Here is my interview with Alecko! "I wasn't sure if I would ever be able to play again so I promised myself that when I came back I would celebrate every single goal like it was my last." -Alecko Eskandarian http://blackandredonbothsides.blogspot.com/2011/03/alecko-eskandarian-interview.html
http://www.theplayerstribune.com/alecko-eskandarian-soccer-concussions/ As an assistant coach now for the NASL’s New York Cosmos, I sat down recently with one of our players who had suffered a concussion. I told him about my experiences and how he needed to be careful. He just stared back at me. In his face, I saw the same 20-year-old I had been. I knew how much he wanted to be on the field and how all he wanted to hear was that he was cleared to play. It hurt me that he couldn’t see what I had gone through. If only there was a scar to show…. For all the progress we’ve made in the last few years, education about head injuries still needs to be emphasized more by leagues, coaches and trainers. There is still no clear-cut diagnosis process or treatment method. I still can’t sit in the back of a car without feeling nauseous. I can’t yell throughout practices or games. I can’t raise my heart rate too high without getting headaches. But I decided a few years ago to focus on what I can do. And much of that is not taking things for granted anymore — like being able to go outside and run, which led to running in my first marathon this past month. And another thing I can do is talk about a serious problem — one that is growing —in our sport. We all need to keep talking about it — so that no one has to experience what I did. ALECKO ESKANDARIAN / CONTRIBUTOR
From B&RU - made me giggle - I found an Alecko thread before a Dema one so I dropped it in here Finally, let’s close out with the most Dema Kovalenko story that could ever exist: I received a surprise phone call today from Dema Kovalenko. Here’s how it went. Dema: Hey my boy! Remember in 2003 when you beat me in ping pong in the locker room and I threw a burning hot pot of coffee on you? Me: Yes I do. Dema: My boy, why was I so crazy? I love you. — Alecko Eskandarian (@alecko11) August 10, 2018 https://www.blackandredunited.com/2...ity-bill-hamid-portland-timbers-save-the-crew
Alecko Eskandarian Assistant Coach https://www.wpslsoccer.com/teams/cl...gOu7trK5HCVpJgiZ-J56pTYlYRRpxDaOxZ5iex2njxjLs
Two things I noticed with a quick trip to that website: a) Some players on the roster have numbers, some do not .... wtf 2) The NY Shockers have the totally wrong logo
A number of years ago this same club put together a NPSL team and before the season started I called and emailed to offer to volunteer in order to help them possibly drive attendance. They never bothered to get in contact with me. So their first home match drew 15 paying customers and by their 2nd home match they just opened the gates. Was shocked to see that they bought a WPSL franchise. While I trust Alecko, this adventure should be rather interesting.