Korean Joins Galaxy
His first official training session with his new club team complete, Hong Myung-Bo wasted no time endearing himself to his teammates.
The Korean defender raced over with the rookies, grabbed a corner of the goal and helped to lift and move it off the practice field Monday.
“That was showing a good camaraderie with the team,” Galaxy captain Cobi Jones said after the opening workout.
“His action of carrying the goal over with the rookies spoke volumes to the guys,” said Galaxy Coach Sigi Schmid.
“I’m just excited to be here with the Galaxy,” Hong, who signed with Major League Soccer in October, said through a translator. “They won the 2002 MLS Cup and, since I’m on board now, I want to help them win a second one in a row for the fans of Los Angeles.”
That a four-time veteran of the World Cup and the reigning holder of the Bronze Boot, awarded the World Cup top defender, did not enter camp with a prima donna attitude was a bonus. That Hong, 33, showed up in good shape and displayed remarkable passing skills were pleasant surprises.
“He’s not this guy that’s going 100 mph,” Schmid said. “He has a very good rhythm to him. He’s very simple and a lot of people think that simple is not good. Simple is beauty. He’s a player.”
He’s also an attraction.
As the first Korean national player in the eight-year-old MLS, Hong attracted a small army of Korean journalists -- akin to the Dodger Stadium press box whenever Chan Ho Park pitched -- to the practice.
“I want to be at 100% before my first game,” Hong said. “Right now I’m at about 90% and the most important thing is not to get injured.”
The Galaxy opened camp without five starters. Defender Danny Califf, goalkeeper Kevin Hartman and midfielders Peter Vagenas and Sasha Victorine were with the U.S. national team, and reigning league most valuable player Carlos Ruiz was finalizing his visa in his native Guatemala. Ruiz is expected to join the team Wednesday.
With the Galaxy not moving their operations to the Home Depot National Training Center in Carson until June 1, the team will continue to train at the Rose Bowl, the franchise’s home since its inception in 1996, until then.
As a result, the Galaxy will open defense of its MLS Cup title with an eight-game trip.
General Manager Doug Hamilton said he expected Honduran midfielder Alex Pineda Chacon, whose rights were acquired in the Jan. 17 trade that sent back-up goalkeeper Matt Reis to New England, to sign a contract and join the Galaxy “within the next two or three days.”
Hamilton also said an unrelated announcement regarding a player acquisition would be made shortly but would not elaborate.
