Newman Still Says Sockers Are Better Than Comets

Don Coryell would be shocked if he ever listened to Ron Newman.

Coryell, the master at overrating opponents, would express fear if the Chargers were playing El Capitan High School’s junior varsity. Newman just isn’t that way with his Sockers.

Newman implied earlier this week that the Sockers should have little difficulty in their best-of-five Major Indoor Soccer League playoff series against Kansas City. Therefore, Newman had a little clarifying to do Thursday in the aftermath of the Sockers’ difficult 4-3 overtime win over the Comets in Game 1 Wednesday night.

“People didn’t understand why I said we should win,” Newman said. “Look at our record (37-11), then look at Kansas City’s record (22-26). What was I supposed to say? We should lose? I hate those games you are supposed to win.”

The Sockers have another of those games they are supposed to win against the Comets tonight at 7:35 in the Sports Arena.

But recent history--and Kansas City goalkeeper Manny Schwartz--are two reasons for the Sockers to be leery.

San Diego was unable to put away the underdog Comets until Brian Quinn’s goal at 11:45 of overtime on Wednesday. And Schwartz had been primarily responsible for keeping Kansas City in the game. He made 23 saves, many on point-blank shots, as the Sockers outshot Kansas City, 41-26.

Even so, Kansas City Coach Rick Benben was upset that the Sockers talked as if Schwartz was a one-man team. Benben also didn’t like the Sockers saying they were a superior team to Kansas City.

“We never said they were bad,” Newman said. “We just don’t think they are as good as us. We know that if we get our act together, we could blow them out.”

Steve Zungul and Branko Segota, the Sockers’ leading scorers, did not have their act together on Wednesday. Zungul was held scoreless for the first time in a playoff game. Segota had only one assist, that coming on Quinn’s winning goal. Jean Willrich, San Diego’s third-leading scorer, was held to one goal.

Willrich said the Socker offense was affected by three factors: a 10-day layoff, Schwartz and the fact Kansas City was marking San Diego’s top three scorers.

“Stevie and Branko and I don’t have to score all the time,” Willrich said. “If they mark us, others have to come up with big plays. Brian Quinn did that. It doesn’t matter who makes the goals.”

Apparently, what the Sockers accomplish doesn’t matter to a lot of San Diegans. Wednesday’s crowd of 7,552 was a record playoff low for the Sockers, who have won three straight indoor championships.

“Who appreciates the team?” Willrich asked. “Soccer isn’t new here. It’s been here eight years. Some people give you this BS and say we’re only playing Kansas City. If we were in Kansas City, they’d put 10,000 more seats in for us. You win three championships here, then you get fewer fans. What the hell is going on?”

On Wednesday night, the Padres were playing the Braves. That explains part of the reason for the Sockers’ low attendance.

“There were more than 35,000 people at the Padre game,” Newman said. “It’s mind-boggling. There’s no doubt our game was more entertaining. When our players look up and see the reaction from San Diego, it’s disappointing. The people at our game were the real fans and our best fans. The others only come out when it’s our biggest game.”

Owner Bob Bell was “not surprised, but disappointed,” by the small crowd.

“I expected it,” Bell said. “It seems so difficult to get people when you don’t know your (playoff) dates until the last minute. It’s tough to market those games. It’s happening in the NBA and NHL as well as the MISL.”

Upsets are also occurring in each of the leagues’ playoffs. The Sockers are just hoping to avoid being one of the victims.