Page 2 of Sideline Sweetheart
I takea deep calming breath and release it slowly before smoothing my hands over the olive-green golf shirt emblazoned with the team logo on the left side. The shirt is only part of the uniform given to me during last week’s orientation. Khaki pants and shorts, golf and T-shirts, hats, socks, athletic shoes, and even a belt, all with the team logo.
I smile as I think of the large walk-in-closet half boasting of colorful dress and casual clothing while the other half is full of Clemson orange and now my Greenville Generals uniforms. Becoming the team doctor for the softball and gymnastics teams was more than I could imagine. I figured I would be there for the long haul. I was beginning my sports medicine fellowship when the college introduced their softball team and by the end of the season they offered me a permanent position as a team doctor. When the gymnastics team was introduced a few years later I took them on as well.
Then the position here in Greenville opened. Making the leap from college to professional sports was the pinnacle. Would Imiss the athletes I’d formed a bond with over the last five years? Definitely. Would I kick myself if I let this opportunity slip through my hands? Absolutely. During my fellowship, I dealt with college football players, so professional football players couldn’t be much different. Or at least I hoped they wouldn’t be.
A knock sounded on my door, and I moved around my desk to open it. I pulled the door opened with a smile on my face. “Hi, Liam.”
A slow grin tips the corners of his mouth. “Doc,” he said as he steps inside my office, and I close the door behind him. “I wondered if it was you when coach announced Dr. Flynn as our new team doctor.”
I motion for him to take a seat as I make my way back around the desk to take a seat as well. Liam was a first-round draft pick from Clemson and was the new guard for the Generals. Though I had softball and gymnastics as my primary teams, I had enough interactions with the football team during my fellowship to get to know a few of the players as well. Liam had been my first player to go through the concussion protocol.
I smile relaxing into my chair. “It’s me. I decided to throw my hat in the ring, so to speak and make the leap to the pros.”
He tips his head to the side and grins again. “I guess we’re both starting our rookie season then.”
I laugh at his observation. “I guess we are.” I tap on the iPad provided by the team and bring up Liam’s file. “Okay, let’s get started, shall we?”
Over the next twenty minutes, I review Liam’s medical history, medications, and record his weight and blood pressure. I remind him if he has any medical needs outside of football injuries, I’d be happy to help with those as well. There are strict rules to be followed for both college and professional athletes concerning what the league allows and in the case of randomdrug tests, it’s best anything prescribed to a player is provided by the team physician.
As we end our appointment, Liam stands as I walk around the desk to the door. “It was good to see you again, Doc. Hopefully, I won’t see you too much this season, no offense.”
I laugh, because I know exactly what he means. “None taken. I’m glad you were my first appointment.” I lean in to mock whisper. “It helped calm my nerves a bit. Good luck this season.”
I open the door, and he grins. “Thanks, Doc.”
With my notes on Liam complete, I have three minutes to spare before the next player shows up.
I go through the same process with each player as I did with Liam. Some of them are more open to my questions than others and I make a note to try to draw them out of their shells by the time the season starts.
My appointments last until ten-thirty, which gives me enough time to grab a snack before I need to be on the sidelines inside the practice facility. As I finish the last of my protein bar, Jamie, the radiology technician knocks and peeks her head through the open door to my office. “Hey, Doc. You got a minute?”
“Of course, come in. It’s Jamie, right?” I say as I motion to the two empty chairs. “And please, call me Mackenzie or even Mac.”
She smiles politely as she takes a seat. “Yes, good memory.”
I return her smile. “What can I do for you, Jamie?”
“A few of the trainers and I are going out for drinks after work tonight and we thought you might like to join us.”
“I’d love to, thank you.”
“Great,” she says as she stands from her seat. “There’s a sports bar over on fourth, called Spiked. See you there around six?”
“Sounds good,” I say as she turns toward the door. “Jamie,” I say, gaining her attention before she leaves the office, and wait for her to turn around. “Thank you.”
Her smile is soft as she turns in the doorway. “You’re welcome. And welcome to the Generals, Mackenzie.”
Feeling a little more a part of the team, I pick up my iPad and head to the training facility.
As soon asI step inside Spiked, Jamie’s hand goes in the air to wave me over to the group. “Mackenzie, so glad you could make it.”
I glance around the table. “Thanks for inviting me.”
Jamie waves a dismissive hand. “Please, we’re happy to have you. Now, I know you’ve met everyone, but as a refresher, this is Allison, our nutritionist and dietitian, and her husband Felipe is the strength and conditioning coach. Luna is our physical therapist, and Leo is the equipment manager. And this handsome guy,” she says resting her arm on the shoulder of the man next to her. “This is my husband, Reed, transport specialist for the Generals.”
Reed rolls his eyes at his wife. “Which translates into truck driver of equipment.”
The entire table burst into laughter. “It’s nice to meet you Reed, and to see you all again.”
