The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder
Life has many changes for all of us, but sometimes it is so cool to see a dream or a thought happen. About 6 years ago I was talking to Bob Jornayvaz and we were talking about why he left the desert. He said it was a chance to win the Open and he was 50 or would be soon, so he wanted to do it. Well he DID it! It is so nice to see these dreams come true. I feel bad for Steve Van Andell, as he has put a lot in it, but always seems just short. He has to be one of the best Patrons in the game. Van Andell has supported the high-goal for two decades and won a lot, but always seems to just not quite finish it with the U.S. Open. I still hope it happens for him one day.
I remember when Peter Brant tried for so long and he had every record there was, but he finally did it as well. It was a great game or at least a great finish. I have to say the first 3 chukkars will never make a highlight film. I thought the game was bad and the Horseplay.tv was just as bad as the game in the first half. This all after bragging about how good they were in the semis. It was said later their drones had air problems.
Anyway, the game got much better in the last 1/2 and so did Valiente. Bob reminded me of King George of Crab Orchard. He just took out 10-goal players and set Adolfo Cambiaso free to do his thing. This is always a problem and still is at 40. Just ask the Pieres’. It was usually one of them Bob eliminated from the plays.
A bit of a funny recollection … in about 1983, only Jim Newman will remember this, Bob was a 4-goal player in a University around San Antonio at Retama and very young and tough. We never saw or heard of him for like 15 years. One day in Indio there was new sponsor from CO and it was Bob. I knew I had seen him before, but no idea where or when. A day or so later I was talking to Jimmy Newman in FL and asked “Do you know this man named Bob Jornayvaz? He replied “yes, he was the player from San Antonio.” Bob went out worked and became one of the biggest Patrons in Polo. This is a Man who sets goals and achieves them. I would have to recommend that you do not get in his way either. Join him or move out off the road. He is traveling forward at a high rate of speed. Well done Robert Jornayvaz and Valiente .
See ya.
Steve Crowder.