Tragic trials hit Herculez

Saturday, March 18, 2006 | 7:12 a.m.

Herculez Gomez paused often over the last nine days as he moved his belongings from a family's home into a pad of his own in the Manhattan Beach area in California.

The Las Vegas native and Los Angeles Galaxy striker turns 24 in three weeks, but he's feeling much older after a tumultuous and tragic 48 hours two weeks ago.

The bitterness of a 3-2 defeat to Deportivo Saprissa in San Jose, Costa Rica, which ousted the Galaxy from the quarterfinals of this region's Champions Cup tournament, didn't last long.

A day later, on March 9, Galaxy president and general manager Doug Hamilton, 43, died from an apparent heart attack en route back to Los Angeles from Costa Rica.

Hours later, Gomez phoned Frank Lemmon, who coached Herculez in his youth and with whom the player lived on the Southern California coast, and learned about the death of Billy Gunther.

Gomez grew up in Las Vegas playing the game with Gunther.

"Everything has been a little different," Gomez said before attending services for Hamilton on Tuesday night. A memorial for Hamilton was held at the Home Depot Center, the Galaxy's home in Carson, Calif., on Wednesday.

The team had a few more days of events and functions scheduled in Costa Rica but canceled them to fly home immediately after Hamilton's death. The Galaxy delayed training until Thursday.

Hamilton is survived by his wife, Paige, and their son, Aedan.

"He was a young guy who looked very healthy," Gomez said. "It was quite unexpected. When something like that happens, you take a look at things. He was a great man. He did a lot for this sport."

Hamilton was a key figure in the development and construction of the soccer-specific Home Depot Center. When the team led its division midway through the 2004 season, he fired Sigi Schmid as coach in favor of the unpopular Steve Sampson.

Sampson guided the Galaxy to last season's MLS championship and the U.S. Open Cup, a rare domestic double.

"He embodied what a GM should be," Gomez said. "He was hard. He was fair. He did what was best for the team. Always, he was demanding. I think that's what drove the team, drove us to excel."

Second-half fade

The Galaxy, which played a scoreless draw with Saprissa in the first leg of the quarterfinals in Carson, led 2-0 at halftime in Costa Rica.

"There's no better feeling than being in a packed stadium, with everyone yelling at you and making noise, and then (your team scores) and there's not a sound," Herculez said. "You can hear a pin drop. A great feeling."

That feeling disappeared during Saprissa's furious second-half rally before 23,000 rabid fans at Estadio Ricardo Saprissa.

"With a 2-0 advantage at the half, I don't care if we're playing Real Madrid, I still expect us to win," he said. "It's that simple. I'm a young guy, but even our young guys know we have to hang onto it. We didn't.

"I put a lot of pressure on myself. My job is to score, and I didn't."

Gomez said he relished the raucous atmosphere. American teams are usually the targets for abuse at south-of-the-border venues, and Galaxy goalie and Gomez's roommate Kevin Hartman said coins were thrown at him.

As one of the few Spanish-speaking Americans, Gomez was a media favorite in Costa Rica. He also heard obscenity-filled chants every time he touched the ball.

"It shouldn't be in the sport," he said. "But it is, and you have to deal with it ... it's refreshing to see that. Not to say we don't have great fans. We have awesome fans.

"(In other areas), they just take it to the next level. In the second half, they got behind their team and made them believe they could win."

The Galaxy begins its Major League Soccer season at home against New England on April 1, a Saturday night game that will be shown on ESPN2.

Beware

Patriotism is fantastic, but it already has lightened the wallets of more than a few fans of the American national team.

At a few race and sports books, the odds on the U.S. winning Germany 2006 have dipped precipitously, meaning many have bet that the red, white and blue will claim its first Jules Rimet trophy in July.

At Wynn, that number has been cut from 50-1 to 22-1. At the Palms, the USA odds have been sliced from 65-1 to 30-1. At Renata's, it has gone from 75-1 to 20-1. Those are the largest odds drops of any team.

Bettors might want to discontinue the trend.

First, the U.S. is in Group E, with the Czech Republic, Ghana and Italy. A rising tide likes the Italians to win their fourth trophy. The Czechs reached the semifinals of Euro 2004.

If the Americans advance out of the group stage, it will most likely be as the second-place team. The top two from each of the eight groups move on to the knockout stage.

And guess who the U.S. would play, in that scenario, in the round of 16? The top team from Group F. Yes, most likely five-time Cup winner Brazil, in Dortmund, on June 27.

Keep that hard-earned coin in your pocket. Or buy a Brazil national team jersey, bearing Robinho's name and No. 11, like I did.

Three in a row?

Kevin Stott of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., is the lone American among a group of 44 referees who will take part in a final cut-down workshop in Frankfurt next Wednesday through Saturday.

That group will be pared to about 30 after extensive fitness tests and medical examinations. They, and 111 assistant referees, will also be tested on the laws of the game.

Stott, 38, has been a U.S. Soccer referee since he was 16. In November, he handed out an MLS Cup-record 10 cautions, and called 51 fouls, in the Galaxy's title victory over New England in Texas.

If selected, Stott would be the third American to work in as many World Cups, following Esse Baharmast (France '98) and Brian Hall (Korea/Japan '02).

About time

We hear UNLV will finally tend to the shoddy pitch at Peter Johann Memorial Field this spring. Athletic director Mike Hamrick might want to ensure that the green thumbs smooth it out, too.

I've been critical of the administration allowing the condition of that field to become woeful. Hopefully, there will be a positive review of its state this summer.

Match of the week

Schalke 04 at Bayern Munich, Sunday

Schalke (14-2-9, 51 points) is third in the Bundesliga, which Bayern (18-2-5, 59) leads. The visitors are on a roll, having gone 6-0-2 in their last eight in the league.

Bayern is 0-2-1 in its last three games, which included a 4-1 loss to A.C. Milan and elimination from the Champions League. Worse, midfielder Michael Ballack is likely headed to Chelsea in England.

Enjoy No. 13 while you can, Bayern fans.