Hermosillo Finds the Perfect Birthday Present for His Son

Young Carlitos Hermosillo was sitting in a private box at the Rose Bowl on Thursday night, celebrating his 11th birthday by watching his father, Carlos, and the rest of the Galaxy beat the Dallas Burn, 3-1, for the MLS Western Conference championship and a berth in the MLS Cup.

But while the younger Hermosillo may have been three stories above the field, he was in his father’s heart and mind all game.

After the elder Hermosillo scored to put the Galaxy up, 2-0, in the 20th minute, he pulled his jersey over the front of his face, revealing an undershirt that served as a makeshift birthday card to his 11-year-old son--Feliz Cumpleanos Carlitos te amo--Happy Birthday, Carlitos. I love you.

“It was very important for me to show the shirt to everyone because my family is the most important thing in my life,” Hermosillo said in Spanish after the win.

“Whenever things got difficult, my family was always there for me, by my side, just like the team.”

Hermosillo has been doling out goals as birthday gifts to family members of late.

In the Galaxy’s Game 2 shootout loss to the Burn in Dallas on Sunday, which was also his wife Aida’s birthday, the forward scored two goals and made his shot during the shootout.

Galaxy Coach Sigi Schmid was quick to point out that if the Galaxy is to win a title, Hermosillo must continue his re-energized play up front.

“He’s worked hard to battle for us and he’s given us a target that we’ve really needed,” Schmid said. “He’s really stepped up his game. He’s shown that he’s a prime-time player.”

His play Thursday enabled the Galaxy to improve to 13-0 vs. Western Conference opponents at the Rose Bowl, outscoring them 20-5.

Hermosillo, one of the all-time greats in Mexico who’s within a few goals of becoming the country’s all-time leading scorer, was disappointed in his lack of offense to close out the regular season.

He hinted that he might head back to his homeland at the conclusion of the Galaxy’s season.

His MLS contract ended Oct. 31, the same day as the Galaxy’s 2-1 Game 1 win over the Burn in Pasadena.

Earlier that day, however, Galaxy officials brokered a contract extension that Hermosillo agreed to and allowed him to stay with the team throughout the Galaxy’s playoff run.

And with the Galaxy advancing to the title game to face the winner of Saturday’s Eastern Conference championship-deciding match between the D.C. United and Columbus Crew, Hermosillo is obviously glad he stuck it out.

But he’s still weighing the pros and cons of staying in the U.S. and with MLS and the Galaxy next year and beyond.

“There were times when I thought that this was definitely my last year in this league,” said Hermosillo, who is from Veracruz, Mexico.

“But I’m still not sure. I have to think about it.”

Besides, his family, which has taken up residence in La Canada, enjoys living here.

And the Galaxy fans love Hermosillo, if the gathering doing the Macarena while singing hosannas to Hermosillo in the Rose Bowl concourse is any indication.