Ted's Polish-Mexican Page

The Los Angeles Galaxy has announced that Cobi Jones will be having a press conference on Monday, leading to some speculation that he may announce his retirement. Jones has been in the line-up of the Galaxy since the team's first season (making him one of the few 1996 class of players still in the league, and, I think, the only one still with his original team). He has racked up an 66 goals in his more than 23,000 game minutes.

He had also played in England for Coventry City and much was made of his being picked up by Vasco da Gama (Making him the first American to get a place in a Brazillian club). He never played a match for Vasco's first team, however.

Jones was a fixture on the national team, earning 164 caps (a team record). Jones was one of the players on the 1994 US Team (born only 15 days and twenty miles from teammate and now his GM Alexi Lalas) who managed to parlay his wee bit of celebrity into a career. He had a stint hosting MTV's shortlived "extreme sports" program Megadose, and managed some time here and there on commercials.

I got a bit tired of Jones though. I became frustrated with him way back in 1999, when he did a duckwalk to taunt Walter Zenga when his team was blowing out the New England. He had this whiny, nasty side to him that came out in games, but most folks that have met him say he's a nice guy.

Some Galaxy fans over on Big Soccer doubt he will retire, it may be wishful thinking though. They point out that he has been very active in the pre-season, scoring twice in a game against PDL squad Fresno Fuego. The Galaxy's packaging for pre-season ticket sales has included Jones's image. He may be announcing that this will be his last season. Some fans think that the press conference may just be a scheme to introduce the Galaxy's anticipated new logo.

Love him or hate him, it will be weird being an MLS fan without seeing him around.


Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.