• PLAYER REPORTS •

Dr. Alina Waring - Happy Holidays to All

As we draw to a close on Dr2025 and look toward 2026, I felt that this was as good as time as any to share with this group how much you all mean to me.  I remember the first time that I had reason to have a conversation with Karl-Heinz.  It was right after the Nick Bogle resuscitation and the beginning of the earnest conversation about AEDs.  I had been encouraging groups to ensure that they had access to their own AEDs that they would maintain reliably (though I admit that Roswell’s parks have improved considerably in their AED readiness in the past three years and I haven’t seen a dead battery in at least the past year).  But I was told that Karl-Heinz had questions about the risk and liability of having an AED, and I braced myself for the fight.  I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Karl-Heinz had already done his own research and was, in fact, the most proactive leader in the whole Roswell soccer community about not only being ready to hit the purchase button, but also about making sure that his team members stayed trained.

But it was still another few months before I had the opportunity to really know him.  Lew had decided to join the over 65 league and wanted to start scrimmaging on Tuesdays and Thursdays with the group.  Since I only ever dared to play with my coach hovering nearby, I came to ERP with him.  And we had absolutely no reason to think that Karl-Heinz would be willing to take on a novice player who was clearly not an over 65 male (well, it’s clear to everyone except for Ciaran).  Karl-Heinz took the first step of extending the invitation to me whether I would like to scrimmage with the group.  It might be a one time offer, but I accepted it gratefully.  He made the commitment of giving me a pair of official scrimmage jerseys, and suddenly I had a new home.

I remember one of the first games that I played with the group.  That particular day, the grey team, including Karl-Heinz, Lew, and me, were unusually dominant (definitely not because of me).  The yellow team had been held scoreless.  And then I let in a goal.  In fact, I think it might have been an own goal.  I worried about what Karl-Heinz would think of me then.  And he grinned and laughed and called it a “motivational goal” for the other team.

Since that time, I’ve always known that our fearless leader would support me and encourage me on the field.  He plays in grey even though he knows he’ll generally be saddled with the novice player on his side.  He brings his giant speaker so I get music during drills (when the team is willing to do drills).  He ensures that we make time for AED training each year and he supplies the funds to buy all the extra AED training equipment which he generously shares with other groups when they get training.  And he brings me knee and ankle support sleeves when he sees me limping.  So I want to extend Karl-Heinz a huge thank you for including me in a group that has become a new family for me.

However, I also want to mention a few other names that bear remembering.  I’m doing this as much for myself as you because one day when I’m old and demented, I might forget, and I want to be reminded of how fortunate and blessed I am.  As we all know, no one has the patience to read through dozens of pages of anything, so if you are not specifically listed here, please know that I love everyone in the group, you included.  

In no particular order:

Marco Seta: It took me a while to get over the annoyance of having to shoot video of you face planting on the field time after time.  But what I have learned is how encouraging you are to the other members of your team.  I’ve witnessed you crowing with delight when someone else on your team makes a good pass or scores a lucky goal.  And when the opposite happens and no one on your team will make the effort to get open, I’ve seen you carry the ball around and around until someone picks it off you and then you laugh and go back on defense.  And you congratulated me when I collided with you and accidentally got the ball off you.  So thank you for always making the field a fun place for me.

Saeed Darian: I think that you were the first one that took my advice when you were having trouble with stamina and exertion.  Back then I was an untested commodity and you were willing to accept my counsel, even and up to taking yourself to the emergency room and getting yourself admitted to the hospital.  It took a lot of trust from you to do that, and I appreciate you for that.  (Yes, I’m still chasing you around the field if you’re going to carry the ball though.)

Byron Townsend: in my entire life, and I am including my childhood, I was never the first one to get picked for any team.  In fact, I would generally be the last one chosen, and that was including the obese kids and the one with mental retardation.  You are the first person (besides my coach) who has ever made the effort to always play on my team and you don’t know how much that means to me.

Bader: one of the first times I dragged out all the extra AED equipment, you were the only one who stepped in and volunteered to carry the extra bags of dummy torsos.  You’re always there to greet me and the one to (kindly) throw me off the team last week when I couldn’t do anything but limp in circles.  Thank you for always being such a chivalrous gentleman.

Ramiz: You’re a fierce competitor and stalwart goalie.  You ostensibly stopped fouling strikers and (sort of) stopped deliberately handballing in the goal because you knew you wouldn’t get your kiss if you assaulted someone.  But I also know that you restrained yourself because you knew it was important to me, and for that, I am grateful.

Dincer: I remember the first time I captured a Dincer goal on video.  You were so happy and pleased, and I was so glad to be able to give you something to share with your grandkids.  You’re so persistent in your play, no matter how limited your running is, and you’re my inspiration to wander up toward the goal to see if I can do something useful up there.  Also, you’re my best chance of getting something translated to Sabir, and that’s no small thing.  😂

Alex: you’d think that I’d recognize Alex for his tenacious play, his ferocious shots, and his accurate passes.  And you’re right.  I do admire Alex for that.  In fact, I am grateful for him passing the ball to me the one time I tried to wander up the field, even though he knew full well that I’d botch it (I did).  And I give him great recognition for all of the times that he passes the ball to someone else to score because he’d rather give that joy to someone else.  But the first moment with Alex that forever entrenched him in my affections was a time ages ago that Alex scored a goal (probably against me) and promptly whirled around, threw up his hands, and did what I can only assume was a Russian twerk in celebration.

