A Flashy Start for Sockers? : Home Opener Will Feature Title Flag, Veee and Maybe Sign

One tradition continues, one returns and one is up in the air as the Sockers prepare to play the Los Angeles Lazers in tonight’s home opener at 7:35 in the San Diego Sports Arena.

Five minutes before game time, Socker owner Bob Bell, team captain Kaz Deyna and Coach Ron Newman will preside over the unveiling of the team’s fourth indoor championship flag.

The game also will mark the return of Juli Veee to the site of some of his greatest achievements. Veee led San Diego in scoring and charisma during their first three championship seasons. After one year and 50 goals scored in Las Vegas, Veee has rejoined the Sockers.

The question of whether to flash it or trash it is up in the air and will not be announced until the pregame introductions. It is the $45,000 Sockers’ sign with flashing letters, fog and the big O that the San Diego players run through when they are introduced.

It all started a couple of months ago during an on-air conversation between Bell, sportscaster Ted Leitner and disc jockeys Hudson and Bauer of KFMB radio station. Leitner knocked the Sockers’ sign and their circuslike pregame introductions. Bell challenged Leitner by proposing a contest in which fans would send in postcards saying whether to trash or flash the sign.

If fans wrote in saying they wanted the sign trashed, Bell agreed to let Leitner choose 10 anti-sign fans who would destroy the expensive sign with sledge hammers after tonight’s game. If fans wanted to maintain the flashing sign, Hudson and Bauer would run through the sign during pregame introductions.

“I am very superstitious and want to see them keep the sign,” said Newman. “At one time I didn’t know if the fans would like something that never changed. Now, I think the people do like it. It allows them to anticipate when the game is going to begin. This is our tradition.”

The Sockers did not officially protest their loss to Baltimore Friday night and the Cleveland Force did officially protest their 8-6 loss to the Sockers Sunday night.

After Friday night’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Blast in Baltimore, Newman said the Sockers would protest the game because the teams were not permitted to switch benches at halftime. The benches at the Civic Arena are not equidistant from the center of the field, as is specified by league regulations. Newman believes this gives the Blast an unfair advantage. However, the Sockers opted not to lodge a protest, which has to be filed within 48 hours after the game and has a $500 fee.

“We didn’t feel we’d ever win it,” Newman said. “But we will write to the league and express how angry we are. I’ve talked to a lot of other coaches and they agree with me.”

Cleveland did protest the officiating in Sunday’s controversial game. League officials are expected to review tapes of the game on Saturday. Commissioner Francis Dale is expected to render a decision by the beginning of next week.

After reviewing the rule book, Newman said he thinks “the officials actually came out with flying colors. They interpreted the laws as they are written. The laws are not written properly and need to be clarified more.”

Socker Notes A crowd of 10,000 fans is expected for tonight’s opener . . . The MISL has signed a contract with ESPN to have 15 regular-season games broadcast this season. All games will be start between 11 and 1 (PST) Sunday afternoon, except for the St. Louis at Pittsburgh game Saturday, Nov. 9 at 11:30 a.m. Eight of the games will be broadcast live on Sundays and six will be tapes of games played the previous day. The telecasts will begin this weekend with Minnesota at Baltimore (11 a.m. PST). Baltimore will be featured four times during the season. The champion Sockers will be shown twice. Their Dec. 14 game against the Comets in Kansas City will be televised (at 11) on Dec. 15; and their March 22 game against Baltimore in San Diego will also be televised March 23 at noon. Bob Carpenter, who broadcasts St. Louis Steamers games, will provide the play-by-play. Shep Messing, a former MISL all-star who used to play for the New York Arrows, will do color.