Paul Wright is back in the National Professional Soccer League, this time with the Wichita Wings.
Wright, who led the Spirit in scoring last season, signed with Wichita on Monday and made his Wings debut last night against the Harrisburg Heat. He will see his former teammates Friday when Baltimore visits Wichita.
Wright talked to Spirit officials this month about returning to Baltimore, but they said such a move would be disruptive to the team's chemistry, and payroll, after the recent signings of Omid Namazi and Franklin McIntosh.
Last summer, Wright said he had no intention of playing in the NPSL this season, saying he would join the Los Angeles Salsa of the outdoor American Professional Soccer League.
The Salsa's plan was to play 18 exhibitions from October until March. Eighteen shriveled to two, and as a result Wright was looking for action. He is on loan to Wichita from the Salsa.
Captain Wittman returns
Spirit captain Tim Wittman will be back on the floor tonight after serving a one-game suspension for fighting in the win over the Harrisburg Heat on Dec. 17. In addition to the suspension and an undisclosed fine, Wittman had a talk with Spirit vice president Drew Forrester and coach Dave MacWilliams.
"Not a reprimand, a talk," Wittman said. "Look, I'm intense, ZZTC don't like to lose and this is my first suspension for fighting in 14 years."
An intensity that does not include fighting is the thing MacWilliams is looking for in his team in the wake of last week's 13-10 loss to Buffalo. After falling behind 13-2 in the first half, the Spirit outscored the Blizzard 8-0 in the second half.
"Our team defense let us down the first half," MacWilliams said. "We've got to play like every shift is our last shift. You can't allow 13 goals in the first half and expect to win."
Crunch Zurich-bound
The defending NPSL champion Cleveland Crunch will represent the United States in the Zurich Cup indoor tournament Jan. 3-4 at the invitation of the host club, FC Zurich.
The tournament field will include teams from Croatia, Sweden and Denmark, as well as two from Switzerland. The Crunch will play each of the other teams in the preliminary round, with two points awarded for wins and one for ties. The top two teams will play for the title.
Meola's debut on tap
Tony Meola, the starting goalie for the U.S. World Cup team in 1990 and 1994, is expected to make his NPSL debut, originally scheduled last week against the Spirit, when the Blizzard visits the Dayton Dynamo tonight.
Meola, who played for NCAA co-champion Virginia in 1989 and won the Herrmann Award as intercollegiate soccer's top player, had a four-week place-kicking tryout with the New York Jets before joining the Blizzard on Dec. 15.
Miscellaneous
The Spirit Reserves, a farm club of 12 local players, are 3-0 after a 4-3 victory over Casa Mia's in the Premier Unlimited League at Du Burns Arena. The Reserves are idle this week. . . . The Chicago Power's Ken Snow is the NPSL Player of the Week on the strength of five goals and an assist in a 12-6 win over Milwaukee. . . . The St. Louis Ambush has won a club-record nine straight games.