The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder
Lets compare the teams and guess what NOBODY KNOWS … who is going to win. That is why people play Polo … you just never know. Almost everything on the polo field is alive. The grass, the horses, the players and the Umpires. This makes for a lot of legs, 60 to be exact, on the field and they are all moving quickly. Add 8 more legs as the flagmen also play a big part and they have to use theirs to escape a barrage of horses sometimes or a mad player. This year’s U.S. Open brings us a thrill few thought we would see. As few People expected someone to be missing this Finals and we all know who that was VALIENTE 2 with the World’s # 1 Player Adolfo Cambiaso out with a broken wing. They are a team that few thought could be stopped, but one of the few things not alive on the field, a plastic ball, did what no one else could … it stopped him.
That left it wide open for the Open and it looked like surprises might come and they did. Valiente 1 was neck and neck with Lechuza. This seemed the tougher draw and that’s how they got here with a sudden death win in the semis.
Lets meet the Players from Lechuza :
VICTOR VARGAS – Patron comes from Venezuela. He is an avid car racer and collector as well as a Polo Player. Vargas has held this title before and he is the defending Champ as well. Vargas will be Happy either way. He is a genuine sportsman and he is a happy person on and off the field.
SAPO CASSET – Is one of the younger 10 goalers and he is probably more American than you think. Casset has been here since he was born and most of the year from coast to coast. He has jumped from 0 to 3 and I think from 3 to 5. Casset is very quick, a very solid rider and extremely accurate.
JUAN NERO- Is easily in the top 4 players in the world and he proves it everywhere. He holds the titles in Argentina and the U.S. as Open champ. He is very tough and solid on the field. He is also a leader with very little to say on the field. You see him and then bang he is in the goal.
FACUNDO OBREGON – Is a very exciting, young player who is quite tough and who is also an American by birth but a product of Polo Players. There are many players in his family tree and I think there are more of them in the U.S. than in Argentina. All are moving up the polo ladder quickly.
Meet ZACARA – They might be the Surprise team in the finals, which is not uncommon for them. Zacara did the same in the U.K. this past summer and one of the men they surprised is now on this team … Facundo Pieres. It was his team that got shell-shocked in the British Gold Cup by Zacara as they made their way to the finals there.
Meet there Players:
LYNDON LEA – Patron comes from U.K. and just about anywhere else in the world. He usually comes fast by plane to get here and once on the field, he feels the need for speed. Matt’s warriors do it for him and Victor will defintley have some speed duels today. In a few short years Lyndon Lea is looking for his first U.S. Open Title to put alongside the British Gold Cup Title.
MAGOO LAPRIDA – Born to run, his Father was very deliberate and calculating. He could anticipate the play. Magoo is just the opposite he creates the play with quick speed and risks that set him apart from many, but one thing everybody knows … he is coming and he will be coming fast. He can take a licking and just keeps on ticking.
FACUNDO PIERES – Son of a legendary Gonzalo Pieres, is making his own name in the world of polo. I think he is the second youngest player to reach 10 goals. He already has an Open Trophy from every continent that plays high-goal polo including U.K. , France, Spain, Argentina and the U.S. Pieres may also have the Australian one too, but not sure. He will be the force on this team and will be very well mounted .
MIKE AZZARO – Was an add on to the team after a painful start to Zacara. Azzaro was brought on and has been getting better each game. He has been here before as he was also 10 goals for many years. Since moving to back Azzaro has made the team much better as it allows the speed to burn up front.
IT SHOULD BE A FANTASTIC FINALS SO
SEE YOU THERE