Newman Sends Out S.O.S.

You almost expect Sockers announcements to be delivered by international Morse code these days.

Dot-dot-dot, dash-dash-dash, dot-dot-dot.

Which, decoded, means heeeeelp!

Sockers Coach Ron Newman on Thursday held a news conference to drum up a future for the Sockers. This followed Monday’s news conference, which detailed their possible demise because owner Ron Fowler announced he cannot afford to continue.

Newman has been on the phone since.

“OK, let’s get to work,” Newman began Thursday. “I told you we’d be back, didn’t I?”

Easy, Ron, there’s still a long way to go.

“I’ve got miles to go,” he acknowledged. “You just keep hoping that the next phone call gives you a giant step forward.”

Newman is trying to choreograph that giant step. At the news conference he said the future of the team might depend on a season-ticket drive, which, if successful, would entice local investors.

Toward that end he has enlisted the help of KFMB Radio and the San Diego Cable Sports Network.

KFMB will air daily updates from Newman and Socker players. On Thursday the morning team of Mac Hudson and Joe Bauer will conduct a “drive-through” during which listeners will be asked to come by the station and contribute to the Save The Sockers fund.

Money collected will go for a block of season tickets to be donated to a different charity at each of the 20 home games for the possible upcoming season.

A telethon will be held that night from 6 to 9 on the San Diego Cable Sports Network (Cox Ch. 4, Southwestern Ch. 15, Jones Ch. 25, and Coronado Cablevision Ch. 6A). It will be hosted by Hudson and Bauer, Mark Larson, a season-ticket holder since 1985, and other KFMB personalities.

During the telethon, viewers will be asked for $25 pledges toward season-ticket purchases. The goal is 3,500 season tickets.

No one with the Sockers would go on record as to why they went to a station other than XTRA, which carried their games last season, but Larson said an industry joke that began Thursday might explain it.

“The joke that was making the rounds, and started by some industry wag, was that if that other station that carries their games would do the telethon, they would tape delay it till 11 p.m. or midnight,” Larson said. “That’s the kind of cooperation they got from them this season.”

XTRA tape-delayed several games this season.

The campaign, however, will amount to nothing if a new investor is not secured.

“It would be very meaningless without an owner,” said Randy Bernstein, vice-president. “But without this, there would be no opportunity for an owner to step forward.”

Added Erich Geyer, assistant coach, “We have no other choice right now. Ron (Newman) is talking to some interested investors, but right now, that is not what we can count on.”

Newman said some of his teams have had to overcome adversity before going on to win nine championships in 10 years, but now the city will have to meet the challenge.

“It’s time for the fans to stand up and be counted,” he said. “I want the fans to stand up in great numbers and I want you, the media, to help us.”

Well, OK. Here’s the Sockers’ number for anyone interested in purchasing season tickets: 224-GOAL.