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Monday, 7/21/97 Out of this world GALAXY: International, former UCLA shooting star blazes into our Galaxy

By Vytas Mazeika Daily Bruin Staff For Paul Caligiuri it has been a long road home. After many years playing professional soccer in a German league and making 113 appearances for the U.S. international team, former Bruin Caligiuri has come back to Los Angeles. Caligiuri, who owns a home in Walnut, was recently activated to the roster of Major League Soccer's (MLS) L.A. Galaxy. The California native is ready to make an impact. The 33-year old Caligiuri, who played soccer for UCLA from 1982 to 1986, has a resume that includes many international feats that rank him among the top U.S. soccer players ever. But according to his former UCLA coach Sigi Schmid, Caligiuri always had one major objective early on in his career. "Paul's goal was to be a professional player and (to) play in front of his friends and family," Schmid explained. "So for him that meant playing in the MLS, but it also meant playing in L.A. ... For him playing in L.A. is a fulfillment of basically a life-long ambition." To become a member of the Galaxy, Caligiuri had to endure a legal battle with MLS. Caligiuri is quick to point out that the only reason he departed from one of the top leagues in the world in the German Bundesliga to play for MLS was a promise that he would be able to play for the Galaxy. The contract first drawn up by the league was torn up, however. Caligiuri was told to either sign a new contract to play for the Columbus Crew, or to not play at all. Needless to say, Caligiuri was not pleased with his situation. "I don't think you can say the level of disappointment that I initially went through," Caligiuri said. "I felt I didn't get a fair shake. I questioned why this was happening." Caligiuri played out one season with the Crew before he sued the league. He was hesitant about taking the matter to court because of the short-term effect his case could have on himself and the league. The inability to settle the matter out of court, however, left Caligiuri with no other option but to seek justice. "Unfortunately, I think that we had to take great measures in taking this to arbitration, where I feel strongly that it was something that should have or could have been resolved out of the court house," Caligiuri said. "I was left with no other option but to file a lawsuit because they took such a hard stance." A judge in the no-arbitration case ruled in favor of Caligiuri on all 20 counts in question. MLS was forced to send Caligiuri to the Galaxy. However, his problems were far from over. MLS has a strict salary cap, and Caligiuri's contract was too lucrative for the Galaxy to include him on their roster. The league simply stalled indefinitely without coming to a final decision about how to allow the Galaxy to activate Caligiuri. Then, through a blessing in disguise, the Galaxy's head coach was fired and interim head coach Octavio Zambrano took action. Within a short time, the league finally made its decision and Caligiuri was able to join the Galaxy. Now that the ugly affair is behind him, Caligiuri can look toward the future of his career and the fate of soccer in the United States. * * * For a long time during his legal battle, Caligiuri was out of action. The national team had released him a couple weeks prior to the court case. Caligiuri admits he was not playing well at the time and may have deserved to have been let go. Much speculation and assumption surrounded the timing of these events, however, because the same powers are behind MLS and the national team. Nevertheless, Caligiuri welcomes the new opportunity to showcase his talents for the Galaxy and gain a chance to play in this third straight World Cup. "I can't worry about what happened in the past," Caligiuri said. "What I can do is look to the future and play well now with the Galaxy and hopefully impress the eyes of the national team coach (Steve Sampson), who, ironically, was my assistant coach at UCLA. From one Bruin to another I would have to think that something like that would transpire." The Bruin connection is something Caligiuri truly believes in. He still keeps in touch with the UCLA soccer program. Whenever possible, Caligiuri contributes money and time to help both the school and the program. He is well aware of the rich tradition involved with the program and knows that the talent bred here will find its way into MLS in the future. Outside of sports, Caligiuri cherishes the experiences he enjoyed at UCLA. He loves the fact that UCLA is among the top educational institutions in the United States and the world. He also believes that UCLA provides a positive environment that is both fun and serious at the same time. "You really don't realize how much you are going to miss the environment until you are away from it," Caligiuri said. "I can easily tell you what my memories are on the soccer field, but I think there are great memories of being on campus as well. Basically that is it ... besides all those long hours at URL, trying to dig up some notes at Powell and staying up all night before a final. Believe it or not, those are great and fond memories." Although Caligiuri did not graduate in 1986, he does continue to work toward his degree. He is currently enrolled in two history classes and is less than 30 units away from completing his education. Those fond memories of all-nighters and competitiveness in the classroom have become real once again - and have maybe stopped being so treasured. * * * Other memories in Caligiuri's mind are of the many U.S. soccer leagues that have failed to succeed in the past. MLS must fight the stigma that it's going to fail like other soccer leagues have in the past. To avoid failure, Caligiuri sees children as the cornerstone. Today's fans are not those that have been won over by the league. Rather, the current attendance is made up of people who have supported soccer over many years and enjoy the game. Caligiuri uses his knowledge of history to point out that people must look at the sociological and economical aspects that forced past leagues to go into extinction. Maybe then MLS can succeed where other soccer leagues have failed. "I don't really see another sport that has so many opportunities for boys and girls, men and women, like soccer," Caligiuri said. "Soccer is the American sport - not baseball. They say baseball is an American pastime; that's great - crackerjacks and peanuts - that's fine and dandy. But you don't see women playing baseball. Soccer is a family sport where people buy mini-vans and go weekends to a soccer tournament and have a great time and watch their boy and girl play soccer." Caligiuri likes to think of himself as part of the first generation of kids who grew up with soccer as an American sport. He boasts many accomplishments, such as the "Shot Heard Around the World," when Caligiuri scored the single goal against Trinidad & Tobago in November 1989 to put the United States in the World Cup for the first time in 40 years. The appearance of the United States in the 1990 World Cup and the subsequent chance to host the event in 1994 may have started a soccer revolution in the United States. MLS now exists and the United States is poised to qualify for the 1998 World Cup. For Caligiuri, that is his next big goal. In December, Caligiuri will be inducted into the UCLA Hall of Fame for his many soccer feats in and outside of UCLA. This honor only reiterates the many contributions which rank Caligiuri among the best in the sport. "I think it is great he got selected to the Hall of Fame," Schmid said. "I think soccer at UCLA over the last 30 years has a pretty illustrious history and Paul now is the second one (in the Hall of Fame). He is definitely a very worthy recipient. "He is a very competitive individual. He always wants to succeed. He wants to win." And winning is what Caligiuri wants to do now with the Galaxy. But no matter what happens, at least Caligiuri once again feels like he belongs. UCLA Sports Info Major League Soccer recently added Paul Caligiuri, a member of the UCLA soccer team from 1982 to 1986, and one of the top U.S. players ever, to the L.A. Galaxy's roster. Related Site: MLSNET Team Page: Los Angeles Galaxy