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Post by rsail203 on Jun 27, 2017 14:51:45 GMT -5
I met Kerri about 10 years ago at a tournament in Canada. She has always been so friendly every time she sees me. She comes over and hugs me and asks about my wife. I've never seen the attitude that some people describe here. I'm only a fan, but she treats me like a friend. I've seen her act the same with other fans. Rich
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Post by socalplayer on Jun 27, 2017 23:30:17 GMT -5
After everything that has transpired during this past off-season and all of the hilarious diatribes that Kerri (and Casey) idiotically spouted, am I the only one who is sitting her simply laughing my butt off? Kerri needed to have a chat with the FIVB powers that be in order to fix some of their obvious scheduling glitches and make them realize that the cream of the crop players should not be subjected to the embarrassment of playing in anything less than 5 Star events, and she loses the country quota match and can't even make it into the Qualifier (let alone the main draw) in Porec? C'mon, everyone, the irony is dripping, and could anyone have planned out a more fitting result??? Hope you are the only one laughing...she's an American athlete playing in an international tournament. All things aside, we should wish her luck and be disappointed that she didn't do well. But laughing? No, thank you...
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Post by socalplayer on Jun 27, 2017 23:38:27 GMT -5
I seen a lot of the posters say that Kerri is self centered & arrogant. I don't see it and many people I know that have met her says she is Awesome. I am assuming a lot of you regular posters know her personally? I see Geddy, Volleyballjim and a few others have been here quite a while. I guess I look at a lot of greats of any sport and they ALL have an edge to them. The media hyping this sports stars up and when they fail like Kerri did yesterday, social media seems to go nuts! Guess it's the nature of sports. It seems like the bigger you are in your sport and you fail to win you are nothing. Perfect examples really are Tiger & LeBron. Tiger brought it all on himself in that case. I've said it before, Beach volleyball is a partner sport and Kerri cannot take over matches like she once could and she needs an equal partner. Unfortunaetely this hand picked choice by Marcio has not panned out so far. I have never seen her being arrogant. She is driven! She's a pro and she has super high expectations, as she should. She knows what she wants and she deserves every penny. What's wrong with that?! She has 4 Olympic medals (3 gold!), went to 5 Olympic. She represented this country very very well. I don't understand this hatred on this site towards her. As a fan, I love her! As an American, I love her. That's good enough for me.
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Post by beavis on Jun 28, 2017 1:35:57 GMT -5
I think that perhaps you misunderstood my post, everyone. No hatred at all towards Kerri - I have always been awed by the fact that she does little things for the fans (like shaking every ball kid's hand after every match and making sure they get autographs or pics, etc.), and I think that overall, she has been an extremely positive influence and excellent representative for the sport of beach volleyball! However, I do not think that alters the fact that over the past year, and right at the end of her career when she should be trying to ensure that there are plenty of opportunities available for the up and coming generation, that she has acted abhorrently. The petty non-appearance in Chicago (especially if it was due to either the lack of consulting her on the rule changes or the failure to give Casey a wild card into the main draw) speaks volumes about where her head is at. The fact that she had "no choice" but to sue the AVP for the appearance fees (idiotic - there is always a choice, and volleyball has made her a millionaire). Casey's non-sensical rant earlier this year. Acting like the AVP exists for her pleasure and/or her wants and desires alone. The incredibly egotistic statements about the FIVB and its 1 thru 5 start system, and the fact that "top tier" athletes like her should not be expected to play in the lesser tourneys. Her statements about she will have to have a sit-down with the FIVB about scheduling, as if the world revolves around her. Her shoddy treatment of April, as if the partnership only existed for Kerri's benefit. I could go on, but give me a break. Instead of going out on top and doing her best to ensure the long-term success of the sport that has been so incredibly amazing to her, her fans don't even get to watch her at AVP tournaments in her last few years. For all of those reasons, and not because I have always had some animosity towards her (but for this past year), it makes me laugh especially hard when her come-uppance rears its ugly head and she can't even get out of the Country Quota round in a 5 Star tourney. Karma, my friends, is quite a bitch.
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Post by iowasurfer on Jun 28, 2017 2:54:51 GMT -5
I seen a lot of the posters say that Kerri is self centered & arrogant. I don't see it and many people I know that have met her says she is Awesome. I am assuming a lot of you regular posters know her personally? I see Geddy, Volleyballjim and a few others have been here quite a while. I guess I look at a lot of greats of any sport and they ALL have an edge to them. The media hyping this sports stars up and when they fail like Kerri did yesterday, social media seems to go nuts! Guess it's the nature of sports. It seems like the bigger you are in your sport and you fail to win you are nothing. Perfect examples really are Tiger & LeBron. Tiger brought it all on himself in that case. I've said it before, Beach volleyball is a partner sport and Kerri cannot take over matches like she once could and she needs an equal partner. Unfortunaetely this hand picked choice by Marcio has not panned out so far. I have never seen her being arrogant. She is driven! She's a pro and she has super high expectations, as she should. She knows what she wants and she deserves every penny. What's wrong with that?! She has 4 Olympic medals (3 gold!), went to 5 Olympic. She represented this country very very well. I don't understand this hatred on this site towards her. As a fan, I love her! As an American, I love her. That's good enough for me. AGREE 101% HER POSITION IS HARD TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE.
