Quick hits on the AZ tourney as far as how the other teams did.
Jake and Rosy were solid again. Lost early to Dax and Jeff who could be coming on strong but more on that in a bit. Came through the losers and defeated Dax and Jeff by similar scores to how they lost the first match. They continue to play well as they have made every final to date. The one bright spot on getting second everytime: you are really hungry to get first.
Stein and Lambo were upset in the quarters by Keenan and Hyden. This set up a 7th place showdown with Jake and Rosy. Jake and Rosy won the first 21-18 but the second was a battle. Stein had two pretty good swings for the game but was unable to put it away because of some great digs by both Jake and Rosy. The next two points went Rosy and Jake's way and Stein and Lambo were stuck with a 7th. Last time they got a bad finish they started slow but rolled to a victory. Can they do it again?
Sean and Furbs were upset by Kevin and Aaron in the quarters. Then they lost a crazy 3 game battle to Fred and Anthony. Overtime in the third. This team has struggled in the close games so far. If they win all the close ones they get top 5 finishes in all but maybe Huntington Beach. The experiment of 2 big guys continues this coming week. Cracks are showing though and of course there are a lot of little guys making a lot of phone calls to the two big guys.
Casey and Mark were upset in the second round and had to toil through the losers. Got a bad draw with Stein and Lambo losing in the quarters and took a 9th. This tour just isn't easy through the losers anymore.
Dax and Jeff were more true to their 2005 form then they their 2007 form. They took care of the nemesis in Stolfus/Wong and then gave a beatdown to Jake and Rosy. Got a better draw with the Hyden/Keenan upset of Stein/Lambo to make the final four. Once they got there it wasn't so pretty though. Jake and Rosy got revenge for their beatdown in the quarters by giving back the beatdown in the crossover semis. I will say Dax and Jeff are playing better. If they can build on that finish they should do well in Hermosa.
Fred and Anthony had another solid finish with a 7th. Lost in the second round to Hyden/Keenan and went through the losers before losing to Olsen/Ring. You would think it is just a matter of time before this team breaks through to the final four.
Ring and Olsen had a great tourney. They lost twice to us and took a 3rd. Battled some teams and came out on top in the close ones. Best short serve team on tour as Phil and I can attest to.
Keenan/Hyden again were good. Took a 5th with losses to Dax/Jeff and Ring/Olsen. Keenan is coming along very quickly and apparantly Hyden is a good teacher.
Lastly, the Wong/Aaron team had a great finish in their first tourney together with a 5th. I think one more win and Karch might have been out a partner for Hermosa. Congrats to them and when KK doens't play, this could be a great fallback guy for Kevin.
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8 comments:
Hey Todd,
As someone that is starting to make decent money on tour, what words of encouragement do you offer the players finishing just a few spots below you and making almost no money.
I see this as a huge issue for the AVP right now. The middle and lower players that are in the main draw either need a sponsor or two jobs to be able to play this sport that we all love. If the money was there I think more people could commit to just playing and the entire level of the tour would rise.
Do you think the AVP will ever be at point where all the main draw players can make a decent living playing?
As for your comments about the AVP playing in parking lots, do you not think that is more of an issue with the people that are partnering with the AVP rather then the AVP? I think the AVP does need to find stable partners that will work with them for more than one year but I also believe the business structure of the AVP is much more solid if they partner with a local entity to do all the due diligence required. The due diligence is to see if there is enough interest in the area for the AVP to come and if so where, it is the local partners that are picking the locations. People mentioned using existing facilities and I think that is a great idea if they are large enough, and I am sure the AVP would partner with them. The question then is why or the existing facilities not going to the AVP?
The volleyball world was all but dead just a few years ago and the current AVP has not only brought it back to life but they are doing so in a manor that is sound financially. That is HUGE and will lead to the sport growing.
Sorry for rambling. I just think that not all the players both professional and recreational see the big business picture.
I think you are an awesome volleyball player and I love this blog.
Thad in Memphis
Thad-
You bring up a very large can of worms that I will try to respond to as best I can.
