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Post by bigfan on Apr 25, 2006 9:56:18 GMT -5
Volleyball can compete with NBA Frank Burlison
The NBA Playoffs are upon us. And it's also reassuring to know that if you want to come out and watch athletes with stunning vertical jumping ability, power, impeccable timing and passing ability that can play both stout individual and team defense, you can find them at … UCI Irvine, Thursday and Saturday evenings, during the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament men's volleyball semifinals and final.
Hey, what can I say? College volleyball in both the women's and men's forms is rapidly becoming my new second favorite sport to write about.
And, truth be told, the UCLA vs. Pepperdine (5 o'clock) and Long Beach State vs. UC Irvine (7:30) semifinals, and ensuing title match two nights later, almost assuredly will be much more competitive and exciting than were the semifinals and final that were played in my favorite event to cover a little more than three weeks ago in Indianapolis.
The NCAA Championships will be held at Penn State next week remember, only the basketball championships get the tag "Final Four" and will be made up of the MPSF, Midwestern Intercollegiate and Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association tournament winners, plus an at-large choice which is a lock to be another MPSF squad.
By the way, Long Beach State President Dr. F. King Alexander is proving to be every bit the cool sports supporter as is the fellow he replaced, Dr. Robert Maxson. Alexander bought 200 student tickets, they went for $5 a pop, Saturday night so the first 200 students who showed up in the Walter Pyramid for the 49ers' match with their counterparts from Brigham Young University could use their crisp $5 bills to spend in other ways, either before or after the match.
What a guy!
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Post by fuzzball on Apr 25, 2006 11:30:13 GMT -5
I was disappointed to hear that Rob won't be on the mike. Who's this geeter guy anyway.
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Post by CityTechLegend on Apr 25, 2006 11:46:55 GMT -5
Geeter, is the offical on court announcer for the AVP, He is one of the funniest emcees you will ever meet or here. His enthusiasm fo rthe sport is boundless. You'll catch him ever summer this year on the beach. He's not the guy in the booth, he's the guy that gets you going from courtside, great guy, great FAN BASED CHEER Leader. I wonder how he will do as a commentador. Hmmm? Should be fun. Does he have the Marlowe flair?
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Post by fuzzball on Apr 25, 2006 12:04:07 GMT -5
Nice to see that someone bit on that hook. We're talking game announcer here not commentator. Besides, I heard him on the women's side and if I had to hear one more time about a girl he coached in juniors, the TV was going to mute. My point is that Rob is one of the best game announcers in the sport and deserves to be the man this weekend on his home court. Talk about snubs.
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Post by vballmom on Apr 25, 2006 13:43:33 GMT -5
He is way too partisan to be a fair announcer. If you are a UCI fan, then I can see why you would want him there, but he is just one more heckler, one with a microphone, if you are the opposition.
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Post by shankapotamus on Apr 25, 2006 14:16:28 GMT -5
He is way too partisan to be a fair announcer. If you are a UCI fan, then I can see why you would want him there, but he is just one more heckler, one with a microphone, if you are the opposition. rob celebrates the play of both teams competing and has been adding spice to the play going on in the gym or arena. He's all over OC volleyball and CIF. At the ncaa championships at the Pyramid that featured byu and Loyola in the final there was a great atmosphere that he played to-- and it was not partisan. It made the volleyball even more exciting to watch with descriptions he gave the plays. You can tell that he enjoys what he does with great enthusiasm-- whether the team that's winning or losing. LB has had him for the Big West championships a few years ago and one can argue that he was pro-Beach, but beach was outplaying UCSB and all he could describe was the play of the team that was riding the momentum. To call him a "heckler with a microphone" is unfair-- he's just going with the flow. when byu was out at irvine twice-- it was exciting to hear what was being said on both sides. He rode with byu when they were up and the same with irvine. I think he's only done 1 or 2 avp events a few years ago, he is frequently around SoCal doing marquee matchups ranging from HS, tourneys, CCs, and colleges championships. He has also done some USA v-ball exhibitions. He's a great, fair and exciting announcer for both sides.
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Post by cwbvb13 on Apr 25, 2006 14:55:46 GMT -5
I havent heard this... but if we are talking about Rob not being able to be the announcer for UCI during the semi's and finals this week.. thats a bummer...
Few questions though:
Did Pepperdine, Hawaii, and Long Beach all get their home court announcers during the quarterfinals? And at Penn St coming up, will their home court announcer be announcing?
Because i cant really remember long beach's announcer, but im sure vballmom that you would have wanted him during the long beach vs byu match, then somebody else right?
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Post by robonthemic on Apr 25, 2006 15:34:48 GMT -5
He is way too partisan to be a fair announcer. If you are a UCI fan, then I can see why you would want him there, but he is just one more heckler, one with a microphone, if you are the opposition. vballmom, I appreciate the honesty in this. I try my best to bring attention to the great play on both sides, but if I haven't done so I apologize. I'll admit after being a part of Irvine's program for the last 18 years I'm caught up in what Speraw's been doing. Who wouldn't be? The last thing I would want is my excitement to be viewed as "heckling." From Misty May & Schlesinger, to Krashaar to Thornton (all of whom I've seen from their freshman years in HS to DI ball and beyond). I am honored to be in an area that sees great volleyball and that I can be a part of-- even if english is my second language.
