<a href=www.greenwichtime.com>Greenwichtime.com Ken Davidoff April 24, 2003

Anaheim, Calif. - The Yankees thought they had a stud prospect in their farm system last year. But Luis Sojo, who managed the Yankees' Double-A affiliate Norwich to an Eastern League championship, opted against returning to the manager's office in 2003. Sojo still hopes to manage in the major leagues someday, but the Yankees' former utility infielder has a more immediate goal: To return to the big leagues as a player. He plans to begin playing in the Mexican League shortly to see if he attracts any interest. "There's no doubt in my mind, if somebody called me, I'd do it," Sojo, part of the Yankees' 1996 and 1998-2000 championship teams, said yesterday from his Miami area home. "I still think I can do it." Sojo, 38, planned to leave Florida today for his native Venezuela, where he intended to work out for a couple of weeks. He said he has been speaking with clubs from the Mexican League and thought he was close to a deal with one, although he wouldn't identify the team. Even as he managed Norwich last year, Sojo fielded ground balls before every game. The Yankees released him at the end of their 2002 spring training, and he decided to retire rather than play for another team. He still has the itch, though. The Mexican League is considered Triple-A caliber, but it's unaffiliated with major-league clubs. Even if Sojo can't find work in the majors, he wants to stay in shape so he can play next winter in Venezuela. He needs 116 hits, he said, to reach 1,000 for his winter ball career. Only five other Venezuelan players have attained that milestone. Trainer's Room Derek Jeter (dislocated left shoulder) threw from shortstop to first base yesterday at the Yankees' minor-league complex in Tampa. It marked another step for Jeter, and tomorrow he plans to pick up a bat for the first time. Once he is ready to take live batting practice, perhaps by early next week, "Then I think we'll start thinking about a timeline," Joe Torre said yesterday. Reliever Steve Karsay (right shoulder inflammation) did light shoulder exercises only. He'll wait until Sunday or Monday to try throwing again after receiving two cortisone shots on Tuesday. High Praise Sandy Koufax called Joe Torre yesterday; the two speak by telephone occasionally. Of all the Yankees' attributes, one stood out to the Hall of Fame lefthander, according to Torre. "He said, 'I don't think I've ever seen anyone with quicker hands than Soriano,' " Torre said. Administrative Note To make room for reliever Al Reyes on their 40-man roster, the Yankees transferred pitcher Jon Lieber (recovering from Tommy John surgery) from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list.

Clubhouse confidential: Shortstop Omar Vizquel is in the process of becoming a U.S. citizen. Vizquel, a native of Caracas, Venezuela, spent April 1, an off day for the Indians, in Washington, D.C. He toured presidential monuments and government buildings.

Therald.co.uk

JONAY Hernandez watched from the stands as his former team, Real Madrid, enjoyed their own Hampden success story when they lifted the Champions League trophy in May last year.

This Sunday, when the Spaniard takes his place in the Dundee side for the semi-final of the Scottish Cup against Inverness Caley Thistle, he hopes to create his own slice of good fortune.

Hernandez was approaching the end of his career with Real Madrid when the Spanish giants, packed with world-class players, reached the final of Europe's premier competition. The defender had joined them three years before, but knew he was never going to have a chance of securing the left-back slot with Roberto Carlos in the team.

He left without playing a competitive first-team game, with his whistle-stop trip to the Champions League final in Scotland as a spectator one of the last times he linked up with the Spanish giants. When the man from Tenerife boarded the official Real charter to Glasgow Airport it was his first time in Scotland. He was in the country for less than 24 hours and, as he sat in the Dundee sun yesterday, he admitted that never in his wildest dreams did he think the next time he would come to Hampden would be to play in a cup semi-final.

"When I finished with Real Madrid my agent told me about the chance to come to Dundee and felt it would be good for my career rather than for me to sign for a club in the lower leagues in Spain," said Hernandez. "In saying that, it was a great experience being at Real Madrid, as even to train with people like Zinedine Zidane was good and I think they are the best team in the world just now, as they showed against Manchester United."

