It’s been a while since I’ve been willing to sit down on my giant, sand filled, Bosu fit-ball and write about volley. Strange, I know. And so much has happened since I last plucked these dusty keys, I don’t even know where to begin. 

 

Why don’t I start with this...

 

CONGRATULATIONS TO JAKE GIBB AND SEAN ROSENTHAL FOR QUALIFYING FOR THE 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES IN BEIJING!

 

 

 

Actually, I’m not afraid to end with that as well. What else is there? Honestly. Do you think the AVP Event in Long Beach this weekend matters in a conversation when we’re also discussing the chance at Olympic Gold? That answer is actually laughable.

 

Don’t get me wrong. Everybody loves the opportunity to compete right here on our own home soil but nothing, and I mean nothing, compares to the ‘once-every-four-year’ sports spectacle that makes up the Olympic Games. Let’s talk about it for just one second. Not to put any pressure on those who’ve earned the right to go but the Olympic Games represent the one, single, opportunity to prove that you are, in fact, the greatest living athlete in your respective sport. There isn’t any other competition like it. Well, I guess Europeans could say the World Cup is similar, but that’s only one sport, so that’s out. The Summer Olympics have over 28 sports to divvy out a legitimate winner, and that’s not including the different competitions within each field of sport. (IE. Beach Volleyball is included under the general heading of “Volleyball,” assimilating it with the indoor aspect of the sport’s namesake)

 

Why no congratulations at this time for Todd and Phil? Well, everyone knew they were going to qualify. There wasn’t any drama relative to their qualification process. And frankly, they’re just not exciting to watch. Their skill level is so high and they’re playing at such a ridiculous level right now that no one really cares to watch them go through the motions and destroy people. Funny how that happens huh? Get to the top, and people stop caring because of your absolute dominance. What can I say, it just does. Ask people how stoked they were to see someone else on TV during that stretch in July when “Team Unstoppable” was in Europe winning Grand Slam after Grand Slam. I’ve never heard more people excited about an NBC telecast that featured Stein and Mark crushing down Fred and Anthony. Am I going to cheer them on in Beijing? Of course I am. They’re both great guys and I honestly think they have the most legitimate shot at winning the Gold, but that still doesn’t make their almost non-existent personalities fun to watch on TV.

 

On the other hand, Jake and Rosie withstood a late run by Casey Jennings and Matt Fuerbringer, survived the pressure of the two year FIVB qualification process, and are now completely psyched to don red, white and blue. And don’t kid yourself; they are one hell of a lot of fun to watch, in person, or on NBC. Just please youtube “Vegas Line” before the Olympics commence on August 8th. Please.

 

That was the first match they ever played together. And it was the match that determined Jake’s direction after his partnership with Stein Metzger dissolved following South Africa in ’05. Speaking of Stein, check out this shot on Speedo’s website:

 

Seriously. So good…

 

And I don’t have the time right now to fully discuss this but, why oh why, could we not have been more involved with watching those teams duke it out for Bejing? Not to mention the women. Ross/Boss came within one finish of passing Branagh/Youngs for the last spot and all we could do to cheer them on was yell at our computer screens for not updating faster. That is ridiculous.

 

You know what, I do have time. Why the hell do we have an AVP and an FIVB? Seriously. Put down the egos for one second and freaking combine the two. It’s not that hard. One governing body that rules the sport and has simultaneous events taking place globally each weekend just like tennis and golf. You want to play in Gstaad? Go play in Gstaad. During that same weekend, you want to play in Long Beach, California? Go play in Long Beach. Hell, throw an event in Bangkok that weekend while we’re at it. All individually promoted, all individually run, but with one governing body headed by multiple people at the top who are willing to collectively admit mistakes and listen to reason. And no country quotas! What the hell is that? If there are ten teams from Brazil that belong in the Top 10, then let there be ten teams from Brazil. Same goes for the USA, and Germany, and the Netherlands, and for everybody!

 

How sick would Manhattan Beach be if it was the largest FIVB/AVP Grand Slam in the world; 64 teams competing with 16 coming out of a qualifier. No country quota restrictions. Anyone worldwide could enter. Held Monday through Sunday in late August. And the winners would hold their trophies above their heads knowing they just won the biggest and best volleyball tournament on Earth, outside the Olympics, of course. And their names would be eternally immortalized on the Pier for all to see. With that cool million dollar payout we have in place now for only the AVP’s top 8 teams. Tell me that’s not exciting to think about!

 

Man, am I getting ahead of myself. But you know what? Everybody has succumbed to the fact that we can’t grow. And we can’t sustain life in our current mold. So why can’t we figure it out and change? I guess that’s a much deeper question than I am willing to acknowledge. And one with an answer that is almost entirely out of reach during my lifetime.

 

But in the meantime, Go Jake and Rosie in Beijing! I’ll be watching every single match live, regardless of time, and loving every minute of it! If you’re reading this, you’re definitely a fan of volleyball to some degree, and have no excuse to not set your dvr for NBC in August once you close your computer screen.