1. The AVP is top heavy as far as the payout goes. I think this is necessary at this time. The same can be said about the FIVB and there is twice as much prize money. The key is to decrease the percentage payout to top players as the prize money increases per event. That is what the FIVB does. Right now the AVP essentially puts out a flat 20% to the top team each weekend. I think it should be that much for a $100,000 tourney per gender. If you had a $200,000 tourney per gender, I think it should be 16% which is what the FIVB pays out for a $200,000 event. If it were a $500,000 event it should be around 12-13%. I hope you see where I am going. The bottom line is you are trying to create:
a) Stars on tour and to do that you need the stars to make money.
b) It is necessary for your "stars" to be able to make a living.
The more money then the farther down the payout goes and the more people can make a living.
2. The level of the tour does continue to rise by a very great amount each year. Personally, I am a proponent of 16 team Main Draws to enable all 16 teams to make a good living and not have extra jobs. You create other tours to feed into the "Main Event" to get people started. The larger the draw the more diluted the payout has to be and you still have to create your stars.
3. I fully understand the fiscals involved with playing in a parking lot. You can still create an oasis within a parking lot by spending a little more money. Making people sit on 150 degree black top asphalt in not creating any kind of ambience. In fact, I think it would drive away even the hardcore fan. Make the promoters create an area where there is fake grass, palm trees, kiddy pools, mist sprayers, a bar, ect... Don't just make it a VIP area as well. An open area for families ect... You can create ambience in that way. That is of course if they don't want to use an existing facility.
Lastly, I give credit to Leonard and the AVP management for taking it from 2001 to where it is now. But if you sacrifice the ambience and lifestyle of the sport of beach volleyball, you will lose the average fan, will not attract new fans, and eventually you will lose the TV base and then promoters too. They all are inter-related and I am concerned that the long term profit is being short changed for the short term profit.
Todd
Todd,
Thank you for your quick response and further explanations. You and I are in total agreement.
Have you (since you are a star in the sport) talked with the AVP management about this and what have they said? What is their logic in not moving in that direction?
As a side note, I am a VERY devoted fan of beach volleyball for over 15 years now. Living in Memphis that is not an easy thing to do, one of the ways I think the AVP could help to create more stars and better recognition is to make the players more available. I am thrilled about the AVPTV but wish they would show some other matches rather then just the finals. Nothing against you and Phil or Kerri and Misty but it would be nice to see more and I think it would help to create a larger fan base.
Thad
Thad-
I briefly spoke with them after Glendale but right now they have bigger fish to fry. It will be a topic as we continue in these type of venues. It is just now starting to come up. They have responded positively to my comments but it will remain to be seen what happens in the future.
I believe the AVP is trying to broadcast more courts on AVP.COM. I have been told it is in the works.
Todd
Todd-
Just found the blog and I enjoy it. I have been an AVP fan here in Massachusetts since 1986..21 years! When the matches were on PRIME network with Sunderland and Marlowe announcing we used to get them on New England Sports Network but since they went to FSN New England we only get them sporadically. Looking forward to the Boston tourney later in 2007. You guys should have a blast out here (unless it is 44 degrees like it is today here). I have written the AVP for years with suggestions on winning back the fan base they had back around 1990 and it looks like things are taking off. I remember watching a Brent Frohoff/Whitmarsh match on Cape Cod with myself as the only fan circa 1988 and 2 years later seeing 10,000 people at the same beach. Chris Marlowe used to call us fans on Cape Cod "the most knowlegeable on the tour". Anyway goos luck and keep the posts coming. I see you reside in Solvang...have you ever written a review of "Sideways"? Scott from Barnstable, MA
Hi Todd,
I love the blog. What do you think KK would do if Kevin decided to stay with Aaron.
Never written a Sideways review and not sure I want to. The movie was ok but I was pissed because Pinot Noir prices immediately went up with the movies success and that is my favorite varietal.
Regarding what KK would do? Not real sure. He would find someone to play with and I am sure he would make him better. Wong can get a 5th with KK as well as with Aaron as proven in Miami. Wong's visibility with KK is much greater than with Aaron. He will stay with KK barring injury or at least a top 3 finish with someone else. KK would just look for the breakup of guys and pick-off a big right side guy.
Hey Todd,
Getting back to a question posed by "W.H." in the May 28 posting, I was wondering if you would expand on your weekly in-season training routine? Specifically, could you speak on what types of exercises you are performing in the gym (power movements, basic weight training exercises, flexibility work, jump training, etc.)? What is your emphasis and what is your scheme regarding sets and reps? I enjoy your insight and always look forward to your repsonses. Thanks.
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