The Polo Report by Steve Crowder. I have not heard anything in a while about the selection of the U.S. World Cup Team. They selected me for the committee and I sent my opinions and received no response except from Memo Gracida who said Julio was playing for Mexico and Roberto Gonzalez was probably coaching their team.
We had a proposal of a playoff with a team from the East Coast and one from the West Coast, but some people didn’t like that idea. If there is a better mix with the teams as individuals we will do it that way. Its just to create some interest as well as dispel the notion there are no players in the West. That is all we were doing with a test or playoff match between the East and the West. If you can beat the West Coast team, then step up and do it. If you have an outstanding player, we will use him or her on the team. We want to put together a team that can win the FIP World Cup Finals. To get the best players we may have to pay them to go if that is what it takes. Some people think a national team in an international competition should not be paid a salary to be there. Some how that is how the World is and that is our reality here in the U.S.
Our solution was this . . .whoever travels East or West rents horses, the others play their own as the home team in game 1. In game 2 it is a swap, no substitutions. If game 3 is needed it is a flip for a string. Either way it is fair as when you get to Mexico its all strange horses and that is what its all about. The horses are the equalizer and it has showed in the last two World Cups. It has been Brazil who took home the silver as the champs, but they are not the World leaders in Polo. Argentina leads the World in polo. So it is the luck of the draw + horsemanship.
We must not forget most countries support their team by various ways. The U.S. pays what its given from FIP and little else. What happens when you leave home? Do you park your horse in the garage and turn off its motor? No? Well neither do we. These horses owned by the U.S. team members (since they are pros and own strings) need to eat, sleep and poop to stay alive. That’s life. If we could pay our own way maybe we would be sponsors. So lets get it going. The West Coast team has a sponsor to help the team, not to support the FIP, but to support his team for the FIP. What’s wrong with that? You tell me!
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Proposed West Coast players:
1goal Sean Keys , Santi Torres, Collin White, Jared Sheldon
2 goals Nicolas Galindo, Chris Collins, Jr.
3 goals Joesph Stuart
4 goals Alan Martinez, Miguel Torres, Jr
5 goals Brad Blake, Jason Crowder, Shane Rice
They are not all West coast players, but said they will play for a West Coast team. And guess what? They will win.