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Post by Reach on Aug 12, 2008 1:22:41 GMT -5
the girls need to take note of the boys
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Post by GatorVball on Aug 12, 2008 1:32:02 GMT -5
Great job, guys. Another win in the books. Nothing seems to faze these guys, I hope they keep rolling.
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Post by heatmisr on Aug 12, 2008 1:36:45 GMT -5
Wow - you can feel the confidence through the tv set. What a fun match to watch. Hope they bring that attitude against Bulgaria
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Post by MohKat on Aug 12, 2008 1:49:56 GMT -5
Great match. Hopefully their confidence and chemistry keeps going.
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Post by Tiruray2004 on Aug 12, 2008 4:57:02 GMT -5
Disappointing that the new Italian head coach doesn't wear Armani suits anymore!
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Post by cyberVBmidwest on Aug 12, 2008 5:47:20 GMT -5
Wow - you can feel the confidence through the tv set. What a fun match to watch. Hope they bring that attitude against Bulgaria From an international forum, it appears the Bulgarian team may be going through some controversy among their players. No details but it will be interesting to watch the match to see of Bulgaria brings their A game.
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Post by cardfan15 on Aug 12, 2008 8:26:14 GMT -5
I was at the match today and actually had fantastic seats. I got some good pics of the team but will have to wait until tomorrow to post them as I don't have time this evening. A few observations from inside the arena:
1) What you saw on TV is right. It was quite clear that these guys are really looking to each other for strength and motivation during this difficult time for their coach and team. Just the way players were interacting, a pat on the back here, a look of confidence there, it was obvious and inspiring to watch as a fan. Even when Lambourne overpassed the ball out for set point in the first set, I didn't notice any glances or glares and the team came out strong in the second set. I think what is most impressive is that they are taking their time, being patient as individuals and as a team. To do that under these circumstances is really a testament to the players. In line with what was mentioned before, I wish the ladies could have been at this match today (maybe they were watching on tv?). After dropping a close first set, the men did exactly what teams are supposed to do. Pull together. It was a great example.
2) Italy (and particularly Fei) were on fire in the first set. With some tough serving, good passing and excellent defense (all three are obviously connected) the US took Italy out of their game and really played a tremendous match the last three sets. Ball set an excellent match and other than Priddy struggling in the first set, everyone contributed.
3) I love watching the Ball/Millar connection. It has to come from years of playing together, but they have a knack for finding each other in broken plays. I mean out of nowhere on 3 or 4 completely broken plays. The crowd in Capital Indoor Stadium loved it.
4) It was freezing in the venue and I think it got even colder in the second match of the session. The Serbian players were using towels as scarfs under their warm up suits in the substitution box.
5) The Chinese fans are very interesting, particularly the state-sponsored ones at the corners and in the middle (wearing bright yellow). The US got a much louder applause than Italy at the start but that changed when the US was rolling. In fact, I think the corner groups are supposed to cheer for the team on their side, until that team is about to win and then root for the other team to come back. That seemed to be the pattern. At the end of the match I felt the crowd was decidedly pro-Italy. The Chinese do love great volleyball and they cheer for the great plays and denounce the stupid mistakes. An older gentleman beside me was having a field day with all the mistakes the Serbian team was making against Brazil. One other thing on that match, when they were announcing the referees at the start of that match (head - Chinese, second - Japanese), the Chinese ref got a cheers and a loud applause and the Japanese ref got pretty much nothing and a lot of chatter. Obviously, tensions from the past still exist, but I thought it was very tacky and continues to show China still has a long way to go.
6) There were quite a few controversial calls and at one point in the USA/Italy match it seemed like it was getting out of the first referees hands. Although I am slightly biased towards team USA, it seemed like Italy was whining a lot more about the calls than team USA.
7) Related to Brazil, what are they doing with Giba? He was in uniform but didn't warm up before the match and really just goofed off the whole time. And don't even get me started on how enthralled the Chinese fans are with the Brazilian fans...bleh.
Guess that is it for now. Pics to come tomorrow.
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Post by Phaedrus on Aug 12, 2008 9:00:43 GMT -5
Awesome recap, thanks.
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Post by cardfan15 on Aug 12, 2008 11:04:04 GMT -5
Sorry, I have to add just one more thing...the new FIVB regulated short length has got to go. I'm not saying short shorts make men look/feel less masculine I'm just saying a 6'9 guy should not be required to wear THAT short of shorts...they don't even look good and the players don't look comfortable in them.
Why on earth (and don't give me the net excuse) would FIVB sanction such short shorts for such tall players...they look ridiculous...
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Post by cougvb on Aug 12, 2008 13:47:36 GMT -5
Well, Ron Larsen is 2-0 in his Olympic debut, so no complaints. But I was surprised Marv Dunphy or Carl McGown didn't take over. Actually, I haven't seen Carl on the sidelines-maybe he's in a booth somewhere feeding info.
Good game for USA. Why did they keep saying the injured player wasn't allowed back in? Unless it was an exceptional sub, he can come back if physically able. The announcers made it sound like it was against the rules for him to come back.
R1 really struggled.
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Post by vballguy2001 on Aug 12, 2008 13:56:07 GMT -5
Carl and Marv probably wouldn't take over the head spot because they aren't the Assistant coach. THey are more like consultants i believe. Besides Marv and Carl have just started working with the Olympic Team where Ron has been with them for years.
Anyway you look at it on paper......I think it is more a TEAM Effort with the coaches. SEEMS to be working.
OH Yeah. How good is Clay Stanley right now. Best I have ever seen him play, and it is nice to see Ball play well after all the other terrible olympics he has participated........KEEP IT UP BOYS!!!! BRING HOME THE GOLD!!!!!
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Post by bunnywailer on Aug 12, 2008 14:44:19 GMT -5
OH Yeah. How good is Clay Stanley right now. Best I have ever seen him play, and it is nice to see Ball play well after all the other terrible olympics he has participated........KEEP IT UP BOYS!!!! BRING HOME THE GOLD!!!!! Ball is pretty much a chameleon in terms of team dynamics. When the overall team is dysfunctional (for whatever reasons), then Ball's personality adds to the dysfunction - the 1996, 2000, and 2004 teams all had some dysfunctional personalities in leadership roles. In contrast, the 2008 team (with a returning core of 2004 veterans), developed a more mature personality, and have a terrific captain in Tom Hoff to handle those duties. Likewise, his success in Italian A1 came when he was on a team with mature international superstars well-respected for their games, who took on the leadership for the team and allowed Ball to solely focus on playing. There were some bigtime egos on the 1996, 2000, and 2004 teams. Big whiners who couldn't handle the pressure of playing in the Olympics, and didn't have anywhere near the level of international game that the current team has. Also, from a coaching standpoint you had a coach in Sturm (1996) who let the inmates run the asylum, followed by a control freak Beal (2000, 2004) who the players didn't like and established no rapport with.
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Post by Phaedrus on Aug 12, 2008 14:57:37 GMT -5
I think Sunderland made the comment that Ball himself admits that he wasn't ready to be the Captain back then. And he really appreciates not being the captain this time around because he needs to be focused on the setting. He knows he rubs people the wrong way, which is why the official leadership role bugged him so much.
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Post by baywatcher on Aug 12, 2008 15:42:44 GMT -5
Re the injured player not coming back in, it may be that if a libero comes out due to injury, which is the only way he can be replaced, then the rules say he can't return; in order to avoid hi-jinks with fake injuries.
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Post by cyberVBmidwest on Aug 12, 2008 21:45:15 GMT -5
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