USIndoor's Official Magazine is a quarterly publication, dedicated to owners, managers, program administrators and other professionals, startups and providers involved with indoor recreational sports facilities.
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Flanagan enjoys home field advantage through college while attending drawn it up any better, it worked he has almost caught up with his numbe perfectly. Midwestern StateWichita Falls in , where I can still remember the entire play from year in blocks, goals, and a from last tradition and familiarity once again played when it started. It was even that "I am definitely feeling more confiden much an important role in his career. He said because it was our first short than I ever have. I ve put myself sweeter year one of the major things that drew handed goal last year and for it to be hump, that transition from rookie him to that the Midwestern was the winning tradition. winning goal in the championship year to a five year player." But game a two "When I came in as a freshman, the team it was just awesome." game, by Lydia Zedler isn t really looking at this season fr had been to the national tournament He s well on his way to having the best 12 own standpoint. "Because of where the years in a row." He was also familiar with his career. At the halfway point, season of team is now, it s kind of hard to sit D allas Sidekicks defender, Brad the team and the coach due to the fact and focus on my own game." Flanagan did not need to be , that his older brother, Brian, was already This season has not only shown Brad told about the indoor soccer the team. "It was a good situation for on confidence, but also his versatility. tradition in Dallas when he joined the had a great opportunity to see some me, I Because of the injuries that plagued, team five years ago. He already knew all time." playing continue to plague, the team, he was about it. moved from defender to forward for a f Flanagan was invited to tryout with the Flanagan, a Dallas native, grewSidekicks prior to the 1998 season and up with games. "For those games, I was a littl the Sidekicks. "Growing up, I was was signed as a free agent. His first few a huge uncomfortable and a little lost. I was fan. settled in and used to playing in the We went to all of the games." The he had to go through the normal seasons, Dallas Lake Highlands High School playing adjustments of outdoor to indoor grad and then they told me I was going up t had many connections to the team way amateur to professional. But he has and It was a tough transition, but that s before he put on a Sidekicks jersey. "I ve each season and has progressed Tatu needed, so that s what I did." known Kevin Smith for years and have developed into a key player on the Win or lose, Brad couldn t imagine helped with Smudger s camps since Sidekicks roster. He played a major role in I was playing anywhere else. He loves it her in high school. So, I got to know game three of the 2001 WISL some of This is his hometown. "Dallas has the the players from that. I ve always known a championship series as he assisted fans. I haven t been to a place yet th lot of the guys." Brad Flanagan Armando Valdivia the short-handed in Brad continued to work at campsgame-winning goal. "You couldn t have Kansas City Comets' Alex Zotinca f you ve walked into Kemper Arena in fans like we do. They are incredibly l and that s why I love playing here." shirt in celebration after each goalheaded to he scores. Chicago and the home , I In of "Sexiest in Kansas City lately and heard a crowd fact, Zotinca was voted Comet" of an uncle he had never met. Zotinca then people chanting, "Ice, ice baby", a recent online poll on the team website. With set about learning the don t language, the culture You re not trapped at a Icesome players, all the attention would go to Vanilla panic. most likely, you re at a their heads. Kansas City concert Comets game, and defender Zotinca Alex has Not Zotinca. And, when he "I m here to play soccer, to win some bored, he practiced with the was MLS games," he says. just scored another goal. he could soak up. everything "The rest of this Chicago Fire attention . anything Zotinca, 26, is in his third year and all it s nice, but it doesn t mean Some of the Fire s players eventually g with Kansas City. Zotinca in touch with the coach of the Traditionally in the back forif we Comets,win at the end of the night." the don t Zotinca s road to Kansas City and Milwaukee Rampage an A-League team. the , his scoring prowess and popularity with the Comets has been a long strange trip,Their coach, in return, told Comets coach starting fans, has increased greatly. in theTransylvanianegion of r Romania, There are two reasons for his popularity. almost five First, he scores goals. Lots of them. He scored years ago. 98 points in 43 games last season Zoran Savic about this young kid practicing At the time with his squad, who showed great potentia Zotinca, who turned professional at the age of 16, wasSavic brought him to town, watch indoor. enough Sibiu in for fourth overall on the team, and playing for his hometown team , and him for a few days, and signed him up. the 10th highest output in the league. just enjoying being young. He was also the Then, a girlfriend has excelled for the Comets. Zotinca I first highest-scoring defender in the MISLtold him she was registering for a specialyear, he added 49 points and 43 blo last season. and to named to the All-Rookie Team. Finally, he secured himselfimmigration draft, for a chance to come was the a spot in United the record books by notching 15 three-pointStates. goals La In certain countriesseason he came to life, with 98 points an where the immigration rate is low, the US willblocks. a He was also highlighted this sea offer good for second all-time with the chance to on status, , Comets, and fifth-highest ever in the league. receive automatic green card the MISL Guide & Record Book as a with 1,000 such green cards being issued perStar of the MISL." "Rising The second reason Zotinca is so popular Over a million people register for the future, he is unsure what he wa For the with the fans is apparent as soon asyear. see you him the girls think he s cute. draft he Of course,every year. to do. Maybe earn a degree, maybe a spot Zotinca entered the draft, never thinking he possible. doesn t hurt his appeal by adding blonde the MLS, if Alex Zotinca highlights to his traditionally darkwould be chosen. hair hence Whatever he choose He was one of the things are certain Zotinca will give his lucky the "ice, ice, baby" calls or by stripping and soon found himself on a planefans will love him for it. 1,000, off his the Goal Indoor • March 2 003 • 17