It was a bit painful but Phil and I were still able to win the AVP Brooklyn Open. Really stoked on our win actually as we had to go through a bit of adversity to do so.
Last Monday I jacked my lower back up moving a ball bag full of balls. I did no major physical activity all week. No practice, lifting or plyo work to speak of. Just ice and light stretching. Back felt okay on Saturday in our first two games.
We beat a qualifier team fairly easily in our first match and then played AL-B and Fonoi in our second match. The first game we crushed them but the second game was a battle. We ended up winning that one like 28-26 or something like that. Back felt a little ginger but I was still able to go full out in both of those games.
In our third game we played Hans and Ty. I probably had about 3 digs in the game. I was not moving well at all. You couldn't really tell though as Phil and I were both blasting our jump serves and creating a lot of easy opportunities to score. Phil blocked really well and they made several errors. I was struggling to run anything down though. We won in 2 games.
The next day we played Hyden and Keenan in the morning. I was stiff and I struggled. I don't know that we would have won anyways as I discussed it with Phil and we both thought they played really well. They served incredibly tough. They probably had close to 10 aces in the game and 5 of them we were not going to touch regardless of health. They beat us down pretty good with scores of around 14 and 15.
After that game I went and Steve Paulseth, a PT, worked on me until my next game. Felt a lot better and we were able to take down Matt and Casey in 2 games. Sided out well and felt like I could move pretty well around the court. I went right back to Paulseth when the game was done and he did some more work. We played Stein and Mike in the crossover semis as they had gone through the winners bracket undefeated. I felt better that game then the one before and we won the first game pretty handily. The second was a full on battle. It was tied at 18 all and we proceeded to score 3 points in a row to win it in 2 games.
I went back to Paulseth and he worked his magic again. Going into the finals I felt pretty good. I could pass, set, and jump to hit without any problem. The hard part was having to land after jumping and fully extending myself on a layout dive. There were a few defensive moves in the finals that I like to think that I could have made but pulled up because I did not want to jack the back up badly. We ended up playing Scott Wong and Aaron Wachtfogel in the finals who upended a lot of teams on there way there. We went out to a 6-1 lead and it looked like we would bury them but they came back strong and tied it up around 12 all. From there on the entire match was a battle. They were game and playing well. Aaron had some great digs and Scotty was blocking, serving and siding out very well. It came down to making the plays at the end of the game and not making errors and we were fortunate in that we did not make errors and we did make the plays to win. I give kudos to both of those guys as I thought they played really well. Not just to get there but in the finals they were straight up good.
The two things out of this tourney that I was most stoked on was being able to battle through a stiff back and more so, the way Phil picked his game up. I told him after we lost to John and Brad that I needed him to help me out by looking to hit on 2 in transition and help me out in serve receive as well. He always does this but I was basically asking him to do it more. He put all but one ball away in siding out for me and put a bunch of balls away in transition too. It was good to fight through a little adversity and I have to say I am very satisfied with our win in Brooklyn.
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In regard to you not playing/training at all during the week due to your back; have you ever heard of "peak peformance" where they say you should cut your weight lifting/plyo during the season so that your weight drops (slightly) and your muscle to weight ratio% increases slightly? If that makes any sense to you, I'm curious to hear what you think about it!
Great tourney, Todd! Thanks for making it so much more exciting than last week's drubbing :) I'm also impressed with Phil's general improvement and willingness to take a heavier load when necessary. I'm not rushing you, but if you decide to retire after the 2012 Olympics I think Phil and Vince Carter will have a good shot for gold in 2016...if you are willing to coach them :) :)
Dave in San Diego
Saturday I got home after taking the kids swimming around 130pm ET. I went to AVP.com to see if Phil and Todd made the Finals that were coming on NBC at 230pm. I clicked on MENS RESULTS and in the Finals it had a score with Team Dubya beating Phil and Todd for the Title in 2 games. So I figured the 230pm broadcast was a tape of this major upset. When Phil and Todd won the first game I knew something was wrong and in the AVP Forum I found posts by other people who had been buffaloed into thinking Wong and Wach had won. I thought the Finals were great TV and would have been closer if Team Dubya could have kept their serves in play. In Boston I saw Scott Wong "working" the refs about sets made by Team Jump Serve. Not sure if that is why the ref made the call that set Todd off on Phil's set. When Todd did his Earl Weaver/Sweet Lou Piniella impersonation after that call all I could think of was that line from Tommy Boy: "I swear I've seen a lot of stuff in my life, but that was... awesome." I used to make fun of people who took time off from work for back pain issues but then I developed a disc in the lumbar region that slips slightly every once in a while. Completely debilitating but I have been doing those "superman" stretches on the exercise ball and it has really strengthened that area. Watching Todd fight through that situation was making me cringe on every dive. Looking forward to Cincy and wishing Phil and Todd the best for another Title. You guys are a big reason why the AVP is making a resurgence in the sports world. Everyone have a great week. Scott from Cape Cod
Hey,
I've always wondered what a post championship evening is like for you guys? Do you go out on the town with the other guys on tour, or do you and Phil have a quieter, nice dinner and call it a night after a hard days work?
