Tears and Champagne Flow Again in San Diego

Tears often express people’s happiest emotions.

Bob Bell, the Socker chairman of the board, and his wife Gerry were weeping as they ran hand-in-hand onto the field at the San Diego Sports Arena after the Sockers defeated Baltimore, 5-3 to win the Major Indoor Soccer League championship, four games to one.

Coach Ron Newman and his wife Olive were overcome with joy, and the tears started flowing. Newman’s daughter Tracy, and granddaughter, Alexandra stood by with beaming smiles.

With the song, “We Are The Champions,” blasting on the loudspeakers, tears were quickly replaced by hugs.

Steve Zungul, the championship series Most Valuable Player who scored the two goals that broke a 3-3 deadlock in the final quarter, embraced Branko Segota. Zungul hugged Newman, Jean Willrich hugged Kaz Deyna, Bell hugged Newman, Brian Quinn was lifted in the air by his teammates. . . .

Who could ever say that winning gets monotonous?

This was the fourth straight indoor championship for the Sockers, and the champagne in the locker room flowed every bit as smoothly as it did the first, second and third times.

“Four times is unbelieveable, but we’re just too strong,” said captain Deyna, who along with Ade Coker and Willrich have played on all four championship teams.

Zungul, who won four titles while playing with the New York Arrows (1978-79 through 1981-82), said this was his “best championship.”

Newman, getting his breath after joining the players and the trophy for the traditional run around the arena, just couldn’t believe it. The shock and happiness and relief seemed to set in at the same time.

“When you start the season,” Newman said, “you just don’t believe you can do it again.”

And again and again and again.

A second dark blue with gold letters championship flag will join the other MISL flag and the two other NASL yellow with blue letter flags hanging high in the Sports Arena.

The sellout crowd of 12,948, on their feet from the outset of the fourth quarter, were screaming “We’re No. 1.”

Bell was singing his own version of “This is No. 4.”

For Bell, this championship was not only thrilling, but also a way of saying “I told you so” to the skeptics who thought he had ruined a dynasty when he lost Juli Veee, Alan Mayer and Martin Donnelly in the off-season.

“A year ago at this time,” Bell said, “I sat down and started thinking about this . . . “

The team changed. Then the league in which they played changed.

“They didn’t want us in the MISL,” Bell said. “They overcharged us to get in. Then, there was the forfeit (in the fourth game of the semifinal series against the Minnesota Strikers).”

The Sockers are a franchise that has always thrived on controversy and adversity. And they’ve always had a lot of talent.

“This is the best team we’ve had,” Bell said. “The best team you’ll ever see. They will remember this team for a long time.

“This is the one.”

Time to cherish the moment for at least a few seconds.

Until Deyna held the 1985 championship trophy high, took the microphone, and told the fans:

“Let’s win one more. . . . Make it five times.”