Brazil/USA: Final Thoughts

[USAFAN]

rightsider said:

Um, let's see, the Chinese and the Russians will be playing for the gold and silver medals. Wonder how much they'd complain if they had to train at Colorado Springs? And with nothing to do.

Maybe our little sweethearts could've done a little bit less of "something to do" and more of keeping their mind on their business. What, really, is the need for those luxury cars in the OTC parking lot?

Oh yeah, and the diva attitudes. Logan's got one, you say. Wait 'til Cheryl, Kristee and Kim show up. If our players could get over themselves, and their entertainment, and their Euro fashions, and Euro cars, maybe they could actually concentrate on their volleyball game.

I will admit that Kristee Porter and Cheryl Weaver may have had a bit of an attitude problem, but when did Kim WIlloughby develop this so called attitude?

[rightsider]

To be fair to Kim (or Kristee and Cheryl, for that matter), I can't say their "attitudes" would be any worse than what may have been on display this past season. But, why weren't they there to compete for a spot this past year or so? Could be they didn't see much opportunity to break into the line-up, so why bother. Yet, other players have put it all on the line and stood the chance of getting "the big cut." Like T. Crawford -- did she ever really have a chance of being in Athens? What the heck, she showed up anyway. So, what's with The Big Three? Too much pride to go through all that?

Maybe now that the older players are gone, they might come around and strut their stuff. But, that will just be like big fish in a little pond, cause the really big girls...in the middle, and the outside, and elsewhere...are out in crappy gym's in the third world, or former Communist countries, or still Communist countries, playing like their life depends on it, which in some ways, any kind of life does depend on being part of a national sports team.

Can there be some kind of total commitment like that to "going for the gold" in our national volleyball program? You'd think if you were awarded a full ride scholarship to a highly accredited university in the United States of America like UCLA, U of H, or LBS, or Stanford, or even Texas A&M, you wouldn't forget how you got there and keep fighting for everything you could get.

[Pallavolo]

Beachman said:

As far as Logan Tom is concerned, I hope she moves on as she is still a disruptive force in this program and many involved with it would tell you "privately" that they would love to see her move on! Sorry Stanford fans but that's the way it is!!!!! Both Brittany Hochevar and Elisha Thomas were the last two players cut, and I really hope that they return, albeit I expect Brittany to move on, probably to Beach, where she could do well with the all around game that she has as well as her tremendous work ethic.....Elisha has improved greatly this past year and certainly has a better future with this program that do Bown or Bachman! BUT LOGAN HAS TO GO!

Someone still has nightmares about the 2001 Final Four.


As for Ms. Tom's 'attitude problem', you've never liked her. And you're basing this whole conclusion on one point of one match. It's quite amusing really.

In an interview after the loss to Brazil, Tom said about being subbed out:

"If I am not putting the ball down, put somebody in there who will," "I'm proud to be on the court or on the sideline with this team. And I'm very proud of how our girls gave it their all. "

and about the yellow card:

"I said something I shouldn't have. I accepted the yellow card and said `sorry, my bad.' "


'Attitude'? Some posters in messageboards should only be so lucky to have the same kind of maturity.

[sonofbarcelonabob]

Like I was saying earlier. Women's volleyball = HIGH DRAMA. Look, it's even happening in this thread. LOL.

I think next time I coach a women's team (if that ever happens again...not likely though) we'll have 3 end-of-year awards at the team banquet:

MVP
Coaches Award
Biggest Drama Queen


Hehehe....

[Nutter]

SonofBarcelonaBob said:

I think next time I coach a women's team (if that ever happens again...not likely though) we'll have 3 end-of-year awards at the team banquet:

MVP
Coaches Award
Biggest Drama Queen

Hehehe....

Hey we have those awards already and some! ;D

[Go Iowa]

PukaPants said:

Was it 2001 they all wore slutty make up?
When Logan shut down Cheryl Weaver?
When Nishimoto served the ball long which gave Stanford game point on the second game?
When the Stanford band started chanting "It's your fault! It's your fault" and pointed at Nishimoto?
When Ogonna tattooed Lindsay Phillips in the face?
When Logan stuff blocked Hochevar for championship point?

I think I'll have to start digging in the video vault.......

I have it on video if you'd like to use it. I watch it when I'm blue. Ogonna's crack at Lindsay just makes me smile everytime I see it.

And what was up with those headlight uniforms that year???

[cbrown1709]

I lvoe watchin that match over and over again!

[hwy101]

Go said:

I have it on video if you'd like to use it. I watch it when I'm blue. Ogonna's crack at Lindsay just makes me smile everytime I see it.

And what was up with those headlight uniforms that year???

Umm, what headlight uniforms?

[sistahsledge]

HWY101 said:

Umm, what headlight uniforms?

I believe that's a reference to LBSU's tight-fitting white jerseys with the nipple show-through. It was especially pronounced on the TV close-ups of Hochevar.

[Ron Mexico]

I think this team just needed some leathery skin.

[gstring]

to put it simply the US main passerz did a poor job. sykora does not live up to what a libero was meant to be

[5100]

roofed! said:

While watching the match last night, I heard that Mari has just came up from the junior ranks. Has she turned pro yet? She could be a good candidate for Mick to bring over to USC, since after all there are 2 scholies left for 05!

I'm not sure, but I think she has. If not, Hawai'i could really use someone like her.

[sIsam]

gstring said:

to put it simply the US main passerz did a poor job. sykora does not live up to what a libero was meant to be

Sykora is one of the best in the game in terms of floor defense. However, it is true that her passing leaves a lot to be desired. I think if Team USA OHs were able pass better that would have been more important than Sykora passing better.

[Gorf]

While watching the various matches via the live stats during the Olympics it looked as though Stacy had been receiving serve with a success percentage that was comparable to some of the better passers on most of the other teams, however, she wasn't being served to nearly as often as Logan or Keba.

It seemed that the US opponent's would serve to Logan or Keba then progressively serve to one or the other of those two more often if one of them was passing worse than the other.

Stacy had pretty much her worst match on serve receive againt Brazil in the quarters where her success percentage was still slightly above 50%.

I don't recall either Keba or Logan having a any matches where they passed even as high as 50%.

[sIsam]

{ said:

>-(Gorf)-<[} link=board=general&thread=1093419964&start=88#5 date=1093617708]While watching the various matches via the live stats during the Olympics it looked as though Stacy had been receiving serve with a success percentage that was comparable to some of the better passers on most of the other teams, however, she wasn't being served to nearly as often as Logan or Keba.

It seemed that the US opponent's would serve to Logan or Keba then progressively serve to one or the other of those two more often if one of them was passing worse than the other.

Stacy had pretty much her worst match on serve receive againt Brazil in the quarters where her success percentage was still slightly above 50%.

I don't recall either Keba or Logan having a any matches where they passed even as high as 50%.

Stats can be misleading here. Anything that a setter can get to counts as a reception. They don't do excellent which are the pinpoint passes to the setter. So don't go comparing her to other liberos with similar stats.

For example Cardullo's (ITA) numbers might not be as good as Sykora (or about the same) but she's a lot more accurate passer than Sykora is. Oh and btw according to the stats, Russian setter is the worst of the lot ;D

However, Sykora makes up for this with her floor defense which is impressive.