Segota Visits Family But Leaves Sockers In Dark

Socker midfielder Branko Segota, who arrived two weeks late for training camp, then missed two months of the season with a cracked fibula, will not play in tonight’s game after missing four practices this week, Coach Ron Newman said.

Newman said Segota asked permission to spend the New Year’s holiday in Yugoslavia. The coach denied the request last Friday, citing the team’s practice schedule, but then called the star midfielder Saturday morning to propose a compromise only to reach Segota’s answering machine.

He has not heard from Segota since.

Reached late Thursday night at home, Segota said he did indeed vacation in Yugoslavia. He said he returned earlier in the evening, but hadn’t gotten in touch with anyone from the team.

“I fell asleep,” Segota said. “I have the flu, or something.”

About his departure, Segota said, “I discussed it with them (Newman and team President Ron Cady), and they never got back to me. It was kind of short notice--I had already bought the tickets . . .

“Everybody got the time off,” Segota continued. “They said I was still getting back into shape and everything, but it was the first time in seven years I could get together with my family.”

Segota said he visited his father and his girlfriend in Yugoslavia.

While he was gone, Segota missed practices on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Segota said he expects some sort of punishment.

“Yeah, probably,” he said. “They can fine me. What are they going to do?”

That’s just it. Segota is in a position of power and appears to be wielding it. He is in the last year of a no-cut, no-trade contract and will become a free agent at the end of the year. There already is speculation that he would like to play with the St. Louis Storm for owner Milan Mandaric and Coach Don Popovic, both Yugoslavs.

The team doesn’t want to alienate a veteran Newman refers to as “a franchise player.”

Newman says he is not in favor of a suspension because that would deprive the team of one of its most potent goal-scorers. Newman also said assessing themaximum fine allowed by the union for such an offense would be peanuts to the league’s highest-paid player.

Segota’s contract calls for an annual salary of $102,000.

“This is very disappointing,” Newman said, “because his character has been exemplary so far this year. His attitude has been much better (than last year). He has been playing very well the last couple of games. Things couldn’t be going better coming into the new year and now this.”

In the Sockers’ last outing, an 8-4 victory Dec. 27 in Tacoma, Segota had his first three-point performance of the season (one goal, two assists) and improved his goal-scoring streak to five consecutive games.

Teammates didn’t seem bothered by Segota’s absence.

“We didn’t even miss him,” said forward Paul Wright.

Added Kevin Crow, “It’s not something we really worry about. It’s something we have become used to over the years. We don’t really talk about it too much. Whatever happens, happens.”

Cady said he would not comment until he can “sit down and talk with the player.”