Dane: you are the champion of all players who does his best to make it a team game for everyone.  You are the only one I know who will join a team, and if that team is dominating the other team, will promptly switch teams to the losing one to bolster their efforts.  I happen to know that if your team is crushing another one (and it’s not an option to change teams), you’ll counsel your team to hold back on scoring, so the other team isn’t too demoralized.  On the other hand, if the other team is winning and wasting time by dithering around with the ball, I expect them to feel the wrath of a well-timed bomb into the back of their net.  I know of no one more gentlemanly than you, and for that reason, I don’t mind giving you a bunch of booze for your birthday, even though I fret about the condition of your liver.  ❤️

John Jurs: you’d think that I’d have forgiven you by now for the time that you scored a goal on my empty net when I’d gone to fetch another ball that had rolled off the field.  I have not.  But I love you for the times that you let me try to tackle you and then you just stand there and laugh, probably because it’s like being stalked by a determined chihuahua.  

Sayed Ehteshami: you won’t remember this but on a tournament practice scrimmage months ago, I’d somehow wandered up toward the front of the field and you passed me a ball that I instinctively wanted to give to someone else, but there was no one within my sight.  I had nothing left to do but to kick it into the goal.  It was my first big girl goal (previous goals that were scored when Lew was the opposing goalie or when we were playing 3 v 3 are less convincing), so thank you for that.  And thank you to Mike Nova for telling me that I looked like a real forward while doing it.  I know that you’re blowing smoke, but I appreciate the gesture all the same!

Ciaran: thank you for all the times that you bought me a latte (that I couldn’t finish anyway) and for always being there with sunblock if I forgot to put any on.  And thank you for the one time that you let a cross go past you on a corner and let me score it.  I think that was my second big girl goal.

Bobby Ingwersen: thank you for trusting me with most of your medical history, even though you’d already been evaluated time and again, and for being willing to follow my suggestions.  And thank you for believing that I’d do something useful with a pass up front if you could get the ball to my feet.  The chances are still dubious, but it means something to me that you’d consider it.  :)

Mike Hagerty: no question you have the best raucous laugh of anyone on the field and it always makes me smile, regardless of whom you’re laughing at.  And you’ve always taken care to encourage me with a “well done”, no matter if we’re on the same team or not.

Joe Nasser: I can always count on you for a smile, a hug, and a kiss.  And you’re one of my favourites to chase on the field because you rarely pass the ball 😂.  But you’re not getting my lunch at Zama’s.  

Jorge: it’s a curious dynamic because I’m actually the second doctor on the team but you’ve gracefully let me take the position of “team doc” without resentment or malice.  And you bought me my first chicken soup at Zama’s so I know that I have somewhere to go when Lew is not there (when the cat’s away).

Yasuo: here is to my fellow brother who once lived in Rolla, Missouri and walked the halls of UMR (when it was still called UMR).  Thank you for all the times you included me on your tournament scrimmage teams and for all the times you let me knock you over without complaining too much.

Cy Strickler: you’re now holding the fort on the most senior player in our league and I forbid you to die.  Just saying.

Jeff Simmons: thank you for all of your kindness and for loaning me your wife to massage my ankle when I was disabled.  But months ago you blocked my shot that to this day I’m convinced I would have scored so you’re still on my list.  😂😂😂

Jeff Freemyer: God obviously sent you to be my comrade in arms the day that Nick Bogle collapsed, and you have also faithfully relayed all my AED requests to the City of Roswell every time I’ve asked.  Thank you for being part of something that has given my life so much meaning.

Lew: most of you in this group would not have been around to see the first time I stepped on a pitch for my first kick around.  You would not known just how raw the clay was that Lew had aspired to mold.  (Introduction: “this is a soccer ball.  Foot, meet soccer ball.  No, not that part of your foot.  Not that part either.  No, still not there.”). I am grateful for all of the times that Lew was willing to bring along the stray puppy he had found and let her play along with the other kids.  I remember the first time at Groveway that we were scrimmaging and I’d wandered off for some reason, maybe to get a drink of water.  I was generally just taking up space on the field, so I didn’t figure that it mattered much if I stepped off.  But Lew pointed it out that it left a noticeable gap on the field when I’d left.  It was the first time that I considered that I had an actual role on the field.  Since that time, Lew has shown me time and again how I can make an impact, even if it seems small and insignificant.  I would definitely not have kept up with the game for more than a few months without his patient tutelage and coaching.  Of course, one could argue that if I’d given it up, I would not be walking around with a swollen ankle and a knee effusion now, so there is that.  😁

To all of the rest of the team, you are the best group of big brothers a girl could hope for, and I love you all.  Thank you for letting me be a part of your group.  I know that we all play the sport for exercise and health, but more and more, I read about the importance of community and social interaction that forestalls aging and dementia.  I would argue that the time that we spend chatting before and after play is just as important as the scrimmage itself, and I find it striking how often someone comes to the field, even if he’s injured, recovering from surgery, or otherwise not capable of playing.  He is evidently still fit to lift a beer with his comrades!

Happy holidays to the group and I send you fond wishes for a wonderful 2026!

Love, Alina