Rogers says he’s gay

Robbie Rogers said he had to choose between being a soccer player or being himself. He ultimately chose to be himself, stepping away from his sport Friday in a powerful blog post in which he revealed he is gay. “I always thought I could hide this secret,” wrote Rogers, 25, who played five seasons in Major League Soccer and had 18 appearances with the U.S. national team. “Football was my escape, my purpose, my identity. Football hid my secret, gave me more joy than I could ever have imagined.” But, he concluded, “I realized I could only truly enjoy my life once I was honest. … My secret is gone, I am a free man, I can move on and live my life as my creator intended.” Rogers did not use the word “retirement” in his announcement. – L.A. Times