Gonzalez not ready to enjoy award
MLS Rookie of the Year focused on Western Conference final
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Arena also was informing Gonzalez that he had been named MLS Rookie of the Year, which marked the second consecutive season a member of the Galaxy won the award. Sean Franklin was so honored in 2008.
This normally would be a cause for celebration -- Gonzalez's teammates, in fact, gave him a round of applause before Thursday's practice -- but Gonzalez said he has another pressing matter to occupy his thoughts.
"The tough thing about it is I can't really be happy about it. I have to focus on the game tomorrow," he said, referring to Friday's much-anticipated Western Conference final against the Houston Dynamo at The Home Depot Center.
"So I have to block it out of my mind and worry about the team. I have to get ready to play."
It has been an outstanding season for Gonzalez, a 6-foot-5, 210-pounder taken third overall in the SuperDraft. He was a fixture on the back line since practically his first day in training camp and became the only member of the Galaxy to play in all 30 games during the regular season.
Gonzalez, one of three finalists for the rookie award along with Toronto FC's Stefan Frei and D.C. United's Chris Pontius, formed an unlikely but effective partnership with Gregg Berhalter, a 36-year-old defender who joined the Galaxy in April after a long career in Germany.
They meshed almost from the start, and Gonzalez's development took off.
"I'm excited for him," Berhalter said. "I think he had a great year and I think he deserved the award. It's a great honor after putting in a year's work and he should be proud of it."
Arena was thrilled as well.
"I think it's great," he said. "I think he's had a terrific year. In a year where so many first-year players played well, to come out on top is truly a great honor for Omar."
A.J. DeLaGarza, another talented but unjustly overlooked rookie on the Galaxy, said he was especially proud of his former Maryland teammate. DeLaGarza, who played in 22 games (starting 21) at right back before leg injuries bumped him out of the starting lineup, said the award was a testament to what Gonzalez has done for the club this season.
"He's progressed so much," DeLaGarza said. "He was consistent the whole year, which is the most important thing. We allowed 62 goals last year but we cut that in half this season. It goes to show how much he helped on the defensive side."
Gonzalez was quick to thank the likes of Berhalter, Tony Sanneh and goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts for the award and admitted the season has worked out better than he could have imagined. The fact he was a No. 1 pick was one thing, but starting almost from the day he arrived in Los Angeles, getting to face the likes of A.C. Milan and FC Barcelona in friendlies and helping put the Galaxy one step from their first appearance in an MLS Cup Final since 2005 is, in all likelihood, beyond even his greatest expectations.
"Since you put it that way," he said with a grin, "I haven't really been able to sit down and think about it. To have such a great season and to play two of the best teams in the world is a dream come true.
"I think this season the only way it can get better is if we win (the MLS Cup). Our team's pushing for that, and we definitely have a great chance."
Larry Morgan is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
