Soccer needs

by Andy Fraser

Note: See story on this page

The jackals and barking dogs are starting to
close in on the Whitecaps. By Saturday night,
when Memphis Rogues make their first ever
appearance in Vancouver, the hounds should be
in full cry looking for blood.

Bob McNab will be
greeted with a rousing
chorus of boos, and even

Alan Ball will come in for his
share along with Bob
Lenarduzzi. Ray Hankin
may even wonder if the fans
really want him to do well,
and the other players will be
upught and tense.

There's nothing like a
losing streak to make
athletes aware of just how
many people develop a
totally unhealthy attitude to
sport.

Bootng’s okay, but just try
and remember that those
guys out there are playing
for their livelihood and they
are human beings with
feelings, just hke the rest of
us.

While speaking of at.
titudes to sport and games
we come naturally to Willie
Johnston, the current
enigma with the Caps.

Willie is the love/hate
figure with the team this
year, but regardless how the
fans and media see him, the
fact remains that the bandy-
legged little winger 1s out
there on the field for the
pure yoy and dehght of the
game

His one on one challenges,
his) larger than hfe en-
counters with referees and

opponents, and some of his
other more publicized ex-
ploits may upset and anger
the more traditional fan, but
these actions all exhibit an
exuberance and love of
playing that has been vir-
tually lost ever since sport
became ae multi-million
dollar entertainment
business where winning is
the only thing that matters.

Many of the media are not
enamoured of Willie simply
because he does not fit their
concept of the pro athiete
who will sprout all the tired
litde phrases.

Willie is taciturn. He will
never be accused of taking

up too much of a reporters

ame with
swers. He

long winded an-
gives the im-

pression of not totally
trusting reporters, perhaps
because he has been stung in
the past. ,

Perhaps all this just adds
to the color of this in-
ternationally famous winger.

And for the media types
and fans who say he isn’t a
team player, that’s simply a
load of garbage proving that
fans and reporters don't
know all that much.

Willie was a winger with
Glasgow Rangers, West
Bromwich Albion, and for
Scotland when that tiny
nation wasapowerhouse in
the world.

To say that he isn't a team
player is to show the
ultimate in ignorance. Those
teams used the fiery little
winger because he was able
to combine the best of his
individual skills to assist the
team And they were pretty
fair teams.

Not really comparable to

WAITERS TAKES OVER

Tony Waiters is back in
as head coach of the
Vancouver Whitecaps
following a ‘joint
decision’ of Waiters, Bob
McNab, and president
John Best.

The change was an-
nounced Tucsday
morning and will be
effective immediately.

According to club
spokesmen, McNab is

still on staff and will be
taking a few days to

reasses his position with
Whitecap organiza-

the
tion.

A former England
fullback with Arsenal,
McNab came to Van-
couver at the beginning
of last season and worked
closely with Waiters in
developing the soccer
bowl winning team.

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If Willie was a talker, he
would be held in the utmost
esteem by all reporters as he
is with the fans.

Besides, there seems to be
this funny little thing out
here about taking knocks at
people who don't bother to
fight back.

Johnston is a_ special
breed, one of those true

‘characters’\_in sport who .

crop up infrequently on this

side of the water where we.

seem to like our athletes to’

be of the more bland variety. .

The sport needs Willie
Johnston and others of that
ilk!

When Rudi Krol shows up
the end of the month, his
appearance will probably
resemble a dress rehearsal
for the second coming.

His skill and expertise will
be needed and appreciated
(remember the Challenge
Cup games?) and the poor
guy will be expected to
perform miracles.

Basically the same _ role
that Alan Ball fulfilled last
year. And after a time, if
Rudi has a bad game or two,
the same boo birds will be
after him the same as they
now go after Ball.

Mind you, given the way
the team is ‘progressing’ at
this stage, there could be a
few changes before the
Cosmos come to town and
Rudi returns on June 29.

Mro

14a?

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