Soccer buff Wotus welcomes World Cup kickoff

SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants bench coach Ron Wotus, a star soccer player in high school at Bacon Academy in Colchester, Conn., has more than a casual interest in the current World Cup competition. But baseball season remains his top sporting priority.

"I just don't have the time to watch it," Wotus said Thursday. "If I had more time and I wasn't so busy, I'd make a point to watch a lot more, no doubt about it. I enjoy soccer. If you played it, you understand the game and I think you appreciate it a lot more."

Wotus observed that the World Cup is especially appreciated in San Francisco, "because you have so many ethnic backgrounds. It's fun. Everybody has their favorite team."