OCU Soccer Alum Dino Delevski was honored in a place one doesn?t usually associate with awards presentations: aboard a Midwest Airlines jet.
The Kansas City Comets forward received the 2002-03 Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) Most Valuable Player Award and Spaulding Scoring Trophy during a short press conference aboard the jet at Kansas City International Airport. The Comets staged the ceremony there to symbolize that Delevski?s career, the Comets and the MISL are ?taking off,? explained Brian Smith, Comets senior director of corporate sales.
?It?s a very novel setting for all of us,? Steve Ryan, MISL commissioner, told the small group aboard the aircraft. ?I?ve had, in my career, the opportunity to present cars in the middle of a hockey arena, to present some of our great (sports) stars awards in hotel rooms?. I?ve never had the great opportunity, though, to present (an award) on an aircraft?. Coming in last night ? gave me the opportunity to think about what a great marketing partner Midwest (Airlines) is (to the MISL).?
This marks the second straight season Delevski has received both honors. He attributed the awards to his maturity as a person and an athlete. The Most Valuable Player Award resulted from ?hard work, a little sweat? and some fortunate circumstances, such as ?not being injured, being on the field most of the time, being ? rewarded (with) the role of a playmaker and goal scorer,? he said.
To Delevski, who scored 50 goals (42 2-point goals, eight 3-point goals) and made 32 assists for 140 points, receiving the league?s scoring award reflected a good season for the Comets overall. The Comets finished 18-20 and reached the Western Conference final of the MISL playoffs, where they lost to eventual league runner-up Milwaukee.
?I think our offense has been proven to be one of the best offenses in the league in the last couple of years,? he said.
Because of the honors, Delevski said he feels compelled to be a team leader again next season, but doesn?t feel pressured to lead the Comets to a league title. That stated, however, he hopes he can exchange his honors for the MISL trophy in 2004.
?I think that championships are a true measurement of quality,? he said. ?And, hopefully, I can manage to get one ? soon, while I?m young.?
As part of his quest to get that title, the 26-year-old is playing this summer for Milwaukee Wave United, a team in outdoor soccer?s developmental A-League, on loan from the Comets as part of a two-year deal.
?Just being there is going to keep me in shape, definitely, for the summer,? he said. ?And I?m still looking forward to coming back (to Kansas City) next year?. I?m just hoping that the summer will go without any major injuries.?
Not having played outdoor soccer since the 2000 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics men?s season at Oklahoma City University, where he played for four seasons, Delevski believes it?ll take some time to reacquaint himself with outdoor soccer. But he hopes that, eventually, he?ll show he can play it, too.
From Shawn Roney