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Post by donnyw on Jun 28, 2017 5:12:07 GMT -5
I think that perhaps you misunderstood my post, everyone. No hatred at all towards Kerri - I have always been awed by the fact that she does little things for the fans (like shaking every ball kid's hand after every match and making sure they get autographs or pics, etc.), and I think that overall, she has been an extremely positive influence and excellent representative for the sport of beach volleyball! However, I do not think that alters the fact that over the past year, and right at the end of her career when she should be trying to ensure that there are plenty of opportunities available for the up and coming generation, that she has acted abhorrently. The petty non-appearance in Chicago (especially if it was due to either the lack of consulting her on the rule changes or the failure to give Casey a wild card into the main draw) speaks volumes about where her head is at. The fact that she had "no choice" but to sue the AVP for the appearance fees (idiotic - there is always a choice, and volleyball has made her a millionaire). Casey's non-sensical rant earlier this year. Acting like the AVP exists for her pleasure and/or her wants and desires alone. The incredibly egotistic statements about the FIVB and its 1 thru 5 start system, and the fact that "top tier" athletes like her should not be expected to play in the lesser tourneys. Her statements about she will have to have a sit-down with the FIVB about scheduling, as if the world revolves around her. Her shoddy treatment of April, as if the partnership only existed for Kerri's benefit. I could go on, but give me a break. Instead of going out on top and doing her best to ensure the long-term success of the sport that has been so incredibly amazing to her, her fans don't even get to watch her at AVP tournaments in her last few years. For all of those reasons, and not because I have always had some animosity towards her (but for this past year), it makes me laugh especially hard when her come-uppance rears its ugly head and she can't even get out of the Country Quota round in a 5 Star tourney. Karma, my friends, is quite a bitch. Yes Beavis...There is always a choice....I can't think of one elite athlete out there that is going to let slide not getting paid what they were promised to get paid. That's the bottom line. Donald Sun is a billionaire. What is 150k to him? Especially when he knew it would force KW's hand and she probably would not end up playing on the AVP this year (granted I think she will have no choice but to return by at least 2019 in order to try & qualify for Toyko). This statement speaks volumes to me about Sun. He may not give a damn that Kerri is not playing on "his" tour as he put it, but he should. This alone speaks that he does not care AVP out the growth of his tour. He throws this contract in the players faces & says sign or there's no tour in 2017. Well, the biggest name in the sport didn't blink. There were 6 teams maybe that signed before that ultimatum was given. That also speaks volumes as to what the players in general thought of the contract. But for people to say Kerri was the only one on this tour that could afford to take a stand, is crap. There are several elite players that could have taken a stand against this ludicrous contract & didnt. For whatever reasons, who cares. I'd like to hear more on the "shoddy" treatment of April that a few seems to know or think existed. I've heard Kerri not playing on the AVP in 2017 was not a shock to April. Although April makes it sound like it was. Which is it? April is a big girl. If she was so unhappy with Kerri as a partner (which also seems to be in the rumor mill), she had ample opportunity between Toronto last year & Fort Lauderdale this year to make the switch & didnt. So, for her to to stuck with just a good player is kinda her own doing (although, I can't think of many "great" players in the USA she could have picked up). If you dig deep enough into the whole Kerri & April split, breakup, or whatever we want to call it, we will all find that there was much more to this than Kerri on willing to play on the AVP or this all being Kerris fault. April had her share of not so pretty moments, but I will keep personal stuff off this site, because one the players deserve respect & two, it's not the forum for it. In the end I hope Kerri and April both do well in their new partnerships because they both are tremendous talents & seem like really great Ladies. Last point...Laughing at Kerri's failure in Porec? No Thank you for me either. I for one refuse to disrespect a 4 time Olympic Medalist & an all around great person. Do I agree with some of her choices? No....But does that make her wrong? No....We are all fans of American Beach Volleyball here and am assuming of all Volleyball. To want to see Kerri Walsh (like or not, the biggest name we have in our sport in the USA) fail is or not do well because we may or may not like some of the choices she has made is plain crazy. I wish her & Nicole every bit of success the rest of 2017 & if they come up short the rest of the year so be it. I will still support her, & the rest of team USA like I always have.
