Ever since hearing that the Sockers will open up their season against the Dallas Sidekicks on November 9th at the Sports Arena I have been weighing the odds nonstop in my head like a Las Vegas bookie looking to handicap the biggest fight of the year. After hours of looking into my crystal ball I was still unsure of the future. So I took a long trek through the jungle to consult with my personal shaman/witchdoctor/mechanic. Unfortunately, after a spirit journey brought on by drinking a can of 8 year old malt liquor I was still in the dark about events to come. So in a desperate attempt at some sort of premonition I dialed up an exclusive 1-900 number and received three tarot card readings by Miss Cleo at the reasonable price of $37.99 a minute ( I did three readings for a sense of Scientific Method). Even after all of the crystal balls, the high gravity Old English, and the 3 hour phone call with the fabulous Miss Cleo I still am just as unsure about how the game will turn out on the night of the 9th. But I can give up a general idea on what I think about the upcoming season opener, which, like a prisoner waiting for a conjugal visit, I have been waiting for with patient anxiety.
I think the Sidekicks have the advantage when it comes to playing in San Diego for the Sockers’ home opener. First of all, Dallas has a chip on their shoulder after their last second loss in San Diego and their premature exit from the playoffs after a sloppy 8-5 home loss to Rio Grand Valley. Additionally, their sophomore year in the PASL will definitely not be sophomoric given that they have hired on a speed and endurance coach Kyle Meadows to help correct a series of fatigued fourth quarters. Dallas also added Chicago Mustang standout Nestor Hernandez to their lineup. Nestor, who was second in the league in scoring last season with 38 goals, will be a lethal addition to an already dangerous arsenal of goal scorers Lovegrove, Mbemba, and David for Dallas. Furthermore, the Sidekicks will be playing their second game, allowing them to work out a few kinks in their game plan against the Wichita squad at home on the 2nd, but for the Sockers it will be their first game of the season. Finally, the Dallas Sidekicks are under no real pressure to win. This game has no real importance for Tatu and his crew, other than being a litmus test for the playoffs at the end of this season. If the Sidekicks lose, they still have plenty of games left in the season to make the playoffs and besides, this is not a divisional game with playoff implications. The Sockers, on the other hand, have the pressure of playing their home opener in front of a crowd that will watch a banner drop in remembrance of last year’s Ron Newman Cup Championship, as well as a banner for the historic 48 game winning streak, a streak ended by the visiting Sidekicks, who will also be a witness to the celebration. In addition to all the other inherent pressures that come with a home opener is the fact that the Sockers are bearing the burden of a home winning streak of zero losses at home ever since joining the PASL in 2009.
On the other hand, I am a Sockers fan and must admit that GM John Kentera has made some big off season acquisitions to add to the Sockers line up in lieu of losing Antoniuk, Sutton, and Krause, namely veteran defender Evan McNeely and MVP goal scorer Jeff Hughes. Both McNeely and Hughes had strong showings in the "Friendly" outdoor match against Las Estrellas de Mexico, and are both veterans of the indoor game and should blend into the Sockers system almost seamlessly. Also returning to the line up is team captain Aaron Susi, who will continue to lead the team with his unprecedented skill and veteran experience. Finally, anyone who has been to a Sockers home game knows that the added pressure of the constant harassment and taunting thrown out by the legendary yet dreaded “7th Man” can break the visiting team’s concentration and force mistakes, especially late in the game.
I think the Sockers will win when they once again reach into their bag of tricks for the old “Sockers Magic”, as storied Sockers broadcaster Craig Elsten has branded the intangible force that tips the scales of fate on behalf of the Sockers during the most climactic and consequential moments of the game. It might also be the biggest test for the Sockers in the regular season, and more importantly, for the undefeated home winning streak. All I can say is “What a way to start off the season”.
