The plane was destined for Nevada, with Diego Rubio on board, wondering exactly how he found himself there. Two weeks earlier, he had started the MLS season as Sporting Kansas City’s striker. Yet, here he was traveling with the club’s minor-league affiliate, the Swope Park Rangers.
There was no softening the reality: This was a demotion, one that left Rubio frustrated, angry and perhaps even a bit confused.
“But at some point you say that even if you want to be with the first team and with your teammates, you have to figure out what you need to do to help for the future,” Rubio said.