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Post by donnyb on Jun 28, 2017 6:21:45 GMT -5
Sorry but I think it's funny she lost after all the drama that has went on. To each his own I guess ππββοΈπΊπΈ
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Post by beavis on Jun 29, 2017 22:59:44 GMT -5
Donnyb - my point exactly!
Donnyw - I respect your positions, and I understand why you thing Donald Sun is the bad guy in all of this. Please allow me to disagree. First, when you are the only one who stepped up and saved the tour after no one else was interested, and you have thrown millions of dollars at it in an attempt to start small and grow it in an economically feasible way, I think that another $150K is a pretty big deal. Especially if Kerri failed to live up to her end of the agreement. Everybody always goes to the anti-Donald position, and then follows it up with the he's a billionaire so what is money to him argument. However, I am alarmed by the huge lack of pro-Donald Sun comments on here in general, and by the fact that everyone seems to be siding with an incredibly short-sighted and self-aggrandizing Kerri Walsh in this matter. She blew off Chicago. She may not have performed other aspects of her required duties under that agreement. Who knows. But you can't just simply say that Kerri is definitely owed the $150K without first hearing the other side about why she may have breached the agreement.
Your anti-Donald comments are also specious at best. He is the owner of the AVP Tour. Were it not for him, we would not have 7 or 8 AVP tourneys a year to watch. He has taken some huge risks, financial and otherwise, to try and preserve what was left of the AVP brand and to put together a viable tour that might actually still be around in 10 years. Constantly throwing barbs at him for asking the players to sign a contract which, by all accounts, is substantially similar to the ones that have been proffered in the past is just plain silly. If you don't want to sign the employment agreement offered to you by a prospective, new employer, go work somewhere else. Get a different job, and don't expect to make your living playing beach volleyball in the US unless you are at the very top-level and can also make $$$ on the FIVB (which Donald clearly will allow you to do). Just don't act like a selfish. self-centered, entitled prima donna and hold out because you can afford to when clearly no one else can do the same. You only hurt the opportunities for the up and comers over the long run because you have already gotten yours, and you don't realize that, in actuality, your "principled stand" against the AVP and Donald Sun might make you feel better, but all it is doing is hurting the sport. Again, when you are in the twilight of your career and have made it, I expect you to be the role model you proclaimed to be for these many years, and not to take your ball and go home like a little spoiled brat.
So don't be so arrogant as to think you can just grab anyone as a partner (not that Nicole is just anyone - I personally have always liked her just as I liked Kerri), head to a 5 Star FIVB Event, and make some noise. If you are that cocky, Kerri or not, I will be amused when you can't even get out of the country quota and into the Qualifier!
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Post by ajm on Jun 30, 2017 10:34:50 GMT -5
But you can't just simply say that Kerri is definitely owed the $150K without first hearing the other side about why she may have breached the agreement. Yes. We've been waiting to hear the AVP's side for nearly three months now. Their silence speaks volumes. They also promised a "prompt and speedy resolution" which hasn't happened either.
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Post by donnyw on Jun 30, 2017 11:58:33 GMT -5
Neither side has any interest in speeding this process along. Kerri won't be playing AVP anyway and Donald is happier than hell he doesn't have the biggest name in the sport (at least in the USA) promoting his tour. If Donald thinks the AVP flourish for the next 4 years with an 8 stop tour with minimal fanfare (esp. if Ross goes & does the wife & mommy thing for a year or so) them more power to him. I am interested in actually seeing some of the younger generation coming up through the ranks. I believe that what Kerri is interested in too. Making sure there are avenues to pursue in professional volleyball if they choose to go that route. I guess many of us will have to agree to disagree.
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Post by wilsonthevolleyball2 on Jul 1, 2017 9:27:43 GMT -5
Neither side has any interest in speeding this process along. Kerri won't be playing AVP anyway and Donald is happier than hell he doesn't have the biggest name in the sport (at least in the USA) promoting his tour. If Donald thinks the AVP flourish for the next 4 years with an 8 stop tour with minimal fanfare (esp. if Ross goes & does the wife & mommy thing for a year or so) them more power to him. I am interested in actually seeing some of the younger generation coming up through the ranks. I believe that what Kerri is interested in too. Making sure there are avenues to pursue in professional volleyball if they choose to go that route. I guess many of us will have to agree to disagree. Agree donnyw: lets face it: like Kerri, dislike Kerri, like Sun, dislike Sun- agree, disagree, or what have you: a lot of the big names are reaching the end phases of their careers. It'll be a new generation coming up through the ranks, and it will be interesting to see how it unfolds.
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