Since he arrived in Scotland last summer he hasn't found the move from the Bernabéu to Dens Park too much of a culture shock and is enjoying having a regular run in the first team. "Although I did not know about Scottish football before I came, I am enjoying it," said Hernandez. "Some of the grounds are obviously not as good as Real Madrid's but playing at Ibrox and Parkhead is a good experience and Hampden looks a good place as well."

His football has come on in leaps and bounds since the start of this season, as has his command of the English language, and for a man who had never been to the United Kingdom apart from the short visit to Hampden last May, Hernandez hasn't taken long to master the vernacular.

In a team which has many nationalities, such an attribute is important and is one of the main reasons why the man who was born in Venezuela but travels on a Spanish passport has settled in easily at Dens Park. "I watch DVDs like Training Day and Collateral Damage with the English subtitles on and memorise the words, which has helped my English a lot," he said. "It is good to understand and speak the language of your team-mates."

Making himself understood in defence will be important against Inverness on Sunday, a game which Hernandez claims is the biggest of his career.

The Scottish Cup semi-final will also be a big day for Gavin Rae, who is at the other end of the scale to Hernandez regarding his time in and knowledge of Scottish football.

Eight-years ago he was the kit boy when Dundee were beaten by Aberdeen in the Coca-Cola Cup final, but times have changed and on Sunday he will run out of the Hampden tunnel a proud member of the present Dens Park side.

Rae believes his best friend since childhood, Dennis Wyness, is the man Dundee will have to stop if they want to progress to the Scottish Cup final. "He should be playing in the SPL as he is a proven goalscorer and has shown his talent time and time again with Inverness," said Rae. "Scotland are struggling for out-and-out strikers just now and Dennis is one of the best in the country. He may be just doing it in the first division but hopefully he will get a chance to do it in the SPL.

"He was always a great player and even when we were kids he was the top man. I remember he scored 17 goals in a game our team won 28-0."

Rae believes if Dundee can put the shackles on Wyness they have a good chance to win, although the fact it took them two games and extra-time to beat Falkirk in the last round is an indication of how tricky first division opponents can be.

Either way, both Hernandez, the foreigner playing at Hampden for the first time, and Rae, the proud Scot who wants to get a national cup final, believe Dundee will be too strong for their Highland opponents.

-April 18th

<a href=www.dailyrecord.co.uk>The Daily Record Apr 18 2003

JONAY HERNANDEZ watched Real Madrid clinch the Champions League against Bayer Leverkusen last year and realised he had no chance of breaking into the first team.

The defender and his mates from Real's B side looked on in awe at Hampden as Zinedine Zidane and Co scooped the greatest prize in club football.

Hernandez fell in love with Scotland's National Stadium and the experience made him even more determined to step out of the shadows and make his name.

At the time he had no idea he would be set to return to the Hampden less than a year later.

Hernandez, who is a good pal of Roberto Carlos and Raul, feels facing Inverness on Sunday will top anything he has experienced in football - so long as Dundee win.

He said: "Last year I was in the Real second team and the club president invited everyone to go to the final.

"My first time in Scotland was the game at Hampden and I never thought I'd be going there again.

"We flew back the same day and had a big party in Madrid. I didn't have a clue at the time that Dundee were interested in me.

"When my contract ended two months later my agent told me I had an option in Scotland as well as teams in Spain.

"He said it was better to come here because I would be playing in the Premier League with a good atmosphere and good supporters.

"I trained for 10 days, they asked me to sign and I said yes.

"Places like Ibrox and Celtic Park are very good places to play because everyone is shouting but I really loved Hampden.

"It will be even more beautiful if we beat Inverness on Sunday and then I'll get to go back again.

"I've never had the chance to play in a semi-final so this will be my biggest game."

Hernandez has settled well in Scotland and has developed a novel approach to learning English. He said: "I've been learning by going to the college. I also rent DVDs with subtitles and try to memorise the words.

"I've done it with films like Training Day and Collateral Damage - you could say I am a good member of Blockbuster."

The left-back still keeps a close eye on his old club's progress.

He said: "I was at Real for three years and played some first-team friendlies but no competitive games.

"I hope to watch them against Manchester United at Old Trafford because my friend Paco Pavon, who is still playing for them, has given me tickets.

"When you train with Roberto Carlos and see how he touches the ball, it is amazing. I had no chance of taking his place in the team."

