California Youth Soccer Association South

It will never be easy for Steve Sampson to look back at his experience as coach of the U.S. soccer team that did so poorly at the 1998 World Cup. So Sampson will look ahead. Six months, more or less, since the U.S. team left France winless and its coach left friendless, Sampson is eager to be working again, at his new job as technical director of the California Youth Soccer Assn.-South (CYSAS).

You remember Steve Sampson, the scourge of U.S. soccer. He was the coach who resigned amid a firestorm of criticism after guiding the U.S. men to their one-goal, last-place performance at the 1998 World Cup in France. How quickly he was forgotten. And how quickly he has rebounded. He no longer coaches in a spotlight. But, in his role as a director of elite youth soccer programs, he might have even more influence than he did.

It will never be easy for Steve Sampson to look back at his experience as coach of the U.S. men's soccer team that did so poorly at the 1998 World Cup. So Sampson will look ahead. Six months, more or less, since the U.S. team left France winless and its coach left friendless, Sampson is eager to be back at work in his new job as technical director of the California Youth Soccer Assn.-South (CYSAS).

It will never be easy for Steve Sampson to look back at his experience as coach of the U.S. soccer team that did so poorly at the 1998 World Cup. So Sampson will look ahead. Six months, more or less, since the U.S. team left France winless and its coach left friendless, Sampson is eager to be working again, at his new job as technical director of the California Youth Soccer Assn.-South (CYSAS).

You remember Steve Sampson, the scourge of U.S. soccer. He was the coach who resigned amid a firestorm of criticism after guiding the U.S. men to their one-goal, last-place performance at the 1998 World Cup in France. How quickly he was forgotten. And how quickly he has rebounded. He no longer coaches in a spotlight. But, in his role as a director of elite youth soccer programs, he might have even more influence than he did.

Quincy Watts, 1992 Olympic champion in the 400-meter dash, has signed a free-agent contract with the San Diego Chargers, a team spokesman said. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound graduate of Taft High did not play football in high school. Watts played wide receiver for USC during the 1990 season but did not catch a pass. The Chargers will try him at cornerback. "It was something he always talked about, wanting to give football a try," said Lon Rosen, his former agent.

Professional drag boat racing returns to Southern California on Saturday and Sunday at Irvine Lake when more than 100 of the fastest quarter-mile racers compete in the National Drag Boat Assn. sanctioned Coors Championships. At least 10 blown fuel hydros, which reach speeds of 200 m.p.h., will compete at Irvine. Nationally ranked drivers Tim Morgan, Dexter Tuttle and Billy Todd are expected to compete.

It will never be easy for Steve Sampson to look back at his experience as coach of the U.S. men's soccer team that did so poorly at the 1998 World Cup. So Sampson will look ahead. Six months, more or less, since the U.S. team left France winless and its coach left friendless, Sampson is eager to be back at work in his new job as technical director of the California Youth Soccer Assn.-South (CYSAS).