Champagne, beer, and tears freely flowed as the San Diego Sockers celebrated their 2010-2011 North American PASL-Pro Championship. With a 10-6 victory over the Guerreros de La Raza de Guadalajara, San Diego secured back-to-back championships. It also gave the Sockers, one of the most winning franchises of professional sports history, their 12^th overall indoor title.

Repeating was not easy. In the playoffs the Sockers’ collective team efforts made for two of their best overall games played in the last two seasons. Their solid efforts led to a 7-3 victory over a very talented Mexico City Sidekicks team on Friday night. Then San Diego had to overcome an even tougher if not dirtier playing La Raza team on Saturday to win the championship.

Forward Kraig Chiles led the way with four goals in the championship game. Chiles’ performance was fitting because he also led the league with 33 goals in the regular season, earning him a PASL Golden Boot. After the game he was presented with both the league MVP and playoff MVP trophies. “It doesn’t get any better than this,” Chiles said. “We wanted to bring back that championship (to San Diego).”

Although the championship is sweet, La Raza did their best to sour the evening. Sockers players recounted several incidents after the championship game of unsportsmanlike behavior conducted by their competitors, including cheap vicious shots plus a multitude of sneaky pokes and pinches be hind the backs of the referees. One opposing player even spit on Paul Wright. “I can take being called names,” says Wright. “I can even take getting hit, but when you spit on me it’s over!”

Wright, a classy man, did not retaliate in violence. Instead he waited for the team to score the games definitive seventh goal late in 4^th quarter. At that point, he flapped his arms like a bird to demonstrate the Sockers would be flying the PASL championship trophy back home to San Diego. La Raza then went into full fledged meltdown mode and they retaliated to Wright’s victory dance by giving the Sockers the one handed bird.

All of these antics just delayed the inevitable. Minutes later the final seconds fell off of the clock and the Sockers were champions. For Wright, who is 42, it his sixth championship over three decades, tying Michael Jordan’s accomplishment with the Chicago Bulls. “I feel blessed as a professional athlete to have won a sixth championship,” says Wright.

General Manager John Kentera choked up and could not hold back tears while proudly speaking of his team’s accomplishments. “We couldn’t do it without a lot of quality guys,” Kentera said. “We played 14 guys tonight, but we played 20 guys or so on the year. These guys do what (head coach) Phil (Salvagio) asks of them to do. They carry out his game plan normally to a tee.”

For Kentera it was his first taste experiencing a national title. “I have been involved in sports since I was eight years old,” says Kentera. “I have been apart of a lot of championships, CIF championships, College conference championships, state championships and I have never gotten a ring. I can’t tell you how much this means to me.”

“I love John so much,” Salvagio said as he led the post game locker room raucous celebrations. “He has done such a great job for our organization and he is a hell of a person!”

The championship party rocked on for over an hour in the locker-room. After spraying or consuming every available ounce of champagne and beer the team decided to take the party out to the city.

Following a quick clean up back at the hotel a large stretch limo arrived. Midfielder Majell Aterado climbed in, plugged in his Ipod and played DJ. The team then partied in style as they rolled through the streets of Cincinnati until nearly dawn.

The only thing missing from the all night celebration were the Sockers fans who partied with the team on the field a year ago when the Sockers won the Championship at home in the Del Mar Arena. “We love San Diego,” Salvagio said. “I wish we were celebrating in San Diego, it would be a bigger party.”

Rumors are quickly spreading of a party on Sunday night at Lindbergh field. Following the win several fans pledged to show their support of the Sockers by welcoming the team home at the airport when they arrive on Delta flight 2917 at 10:15. “We will be ready for them,” Salvagio said.

Another party will happen on Saturday March 19, when the Sockers conclude play with the U.S. Open Cup Finals at the Del Mar Arena. Kickoff is at 6:15 p.m.