The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder
Jesse Bray is the best 5-goaler stateside, I would guess, and maybe the best 5-goaler in a much wider zone. In SB he is the only one who is in his league, but you have to look around him. Jesse has a 95 pound Lady and a couple of linebackers to support him, so it really not just “All Day Bray.” The Little One is Dayelle Fargy, and so far she has removed all competition from even thinking about bothering Jesse Bray. She is a 95 pound body guard. Bray does not even have to wash his whites as nobody touches him. On both ends he has a couple of NFL sized linebackers. Justin is on the back end and son Jake. When you come up against them it is like you are running your Prius into a tanker! YOU LOSE!
As of today there has not been many close games. This is what US Polo and all polo needs a new theory … TEAM POLO. It is a team game and this will make people who pay PLAY. We do not need the superstar wannabes because there is usually only one who sometimes wins, but not often, unless he is really one. You can name them on one hand, but here are 200 who think they can and these are killing the sport as well as the ones who can. To me it is simple. If you can afford to play POLO you can for sure afford not to. WE NEED THEM THEY DO NOT NEED US. So make it fun and make them part of the game. This is why I think Javier Tanoria has it dead on. Limit the horses 6 or 7 per player. Don’t allow them to use anyone else s horses. This will make it a team sport again. For the good teams and the weak teams and it will make it affordable.
The USPA, which is supposed to be the United States Polo ASSOCIATION, might even understand that in order to help USA players be part of our game, something simple like a rule that requires all teams have 3 Americans. Yes, it will be tough in the HIGH Goal/ 26-Goal, they can either lower it or make the rule so players can grow. The way it is now there is not a chance for them … no jobs, no horses… because no jobs. Most just fade away into another world. WHY? They are out before they start. There is no future. The Patrons are going to look for a cheap deal and guess what I have a cousin or a brother or a friend who is 2 to 5 goals ready to play. That is the way it is. The US Polo program is great in some ways, but they are not helping the poor boys who need assistance. They are catering to the boys who will play polo anyway, if they want to, and I have several quotes from U.S. Pros to add if needed.
Even though they help them, they dump them at 2-goals and give them no future with out protection. Where are they going to go next? NO WHERE. They do not have horses and without horses or money to buy them, they become HISTORY! They leave to work in another industry. Right now we have around 35 potential players under 25 and they for the majority of them, they will never get a chance to play good polo. If they cannot pay their own way. That is sad, but so true. I know the Polo Gods know this, but they want to be a force. But what is the force? We have no one over 8 goals. 15 players 6 and above and 10 are over 40, so you tell me what is the USPA doing for our future? Not only the poor side they are killing Patrons with their ideas. Sure when new to the game it is fun to have a cool dude from the South, but after he sucks all the budget out and you have had no fun on the field watching. WHATS NEXT? They are GONE.
I know there are about 3 teams who will argue that they will quit if we have 3 Yanks per team, but I say QUIT because they may rule POLO today, but they do not care about the future. If they like polo they will be back. lLook at the UK. They did it 20 years ago and got burned for a while with the Euro, but still added a bunch of great players to the menu anyway. Count the number of UK players in the high goal in UK and then count the number of Americans in the High Goal HERE. Do not tell me well it is 26 here who gives a s–t. The Open was 22 or 24 forever and we had American players, so why is it 26? About 12 years ago we thought we could compete with Argentina, so we raised it so we could be a tax free Argentine fund and eliminate American Polo Players. That is why the last American 10 goaler is 50 + because there is no chance for the US Players. To grow they do not need them and that is why Fred Mannix is the best North American player, he can afford to play and he is damn good anyway. But if he was not Fred Mannix where would he be? Also, he is Canadian, not a controlled by the USPA. This is just my opinion and everyone has one so let me hear YOURS!
Santa Barbara has the Lady’s tournament finals today at 1.30 and 8 goal at 11 and 3. Aqua Dulce takes on Klentner Ranch and Film Fiance plays the Gipsy’s.
Will Rogers is looking for some teams for the big one the WILL ROGERS MEMORIAL CUP one of the oldest and biggest tournaments in California so line up your team and call Felize .
See ya @ polo @ San Diego, Will Rogers, Santa Barbara