SOCKER NOTEBOOK : Crow’s Long Playoff Streak Is in Jeopardy Friday Night

The coolest place on the bench has always been Kevin Crow’s spot. Since joining the team in 1983, the Socker defender has played in all 74 playoff games, starting the past 41.

That streak may end Friday.

Crow suffered a lower abdominal strain in a three-player collision during the second quarter of the Sockers’ 6-1 loss to Dallas Saturday. He tried to play in the second half but was unable to run at full speed.

Crow will take this week off from practice and his only exercise will be on a stationary bike. At this point, nobody is sure whether he’ll be available for Game 3, which is at 7:35 p.m. Friday in the San Diego Sports Arena.

“He may miss the entire series,” Socker trainer Bill Taylor said. “There is that possibility. Abdominal (injuries) can take a long time to heal.”

In his favor, Crow is in good physical shape.

“There are guys who are quick healers and guys who are slow healers,” Taylor said. “Kevin’s always been a pretty quick healer.”

The thought of losing Crow is a scary one for Socker Coach Ron Newman, who would have to call on either Arturo Velazco, who has played in just 25 of 58 games, or Jim Gabarra, a forward.

“That’s a major blow if we lose Kevin,” Newman said. “He’s always been there. It would probably be the worst loss of anybody on the team. We’ve never had anybody to back him up.”

But Crow isn’t making plans to be a spectator just yet.

“I’ll be out there,” he said, “unless I’m going to hurt the team by being out there.”

Following a conversation with his mother and sister, defender Cacho has decided not to return to Argentina to visit his father, who suffered a heart attack over the weekend.

“He’s OK now,” Cacho said. “My sister tell me: ‘Cacho, he’s OK.’ ”

Socker President Ron Cady arranged for a San Diego doctor to talk with the doctor in Argentina and explain the details of his father’s condition to Cacho, who said his father has had previous heart attacks.

The playoffs are still awaiting the arrival of the real Branko Segota, who has five points in six games, the worst playoff statistics in his nine-year career.

In the past, Segota has always excelled at darting around defenders and unleashing shots that had the eye-opening powers of strong coffee. This year, he has often been stripped of the ball, tripped or both.

“It’s the quick, sharp movements that are lacking in his game,” Newman said. “Branko doesn’t seem to be able to get out of second gear.”

In his defense, Segota said: “I think I’m playing well. I’m just not getting very many opportunities. Every time I get the ball I get swarmed by two or three other guys.”

Segota has collected a pile of penalty minutes, which may be shooting a hole in his confidence.

“Maybe that’s why I can’t get it together,” he said. “I’m afraid to go out there and play more physical because I know I’m going to be in the (penalty) box.”

Which brings up another question: Is he in good enough shape to handle the bumps and elbows?

“He’s healthy,” Newman said. “He shouldn’t be out of shape, should he? I always think you can be in better shape no matter what shape you’re in. And I think if you’ve got a problem, maybe being in better shape could help that problem.”

Peter Hattrup, a player from the American Indoor Soccer Assn. signed to a 15-day contract two weeks ago, has opted not to stick around for another 15 days.

“It’s just that Peter got bored,” Newman said. “It was difficult, because we didn’t have any injuries while he was here. And, of course, the team was doing well. So I couldn’t find a niche for him.”

Hattrup, Newman said, is headed for Oregon, where he will play outdoor soccer for the Portland Timbers of the Western Soccer League.

Bits and pieces:

--Socker midfielder Waad Hirmez scored a goal in the third quarter of Saturday’s game to move into fourth on the team’s all-time playoff goal-scoring list with 44.

--Baltimore has taken a 2-0 lead over Kansas City in the Eastern Division finals, which resume tonight in Kansas City.

--Former Socker Paul Dougherty, who now plays midfielder for the Baltimore Blast, has been out with a left knee strain since April 8 and was not taken to Kansas City.

--Seven former MISL players--six defenders and a goalie--have been chosen to play on the United States national team for the World Cup: Desmond Armstrong, Brian Bliss, Paul Krumpe, John Stollmeyer, Steve Trittschuh, Mike Windischmann and goalie David Vanole.

--Forward Wes Wade’s goal in the Sockers’ 4-2 victory in Game 1 Friday has now been credited to midfielder Brian Quinn.