The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder

We so seldom in Polo see a team born in the USA.  If the handicap of a tournament goes over 14-goal, a USA team is extinct, but it has happened in Santa Barbara.  They won the last Tournament, the Lucchese, last Sunday. This happens far too little in the US.  I have no doubt it is only our own fault. We protect the American kids or players about the same as we protect the coyote in Oklahoma.  We now have less than 20 players in the US rated over 6-goals who are American Citizens. That is making it sound good. More than 1/2 of them are players from the past coming down from 10- 9 or 8 so cut that in 1/2.

Why?  An association called the USPA puts in programs for Interscholastic and college players and now they also have a great program for US Polo, but it is the same as always. I you cannot get a job what do you do? Find something else to do. They have done that and a few came back to play later in life like Bob Jornayvaz. He was a little bit smarter than most young polo players. He took a job and became a Patron. Bob deals with a different process because he can. The young guys also have that choice, but they would like to live the American Dream as well. That will not happen anymore if there is an easy way out… why bother? Well the UK saw this problem coming  20 yrs. ago and said “WHOA, we want Englishman playing Polo in the UK”  and they made it happen. The English made a rule where two Citizens of UK have to be on every team.  I know since the Euro they found ways around it, but they now have 63 players with 5-goal handicaps or higher. There is always a Brit on the field. Why do they protect their own and we don’t here in the US? It is simple, we do not give a S–T, but we call ourselves the USPA.  It is not illegal.  Look at the pro soccer in America, so what is the problem? WE last had a crop of decent Americans when Owen Rinehart, Mike Azzaro, Hector Galindo, Adam Snow, Dale Smiklas & Rob Walton. Since then there have been Nick Roldan, Jeff Hall and very little else. Why? There is no reason to use them. They cost more, they have to pay taxes, US-based expenses and make a living here. They do not have a 9-goal brother or cousin or father. If they cannot play, they cannot buy horses, so nobody wants them. Why would they! How hard is that to change? They did it in the UK and it works and we are a little bigger, sort of, but the Brits do stand up for their own citizens and we do NOT. I understand we do not pay our leaders,  but thank goodness because what do they really do for the Members of the U.S.?  I know they like to say that our membership grows. WHOA look at their addresses and their names. If they are not in a college program or social members, how many are left?  Heck I still pay membership and last played in 2000.  I am not the only one, but I do care and I do want to see a change the US program. Many of their programs are great, but where are the young US players going with no money for horses and no job? Unless Pop will pop for it,  what do they do?

I am sure you all have an opinion and I am glad to hear it. I have a list of Governors at Large who I think might care about Americans playing Polo and I think you should vote for them. If you do fine, if not fine.

Mike Carney                                                                                                                 Tony Coppola                                                                                                            George Dill                                                                                                                      Diego Flores                                                                                                                    Ray  Mayer                                                                                                                     Steve Orthwein                                                                                                              Dale Smicklas                                                                                                                  Scott Walker                                                                                                                   Tom Gose

ABOUT POLO

In the 2nd round it was the American Team, Klentner Ranch, doing well as they stopped Farmers and Merchants in overtime. Again, I thought two young guns were awesome … Kruger and Bray. It was Mikee winning it but it was the Boys making it happen as F&M goes to 0 and 2 and KR to 1 & 1 . This was a clean fast and fun game to watch lots of action and speed .

Game 2 well it was ok for 3 and then not sure Charlie might need to come back his training disappeared . We went backward 2 weeks 1 st 3 about 6 fouls a good game 5 to 4 Lucchese and then it went downtown some very weird calls some real delays for decisions some no calls and just plain major attitude problem . In most sports umpires and refs make the game happen but they are not the game and just maybe the Drone will show them that . But in the end it was Lucchese and a boy named BADIOLA making Casey horses so good as he made Wild Cats feel lost often  and wayyy behind and he scored the final goal in OT and the WC got to 1 & 1 And lUC 1 & 0 as they had the bye on Friday .

see ya Wed. at SBPC