It was as expected. Audi controlled and Audi scored often during the fast-paced game. Mix a little Sugar with a couple of Gonzalos and top it off with a Redhead and you have a combo you only hope you can compete with. No one has thus far.
Gonzalo Pieres is 10-goals everywhere, but here in the U.S. In Santa Barbara he is 10 + Gonzalo Detour is 3 and as good as any 6 here. This is why they average 5-goal wins and that is with Gonzalo Pieres cantering in the 6th during 3 of the 4 games so far, otherwise it may have been really bad.
Jeff Hall is a very tough guy and plays hard every minute of every game. His team is fairly handicapped and they were just not there any more than the last two opponents. I know this sounds bad and is a mess as the rest of the story is really going to bother our Association. Here is the dirt behind all of this that will make it a mess and I am sure it will light up my phone line.
Mark Ganzi is a very competitive Patron. Mark has been in trouble with the USPA in the past, so that’s the first part of the story. Second part . . . Mark and his wife Melissa Ganzi support polo in a big way, more than 95% of the other patrons. The third part . . . the Ganzi’s make up 1/4 of the high-goal in Santa Barbara and it makes it tough on the Club to make a move. The fourth and most challenging part . . . the USPA is always under fire and they need to step up and do this just like they did to Pat Nesbitt and Tom Barrack a few years ago. Ruin their teams with American players being “monstered,” but with this being said and all of the other parts noted here, will the USPA make the call? I am not saying they are cheating as they are within the rules. Their ringer is young and he is supposed to get better, but the fact remains he is a better player at 3 goals than any 4- or 5-goal player out there and most 6 goal players here too. So if they knew this in advance then they might expect the possibility of their player being monstered. I think they had a feeling it was this way or he would not be here. I think if any team replaced their 4-, 5- or 6 goal player with him and the same quality of horses they would swap NOW. I do not know him or for sure who he is off of the field, but if he is not 3 goals better than Alan Martinez 3 years ago back when he was rated 2-goals then I am BLIND (Alan was monstered that season).
The Audi team is playing very well. The leadership of Pieres is remarkable and he never misses an opportunity. He is as good as they get. Pieres alone makes this team very tough. They are the Champions of the 2008 Robert Skene Cup.
In the Consolation finals it was Scott Woods showing he is ready to challenge and his Argy connection is a force as Spinachi and Paco are speed balls and quick with the stick. They stung the boys from Piocho Ranch with some very solid team play and rolled to the win and congratulations are due. Well done ERG.
The America’s Cup Draw was done today and it has a full venue as Zacara returns to the mix .
Bracket 1 Bracket 2
Audi Grants Farm
Luchesse Long Beach
Grand Champion/Klentner Zacara
Piocho Ranch ERG
Around the country it was James Uhilien smoking them in Saratoga and a rainout in the Hamptons. It was Los Majitas losing the finals in the Bronze Cup to Pablo M in Sotogrande.
In Calgary its Fish Creek in the finals against Cam Clark. I think that might be wrong, but it will not be the first time.
Party town comes back to life at the end of the week as San Diego explodes into action. So no matter what there is polo everywhere you are north of the Mason Dixon line .
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