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Post by VolleyTX on Oct 17, 2006 9:10:01 GMT -5
Yep... that was pretty wacked!
I'm really surprised about NNamani. I'm curious if she is still injured... or maybe she just didn't make the team. It just doesn't makes sense for her to be out there training with the team.... then a matter of days away from a huge competition.... back out. odd.
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Post by OverAndUnder on Oct 17, 2006 10:10:31 GMT -5
2004 was a demoralizing experience for the team. It was one of those choke tournaments that destroy any chemistry and the aftermath separates the workhorses from the prima donnas. It seems as though several indoor players saw the nonstop media lovefest for May/Walsh and thought, "Why am I wasting my time on all this Team USA training crap when I could pick up a partner and be a beach superbabe with magazine covers and corporate sponsors in two years?"
Personally, I would love to see Lang Ping take the long-term view. Discard the uppity players (no matter how skilled) who don't want to commit to the team, keep the few veterans who have demonstrated a solid work ethic, and develop younger players who can be battle tested for 2012 even if you have to eat the losses in the here and now.
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Post by brybry on Oct 17, 2006 11:55:28 GMT -5
What other top player might be lured away by the beach game?
Barboza? Larson? We know that Klineman plays a lot of beach.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2006 12:33:01 GMT -5
2004 was a demoralizing experience for the team. It was one of those choke tournaments that destroy any chemistry and the aftermath separates the workhorses from the prima donnas. It seems as though several indoor players saw the nonstop media lovefest for May/Walsh and thought, "Why am I wasting my time on all this Team USA training crap when I could pick up a partner and be a beach superbabe with magazine covers and corporate sponsors in two years?" Personally, I would love to see Lang Ping take the long-term view. Discard the uppity players (no matter how skilled) who don't want to commit to the team, keep the few veterans who have demonstrated a solid work ethic, and develop younger players who can be battle tested for 2012 even if you have to eat the losses in the here and now. This goes to speak for the loyalty thing I've brought up several times. Yes Team USA needs to step up to the plate and pay these women to stay here. , no argument here. But you're right in terms of wondering where is the motivation to stay and play and stuggle with money only to 1)have beach players get more money and spotlight, and or 2)to have big name oldies come back 6 months prior and take your spot away.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2006 12:44:39 GMT -5
What we need is to institute a draft. Force them off the beach and back to the real game.
And maybe make meals contingent on performance?
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Post by brybry on Oct 17, 2006 14:59:25 GMT -5
What we need is to institute a draft. Force them off the beach and back to the real game. No on the draft. They'll just declare themselves gay and/or flee to Canada.
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Post by OverAndUnder on Oct 17, 2006 16:35:01 GMT -5
How about we do like Cuba or N. Korea - every set they lose, a family member back home loses a finger.
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Post by dishdaball on Oct 17, 2006 17:04:18 GMT -5
How about some old fashioned competition and a little less politics....maybe some of these girls don't want to kiss ass and stroke egos to play on the team....if you think the national team program has the best players you are crazy. They are great players but not all are the best. And yes - pay would make a difference too but let's try a competitive environment and truly keep the best people in training, etc. The girls in college can try out after their school seasons - make it a real tryout and not a fund raiser. Make it mandatory for them to train during the summer and if the commitment isn't there, send them on their way but don't cater to attitude because Suzy won't get any summer vacation, etc. Trust me, you'll get the people who want to train which will make the whole USA volleyball program better.
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Post by blastingsand on Oct 17, 2006 21:10:08 GMT -5
What other top player might be lured away by the beach game? Barboza? Larson? We know that Klineman plays a lot of beach. Yeah, a lot of college kids, I know some of the Washington kids are going beach. Barboza would be an amazing beach player because of her passing skills and how well she sees the open spots on the court.
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Post by roofed! on Oct 17, 2006 21:15:20 GMT -5
I know that beach vball looks glamorous....bikini, surfing lifestyles, no coach barking at you etc, but the reality is that only the top players/teams make serious money from winnings and endorsements (such as May and Walsh). Plus they have to pay, out of own pockets, expenses like air tickets, hotels, coaching etc.
Take April Ross for example. She played indoor vball in PR rom Jan to Apr/May and makes probably something like 25-30k. the beach vball for 4-5 months with total winnings of $5k. After you deduct the expenses, how much of those beach vball income would you have left over?
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Post by volleysean27 on Oct 17, 2006 23:08:19 GMT -5
Why do people always refer beach volleyball as a glamorous sport.. and why does everybody think that its because these players are wearing a bikini that is a joke sport.. Ask any beach volleyball player why they wear bikini's in the beach instead of shorts and a tank top.. The TAN Baby...
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Post by volleysean27 on Oct 17, 2006 23:09:06 GMT -5
I think the solution to the NT woes are to move to Socal.. more players would stay i think
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Post by cardfan15 on Oct 18, 2006 0:16:39 GMT -5
There are many improvements to the system that are going to have to be made before the US becomes dominant again in vball. I agree that more pay is needed. There has to be some financial draw. For everyone that says "do it for the glory/pride" how many of you would quit your job and go live in a dorm for months of training and hardly any compensation? Not many when push comes to shove.
Second, there is no national pride for what our women's vball team does? It is never showcased. Even in Athens when we were favored, our media never did specials on the vball team? I am in China right now and they are already running commercials for the WC's. They show clips of this years team and of winning Chinese teams from the past...Lang Ping is actually in one of them... There is nostalgia here for volleyball...it is something to get excited about. That has to be built in the US before you can talk about "pride/glory". The fact of the matter is there isn't a whole lot of glory in winning women's vball gold in the US.
When it comes to the situation of veterans...you are asking a whole lot of them to keep coming back. I think Danielle Scott is incredible. The fact she keeps coming back is amazing. She has put her time in, but yet she is willing to keep helping. You can't expect that from everyone and there are prima donnas on every team. Like Murina says, we have to build an effective pipeline to the NT. Not a political one, but one that singles out the talent and gives them the appropriate training at the appropriate time to become world class players. For example, why hasn't Klineman been traveling/practicing with the NT for the past 2 years? Was there ever an offer?
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Post by VolleyTX on Oct 18, 2006 8:44:02 GMT -5
I'll add to your thoughts. I believe NCAA volleyball actually takes away from National Team volleyball. Think about it..... all these young girls think about all through Junior High and High school is which college program they are going to be a part of..... which school can the win a national championship with.... etc. Most of these girls don't even get a chance to watch the National team play on television! To them.... winning a national championship has more prestige than winning The World Cup because they really aren't clued in on International Volleyball.
It takes a special person to make all the sacrifices needed to play with the national team. Honestly, they way the system is set up now.... if I were the best college kid in the country.... I'm not sure I would want to make those sacrifices. There has to be a bigger incentive than just pride and glory. As I said before, there isn't much glory associated with big international wins here in the United States. Heck.... did anyone see any media coverage when the US won the grand prix a few years ago?
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Post by Ye Olde Dawg on Oct 18, 2006 9:51:02 GMT -5
There are plenty of players in the NCAA who think of the national team as a possible next step. Courtney Thompson for one is mentioning it pretty frequently when interviewed. And yes, the motivation seems to be simply the thrill of representing her country. For example: gohuskies.cstv.com/sports/w-volley/spec-rel/101106aad.html
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