The Polo Report
By Steve Crowder
The world we live in for many of us is POLO and that is the way it is. It was our choice to be involved in the sport of polo. The polo world is in a bit of a stage with the John Goodman situation the biggest play of them all. I know everyone says no worries, someone will take it over, but as an old F–t I heard that when Bill Ylvisaker said so long and nobody stepped up. Same thing happened in Boca when John T. was gone. There are very few people who will do this from my experience of 30 + years of polo. There were less than 10 during this time … Bob Uhlien, Bill Ylvisacker, John T. Oxley, Steve Gose, Bob Moore, Norman Brinker, Carlton Beal, and Alex Haagen. Alex Haagen and John Goodman are the only ones to step up to the plate in this Century thus far. We do see a major push out of Denver with Bob Jornayvaz. Maybe we should be worried. To me polo has to reach the media and with all the new menus and media outlets I think it will, but we have to make it appealing to the world.
Here are a couple of people, who I think could grow Polo if they wanted to. I know this man could do it : He can sell onions for 5 bucks a onion … TIM GANNON. He could change it all. The only problem is he has a 1000 other places to be but the new Hall of Famer would be perfect he gets it done. Not to get lost on the subject, as I often do, it is amazing to me what Mr. Gannon can get done. He is a Norman Brinker clone with new visions. Gannon came out of NM. Most people do not know where that is. He built an empire and got involved with polo in a big way. He won the U.S. Open twice, I think, with Memo dropped him and said he would be back solo. And damn if he did not come back and win. I think 3 more and he did it with a new player not now, but then named Cambiaso.
I think Tim and Peter Brant made Polo what it is today. A professional sport that is the fastest most dangerous and exciting team sport there is in the World. Hats off to Mr. Gannon.
Back to the subject. It would take someone with these visions to see polo down the road and I think a former 8-goal player would fit the project perfectly … Dale Smicklas. To me we need vision … not control. The world of polo in 2012 took a major flash when Ellerstina conquered La Dolfina in the Argentine Open. That was huge in my opinion. I was sure they were the second best team in it, but I mean second not numero Uno.
About Polo …well high-goal is still hopping with 16 teams in 20-goal and 5 in the 14-goal in FL. I am not sure why, but medium goal Polo is still getting killed with only 3 to 5 teams in most places and one is usually a non-sponsored team. This is sad the difference between 12- and 20- goal polo. It is startling and I am not sure why. Some say it is money and some of the issues might be, but there is not a lot of reason for me to believe this. I think it has something to do with pros. They do not want to do it in 12-goal, but are fine in 20- to 26- goal Polo. Why?
In the Desert, it is even more astounding. We have so few pros. If everyone hires 2 pros we could only make up 16, eight goal teams. That will not happen because they need to pay for their polo horses and grooms. Indio has the best price and probably the best fields for a big venue and it cannot happen. Why people will not come back and see it they have a picture of the past and it will not go away. You need to come back and see it now, as it appears TODAY.
Empire Polo Club is easily the best place in North America and Eldorado is getting cleaned up and there are a million people here now, so come back and look for yourself. The desert has better fields, better prices by 70 % and more fun.
Some other Polo bits beside Lord Gannon going to the Hall of Fame. Tommy Lee Jones is up for a Golden Globe and that was a great movie. On the sad side, Desert Polo area lost two of the nicest and likely to of the toughest men around this past few months Dick “” The Crusher” Tauber. For several years Dick was the oldest active USPA member and a non-playing but all around great fan of Polo in the Desert. Keith Reese, he always had a smile and was willing to help in anyway. Reese and Tauber looked fit enough to fight in their 80’s, they will be missed in the desert that is for sure.
I have added a list of players who I think are available for Indio this winter from 3-goals up. please let me know if not on list or not going to be here.
Players who might come to desert 3-goals and above…
3 goal
Joe Stuart
Dan Juarez
Kimo Huddleston
Eicher
Topo Mendez
Ernie Ezcurra
Nick Maciel
Bryan Middleton
Cody Woodfin
Tim Rudy
Del Walton
Fred Wulf
Ashton Wolf
Alvaro Tadeo
Ignacio Saracco
4 Goals
Joe Henderson
JW Hall
Matt Ladin
Pedro Orel.ano
Juan Curbelo
Carlos Galindo
Henry Zavaleta
Robert Orthwein
Jesse Bray
Graham Bray
Marcos Bignoli
Mariano Guiterrez
5 Goal
Val Aguilar
Sant Trotz
Agustin Zavaletta
Martin Donovan
Carlos Avendano
Santi Wulf
Santi Von Wernich
Gaston Von Wernich
6 goal
Mariano Fassetta
Fred Von Wernich
Matias Zavaleta
Torres ?
At best, 151 goals if there were 3 pros on each team and we could find Patrons we might have 16 teams at 9 goals and that is if everyone would play. We must grow Polo in CA. I think we already have more fields than teams above 8 goals in the state.