THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 31, 1996 TAG: 9608310822
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C01 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Tom Robinson
LENGTH: 65 lines
The Hampton Roads Mariners season had just ended, so quickly you couldn't believe it. A last rush produced Long Island's playoff-game-winning goal with 11 seconds left Thursday, and like that the Mariners were on their way home.
So were their fans, small of number (about 2,600) but large of voice. It was more than 30 minutes, however, before Virginia Beach's Tara Cermak, 13, Jessica Cermak, 11, and Alexis Byrd, 13, headed for the gates of Old Dominion's soccer stadium.
The girls had a date. The same one as after every Mariners home game since midseason. Their sweetheart, Mariners forward Dustin Swinehart, awaited.
As many dazed Mariners straggled off, Swinehart, a blond, blue-eyed, 21-year-old, stood amid a stream of well-wishers, 10 to 12 at a time, mostly pubescent girls and boys.
The rookie who averaged maybe 15 minutes a game - his late goal Thursday looked like it would set up overtime - signed autographs, smiled for pictures, talked with the kids and took hugs from the adults.
``Great season, Dustin,'' they said. ``See you next year. . . . You are more than wonderful, Dustin. . . . We'll write to you, Dustin.''
Among them were the Cermak girls and their neighbor Alexis. They needed nothing signed, they'd done that. This was simply the usual postgame thrill, chatting and giggling and, yes, swooning a bit with their hero.
Way back, they admitted, they'd targeted Swinehart because ``he's cute,'' Tara Cermak said. ``But when we started watching them play you saw he was aggressive and a really good player.''
There were no tears or long faces on Swinehart's subjects. Just admiration, from precisely the kind of young soccerheads in whom the Mariners have put their faith and major-league aspirations.
Enlisting more Dustin Swineharts couldn't hurt.
``This is a great part of playing,'' Swinehart said, scribbling his name on a program. ``We do a lot of camps and get to meet the kids and hang around with them. And this, well, it's not every day you get asked for your autograph.''
The youngest Mariner, Swinehart is fresh out of Miami of Ohio, where he was an academic All-American, a former Mid-American Conference Player of the Year and an All-Midwest Region selection.
He jumped at the offer to play here, and said he'd love to return (easy, girls) if he doesn't make a Major League Soccer team. Now, like most of the Mariners, he's off to the indoor wars.
Swinehart will play for the Cleveland Crunch, and it's possible he'll feel the same warmth as here, where he was asked to dinners and parties, including at the Cermak's.
The popularity surprised him because he wasn't a star, but he welcomed the chance to make a positive impact, Swinehart said.
``It hurts when you lose,'' he said. ``But this helps you remember you play for fun, and that it was fun when you were playing. It helps keep your perspective healthy.''
Swinehart is an obvious example of a connection the Mariners have made. Generating significantly more could be slow going until the team moves into the stadium Virginia Beach plans to build. But Swinehart doesn't see why a firm foothold can't happen.
``Aren't there something like 15,000 kids who play soccer in Virginia Beach?'' Swinehart said. ``That's 15,000 families, and if they can get half that . . .''
For now, though, good news for the Cermak girls. If you book now, ladies, there's a weekend deal to Cleveland available for about $200.
Not that you can put a price on a date with Dustin. by CNB