æI see some similaritiesÆ

Mutiny midfielder Steve Ralston has returned to the form of his all-star rookie season of 1996 and feels the current Tampa Bay team could be better than the squad that posted a 20-12 regular-season record three years ago.


SOCCER AMERICA: This has been a rebound year for you as well as the team. What has changed? STEVE RALSTON: I think the whole team struggled last year. I started off slow, and personally I felt I started to play a little bit better in the middle of the season, and then I broke a bone in my ankle. I came back, but what I didnÆt know at the time, the bone would shift, and IÆd be out another week or two. It was frustrating. SA: When was the injury corrected? SR: When I had the bone taken out. I had surgery New YearÆs Eve. I had MRIs and X-rays, but not until the end of last season did they find out what it was. SA: How does this team compare to the 1996 team? SR: I see some similarities. We have Carlos running the show, and Musa [Shannon] up top; heÆs fast and strong, like Roy Lassiter. In the back, Chad McCarty has been outstanding, I think heÆs one of the best young players in the country. And we have experience with Dominic [Kinnear]. SA: Does this team have more firepower up front than the 1996 team? SR: We could. Raul [Diaz Arce] is a smart player and a great finisher. HeÆs been a proven scorer with every team heÆs played with. This team might be deeper than the æ96 team. We can bring guys like Manny Lagos, Eric Quill, Pete Marino off the bench. They can all be dangerous. Steve Trittschuh gives us more experience in the back. SA: Now, what about this æStone ColdÆ nickname? SR: Chris Houser is ôThe Undertaker,ö and my name became ôStone Coldö because [pro wrestler] Steve Austin sounds like Steve Ralston. The fan club got ahold of it and started bringing signs to all the games. I used to go to wrestling matches all the time when I was a kid at Keil Auditorium [in St. Louis]. My heroes were the Von Erich brothers. There were four of them, and their dad, Fritz, was involved, too. SA: Sounds like you were into it. SR: My grandmother used to take me. SA: Your grandmother? SR: She was yelling all the time. She was more into it than I was. SA: But you donÆt plan on shaving your head and bulking up like your namesake. SR: No. But I wouldnÆt mind making the money he makes. Interview by Soccer America senior editor Ridge Mahoney