Polo Report
By Steve Crowder
John Muse put a team together that was simply the best in the West. Lucchese played for 6 weeks without a scar.
Adolfo Cambiaso (AC)C has magic in his stick and if you do not agree, it is your problem. What he brings to a team is like what Michael Jordan does. He makes everyone better and that is simply why he is the best in the world.
Today he took Jason Crowder to places he has never been by just making it happen on the filed. AC passes the confidence on to his teammate. He gets them to do it … it is impossible to describe. AC had a so so day, but he found the one who was “on” and it was like lighting. Jason Crowder pounded the goal many times because it happened that the ball is there. And yet, yes AC hit it for him to to get it done and Jason got it done.
It started out quick as Jason scored the first goal from first throw in and after a few Paco got one back. AC ended this with one more, so not a big one, the score was 3 to 1. The second chukker started out fine, but then it became a eternity as first Ump needs bigger, better stirrups or food, not sure in the end … the chukkar was long. The second turned out to be even longer as Paco suffered a game-ending injury and was helped off the field. He was replaced by young 9-goal star Hillario Ulloa, who played with Zacara during the summer. On Paco’s horses, it was easy to see why he is 9-goals. Scott Woods fired-up his boys and turned the tide as ERG won the third chukker and went to break almost an hour after the game started down by just 1 goal at 5 to 4. After the break it was evident it was going to be a good game as both teams were rockin’ and it was ERG tying up the game with 4 minutes to go in the 4th. This, however, woke up the Lion as AC quickly controlled the throw in took off, did a amazing play taking out Beto (S. Donovan) and he let Jason take it to goal. After that they never trailed or looked back. Lucchese soon returned to a 2 goal lead and at one stage reached a 3 goal lead, but ERG fought long and hard. They continue to put the pressure on Lucchese. It was a very good game to watch and I am sure most if not everyone there was able to see why Adolfo Cambiaso is the greatest attraction in polo. To go along with all this he has WON every tournament he has been in since the finals of the ARGENTINE OPEN last year, which was also by the way a 40-goal game. It may have been maybe more than 40-goal because he is still at least a goal better than those other 10’s. It is like Roger Fedder’s streak, but different because AC has done this with maybe 18 different players on his teams from 0 to 10 goals … that is amazing.
As the VERY PROUD Father of Jason Crowder, I do not believe I have ever seen someone pick up a team and make them all much better so smoothly. And give them so much more confidence as he does. The way that AC brought out the game in Jason was fantastic.
Even though Jason was MVP and deserved it, there is a reason it happened and his name is Cambiaso. So thank you Sir!! It was GREAT.
I would like to take this time to thank BUD &Geri Dardi and GARY & Libby HAYDON for the two amazing chestnut horses they let Jason play …Redhead and Ready. It was fantastic and they were running. Congratulations to the amazing run of the Lucchese team and thanks for all the teams for coming to Santa Barbara. What a great job by Ellen, our super host of the SBPC, and ERG, which is now 0 and 2 in the finals, back to back years. The 3rd time may be the charm.
CONGRATULATIONS
LUCCHESE POLO
JOHN MUSE Patron
JASON CROWDER Finals MVP
ANDRES WEISE warrior
ADOLFO CAMBIASO … SIMPLY THE BEST
SEE YA.
Nice article Steve. I watched the game online, was excellent. Jason played great. Moment that made me smile…Jason being the one to go to Cambiaso to talk him down when Cambiaso turned the ball and had the penalty moved up for complaining…priceless.
I was able to watch the match in person, and from the opening bowl-in, what a delight. Watching Cambiaso on video can be amazing, but first hand was truly stunning. He seemed to dominate almost every play. I’m not sure how he dances with his horses quite like he does – nor how his mallets reach out like they’re magnetically attracted to the ball. Disappointing that he hit Paco so hard and took him out of the game like he did though – Paco deserved better than what looked like a cheap shot from my cheap seat. When Paco went out injured, I secretly hoped that I was the only person ready to step in – though the’d have to spot me about 10 goals! Jason complimented Cambiaso so well – I hope to see them together again next year.