I have heard about Peak Performance and I do that throughout the year to peak at certain times. I should say my trainers tell me what to do and I do it. Basically that is what it is. Don't know about all that ratio stuff but I can tell you we wanted to peak in the beginning for Cuervo, peak throughout July for FIVB and try and carry that through August and into early September. So far so good I think.
Dave- I think VC has bigger fish to fry. Would be a sick team though.
Scott- Thanks for the kind words. Brigg is a good ref and I respect him but sometimes you need to do what you need to do. He knows it isn't personal and I never said a word in that direction. Needed to take care of things and venting on him was part of it.
In general Phil and I are getting out of dodge. That is what we did in NY or tried to anyway. We went to the airport and then our flight got cancelled so we found a hotel and flew out early the next morning. Going out on the town takes to much out of me in the long run. Phil has not gone out much as I think he has come to the realization that Monday's workout sucks and Tuesdays workout is a lot harder than it normally is. Just not worth getting trashed. Not to say I don't have a couple of drinks that night or the next, I just don't rage. After Boston we went to a Red Sox game where Big Papi launched a grand salami. Fun game. After MB I drove home and had a couple of drinks with the wife.
Todd
Todd,
As usual another exciting final to watch, was a little suprised at Scott serving out on game point in the first, cardinal rule "never serve out on game point" at least that's what we tell our highschool and club girls. Was a very entertaining match to watch none the less, you dug deep and played through adversity which is another plus for you guys looking towards the Olympics. Hope the home court gets some use soon. Thanks again for the updates.
TJ in Columbus, GA.
First it was a pleasure to get to say hi to you after your match.
I did get to see some of your matches. Al-B and Fonoi played you tough in that second game...the point that changed the momentum, I thought you and Phil had 4 contacts as did Al-B and Fonoi.
I was a little surprised with the Keenan/Hyden match. They aced you down your line a few times, it looked like you didn't even flinch. Of course, us fans knew nothing of your back injury. It seemed to me that at some point in the second game, you decided that you weren't going to win and broke out the sky ball. I'm not sure what you said to Phil but both of you were smiling even though you were getting crushed. Again, we had no idea you were even hurt. I asked Phil about the match and he just said it was a really early match!
The first inkling that something might have been wrong with you was when you didn't come out for warm-ups before the finals. I thought it was a great final, both teams played well but you never had a match point against you. Oh and I think I was in the minority rooting for you, NYer's usually get behind the underdogs.
This is the first finals I've seen in a long time. Watching at home, you get to see the replays so you don't realize that the players just stand there for almost half a minute at times waiting for "permission" from the ref to start the point. Does that take you out of your rhythm at all?
Congrats on winning Brooklyn. You guys are reminding me of Kiraly and Steffes back in the day. I hope your back is feeling better. Good luck in Cincinnati.
If any of the pictures came out half decent, I'll post a link here.
TJ- Thank you and I am glad you enjoyed the finals. I always tell my kids never to serve the first game ball out as well. Keep the pressure on. If I can figure out the pulley system it will be up today. That of course is what I have been saying for 3 days now though so we shall see.
Garrett- Great to meet you this past weekend and thank you for the t-shirt.
vs. Fonoi I would say it was not 4 contacts. If it was, then AL-B open handed the ball into Phil and should therefore be called with a lift. Either way it ended up being our point.
In the finals you have to stay extra focused because of the breaks. It is hardest on jump servers because it is hard to keep the rhythm going. It is good though if you have come through the losers bracket or just had a long rally. That extra 30 seconds or so can get your breath back.
Love to see the pictures.
Todd
"but sometimes you need to do what you need to do"
Is that by setting an example for all the kids at home watching tv on a saturday by saying if you complain just hard enough or throw a temper tantrum by trying to rip stuff down that you can get anything you want. But at least you teach your kids to make sure they serve the first ball in.
