The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder
Aug. 30th 09
There will be no repeat in ‘09 and that is a fact. In the Pacific Coast Open, Audi was smoked early and Mansour came flying by to take the # 2 spot and ended up as # 1. They say there might have been a fix to keep Audi out, but I doubt it. If Grant’s Farm had won it might have put Valiente in. The fact is they, Grant’s Farm, have to deal with Patagones instead of ERG, so I doubt that is true.
The morning games were reported earlier. The PM games were one as it made no difference in the 1 pm game so all eyes were on the 3 pm. Guess what? Jeff Blake was there and the best people to tell you that it would be Zacara. He was the stonewall. No matter how hard they tried, they never got by him more than twice. Going the other way it was GDT, not a device, but a missile going to goal. If he was not in front, it was a Paco or a piece of Wood named Scott blowing through. It was a good game and fun to watch. LLL had to look lot of places, but he handled it well. The problem was there was a roadblock ahead named Blake and he never found that detour sign, but he was not alone. Neither did the others in Black.
The first ended at 3 to 2. The second chukker was 5 to 3 and the third 7 to 3. This is when the game was won. The 4th saw Zacara win with a last second penalty, but ERG was not done as they roared back in a strong 5th chukker to win control of the game and held on in the 6th to lose the chukkar by 1, but clear by 4 at the end of the fifth it was not a problem.
ERG heads to the final four with a date with Mansour On the other side it will be a battle Royal as Jeff Hall, Andy Busch with Sugar and a ringer take on Avendano as in Gonzalo, the ultimate ringer. He is with Carlos Gracida, so it should be absolutely fabulous. Some think this kid Pedro F. is a ringer. I know GA is a ringer anywhere at 1 goal. I feel there is not a kid or a pro who can carry his stick. ERG was often assisted by some huge plays by Scott Woods who was a bit crippled during the game with a bad back, but Mama was here and he stuck it out and did a good job.
I want to apologize to Marc Ganzi publicly. He thinks I pick on him in the press and maybe I do. He says I was very hard on Gonzalo Del Tour last year and not on Pedro Falabella this year. For me Pedro is a good 2-goal player, but he or Gonzalo A. I do not see ringer there and as far as GDT I still think he is a ringer at 5 goals and he is only rated 4. He has MG to thank for that and of course he had Gonzalo Pieres at 9 goals who is the real ringer. Just look at his record everywhere, but MG had him at 9. So yes, I do think they slid through the grill for a long time. I think Marc and Audi are huge contributors to Polo and probably the main reason we have a full house in Santa Barabara. Thank you Marc and yes I love GDT at 4 goals.
Thanks.
See ya.
Steve Crowder