Talk Is Cheap : Sockers’ Post-Game Comments Come at the Expense of Belittled Kansas City

The Sockers have found that winning games often leads to losing friends, particularly in light of their post-game conduct. San Diego always has thrived on being outspoken and controversial, but the players’ bravado after Tuesday night’s 13-3 win in Kansas City was not kindly regarded by the Comets.

The Sockers took plenty of shots en route to their 11th straight win, but the shooting didn’t stop at the game’s end.

In the Kansas City Star Wednesday afternoon, Socker forward Juli Veee was quoted as saying: “I have never played against a worse team in my life. They (Kansas City Comets) have no pride. They just gave up. It’s a shame. It’s not good for the sport.

“I remember when I used to come in here and there would be 15,000 people screaming. You came here having to steal a game. Now they give it to you.”

Veee, however, claims he was talking to teammate Jean Willrich and not the reporter who used the quotes.

“That’s not right,” Veee said. “The reporter was over talking to Branko (Segota) about Branko playing in Canada. He didn’t talk to me.”

San Diego defender Fernando Clavijo was quoted in The Star as saying: “It’s terrible. Right at the beginning of the game, when we scored two goals, they gave up. They should have heart, but they don’t.”

That kind of talk angers opponents.

“I think our players are sick that this stuff has come out by people who should be thankful they are playing on an over-talented team,” said Comets forward Laurie Abrahams, a former Socker. “The easiest thing in the world is to play on a good team. There are a lot more things going on here and the Sockers are taking a short-sided view.”

Are the Comets, losers of 12 straight to the Sockers, eagerly anticipating their visit to San Diego on Feb. 14?

“We’ll show up, even if we’re not going to try,” said Abrahams, tongue in cheek.

Sockers Coach Ron Newman, who has infuriated opponents by calling timeouts in the final seconds of three one-sided games in the past two seasons, said he spoke to his players about being positive after Tuesday night’s game.

“We didn’t want to damage their franchise,” Newman said. “Other teams are obviously looking for anything to gripe about. It is our goal to break the spirit of the opposite side during the game. Then, we try to be as humble as we can.”

Said Lee Stern, Chicago Sting owner: “Comments like that are disappointing when they come from players of the stature of Juli Veee. It shows a lack of class on the part of any player who would comment on another team.

“If they said those things about us, we would put it up on the board. And the Sting would come out like storm troppers.”

The Sockers face the Sting on Friday night at Chicago Stadium. The game will be televised live at 5:30 on KTTY (Channel 69).

Socker owner Bob Bell was not pleased about his players’ post-game comments.

“I don’t think they’re real appropriate,” Bell said. “The players were being too severe and harsh on Kansas City. I think it’s wrong. They should have more empathy and sympathy.”

Bell, usually the first person to visit the opposing team’s locker room after a game at home games, does not approve of his players knocking other teams. However, he also doesn’t like the idea of being criticized for having created such a good team.

“Every owner in the league had the same opportunity to sign the players we did,” Bell said. “I think it’s terrific we have a dynasty, but it’s almost like I’ve created a Frankenstein.”

Socker Notes

According to San Diego owner Bob Bell, Steve Zungul will remain a Socker. It has been rumored that the leading scorer in the MISL would be sold to Tacoma or Pittsburgh. “As far as I’m concerned it’s dead unless Steve Zungul picks up the phone and calls and says he has worked something out with Tacoma and he wants to go there,” Bell said. . . . Bell said he has still not received a written memo from the league office stating that MISL players cannot miss a regular season or playoff game to play for the Canadian National team. He was advised of that directive by phone Monday. Branko Segota, who had been granted permission by Bell to play with the Canadian team against Paraguay Wednesday night in Vancouver, played with the Sockers in Kansas City and is with the team in Chicago . . . The 1986 MISL starting All-Star teams will be announced at a luncheon in Chicago this afternoon.