Socker Fans Disown Veee After Incident : S.D. Beats Las Vegas, 7-5

Once and for all, it was established that Juli Veee is no longer a member of the Sockers.

That was made quite evident by a sellout crowd of 12,948 fans in the Sports Arena Wednesday night. They booed Veee each time he touched the ball after head-butting Steve Zungul in the back in the fourth period.

Veee later admitted his act was out of frustration. He was feeling that way for two reasons--his team had an 11-game winning streak snapped by the Sockers, 7-5, and he was personally shut out.

But more than anything, it will be remembered as a night when Socker fans gave their allegiance to Zungul.

The play in question occurred at 6:21 of the fourth period. Zungul shoved Veee as they ran downfield, then Veee gave the head-butt that cost him a two-minute penalty--and the love relationship he used to have with San Diego fans.

“If the booing would’ve been unjust, it would’ve upset me,” Veee said. “It was just. What can I say about it?

“I’ve never done anything like that before. I did it out of frustration. It was really unsportsmanlike.”

Veee said he apologized to Zungul after the game.

But Zungul, who increased his league scoring lead to nine points with two goals and one assist, did not exactly accept the apology.

“I feel sorry for him,” Zungul said. “He’s a friend, but to behave that way is not proper. After being a star in this town, he should think twice before he does things like that.

“I won’t forget because it was a cheap shot. Someday when I need it for my team, I’ll give it to him. If he wants revenge, I can give him that stuff, too.”

In a sense, the incident helped ease the mind of Socker Owner Bob Bell.

Although Zungul is the all-time leading indoor scorer, Bell oftentimes got critical mail for selling Veee to Las Vegas. Zungul was purchased from Golden Bay after Veee left.

“I’ve never seen fans change so fast in my life,” Bell said. “It’s unbelievable. I’ll stop getting hate-mail now. It sure takes a load off my back.”

Martin Donnelly, another former Socker, also drew the crowd’s wrath in the fourth period.

Donnelly had a shot blocked by Sockers goalkeeper Jim Gorsek when both arrived at the ball simultaneously. Donnelly ended up on top of Gorsek, held him down and started shoving. Like Veee, Donnelly was given a two-minute penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.

“It’s amazing,” Bell said. “It was so typical of games we used to have. Martin and Juli lost their tempers.”

It was not a good night all-around for Veee, who even got upstaged in pregame introductions.

In a surprise move, the Sockers announced that they had purchased defender Eric Geyer from Chicago. Like Veee, Geyer played for the Sockers’ three indoor championship teams.

Geyer came onto the field waving a towel, which was reminiscent of the Padres’ Garry Templeton inspiring the fans during the 1984 baseball postseason. Judging by the response of the fans, Geyer, who is known as the Wolfman, had easily stolen the show during Veee’s first regular-season San Diego appearance as an ex-Socker.

“The towel waving is an old thing out of the 1982-83 championship series against Baltimore,” Geyer said. “The fans remember the towel. Sooner or later, we’ll have a towel night with the Wolfman on the towels.”

Geyer was purchased at 10 a.m. Wednesday. He took the next flight to San Diego, which happened to be the same flight from Chicago he took four years ago when he came to San Diego for a tryout.

The Sockers used Geyer sparingly. He received an ovation each time he touched the ball.

Jean Willrich, another member of the old Socker gang, was the game’s leading scorer. He had one goal and three assists.

Branko Segota had two goals and one assist for the Sockers. Hugo Perez and Kevin Crow each had one goal and one assist.

The Sockers (25-8) increased their Western Division lead to six games over Las Vegas (18-13).

“San Diego really played well,” Veee said. “It showed why it is the team to beat.”

And Veee will always remember this as the night when his popularity was surpassed by a former teammate--and his replacement on the Sockers.