SPLASH NOTEBOOK / MARTIN HENDERSON : Mandatory Benching in San Jose a Part of Lilavois Trade
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Bernie Lilavois was a popular player in San Jose, but to acquire him, the Splash had to give up something besides a draft choice. It had to agree to hold Lilavois out of Saturday’s game in San Jose.
“They don’t want us to rub it in; Bernie was their most popular player and they would rather us not play him for that one game,” said Tim Orchard, Splash player personnel director. “We wouldn’t commit to any other.
“To pick up a player of his caliber this late in the season and not give anything up off your team was a great luxury. He has a style of play that’s unique to our team, so we won’t be as predictable. He’s not a traditional post-up guy. Our other forwards are backs-to-the-goal guys, and that makes us predictable because we don’t change our style from line to line. Bernie gives us some unpredictability, will be effective on counterattack situations and his speed will be an asset.”
Lilavois had a team-high 36 goals and 19 assists for San Jose in 1994. His nickname is Bernie the Bolt, which he acquired while playing in Scotland.
“There’s a clown over in Scotland, like Bozo, but his name was Bernie the Bolt, so they called me that,” Lilavois said. “I wish I could say it was from my speed and quickness instead of a clown.”
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The CISL Board of Governors will meet Aug. 15 in Portland at the All-Star game to discuss expansion for 1996. The league expects to grow by three teams, with Orlando, New York and Miami the front-runners. Two European teams, from suburbs of London and Glasgow, Scotland, are also interested, but would come in as a package and probably wouldn’t begin play until 1997. That could lead to a European division in 1998.
Support for those European teams would be so great that they would absorb the travel costs of North American teams crossing the Atlantic, Commissioner Ron Weinstein said.
Chicago is a strong candidate for 1997. The 1996 season is prohibitive because the Democratic National Convention is at the United Center next year.
Weinstein admitted that front-runners change weekly, though, “based upon who’s most excited and who’s most committed.”
Other entries in the CISL expansion race include Nashville, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Norfolk, New Jersey, San Antonio, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto and Guadalajara.
Even though there are only three expansion slots available for 1996, the possibility also exists that a team could move. Las Vegas has yet to take to its team and attendance in San Jose has been disappointing. Pittsburgh also has not drawn well, but new marketing personnel could change that.
Weinstein said his ideal league would be 20 teams, but he would not turn its back on the right ownership groups (arena owners/operators, NHL or NBA teams, or a strong Arena Football owner) who would work to make the league a success.
“We’re not going to expand just to expand, though,” Weinstein said. “We’re at a stage right now where the league is large enough. The marketplace and the ownership has to make sense.”
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Among the all-stars in Portland will be Dale Ervine, who did not make the trip to Portland when the Splash played the Pride two weeks ago. Ervine had been benched the two previous games, and stayed home to evaluate his situation.
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Standings: Southern Division: San Diego 8-4, Mexico 8-6, Splash 7-7, Arizona 5-7, Houston 4-10.
Western Division: Sacramento 10-2, San Jose 6-6, Portland 7-7, Las Vegas 6-7, Seattle 5-8.
Eastern Division: Monterrey 14-2, Dallas 7-6, Washington 8-7, Pittsburgh 3-8, Detroit 1-12. *
Up next: The Splash (7-7), in the middle of a four-game trip, begins the second half of the season tonight at Detroit (1-12, Saturday in San Jose (6-6) and Sunday in Sacramento (10-2) before beginning a six-game home stand.
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On the air: All games will be broadcast live on KORG AM-1190, 4:30 p.m. today vs. Detroit, 7:35 p.m. Saturday vs. San Jose and 6:05 p.m. Sunday vs. Sacramento.
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Around the league: Former Splash and current Seattle defender Ralph Black strained the inside ligament of his knee July 23 at San Jose; he is expected to return to the lineup no sooner than Aug. 18 at Detroit. The SeaDogs have been decimated by injuries, but they have at least two impressive victories, against the Splash and Monterrey. . . . Washington forward Dante Washington was selected player of the week, with four goals and three assists in two games. . . . Pittsburgh goalkeeper P.J. Johns was named player of the week for July 31 after beating Detroit, 4-1, and Dallas, 5-4.
