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Health Care Paid Off in Sockers’ Acquisition of Black

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When Ralph Black proved he could play, that was gravy.

Socker Coach Ron Newman knew from the beginning that the team had made a wise move in acquiring Black--a free-agent defender who played for Tacoma last season. If nothing else, it was good for the Sockers’ health.

Apparently, Black has gained quite a reputation around the Major Indoor Soccer League for leaving his mark on opponents; more specifically, a black-and-blue mark, produced by his left foot hitting the area between the shin and the ankle.

Now, because Black is a member of the gang, Newman need not worry. The Sockers are safe.

“He’s a tough little critter,” Newman says.

Call him the bouncer. Black’s father, Ralph Sr., who played six years of professional soccer in his native Scotland and also in England, told his son at an early age that if the game got dirty, he had to be able to handle himself. Ralph Jr. paid heed.

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“I’ve seen some of his tackles, and I shut my eyes sometimes,” Ralph Sr. says.

When the game gets a little heated, Black is usually a lot closer to the action than shouting distance. He led the Sockers in fouls this year with 93.

“I’ll protect anybody on our team,” he says. “I can take it, and I can give it.”

So what do we have here? A thug in short pants? A hockey player in the wrong sport? A frustrated boxer?

Not really. It’s easy to see Black isn’t just around for his clobbering ability. Far from it.

Take Wednesday’s 7-4 playoff victory over Dallas. Along with his defensive duties, Black managed to slip up front to score a goal. Newman says Black is a capable offensive player, skillful as the next guy.

Away from soccer, Black does benefits, clinics and charity appearances--probably more than any player on the team.

He’s as versatile off the field as on. In the morning, he’ll be teaching kids more efficient ways to dribble a soccer ball. By night, he’s pouring drinks as a celebrity bartender, talking soccer all the while.

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There are many sides to Ralph Black.

Still, it is the tough-guy image that is hard to ignore. If the MISL printed a “10 Most Wanted List” Black would be strongly considered. You get the feeling he almost feels cheated if there isn’t a little pain involved in each game.

Two years ago, while with Tacoma, Black slid into the goalpost in a game against the Sockers and split his shin open trying to block a shot by Branko Segota. It was the third quarter and Tacoma trailed by a goal. The doctor gave Black 10 stitches and was making arrangements to send him to the hospital. Never mind, said Black, who proceeded to finish the game. He assisted on the tying goal, and Tacoma won in overtime.

Black didn’t think too much of it.

“It was only stitches,” he says. “It wasn’t like it was a major break.”

Must be that Scottish blood. Black was born in Glasgow but moved to San Bruno when he was a year old. There, he became an excellent baseball player, though Ralph Sr. was a soccer coach. For a long time, it appeared Black’s future would be in baseball.

“Everybody in San Bruno thought he would be a baseball player,” Ralph Sr. says. “All of a sudden he changed over, with no pressure from me.”

Good decision, as it turned out. Black was a member of the U.S. National Youth Team and sought by colleges and professional teams after finishing high school.

This brought about another decision: college or money? School was never too important. If it weren’t required, Black said he wouldn’t have been there.

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Not surprisingly, after discussing it with his father, Black decided he might as well make his money early.

So at age 18, he went to Denver to play for the Avalanche. He subsequently spent a year in Baltimore, then went to Tacoma for five seasons.

Except for two isolated incidents, Black has had a fine career. He left Tacoma ranked third in team history in assists (92) and blocks (335). Oh yeah, and second in penalty minutes (82).

But still fresh in his memory are his two appearances in the MISL championship series. Both times, his team was defeated.

Most painful was two years ago, when Tacoma lost to Dallas in the seventh game after leading, 3-1, with two minutes remaining.

Black said he doesn’t even like to talk about it.

“Every time I think of that I’m sick,” he says. “It’s a crime.”

It isn’t hard to see why Black says his focus is on trying to win a championship this season. It’s something he can almost taste.

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Put it this way. Black has set his priorities. “Right now I have one goal, and it’s not to be married. I’m hungry. You give me a ring, I’ll be the happiest man alive.”

A championship ring, that is. Save the engagement ring, Black doesn’t mind life as a bachelor for now.

He and Newman have sort of a running joke. Newman says he’ll often spot Black at the bar with a beer in each hand. When their eyes meet, Black turns to the person next to him, stranger or friend, and says “Here are your two beers.”

But Newman knows he has a valuable commodity in Black, whose arrival helped fill the void left by the departure of Hugo Perez and Fernando Clavijo.

“He’s doing brilliantly for us,” Newman said. “He has had a great season. I think he has become one of the more popular players on the club.”

Newman had his eye on Black a long time ago. The two have had conversation in the past, but the money was never right. This season, Black could have probably made more with Wichita but chose San Diego because he felt it would be beneficial to his game. He went from making in the $70,000 range last season to $38,000 this year.

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Black has invested his soccer earnings wisely. He owns two houses and a boat. He isn’t one for foolish spending, just a regular guy who works summers distributing soft drinks. A real job. His first.

When friends from home visit, they often get a kick out of watching him sign autographs. Come to think of it, Black gets kind of a kick out of it too.

“It’s pretty funny,” he says. “Why me? Someone from San Bruno.”

Why not? At 25, Black figures to be around the MISL for a while. That is, if the MISL is around. If so, he wouldn’t mind staying in San Diego. It has been fun. Preseason anxieties such as, “Is Branko going to accept me?” are long gone. He fits in.

“I picked the best team to come to,” Black said. “I’ve been with some serious teams, and it’s really boring. I’m not a boring person. I like to joke. I’ve never laughed so much in a season. It’s been a pleasure.”

For all concerned.

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