Tag Archives: Omar Gonzalez

Gonzalez Exposes All for ESPN the Magazine’s The Body Issue

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Omar Gonzalez may be a Major League Soccer star…But he’s also a major league stud. And, he’s not afraid to show it.

The 25-year-old Mexican-American soccer star, who plays for the Los Angeles Galaxy, is one of the 22 world-class athletes featured in their birthday suits for the sixth annual edition of ESPN the Magazine’s The Body Issue.

Omar Gonzalez in the ESPN Magazine's The Body Issue

“I don’t really care how much you can lift in the gym,” says Gonzalez about exercise and weightlifting. “I think it’s funny that there are a lot of really buff guys out there. What is all that for? They are just strong for no reason. For me, I have to be strong for my sport, so I can compete at the highest level. I may not have been the biggest, but when it came down to playing, I shut people up.”

Omar Gonzalez in the ESPN Magazine's The Body Issue

Gonzalez, who admits to being horrible at pullups, says he’s not a show-off.

“I don’t have my shirt off whenever possible,” says Gonzalez. “I’m not one to really show myself off like that.

ESPN the Magazine’s The Body Issue, which hit newsstands on July 11, is the magazine’s annual celebration of the athletic form.

“We somehow manage to raise the bar each year,” said ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com editor in chief Chad Millman. “This year’s collection of exceptional athletes and stunning photography showcases an array of sports and body types. It inhabits our mission to pay tribute to these athletes’ bodies and all they are capable of.”

Omar Gonzalez in the ESPN Magazine's The Body Issue01

In addition to Gonzalez, a member of this year’s U.S. soccer team at the FIFA World Cup, the other athletes featured stark-naked in the issue include Olympic gold-medal-winning snowboarder Jamie Anderson, tennis players Venus Williams and Tomas Berdych, Olympic bronze-medal-winning bobsledder Aja Evans, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, professional surfer Coco Ho, boxer Bernard Hopkins, cliff diver Ginger Huber, Olympic hockey player Hilary Knight, WNBA All-Star Angel McCoughtry and the husband-wife team of X Games stars Travis Pastrana and Lyn-Z, and Amy Purdy, a snowboarder who won a bronze medal at the 2014 Paralympics.

In previous years, the magazine featured soccer star Carlos Bocanegra and professional baseball star Giancarlo Stanton.

Rimando Named to the United States’ Final Squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup

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It appears Nick Rimando will be a gol man in Rio de Janeiro next month…

The 34-year-old half-Mexican American soccer player has been named to the United States’ final 23-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Nick Rimando

Rimando, currently a goalkeeper for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer, was the first-choice keeper at the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

He’s known for his sometimes unusual technique and for his remarkable reflex saves from short distances.

But Rimando isn’t the only Latino player named to the U.S. squad…

Omar Gonzalez has been named to the roster in the Defenders category.

Last March, the 25-year-oldMexican American soccer star, currently playing for the LA Galaxy in the MLS, was given the start at central defense in the United States’ 0-0 draw in a World Cup qualifier against Mexico at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca. He was called “the man of the match by a clear margin” by ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle.

Also making the list: Alejandro Bedoya.

The 27-Colombian American, who plays professionally for French club Nantes as an attacking midfielder or winger, made the list in the Midfielders category.

Bedoya was named to the preliminary 30-man roster for the 2010 World Cup, and played against the Czech Republic in a tune-up friendly, but was cut from the final 23 roster.

Before traveling to Brazil, the Americans will play Azerbaijan on May 27 in San Francisco, Turkey on June 1, in Harrison, New Jersey, and Nigeria on June 7 in Jacksonville, Florida.

Here’s a look at the United States’ final 23-man squad for the World Cup.

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

Defenders: DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Nurnberg), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)

Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jones (Besiktas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

Gonzales Added to the Roster for the United States’ CONCACAF Gold Cup

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Omar Gonzalez is back in the game for the United States…

The 24-year-old Mexican American soccer star has been added to the roster for the United States’ CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals match.

Omar Gonzalez

Gonzalez, who currently plays for Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy as a defender, had previously started in the U.S.’ World Cup qualifier match against Honduras in February.

On March 26, 2013, he was given the start at central defense in the United States’ 0-0 draw in a World Cup qualifier against Mexico. According to ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle, Gonzalez “was the man of the match by a clear margin”

The U.S. will play El Salvador in Baltimore on Sunday.

The knockout rounds begin in Atlanta on Saturday, with Panama taking on Cuba, and Mexico facing Trinidad and Tobago. Honduras and Costa Rica also play Sunday in Baltimore.

Gonzalez Named the MLS Cup MVP…

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Omar Gonzalez has etched his name in the Major League Soccer history books…

The 24-year-old Mexican American professional soccer star received the MVP trophy at the 2012 Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup after a dominating performance that included scoring the game’s equalizing goal.

Omar Gonzalez

In winning this year’s MVP honors, Gonzalez becomes the first defender ever to win the award.

Gonzalez’s well-placed header in the 61st minute tied the game and helped shift the momentum enough to propel his Los Angeles Galaxy team to a 3-1 victory over the Houston Dynamo, giving the team it’s second consecutive MLS Cup title.

Gonzalez scored on a crossing pass from Juninho after the Galaxy were unable to convert a corner kick just seconds before.

But it was Gonzlez’s constant effort on defense that likely earned him the trophy, although it was his mistake that allowed the Dynamo to score its lone goal of the night. But Gonzalez atoned quickly, his goal setting off a barrage of scores for the Galaxy that would eventually clinch the MLS Cup for Los Angeles.

Gonzalez suffered a torn ACL less than a year ago, but was able to rehab and return in time to help the Galaxy clinch their MLS championship.

“I never thought for a second that when I made my comeback this season I’d be MVP in the final,” Gonzalez said after the match. “It was a very emotional moment, after my injury I never thought I’d experience something like this. After my operation last winter I really had my doubts [if would get back to my best]. I was seriously wondering what kind of level I would be able to play at again. I know I’m back to where I was before the injury, but the best is yet to come.”