Nick “The Stick” is here. It is something to say, but Nick is here in Santa Barbara and he will be here for a long time. Nick is something new to polo and I like it. Its Game 3 and for one team it is game four in the PCO (Pacific Coast Open) and there is no time to whine. It was a full schedule today and it was a hard-hitting, hustling Audi recovering from a Sunday misery and doing their job. The Italian Pablo Spinacci and a Triple K (Kris Kampsen) proved just a little too much for the Snowman (Adam Snow) and Mansour. These two led the charge with boss man Marc Ganzi and field General Juan Bollini picking up any slack as Audi goes to 2 & 1 and Mansour to 1 & 2 .
In the 2 pm game it was a bad day for Antelope as Duende and Big Mike Hakan galloped over them of course. They had the 2 best players here to help them and they also go to 2 & 1. Antelope/Long Beach falls in a hole at 0 & 4. At 4 pm it was Nick Roldan out there he is probably the youngest, fastest and maybe the quickest stick out here in Santa Barbara and he showed it today. Nick had the Iron man on him, but the sense you get here is that he will and can do it no matter what and he did. Jimmy Choo moves first into a 3 and 0 record and can now sit back and let it get wild.
Today I saw a man here who is often unnoticed and its dead wrong for it to be this way. His name is Dave Offen and he is head man of the Polo Support Group. The organization does so much for polo people behind the scenes. They help people with needs and are always the first ones to be there for those who need help. If you see him say hi and thanks and maybe even step up to the plate. You or someone close may just may need him and he will be there.
Sunday is a feature at feature time. At 3 pm its Nick The Stick (Roldan) and a hard-riding JIMMY CHOO taking on DUENDE. This could be a barnburner so be there. See ya.