KEVIN CROW : A NEW ROLE : He Wants to Lead the Sockers Despite the Job’s Headaches

SAN DIEGO —  Remember when defender Kevin Crow was the Sockers’ laid-back Californian? That was when Crow was just blocking shots. Now, he is taking and receiving shots--verbal ones.

“I believe we have the potential to win the whole thing,” Crow said. “But I don’t know if we have the team players anymore. We have too many individual players. People have to realize that the only way you are valuable is if you win the championship.

“There are only a couple of players on this team who would be sought after if we weren’t winning. By winning as a team, it helps everybody. I’m a team player, so I won’t stick out like other players. But that’s me.”

Crow has taken it upon himself this season--despite the disapproval of some teammates--to become the leader on a team that has not had one since Steve Zungul was sold to Tacoma midway through last season.

“We have to have somebody that could at least speak up a bit,” Crow said. “Whether it’s right or wrong, someone has to take responsibility.”

Crow seems ready to take the headaches that come with being a leader.

“When you’re a leader,” he said, “you’re not going to have a lot of friends. You’re going to (upset) players when you get on them. But I’m not here to be everyone’s best friend. A lot of players can’t separate personal from business. Instead of taking criticism constructively, they take it personally. That’s unprofessional.

“It bothers me. I’m a pretty easy-going guy. There are days when I go home shaking my head. I hate the feeling of being upset or not being able to understand why someone takes something personal at this level. I’m trying not to let it bother me too much, but it takes a little time not to let it bother me.”

Midfielder Cha Cha Namdar is one of the Sockers particularly bothered by Crow’s new role.

“Kevin tries to take control sometimes,” Namdar said. “It won’t work because it’s not his personality. I don’t think he should. I think he should just play his game. I have to stay within my own limits and do what I do best. He used to mind his own business. Now he’s trying to be someone he is not. Everyone has to understand their own limits.

“I’ve been disappointed in Kevin’s attitude. I don’t think he’s the kind of person I’m seeing. He’s trying to act like someone he is not. I’ve had some disagreements with him. You can’t talk to him. He ignores you. He acts like you don’t know anything. He was never like that.”

Namdar said the team needs someone to take control. He just doesn’t think Crow is the right type.

“We don’t have one (a leader) this year,” Namdar said. “When Zungul left, we all had to chip in. Now we have too many chiefs, not enough Indians. That’s the problem this year. Someone has to get it together and say, we need to do this. When it comes to nitty-gritty time, you need that leader.

“Jean Willrich (team captain) is a great player, but he’s not Steve Zungul when it comes to leadership. Zungul didn’t have to say anything, and he was a leader. So was Juli (Veee). But now he wants to stay out of it because of his dealings with management.”

Earlier this season, Socker managing general partner Bob Bell lectured his players on being more professional and not complaining as much in the press.

“Some of the players are tired of beating their heads against the wall,” said Crow.

When Crow, 25, came to the Sockers in 1983 as a two-time All-American from San Diego State, he quietly went about learning the indoor game from such mentors as Martin Donnelly and Gert Wieczorkowski.

He mastered the art of blocking shots and being in the right position at the right time, and was named the Major Indoor Soccer League defender of the year in 1984-85.

“You have to make people respect your play before people listen to you,” said Crow. “I didn’t want to speak up when I first came here. I kind of gradually worked my way into it. I do it out of necessity, not because I necessarily want to. Some of the players encourage me to do more. Maybe more players would want me to shut up.”

Said Socker midfielder Brian Quinn, a close friend of Crow’s: “Kevin doesn’t have that personality where he seems to be ruthless. With Kevin, some of the players are more defiant. They say, ‘Who are you? Do you think you’re a superstar?’ If they did that when Wieczorkowski was here, he would destroy them. . . .

“Kevin has this image. Sometimes I don’t know if he wants to dent it. I don’t know if he wants to be overly outspoken.”

Socker Coach Ron Newman gave Crow the responsibility of controlling the “No Goal Patrol” short-handed unit this season.

“You’ve got to learn to be a player and a leader,” Newman said. “You have to coax people. If you are going to ask someone to do something, make them believe it is right. If Kevin has a weakness, it is that he doesn’t believe he can be wrong.”

Crow is adamant and outspoken when discussing the importance of offensive players getting back on defense. The Sockers are known for attacking, which often leaves Crow and defender Fernando Clavijo short-handed in the back.

“I’m all for taking shots and creating chances,” Crow said. “But in indoor soccer you have to have five people who play offense and defense. In the past you could absorb three-on-twos, four-on-threes. But the league is getting better. Players are smarter.”

The Sockers are allowing more shots on goal and giving up more goals this season. And that annoys Crow.

“He really believes in teamwork,” Quinn said. “A lot of players get confused when he is trying to help them. He is a star in the league. He is a top-notch defender. What he believes in, he believes in totally.”

Crow thinks the game should be controlled by the defense, particularly when the Sockers have a two-or three-goal lead.

“At times I argue with him,” Quinn said. “I don’t think we have the players to do that. It’s hard to establish a pattern where the defense will dictate the game. In principal, he is probably 100% correct, but you have to play with what you have. The Sockers have won getting the ball up the field.”

They have also won with a solid defense anchored by Crow, the team’s all-time leader in blocked shots. Crow is off to a slow start offensively this season (no goals and three assists), but again leads the team in blocks.

“I think he’s consistently good,” Newman said. “I’m happy with the way he has played. One on one, there are not many players better in the league. It’s hard to get a shot off on Kevin Crow.”

Socker Notes

Branko Segota, who last month turned down a six-year, $1.25-million contract that would have been the longest and most lucrative in the Major Indoor Soccer League, met for an hour Tuesday with Bob Bell, the team managing general partner. They will probably meet again within a week, Bell said.