Dallas Sidekicks Players

#22 Doc Lawson

Doc Lawson, 1990 photo

Position:

Defender

Height:

6'0"

Weight:

180

Birthdate:

February 11, 1958

Birthplace:

Liberia

Citizenship:

USA

College:

Southern Connecticut State

Previous Club:

Cosmos

Nickname:

"The Indoor Warrior"

Seasons Pro:

13

Seasons w/Sidekicks:

6

Given name before he legally changed it to "Doc":

Adolphus

 

How He Got Here

Signed as a Free Agent on October 1, 1985

 

Jersey Retired

Doc Lawson is one of only three players to have his jersey retired by the Sidekicks.

 

College Days

The first ever All-American named by a player from Southern Connecticut State University was Lawson in 1977-78.

 

Always Remember the First Time

Event Date Opponent
Assist October 25, 1985 vs. Los Angeles
Goal November 23, 1985 at Pittsburgh

 

Doc Lawson Through the Years

Pictures of Lawson as they appeared in Dallas Sidekicks Media Guide's for the appropriate season:

Doc Lawson, 1985 photo

Doc Lawson's 1986 photo

Doc Lawson's 1987 photo

1985-86

1986-87

1987-88

Doc Lawson's 1987 photo

Doc Lawson's 1987 photo

Doc Lawson's 1987 photo

1988-89

1989-90

1990-91

 

There When It All Began

Lawson was the last player still active from the orignal Major Indoor Soccer League season (1978-79). He played in the first game between Cincinatti Kids and the New York Arrows on December 22, 1978 at the Nassau Coliseum.

 

Boosting Morale

Lawson was a fan favorite for his "cheerleading" style of leadership, often playing to the crowd. During Game 3 of 1986 Divisional Semifinals, the first MISL playoff game at Reunion Arena, Lawson was introduced to the crowd, and he came out holding a stuffed parrot in a noose (a reference to Minnesota Strikers goalkeeper Tino Lettieri, who kept a stuffed parrot in the 'nets with him as a mascot.

 

Wouldn't Trade Friendship

Lawson expressed disapointment in his treatment by then-coach Gordon Jago late in the 1990-91 season. When Jago tried to trade Lawson off the last place-desitined Sidekicks to the Championship contending Baltimore Blast for Richard Chinnapoo, Lawson exercised his right to refuse a trade (granted to MISL players who had been with the same team for 3 or more consecutive seasons) because of the hardship that moving Chinapoo's family to Dallas in the middle of the season would have been.

Former Head Coach Billy Phillips told the Dallas Morning News at the time of the trade's rejecting "...it is unprecedented for a MSL player to make friendship the primary reason for vetoing a trade."

Lawson told Dallas Morning News columnist Cathy Harasta on February 19, 1991:

We don't make millions. When you deal with the kind of money we make, you have to be wise enough to make the best decision for all concerned...I couldn't do that to a friend, and Richard is a friend.

 

 

Honor Roll (as a Sidekick)

Honor Roll (Before He Was a Sidekick)

 

Called To Duty

Lawson played for Team USA in 1979 and 1980, as well as for the United States Olympic soccer team in 1980 (that qualified for the Olympic Tournament, but did not play due to the U.S. Boycott of the Moscow Games).

Lawson also played for Team USA-5 a side (indoor soccer without walls) in 1989.

 

Leading the Team

Lawson lead the Sidekicks in the following catagories during the appropriate season:

1987-88

 

1989-90

 

Sidekicks Highlights

1985-86

1986-87

 

1987-88

 

1988-89

 

1989-90

 

1990-91

 

Regular Season Statistics

Note: Personal Fouls were not an official MISL statistic until the 1990-91 season.

With Dallas

GP

G

A

PTS

SH

PIM

F

BL

PPG

SHG

GWG

OTG

1985-86

48

11

9

20

93

14

86

34

0

0

2

1

1986-87

46

11

10

21

107

4

74

29

0

0

2

1

1987-88

53

17

18

35

190

8

72

61

2

0

3

1

1988-89

35

4

10

14

104

16

NA

40

0

0

1

1

1989-90

51

18

12

30

164

19

NA

49

0

0

1

1

1990-91

46

13

13

26

140

16

33

82

0

2

0

0

Dallas Totals

279

74

72

146

798

77

265

295

2

2

9

5

 

Playoff Statistics

With Dallas

GP

G

A

PTS

SH

PIM

F

BL

PPG

SHG

GWG

OTG

1986

4

1

0

1

12

0

6

3

0

0

0

0

1987

17

9

8

17

85

2

47

11

4

0

0

0

1988

4

0

0

0

13

4

NA

2

0

0

0

0

1989

7

0

2

2

14

4

NA

6

0

0

0

0

1990

6

0

2

2

16

8

NA

7

0

0

0

0

Dallas Totals

38

10

12

22

140

18

53

29

4

0

0

0

 

Where Did He Go?

Doc Lawson retired from pro soccer after the 1990-91 season. He is a private businessman in Dallas, Texas.