Hernandez, who was born in Venezuela but grew up in Tenerife, will hit the headlines back home if Dundee reach the final.

He added: "I'll get calls from journalists because we'll have the chance to play in the UEFA Cup."

<a href=www.thescotsman.co.uk>The Scottman Fri 18 Apr 2003 STUART BATHGATE

THE last time Jonay Hernandez visited Hampden he was just an onlooker, part of the Real Madrid party flown in to witness their team’s triumph over Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League final. The Tennent’s Scottish Cup semi-final on Sunday may not be quite such an exalted occasion, but the Dundee defender is looking forward to playing a more central part in proceedings.

The 11 months which will have passed between his visits to the national stadium have seen the 24-year-old confront a dilemma which is common to many employees of big clubs. As a minor squad member, a mere spear-carrier, you need to move on to get regular first-team football: but can you do so without suffering too big a blow to your self-esteem?

With all due respect to Dundee, anyone who swapped the Bernabeu for Dens Park would be regarded as going down in the world, but Hernandez seems settled now. Being unable to break into the Madrid first team was no disgrace with a certain Roberto Carlos standing in his way, and by last summer he was reconciled to parting company with the club.

"I played a few friendlies for the first team, and sometimes trained with the main squad as well, but I was unlucky," recalled Hernandez, who was born in Venezuela but raised in Tenerife. "It was really difficult with Roberto Carlos playing in the same position as me."

Yesterday, as the sun beat down on Dens, it would have been easy for Hernandez to feel he was back home in Spain. Not every day is like that, of course, and he admitted that, at the time of his initial visit last May, he never dreamed he would be back so soon.

"I was playing for the second team and that was my first time in Scotland," Hernandez said. "I never thought I’d be here again. We flew back the same night and had a party back in Madrid, so I didn’t even stay a night here then.

"I didn’t know then that Dundee might be interested. I played on for another two months in Madrid, then my contract ran out and I came here.

"When I signed, it was all done very quickly, in ten days. I came here, I did some training, then the manager asked me to sign and I said yes.

"My agent told me it was a good option to come here, because Dundee needed a left-back and I would be playing in the top division. I came here, I liked it, I signed."

Hernandez has been part of a squad which, under Jim Duffy, have developed a more competitive edge, justifying their status as firm favourites to beat Inverness Caley Thistle in two days’ time. Although they were inconsistent during the first half of the season, taking some time to gel, they have thrived in recent months, and last weekend secured a place in the top six of the Premierleague.

"We have not lost any games since we came back from Trinidad and Tobago," Hernandez added, referring to the club’s winter break. "I think the team have improved a lot. We’ve worked harder and are playing to quite a high level now."

His English, too, is at a reasonable level, having been by his own admission nonexistent when he arrived. Everyday social encounters have helped him grasp the local language, but he has also been able to take a break by reverting to his native tongue in the company of others at the club such as Julian Speroni and Nacho Novo, both of Argentina.

"When I came here I didn’t speak any English. I go to the college sometimes, but it helps to have other people here at the club who speak the same language as me.

"To learn more English I also rent DVDs, put on the subtitles, read them and try to memorise them. Every film - Training Day, Collateral Damage . . . I’m a good member of Blockbuster."

Yet however native he may become, there will always be a part of Hernandez which remains attached to the institution in the Spanish capital which nurtured him as a player. Far from resenting Real for letting him go, he maintains an active interest in the club, keeping touch with some players, and watching their matches whenever he can.

"Unbelievable" was his description of their performance in the first, home, leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Manchester United. He witnessed that one on TV, but aims to be there in person next week when Real visit England.

"I hope to go to Manchester because Paco Pavon, one of the Real players, has given me tickets. The first half of the first leg was really good - I think Real are the best team in the world."

On the evidence of last week, that is hardly a controversial opinion, but Hernandez also has the evidence of his own eyes to go on. "When you are training with players like Zidane and Figo and Roberto Carlos, you can see how they touch the ball," he concluded. "It’s amazing."

Dundee manager Jim Duffy may delay naming his team until Sunday to give two players every chance of proving their fitness. Nacho Novo has been cleared to play, but doubts remain over two other forwards, Steve Lovell and the on-loan Mark Burchill.