Sidekicks nursing hurt pride after disappointing season
by Robert Barowski ,Reporter

   For any sports team, the off-season can be brutal.
   You're spending time at an area golf course trying to get a good tee time and a cart, or maybe you're traveling home to see family and friends in an attempt to relax and put the past season behind you.
   But any way you slice it, you're away from what you want to be doing and you have to sit and reflect on what went wrong.
   The off-season is especially rough when your team finishes with the worst record in franchise history.
   The Dallas Sidekicks have built a winning reputation in their 18-year history although they are a team that flies in under everyone's radar.
   The team concluded its inaugural season in the re-incarnated Major Indoor Soccer League, and the results weren't up to par.
   The team finished with a 9-27 record, marking its worst season finish ever.
   The only other season that came close was the Sidekicks' very first in 1984-1985 when they went 12-36 in the old MISL.
   The biggest disappointment about the season was the Sidekicks had come off their fourth championship-winning season.
   They defeated the San Diego Sockers the previous year to win the World Indoor Soccer League championship. Many things ran afoul for the Sidekicks last year. Injuries were the main problem.
   The same is true in all sports. If you're not healthy, wins will be tough to obtain.
   Star players such as Antonio Sutton and David Doyle were sidelined after suffering injuries.
   As well, player/head coach Tatu, perhaps the most recognized player in this area, played for weeks with his leg taped up after pulling a groin muscle.
   Poor refereeing was another huge factor.
   No two refs could interpret the rules the same way, and a number of controversies arose following rulings.
   Dissension among the league's refs led to bad calls on the field.
   Many teams like to use the excuse that bad calls hurt the team, none more in this area than the Mavericks.
   However, when the commissioner of the league comes forth and says the situation is bad, you know it's true. As they say, that's all in the past.
   Now, the team turns its attention to the 2003-2004 season.
   Tatu hopes to re-build this team before he retires as a coach.
   Tatu retired at the end of last year as a player to focus on coaching.
   He believes he owes it to the fans to put a winning team back on the field, and he is dedicated to accomplishing his goals.
   Most players took some initiative during the off-season to work out to keep their bodies conditioned.
   Forward Larry Dube took it upon himself to lose 15 pounds during the break to become more agile and faster on the field.
   Front office personnel have spent their time scouting talent from A-League teams and in Europe.
   The team will hold open tryouts starting today at Inwood Soccer Center for anyone interested in playing professional indoor soccer.
   Several signings have been made during the past few weeks. Beau Brown, a six-year veteran, was brought back to the team for his second stint Aug. 11.
   The team also made a seven-player trade on July 29 with the expansion Monterrey Fury that brought Martin Nash, the brother of Dallas Maverick's guard and NBA all-star Steve Nash.
   The Sidekicks will host a special outdoor exhibition game Sept. 9 at 6:30 p.m. on the campus of West Texas A&M.
   The new season for the Sidekicks starts Tuesday, Oct. 2 against the Monterrey Fury. Fans can listen to all of the games on KSKY 660 AM.
   Pete Stein and Dev Reeves will have the call. John Clemens and Robert Trammel will co-host the half time and post game shows. The Sidekicks return to television as well; KFWD, Channel 52, will televise nine road games along with any playoff games.