Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2005 | 8:29 a.m.
THE HERCULEZ FILE
BORN April 6, 1982, in Oxnard, Calif.
SIZE 5 feet, 10 inches; 145 pounds
He moved to Las Vegas with his family when he was 9, prospered in the city's youth system and has become a valuable asset to the Galaxy, for whom he scored eight goals in a recent seven-game stretch. Last Wednesday, he netted the lone goal in the Galaxy's U.S. Open Cup-winning game over FC Dallas at the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles. It was the team's first trophy in three years. The Sun caught up with Herculez after a training session.
ON THE BACK
Herculez wears his first name on the back of his No. 16 jersey. His parents, Manuel and Juanita, toiled for a week after he was born before Juanita finally allowed Manuel to name his first son. "He wanted something strong, that stood out when I was older," Herculez said. "And he always liked the name." When anyone reacts with surprise upon first hearing his name, he says, "What, that Herculez and Gomez both end in 'Z'?"
IN A NAME
Herculez's all-time favorite one-name players, all Brazilians (of course), who have 15 World Cup appearances between them.
1. Pele -- "O Rei" made his World Cup debut in Sweden in 1958, when he was 17, and he scored twice in the title-clinching 5-2 win over the home side in Stockholm.
2. Rivelino -- Powerful lefty was known for his bandit's mustache and wicked free kicks.
3. Zico -- The ace midfielder dazzled defenders by feeding superb passes to his forwards, especially with the next guy on this list.
4. Socrates -- At a million-strong rally in 1984, he pledged to stay in Brazil if its Congress agreed to re-establish free presidential elections. The vote failed, so he took his skills to Fiorentina in Italy.
5. Ronaldo -- Scored the only two goals of the finale victory over Germany in Japan in 2002 and can match Pele's four World Cup appearances next summer in Germany.
TASTES LIKE CHICKEN
Herculez learned the most about himself, others and the game in 2000 and '01, when he lived in Mexico City and played in two different leagues. "The two toughest years of my life," he said. "I kept hoping, and kept praying." He became responsible, setting his own curfew and doing his own laundry for the first time, but he dearly missed his mother's sopitos. He hasn't exactly become a chef. "But I can make chicken -- no beef -- a lot of different ways," he said.
UPWARD MOBILITY
Previous Galaxy coach Sigi Schmid did not believe in him. "I took it hard," Herculez said of his three years on the team's developmental squad. "It was a blow to my ego and confidence." Steve Sampson, hired to manage the team 14 months ago, took notice when Herculez blossomed with the reserve team in a preseason match against Real Madrid's reserves in Spain. His recent superb stretch included six goals in four games, but Herculez can't explain his good fortune. "Honestly, I don't know what's going on," he said. "All I can say is, things have slowed down in the games." He has dual citizenship, with Mexican and U.S. passports, but he does not believe Mexican national coach Ricardo Lavolpe will ever take a serious look at him. He is uncertain about American coach Bruce Arena's plans. "If Bruce is looking ... " Herculez said. "I'm sure I'll be on his radar if I continue to put the ball in the back of the net. He'd have to look hard at me."
DREAM TEAM
Herculez has a favorite team, or player, in every country. In England, it's Manchester United. His favorite player in the Premiership is French national Thierry Henry of Arsenal. In Italy, it's Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko of AC Milan. Herculez, however, enjoys where he is. "Right now, I'm playing for my dream club," he said. "It's the club I grew up watching and the club I grew up loving." The Galaxy is in second place in the Western Conference of Major League Soccer, and the playoffs are scheduled to start Oct. 22. "I'll be most excited just to be part of it," he said. "I'm fortunate to play with a great group of guys who believe in me."
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