WSS HALL OF FAME: #1 Babak Azimi

Anybody who played on the same field as Babak Azimi will have some fond memories of the Iranian striker.

I haven't done the research into whether the offside rules are the same in Iran as the rest of the world, but Babi's entire career with Waldwick Senior Soccer would indicate they are either wildly different or non-existent. Or, more likely, Babi just didn't pay attention to them.

A typical blue attack from 2003-2006 would build from the middle, lead to a through-ball or cross, and then deflate as the ball reached Babi. He would either jump for the ball, shielding his face with his arms and commit a handball, swing a leg at the cross with his eyes closed and miss with unintentional comedy timing, or tap the ball in unmarked - because he was at least twelve yards offside.

Oh, how the White defenders loved him as they stood there, arms in the air in a line as Babi ruined attack after attack with his very loose grasp of what "offside" actually meant.

And how the Blue midfielders hated him as chance after chance went begging when the ball ended up at his feet (or hands.) All this combined with the most glamorous pair of silver cleats on the field. He would say they were the only ones in his size when he tried to buy a pair in Times Square at three in the morning. All they did was draw attention to his runs and their glaring color meant it was easy to track exactly how far his toes were behind the last defender when the ball was played to him.

That said, then there were the times when he couldn't miss. On his day, he was more than just a garbageman, picking up rebounds (though he could certainly do that too.) He would skip and dance by defenders and tuck shots past the 'keeper with precision - just making the Blue midfielders curse him more. He could do it when the mood took him, but his happy-go-lucky demeanor meant he would blow hot and cold from week to week.

And yet, despite all the animosity towards Babi during a game, there was no player more affable off the field. He was always smiling, always laughing, always offering praise and reassurances after misses while just shrugging his shoulders after one of his own tame shots dribbled wide.

At the final whistle of Babi's last game at Waldwick High, before he upped and moved to the West Coast, he was presented with a pair of linesman's flags signed by Blue and White team alike before we headed to Nellie's for drinks. He is the only player WSS have honored in this way.

In 2006, just before his move, someone who worked with Babi and who knew he played soccer, asked a WSS player: "Is Babi a good player?" The reply was: "He's a great guy." On his day, he was both.

When he turned up out of the blue for a one-off appearance while back on the East Coast he proved he hadn't lost any of the abilities that made him a WSS legend. And he will always be welcome to take the field with us again.