either side, Gomez was keeping all options open.
"I feel that I'm an American player. I have Mexican blood in me, but I'm an American player. I grew up here in the States," said Gomez. "But in Mexico is where I got my first taste of professional soccer. I have great patriotism for both countries and great love for both countries. It would be a tough choice."
If Gomez keeps scoring goals at the rate he is, it might be a choice he'll have to make sooner than later. Still through it all, Gomez has stayed humble.
"I'd be surprised if Bruce (Arena) even knew my name, or Ricardo LaVolpe for that matter. The timing is awful," said Gomez, referring to his run of success at the tail end of World Cup qualifying. "If it was July it would be great. I'm just trying to prove myself every day that this isn't fluky. Later on down the line, if that gets me noticed, great. If not, I'm going to keep working hard everyday in practice."
The humble nature of Gomez combined with his work ethic, youthful exuberance, and passion to find the back of the net will get him noticed not just by fans in Los Angeles, but by fans all over MLS. In time, he might even earn the attention of a pair of national team coaches.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
