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A new attitude Wynalda brings fresh outlook to Fusion debut
Posted: Thursday September 02, 1999 12:35 PM
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) -- Less than six months ago, Eric Wynalda didn't care about soccer anymore. With his knee in shreds and a newborn daughter at home, the U.S. national team's career scoring leader found himself torn between family life and resurrecting his career. Now, days away from his Miami Fusion debut, the 30-year-old striker has a refreshed outlook leading to Saturday's home game with the Los Angeles Galaxy. "This is the most motivated I've been in years," said Wynalda, who has yet to play a Major League Soccer game this season. Wynalda tore a ligament in his left knee in March while playing for Leon of Mexico's top league. He was on loan to the club, set to rejoin the San Jose Clash when the MLS season opened. The injury capped a frustrating stretch that included injuries, struggles in San Jose and the U.S. team's embarrassing last-place performance at last year's World Cup. "It was one of the first times in my life I really didn't care," Wynalda recalled. "I had been so frustrated with everything that had happened with the injury and losing in San Jose. I was a different person." These days he sees the setback as a blessing. The break gave him time to reassess his priorities. For one thing, he was able to attend the birth of his daughter, Brooke. If not for the injury, he would have had a game the night of her delivery. "When our baby was born I told my wife `I don't care if I ever play again,'" Wynalda recalled. "I was at a point where you know there is more important things in life than playing this game." But like many athletes, it was difficult to stay away. His absence lasted about three weeks, and Brooke played a big role in that as well. "What happened is I got up in the middle of the night and I was talking to my wife," Wynalda said. "I told her I want my little girl to know what Daddy does and that was it. Ever since then I've wanted to get back on the field for her, just so she can see Daddy play." Miami acquired Wynalda in June as part of a four-team deal. His wife, Amy, happened to be wearing a Fusion shirt when Eric got the call. "Coming here is what Eric needed," Amy said. "I swear he's never been so motivated, so focused, so anxious, so excited to go to therapy. It's been hard for him putting so much energy into his rehab and tough coming home to be a dad." In addition to the national team's scoring record, Wynalda also holds the distinction of scoring the first goal in MLS history. His MLS totals stand at 21 goals and 29 assists in 51 games, but he says he has much more to give. "My family is more important than anything," he said. "To be a well-rounded person, I have to be a soccer player. I lost myself for various reasons. Maybe now I'm the person I always wanted to be." Wynalda will be rejoining a Fusion lineup that suffered the loss of leading scorer Diego Serna earlier in August. The bullish Colombian forward suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and is expected to miss the rest of the season. Wynalda will team in the Fusion attack with Brazilian forward Welton, also acquired in a trade this season. Seeing playing time so far in Serna's absence have been young forwards Tony Kuhn and Saul Martinez. The Fusion (10-16, with 22 points) currently holds the fourth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot, ahead of the New England Revolution (9-16, 19 pts.).
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