Coming Out To Play

Eric Marcus' bestselling book "Breaking the Surface" about Olympian Greg Louganis, whose diving accident during the 1988 Games resulted in his being publicly outed as gay and HIV-positive, is a singularly harrowing and heroic story. "Coming Out To Play" is the new memoir of Robbie Rogers, 'co-written' by Marcus, also chronicles a world famous athlete feeling isolated and alone trying to cope in the homophobic world of high-stakes sports.

Soccer is bigger in most of the world than in the US and Rogers' has received wall-to-wall coverage in the sports press of out gay pro athletes along with basketball star Jason Collins and football's Michael Sam.

Growing up in an athletic and supportive family, Rogers' talent was evident early on and he was on the fast track to become a pro.

In his teens, Rogers was aware of his attraction to other boys and knew that he had to hide that fact from his devout Catholic family and the hyper-hetero culture of sports. Pressured by teammates, he was even determined to 'score' with girls, secretly depressed about the experiences and despising himself for 'using' his female friends to prove something.

He soon enough was scouted by pro-teams and to he moved to Europe to distance himself from prying questions from his family and teammates. He threw himself into his career as a pro-athlete, played the macho role as far as he needed to, but suffered bouts of depression.

Eventually the hyper-macho of soccer with its overt homophobia was too much for Rogers. In England, where Rogers played for the Leeds United, while living in London and finally having his first gay relationship. He decided not only to come out to the world, but also to walk away from his successful and lucrative career.

Once back in the States, determined to re-order his life, Rogers was so validated by his family and to his surprise, teammates, rival players, owners and coaches who wanted him to stay in the sport. Rogers realized that he might be leaving his career for the wrong reasons. He publicly announced that he not only wanted to play, but also was quickly picked up by LA Galaxy soccer team. Rogers is now a very out, proud gay athlete who has thrown himself behind GLBTQ civil-rights.

Rogers own voice is not only disarmingly candid, and "Coming Out To Play" is a quietly winning manifesto. Particularly fascinating are his insights in growing up in an era of more open cultural visibility for gay America, but still dealing with feelings of dread about coming out is an essential message of self-acceptance. You sense Marcus' rhetorical hand at key points, but he lets this be simply Rogers' voice, told with candor and not a small amount of team spirit.

Coming Out To Play
Robbie Rogers with Eric Marcus
Penguin Paperback $17.00 & EBOOK
photos