Ex-Timbers proceed to show Major stuff

As part of L.A. Galaxy, Josh Wicks and Bryan Jordan run with stars

By steve brandon

The Portland Tribune, Apr 1, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (2 Reader comments)

Bryan Jordan (left), a Timber player last year and now a forward with the Galaxy, has fans all over the world, if a recent trip to Asia is any indication.

Chung Sung-Jun / GETTY IMAGES

As the second half was about to start in Shanghai, China, last month, the visiting team’s players huddled at midfield. The captain — only perhaps the most recognizable soccer player in the world — was about to give his traditional remarks to fire up the squad for the final 45 minutes. But before David Beckham could say a word, the team’s excitable new goalkeeper — a rookie — started running at the mouth.

“C’mon guys … we’re gonna win … don’t give ’em nothing!” Josh Wicks shouted, as Beckham and Landon Donovan and the rest of the Los Angeles Galaxy looked on, dumbfounded and bemused.

After the game, Beckham pulled the former Portland Timber goalie aside and told him: “You don’t understand. The captain is the only person to give that cheer.”

For several days, Wicks’ L.A. teammates weren’t about to let him forget his transgression of talk. They tossed the captain’s armband onto his chair in the locker room and made him wear it the rest of the trip — “everywhere, even on the plane and in the restaurants,” Wicks says.

The incident has become part of L.A. Galaxy legend.

“I’m pretty pumped up when I get to play; I just fell back into autopilot,” Wicks says. “The guys got a good laugh out of it.”

The Galaxy’s director of soccer, Paul Bravo, also chuckles at what happened, and he smiles at how Wicks and another 2007 Timber player, forward Bryan Jordan, have caught on so quickly with the Major League Soccer club.

“The group really likes them, and chemistry is important,” Bravo says.

Jordan played in all six preseason matches, and Wicks did well in his three games. And with that, there was no question that the Galaxy wanted to keep them both.

“Josh struggled a little the first couple of weeks, but over time he began to grow on Ian (Feuer, goalkeeper coach) and Ruud (Gullit, head coach),” Bravo says. “In Hawaii (in February), we found out Josh was a gamer. The first game at halftime, it was like something clicked in Josh Wicks, and he became this seasoned pro. He grew with confidence and played out of his head, to be quite honest, over those two games.”

Bravo says Wicks, 31, is battling No. 1 keeper Steve Cronin, 24, for playing time.

“Ruud feels the goalkeepers are very close right now,” Bravo says.

Jordan, a very quick, 5-8, 160-pound second-year pro from Oregon State, is even more likely to see action, Bravo says.

“He’s great late in games —a busy guy,” Bravo says. “He chases things down all over the field. He can come on and create havoc. He’s been goal-dangerous in every game he’s played for us.”

Jordan, 22, also surprised his new teammates away from the action on their trip to the Far East. For some reason —the Galaxy haven’t quite been able to figure it out —fans there took a liking to Jordan, and many brought homemade signs to show their support.

“You go on a trip with Beckham and you’ve never seen anything like it,” Bravo says. “We have our paparazzi, and fans wait in droves just to get a glimpse of David as the guys get on the bus. In Hong Kong, we were headed to the game and there were all these Bryan Jordan signs — ‘We love you, Bryan,’ that sort of thing.”

“I don’t know how they knew me,” Jordan says. “But the coaches made sure I got out there and signed autographs, to build a fan base.”

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