Sockers’ Collins Might Miss MSL Playoffs : Soccer: Defensive standout is recovering from knee surgery to repair torn cartilage.

Sockers defender Ben Collins, last season’s championship series Most Valuable Player, said he will miss the rest of the season and the playoffs after undergoing surgery on his left knee.

“I can walk and I’m not feeling any pain,” Collins said Saturday. “But the doctor (Daniel Robertson) told me not to get my hopes up, that I would miss the playoffs.”

That was news to Coach Ron Newman, who was hoping Collins would be back for the semifinals, scheduled to begin the week of April 5.

“We feel he might make it back by the first round,” Newman said. “We heard he would be ready in three to six weeks.”

Trainer Bill Taylor said it would be more like four to six weeks. That would rule out Collins’ availability for the semifinals, which the Sockers hope to conclude by April 21.

“It just depends on how he heals,” Taylor said. “It could be sooner, or it could be longer.”

The operation Friday was to repair a tear in the lateral cartilage and remove a loose piece of the articular cartilage.

It is the second time Collins has had knee surgery. During the 1988-89 season while with the Los Angeles Lazers, Collins underwent surgery on his right knee to repair damaged cartilage. He rushed his comeback because team owner Jerry Buss promised to operate the team another year if the Lazers made the playoffs.

Collins now regrets that. Not only did the Lazers fail to make the playoffs (and Buss followed through by folding the team), but cutting short his recuperating period caused lingering pain the next season when Collins missed nearly half of 1989-90 as a member of the Sockers.

He said this time he wants to make sure his knee is 100% before he returns so as not to jeopardize his 1992-93 season.

Collins had to leave this past Sunday’s game at Cleveland, a 5-4 Crunch victory, in the second half because of pain in the knee.

“Every time I have a good season, something goes wrong,” Collins said. “I didn’t even get hit--it just happened by itself from the wear and tear of the season.”

Although Collins was third on the team with 26 blocks, he was looked upon more for leadership. He won the MVP not because of his defensive prowess, but for his ability to see openings from the back and move the team into an offensive posture.

His absence during the playoffs could deal a crucial blow to the Sockers’ chances of winning a 10th championship in 11 years. Midfielder Brian Quinn left the team midway through the year to take his place on the U.S. national team. Quinn long has had a reputation for picking up the Sockers’ tempo in the playoffs, and Collins came forward in the same manner last season.

Not only will that leadership-by-example be missing, but now Newman must scurry simply to fill the roster. The first move probably will see midfielder Tim Wittman moving back to defense, Newman said. Wittman is a 10-year veteran who before this season played his entire career with the Baltimore Blast.

Collins doesn’t think his absence will make much difference.

“It’s bad news for me, but the team is playing well, “ he said. “It will be just like it was with Quinny. We knew he wasn’t coming back so we adjusted. Now they will have it in mind that they can’t count on me and they will adjust.

“The only problem is that if another defender gets hurt, we don’t have anyone else.”