Stay classy Todd.
and YES its MEAT
In pro sports you HAVE to do what it takes to win. Unlike in amateur sports the other team is trying to take bread off your table so the intensity level is much higher. Today Joomba Chamberalin threw 2 pitches at Kevin Youkilis' head as the Yankees must feel he broke one of the million "unwritten" rules baseball players have. Was that a good example for the kids...no..but it is part of professional baseball and winning at all costs. Todd and Phil are the World Champions and a team that has represented the greatest country on Earth with class. They get a Standing O at this address....Scott from the Cape
http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?&conn_speed=1&collid=42655001203.931062742503.1188671999125&mode=fromsite
Here are the pictures from "Todd and Phil's Excellent Brooklyn Adventure". I hope the link works(let me know if it doesn't and I'll figure out another way to share it). It was mostly pictures of Phil jump serving and blocking. There are a few shots of Todd passing and cutting a shot. I had forgotten how foggy it was during that first match on saturday. And Chris and Karch were saying on the telecast that your back was affecting your jump but from the pictures and from watching, I didn't really see too much of a difference.
So far so good in Cincy...and you clinched the Crocs Cup. CONGRATULATIONS!!! I hope I come home from work to see that you've won again.
Garret
Just got bumped from my flight back home, so a summary of AVP Cinci, from the local Holiday Inn.
Credit Loomis/Stolfus for their finish. After loosing their opener they played hard in the contenders. The outer courts were sometimes windy and Loomis was popping his jump serve creating huge opportunities. Their win over Dax/Scott was exceptional and both Loomis and Stolfus were hitting heavy. Loomis blocked 2 or 3 in the final few points of the match.
Credit Mariano/Ratlidge also fighting up the losers after an ealy loss to Stein/lambo. Ryan's defense was on most of the tourney and save for a few crucial transitions in their game against Jennings/Fuerbringer they were ready to go to game three.
Thumbs down on team dubya. Saw no fire in the eyes of these two as it was almost "uno dos adios" after a huge weekend in NY
Impressed with the play of Placek, a face of the future no doubt.
Now to the big guns. Lambo/Metzger played like champs all weekend. Their semi was on a windy outer court which they used to their huge advantage on Hyden/Keenan. Hyden was hitting heavy angles all day but not enough to advance. A couple of chumpy sets by Lambo kept it interesting but with an injured finger understandable.
Rosie/Gibb looked ready for another semi after game one over Fur/Jen but then Fuerbringer's blocking took over in game 2 and 3
I don't know what Todd Rogers has been feeding the beast but Phil Dalhauser was Hitting/Tapping some sick angles in warm up and in the finals. I'm talking from center of the net hitting left and crushing it down 8 feet off the net and maybe 2 feet inside the line and against Lambo's block mind you.
Dalhausser is takling this thing to a whole new level. While playing Stein/Lambo in the Charleston finals there was a contest, but in Cinci Phil was playing in a different league. Under Roger's tutelage Phil was heavy tapping some balls to parts of the court reserved for cuts and rolls. These intellegent hits were nowhere to be seen in Charleston, but dominated both matches against Fur/Jen and in the finals.
When Phil is on (and he was dead on in Cinci) Todd looks like a genious, not just in his prescient decision to pair up, but in the growing repertoire of Phils game. Rogers obvioulsy deserves credit chasing balls behind Phil's block, setting perfectly and consistently finding his opponents weaknesses, but his biggest credit is in taming the Beast.
Jeff
Meat - True, I did lose my cool. I don't think I got anything out of it but to vent some anger. I actually spoke with Brigg, the ref, and he felt he gaffed that one. He also did not feel that it warranted a red card although most everyone else did. I have not seen it on TV though and neither has he. I don't pretend to be perfect and I don't think it is a bad thing for anyone to show emotion on the court. The only thing I would take back is trying to crush the net. Other than that, I would do the same.
Garrett and Scott - Thanks.
Jeff - Good to meet you. Don't know if I can take that much credit. All I have done is accelerate what Phil was going to do anyways.
Todd
Great recap Jeff. Too bad about your flight. Congrats to Todd and Phil on another great win East of the Mississippi. How were the crowds in Cincy/Ohio? The Finals were on the MyTV station out of New Hampshire but it was going against Bucholz no hitter for the Sox so I got distracted. Happy Labor Day to all....Scott
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