Former Titan Rodriguez Feels Honored to Play Pro Soccer
As Ricky Rodriguez trots around the perimeter of the soccer field in the Pond, he taps every hand hanging over the Plexiglas wall. Where the wall is too high, he touches the glass where a hand is pressed against it.
Every hand.
Before disappearing into the locker room, he is one of a few Splash players who stops to sign every autograph--banners, shirts, programs.
Anything and everything.
“You can’t help but feel you’re all in it together,” Rodriguez says of the indoor soccer crowd. “Every time I play, I hear people yelling my name and it freaks me out. I want to turn and pass them the ball. And then they want your autograph. I’m so honored. That blows me away. And that’s why I want to sign every autograph.”
The more he learns the indoor game, the more he loves it, though the lure of Major League Soccer is overwhelming. His goal is to play year-round, in the Continental Indoor Soccer League, the MLS, the NPSL, whatever. It beats waiting tables at Hornblower Dining Yachts in Newport Beach.
Rodriguez helped Cal State Fullerton reach the NCAA final four in 1993, along with two of his Splash teammates, Paul McDonnell and Kenny Hesse. He graduated in 1995. If he sounds like a kid, maybe it’s because he is--despite his age.
“The final four was really exciting--I had never played in front of that many people in my life,” said Rodriguez, 23. “But the feeling I have now is that I’m playing a final four every home game. Every night, six- or seven-thousand people come out to watch you play--it’s that same feeling all over again.”
He’s getting that feeling because Coach Ian Fulton has him starting as a defender. He played only one regular-season game last year, but hasn’t missed a contest in 1996. He’s not much of a scorer (one goal, two assists), but recorded a career-high four blocks in the Splash’s most recent victory over Portland.
“Because of his defensive work,” forward Dale Ervine said, “it has created some offensive opportunities for us.”
Those scoring opportunities should go a long way. The Splash defense is allowing a league-low 5.25 goals; take away a 14-9 loss on opening night, and it’s 4.0.
“Ian had the confidence to let me start, and that has given me the confidence to go out and play as well as I can,” Rodriguez said. “My confidence right now is at the top.”
The Splash is at the top too--the top of the Western Division standings. The team is 5-3 and plays at San Diego tonight.
Rodriguez’s confidence is playing a major role in the Splash’s current fortunes. He is the most inexperienced player in a defense that lost Denis Hamlett and all-CISL second-team member Sean Bowers to MLS. It’s tough to hide a weak link, and so far, Rodriguez hasn’t been one.
“I’m really comfortable on the field,” he said. “I don’t panic, I don’t get nervous. The boys have trust in me, and it shows in my play. I don’t panic like you’d think most rookies would.”
Rodriguez has earned the respect--or at least, the admiration--of his older Splash teammates with his work rate, speed and quickness.
“He definitely plays with a lot more poise and confidence than most people getting an opportunity to play for the first time do,” said Ervine, a 10-year veteran. “All the players, and I’m sure management, is very pleased with how he has played up until now.”
They are so pleased that Rodriguez’s contract--he makes $75 per game--is being renegotiated. Fulton promised him that if he became a starter, he would make real money. For $75 per game, he was the best bargain in the sport.
“You don’t have to be fancy. You just go out there, win the ball and dish it to one of our guys,” Rodriguez said. “Win it and give it away. That has made it totally easy on me. If I play within myself and try not to get too fancy, I’ll be fine. Let the bigwigs, Dale and Bernie [Lilavois] do the work--let them score the goals--and [the defense] will stop the other team.”
That approach--not trying to do too much--fits into Fulton’s “Keep it simple, stupid” philosophy.
“I feel like I’m in a dream, the whole thing is a dream,” Rodriguez said. “I finally made it to that professional level. That was my goal since I was a kid and now I’m there.”
And for good reason.
“Everything Ricky has accomplished,” Ervine says, “he deserves.”
