'Doc' always on call for Rainbows

By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

Heading into his 25th year at the far end of the Rainbow Wahine bench, Dr. Allen Richardson knows a little about volleyball and a lot about knees.

RICHARDSON

"He is always there for you whenever you need him," says former soccer goalie Amanda Paterson, who had four knee surgeries. "He is very laid back, very casual, yet very, very professional."

No one is more soothing than "Doc" in time of trauma. Richardson intimately, yet simply, explains injuries to athletes and explores all options before surgery. If it is necessary, his gentle presence is reassuring. Nothing changed while Richardson battled cancer the past few years.

"His demeanor is so great for someone who has been injured," says UH coach Dave Shoji, who has been at the other end of the bench four years longer than Richardson. "He can make anybody feel at ease."

Richardson came to Rainbow Wahine athletics when he returned home in 1979. He helped Dr. Ralph Hale, who originated the program's volunteer medical staff. Hale left in 1993 to become executive director of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Richardson took a fellowship in Los Angeles while his wife, Olympic gold medalist Pokey Watson Richardson, coached swimming at USC. Richardson became sports medicine chair for the national team, a position he later filled for the Federation Internationale Natacione Amateur (FINA). He attended the last six Olympics, ultimately overseeing aquatic drug testing.

With his background, Richardson was the logical choice to help Hawai'i. He has also become a popular choice, always available and seemingly imperturbable.

UH trainer Melody Toth remembers calling him at 4 a.m. from Japan to talk her through Sue Hlavenka's shoulder dislocation, and convince Japanese doctors she didn't need surgery.

"I always get called by Mel, from all over, any time, for a lot of things," Richardson says. "At least I can tell her how bad or not bad it is and whether someone should play or not play. That's probably most helpful. You can't treat it over the phone."

Richardson thought of putting a rod in Karrie (Trieschman) Poppinga's leg when she was dogged by stress fractures, an idea that kick-started her All-America career. He removed one of Jenny (Wilton) Cabbab's ribs, allowing her to help Hawai'i reach two regional finals.

"If I need a miracle," Toth says, " 'Doc' is the go-to guy.

"No one can replace Allen. He is always there to listen to what's going on and always has a plan to make it better."

The program now has several doctors. Richardson has arranged it so trainers can observe at surgeries so they better understand the injury. The athlete also gets the benefit of having the same person with them from injury through rehabilitation.

Richardson's presence and reputation has also allowed UH to speed-dial specialists. Sometimes, dialing isn't necessary. When Kim Willoughby went down her freshman year, Richardson looked up in the Stan Sheriff Center stands and motioned down friends. Before the match was over, they had given him an X-ray.

"All we have to do is mention Allen's name to any specialist and it's a done deal," Toth says.

For 25 years at UH, Richardson has been a laid-back presence with a critical purpose. His focus has been on support, "medically, and just a familiar face, to loosen them up and help them out ... I feel like I learned a lot."

And not just about extremities. After all these years, and with daughter Puna heading to St. John's on a volleyball scholarship, he has a unique perspective of the sport, and this team.

Richardson thinks Maja Gustin needs to "get real crazy in the middle and go after it, get out of her shell" and Lily Kahumoku "needs to be a real leader and absolutely tough as nails, particularly in the last game." His observations go into the future, but his final thought is about now.

"This team needs to be really tough," Richardson says. "They can't get scared of the uniform. They've got to say they can beat SC and they'll beat them."