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Post by vballmom on Apr 25, 2006 16:00:43 GMT -5
quote] rob celebrates the play of both teams competing and has been adding spice to the play going on in the gym or arena. He's all over OC volleyball and CIF. At the ncaa championships at the Pyramid that featured byu and Loyola in the final there was a great atmosphere that he played to-- and it was not partisan. It made the volleyball even more exciting to watch with descriptions he gave the plays. You can tell that he enjoys what he does with great enthusiasm-- whether the team that's winning or losing. LB has had him for the Big West championships a few years ago and one can argue that he was pro-Beach, but beach was outplaying UCSB and all he could describe was the play of the team that was riding the momentum. To call him a "heckler with a microphone" is unfair-- he's just going with the flow. when byu was out at irvine twice-- it was exciting to hear what was being said on both sides. He rode with byu when they were up and the same with irvine. I think he's only done 1 or 2 avp events a few years ago, he is frequently around SoCal doing marquee matchups ranging from HS, tourneys, CCs, and colleges championships. He has also done some USA v-ball exhibitions. He's a great, fair and exciting announcer for both sides. [/quote]
Maybe I have the wrong guy? The announcer at the match when LBSU played UCI in April was very loud and very one sided for his team. Fine, it is UCI's home, whatever. I just don't think that is appropriate for a playoff situation, that's all. If that isn't you, then my apologies to Rob! I will tell you that some of the parents really enjoyed your enthusiasm, even if it was for the UCI players. Other parents (a mom or two) were kind of upset. Heckle might have been a strong word. I just know that after the match, one of the mom's thought that it was pretty poor sportsmanship and a bit unfair to have someone so one-sided with a microphone. A dad thought it would be nice for us to have someone like that announcing at our house. Different strokes for different folks.
Long Beach has an announcer, of course, but he just says, "and so-and-so with a kill", for whichever team. It is extremely neutral as far as I remember. There aren't any special nicknames for the Long Beach players. Someone who goes to all of the games can probably weigh in on this better than I can.
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Post by fuzzball on Apr 25, 2006 16:01:53 GMT -5
Rob, no need to apologize. VB Mom, a well respected poster here is way off. Granted, pre-game intros are a bit one sided, but they should be. Once the whistle blows there is no other game announcer I would rather hear. and I've been on both sides. You celebrate good VB, and provide accurate info, and help build the drama, without intruding on it. When any player bounces one off the ten foot line it's "LOOK OUT BELOW" no matter who he plays for. I said one of the best because I did not want to get into a debate about who is the best. I think mom's bias is showing, and this post was below her.
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Post by vballmom on Apr 25, 2006 16:16:05 GMT -5
As I said above, I may even have the wrong person in mind. The announcer at the LBSU vs UCI match in April was very enthusiastic and some parents liked it, but quite a few were a bit taken aback by it, since we don't have anything like that at our place. I don't get to many road matches, so I don't know how it compares to others. Rob is very entertaining, especially if you are a UCI fan. (Which I am when they are not playing LBSU.) I'm sorry - I shouldn't have weighed in on this one. I just remember that match quite well and I definitely noticed the announcer with all of his nicknames and how loud he was and basically cheering for UCI during the match. Again, that is fine for their regular season home matches. Homecourt advantage and all of that. Maybe everyone should follow his lead. I just don't think that would be appropriate for a playoff scenario. That's all. I'll shut up now!
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Post by fuzzball on Apr 25, 2006 16:35:44 GMT -5
If LB had won that match, I doubt that there would have been any complaints. Sour grapes. If this sport is to grow, we need more announcers like Rob. I have been in some gyms where it would have been better to have no announcer at all. And why not for the playoffs. This is college VB's showcase, and the more excitement the better. I also doubt that the players hear him at all. If they do, they're not focused on the game.
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Post by vballmom on Apr 25, 2006 17:19:35 GMT -5
I didn't complain to anyone during or after the game. Other parents brought it up much later and we talked about it because it really stuck in our minds because it was so unusual and unexpected.
I believe I said that perhaps everyone should follow their lead? He is exciting and enthusiastic - absolutely. I'm just saying if it were unbiased announcing, that would be more appropriate for a playoff situation. If the announcer said basically the same thing with the same enthusiasm for a kill, block, or an ace, no matter who delivered it, that would be great in a playoff situation.
You're probably right. I know most of the players don't hear the hecklers in the crowd (I can't speak for all of them since I don't know all of them), so they probably don't hear the announcer very well either.
I'm really sorry that I stepped on your toes.
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Post by ucivball on Apr 25, 2006 22:32:18 GMT -5
winning the regular season crown gives the top team a few perks. hosting the semis & finals, bye to the semis, not having to travel and enjoy the comforts of home.
wouldn't one of these perks also include having your own anouncer? whether it be uc irvine or any school.
now, maybe there is a valid argument that a partial anouncer for the final four would be a bit controversial since the home team (let's say penn state for this year) automatically gets their "own" anouncer because the site is determined before the season. maybe someone can opine on this.
but definitely for the mpsf tournament, the site is determined and rewarded to the regular season champion, and this team should enjoy all of the perks that come with winning the league. if any team does not like another school's particular anouncer, then don't let that team win and host.
btw, robonthemic, i thought you were anouncing? what's up with that?!?!?!
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Post by shankapotamus on Apr 25, 2006 23:54:22 GMT -5
rob's a good guy. He makes the game fun, exciting and colorful. And after being at a lot of games in the area, those gyms could all use a guy like Rob. I know for a fact that for big games in the area coaches are trying to get him to get the crowd excited. Talk to any coach, official and sports administrator in the area. This guy is respected and well-liked. If you were the opponent and he was describing a good play I could see how it might seemed biased, but if you came back and did something exciting he would pump that play also.
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