Today Alegria/Valiente brought it to the field, but Wildcat was up for it big time.
Round 3 of the America’s Cup was played today between Alegria/Valiente and The Wildcats. It was fun to watch. No tiki tiki just balls to the walls polo most of the time. The Wildcats looked like a polo team today after a Sunday slaughter by Farmer’s & Merchants Bank.
They were in the mix and could have won with their new line-up if they just made a couple goals more. They missed 9 today and many were close. Paco finally figured out he has speed to burn and sent the bullets forward … Josey (Joseph Stuart), Ryan and a Chilean on a mission (Felipe Vercellino). Felipe gave Santi Torres a bad time all day and nobody was catching Josey on the breakaways. This was caused by quick, direct passes and after several 2-goal swing changes it was down to one chukkar. Wildcats were down by 2 and just like that 2 minutes to go and they tied it up at 12 to12. Wildcats had a chance to take the lead. They had a miss and the winning goal was an awesome shot by Sterling Giannico to end a brilliant match in favor of Alegria/Valiente with 17 ticks on the clock.
What we learned today was that speed and execution makes polo what it is meant to be, a speed game on horseback. The only player on the field over 30 was the best player, Paco, but in the end he fell back to today’s polo … I can do it and no need to pass. It does not work when all others are running’ and gunning.
The amazing thing about today’s polo game was that all of the players were young and three were from the USA. Joseph Stuart and Patron Ryan, who needs speed, were in the line-up. Competing against young Santi Torres and Sterling Giannico, who are locals from Carpinteria, CA. This is what annoys me. Our association, the USPA, does not help these people grow. They are left out because of a simple lack of caring for young American players. England forces teams to use English youth or English players in their polo tournaments and have 3 times the amount of high-goal players that we do all over 5-goals.
We can have polo schools, clinics, seminars or whatever, but if they do not get to play how can they get better or afford to play? They cannot and they do not. Try this make teams use Americans. We have at least a 100 young kids ready to go across the continent and 90 will never get a chance because our Association does not help them and they make the rules that govern our sport. Sure most of the American polo players will have to go to Argentina to get good, but the English have and we can to. Why would a Patron send an American there to get good when he can hire a son or nephew who is already there playing this level? He will not why … would he? Some say they will not play if we make those rules Bull s—. If they want to play good polo, they will. I heard this in the UK back in the 80’s and there were 5 English players above 6 and no chance for young players. Now, there are a boatload and they are good. Today’s game was a perfect example of what could be. There were 5 American youths, all have been to Argentina and played some. There was one Canadian, who may well be the best Amateur from North America. There was one U.S. Patron, who is trying to be the best he can. There was also one Argentine Pro, who is very good, but playing another game today. A young fellow from Chile, named Felipe, may be one of the best potential players on the planet. We have the people, the talent and we have an Association that needs to step up and make it happen.
I see today how membership has grown since 2008 about 200 + members. Approximately 100 or more are not from USA. Students have grown since they play for nothing until they graduate or quit school. This is just not true. Polo is not growing here in the U.S. We may have more polo fields in America than we have U.S. Players. And guess what? Most of them quit polo early on. They made a career and enough money to play polo as a Patron and came back in. Argentina they came to U.K. and Europe and the US made enough money to build their own fields and ranches and then took over all of it. WHY NOT!
After all of my whining, here in Santa Barbara in the America’s Cup, the semis will be Alegria/Valiente vs. Klentner Ranch. Lucchese vs. Farmer’s and Mechants on Friday. Down south the soccer people let S.D. Polo have their finals today after monsoons washed out finals last Sunday. We have not heard who won, so maybe I’ll know next time I post.
Across the pond, it was a dandy finals for the British Open as The Foxes stopped UAE in a very good game until the 6th, which they cantered away with an Englishman on the team.
See ya