Don’t Look Now, but MISL Season Is Just Around the Corner : Sockers Begin Title Defense by Looking to Improve

here’s a first: Ron Newman is actually calling his Sockers the favorite in the Major Indoor Soccer League this season.

This from the coach who insisted throughout last season’s playoffs that his team was clearly the underdog against the Baltimore Blast, whom the Sockers beat in seven games to take their seventh indoor title.

What’s the catch?

Well, of course, there are a few qualifiers and Newman admits all this rather reluctantly. He says he’ll do his best to see that the Sockers continue to maintain a low profile in their championship defense, which begins Monday with the start of training camp.

Other than that, he won’t venture much beyond: “If everything falls into place, then I think we’ll be improved. Last year’s team was not an improvement on the team from the year before.”

Certainly, nobody is taking anything for granted. As midfielder Brian Quinn states eloquently in his charming Irish brogue: “If we go in with the attitude that we’re the best, then I think we’re going to get our (tails) kicked. It doesn’t do anything for me thinking about what happened last year.”

Anyway, there are questions to answer and problems to reckon with before the regular season kicks off at Dallas Oct. 28.

Such as?

How about whether Yugoslavian forward Zoran Karic can stay out of the doghouse long enough to produce up to his capabilities? At times last season, Karic was the Sockers most valuable offensive player, as his team-leading 37 regular season goals indicate.

Yet Newman had difficulty communicating with him, and not just because Karic speaks in halting English. Often, Karic did what he pleased rather than what pleased Newman.

“I’ve never had a player take so long to harness the skills,” Newman said. “He didn’t want to perform. I don’t think he realized there was a system to this game. It frustrated me to the point where I was going to get rid of him.”

Will he change?

“He better, let’s put it that way,” Newman said. “I’ve got to believe that even he is going to have to learn what’s right and what’s wrong. He can’t afford to be the individual he would like to be.”

Defender Kevin Crow thinks last year’s difficulties will ultimately help Karic, who is beginning his third season in the league.

“He has developed into a very important part of the team,” Crow said. “(Last season) he was new to the system and the sport. I think he wanted to prove himself. He’s maturing and learning that if we’re all successful together, we’re all rewarded.”

In Newman’s search for players to fill the 18-man roster, he would do well to find some speedy legs. Lost to the free agent draft was Paul Wright, the team’s--and probably the league’s--fastest player. Wright, who agreed to terms with the Cleveland Crunch Friday and arrived in Cleveland Saturday, played a bit role last season but appeared to be on the verge of mastering Newman’s system.

Another departed young player--Paul Dougherty--will play for the Baltimore Blast this season.

“We lost two key young players, which is a shame because we built on those players,” Newman said. “That disappoints me.”

Newman’s policy is that nobody’s roster spot is secure until he proves himself, though the Segotas, Quinns and Crows of this team won’t likely lose a whole lot of sleep worrying about the final cut.

Someone who might is Rene Ortiz, a guy whose label is “prospect.” Because the Sockers went bankrupt before last season, the MISL recognized them as a new team, allowing Ortiz to spend a second year on the developmental team. But his future is now, Newman says, and this year he will have to produce.

“Paul Wright seemed to jump in front of Rene last year,” Newman said. “He’s going to be one of those who’s going to be looking over his shoulder all the time.”

Veteran Steve Zungul is expected to be in camp, though he is unsigned and his status is uncertain. Zungul, 35, provided the Sockers with experience and an extra scoring punch last season while earning the MISL’s minimum salary of $25,000.

He might want more money this season, but the Sockers can’t afford to give him a significant raise. Zungul doesn’t have a great deal of bargaining power, considering his age and the fact that San Diego’s climate helps his arthritic hips and contributes to keeping his game at a competitive level.

Back for a tryout this year after a year away is Jacques Ladouceur, who made his mark two seasons ago with the Sockers as a ball winner. Ladouceur will have to overcome inconsistency, which has been his biggest problem.

“Jacques had a couple of times when he was absolutely brilliant,” Newman said, “and then he seemed to lose confidence a little bit and become an ordinary player.”

Newman won’t say who’s on his shopping list just yet, but players likely to interest him include Ben Collins and Steve Kinsey, former Lazers whose rights have been retained by Wichita. Neither is flashy, but both are consistent.

Newman’s biggest problem: he isn’t exactly dealing with George Steinbrenner’s budget. “I’m trying to fill in the last four spaces with an amount of money that barely makes it,” he said. “It’s real tricky.”

But his dealings this year are a good deal less complicated than last, when Newman was scurrying around trying to find players at the last minute after it was determined the Sockers would indeed have enough money in the bank to operate.

“Last year I was just gathering players as quickly as I could before other teams picked them up,” Newman said. “This year I can be a little bit more choosey.”

And this season, the veterans are in place. Branko Segota, who didn’t arrive until a few days before the beginning of last season, is in town and even helping out with rookie camp. Well rested, too. He didn’t play outdoor soccer this summer for the first time since he joined the Sockers in 1984, which should be beneficial, considering his array of injuries last season.

So the atmosphere entering this year’s camp is more relaxed.

“I think we feel that after the previous year, that is the worst it will ever get,” Quinn said. “I think everybody had a good summer. We enjoyed the championship, because we weren’t really expecting to win it.”

Newman’s theory has always been to find a few new players who have never won a championship, sort of a group to keep the veterans hungry. Of course, a veteran such as Quinn doesn’t have to worry about losing his appetite for the game. Quinn has probably been ready to play since about a week after the Sockers won the championship June 10.

“It’s been a long offseason,” said Quinn of what is actually the shortest offseason in professional team sports. “I enjoy the season starting. I enjoy going to training every day.”

Socker Notes

The first day of training camp will include a 9 a.m. practice at Folsom Racquet Club, an 11 a.m. fitting for championship rings and a 2 p.m. beach run, the Waterloo of the aging veteran. “When players retire,” Coach Ron Newman said, “they retire in the middle of a long distance run.” . . . Starting Tuesday, the Sockers will train outdoors at San Diego City College in preparation for their Oct. 1 exhibition game against San Diego State in Aztec Bowl.