May 31st, ’04: Just Walking Away -Well it’s Official. The USA and Mexico will go to France in Sept. for the World Cup Finals. It was a good game on Sunday even though it was for fun as the Mexican team under rated by 3 goals won the rubber match by 3 as they are a very good team and at 10 goals maybe the best in the World on their terms. It was a hard-riding disciplined effort by Mexico as they started with 3 and increased it to 6 to 1 and then held on to win by 3. There were a number of penalties missed by the USA as they missed two 4´s and a penalty 3 to go down fighting. We never won ride-offs, which was a big credit to Mexico and seldom made the turn for a back shot in time. We played entirely too much touch the ball polo and they did not. In this polo, where it’s four on four, it has to be 1 hit right or wrong. It will work out somehow through the game. Mexico won with their full qualifying team. The USA used their alternates who played well indeed, but there was not the electricity provided by the Palomino (Jason Crowder) and its so important to have the spark plug. It always pulls the team to new levels and when this team pulls they pull away. So all in all I was very happy. The team was happy. In the next one all will be equal. There are no advantages unless it’s being home. They will never have the horse power we had in Australia, but that will never happen again unless we go there again. In any event it will be fun. We’re glad we are going to France for the finals. Now we need help from the public as theses players are all young pros and they do not get paid to play for their country. It’s fine to say their expenses are paid, but what about their horses and grooms they are what ?? Hungry ?? So lets come up with some fundraiser ideas and see if we can make them willing to go.

Around this land of the USA it was Miguel Torres and Peter Ganibi playing 4,000 miles from home in the finals of the Pete Bostwick Memorial on the East Coast. They went into O.T., but it was the Rocket Miguel Torres whose team won the game. Well done boys! It was another young Superstar with an old name Julio Gracida showing Dad a new dance as he was the MVP of the finals in Santa Barbara and playing 5-goals they say. So look out, the summer just began. Well give me some fundraiser ideas and no we will not give the money to the PTF for the future of whatever. The raised money will be for now. To help send Team USA to France.

May 30th, ’04: The Final Day - Its bright and early and a beautiful clear day in Juarez , Mexico. The sound of thunder is only the horses getting exercised for the big games this afternoon. Its not as big as it could have been because the USA and MEXICO are through to the finals in France with some big victories in the first two rounds. None the less it will be a border feud just to prove who is really the big guns. Both teams will be without their top players as Pelon Escapite is in France in the French Open and Jason “The Palomino” Crowder is sitting down to give the alternates a chance to get ready for the big one with our other starter Steve Orthwein. They will be a major factor in today’s action you can be sure as Mexico has the home field advantage and all the crowd support. I want to thank the many unrecognized people who the FIP never recognizes . . . Alfonso Giannico who helped me catalog and brand all the horses with Steve Dalton. Sherry Rice, Linda Walker and Steve Orthwein as timers and spotters for every game as well as our sole vocal support and George Dill for his horse support. I would also like to thank our grooms Rafa and Umberto, who have had very long days as the promised grooms from Mexico were soccer players who could not put halters on a horse. Also I would like to thank the Mexican representatives like Jorge Bustamante for a great party and helping anyway he could if not meat for the parties, trucks, feed or whatever. I would also like to thank the Tavo Bermudez Ladies for an awesome party dinner on Sat. night, the Vet (who I do not know his name) and Willy from the border patrol for so much help.

See ya somewhere.

May 29th, ’04: All Aboard. Shut The doors!!! - Yes it’s all aboard and shut the doors we’re going to Paris this Sept. As the yanks (Team USA) came blowing back in the second chukker in the playoff game against Team Canada on Friday. The Maple Leafs (Team Canada) fought right back in the 4th, but from then on it was the Palomino (Jason Crowder of Team USA) and Chris Gannon (USA) show as they fed the power. Despite some unusual umpiring with 16 fouls against the stripes (USA) and 7 against the leafs (Canada) there was no stopping on the horses of many. Or no stopping the US on the road to France. It was a very physical game as many horses are very bad and the umpires left it open. Some pounding took place from t-bones to crunches. Mighty Mikee Matz (Canada) took a rough fall in the first chukker and got a bell ringer. He was replaced by Dayelle Bradley and she did a brilliant job, just too many stripes. Stevie O. (USA) kept pounding the ball and the threesome of Martinez, Crowder and Gannon kept the flagman busy often missing, but going the right way. The outstanding play of the day was Chris Gannon on a buckskin mare of George Dill´s. He was flying down the sidelines cutting around the corner straight through everyone on the end line and stuffing it through the goal to put the US in the lead for the first time in the game. Team US had been trailing 2 to 1 at end of 1 and lead by 1 at the end of 2 and 3 and Canada got up by 1 in the fourth, but it was tied at the end. It was the end of scoring for the leafs. Sunday it will be USA vs Mexico, but there is no way either team can lose. They are both going to the World Cup. The game will be shortened to 5 chukkers due to horse problems. Shane Rice and Danny Walker, the top alternates for Team USA, will replace Jason and someone else so they can play. They have both worked hard and played well. It was a speed decision to use the team used as the first 3 on the team are very quick. Just ask Canada or the Dom. Rep. squads who were beaten by the Mexico team who is also assured a spot in the World Cup Finals.

The winners are Team USA, Chris Gannon, Allen Martinez, Jason Crowder and Stevie Orthwein with Alternates Dan Walker and Shane Rice.

May 28th, ’04: West Coast Magic - The West Coast has been well represented wherever they are playing polo and the USA squad as well. In Texas, two U.S. squad players are winning. Chris “the Iceman” Nevins won the Texas Open and Joe Wayne Barry won the consolation. Another U.S. burner who could not come to the FIP Playoffs is the Rocket M. Torres, Jr. who finds himself in the finals of the Pete Bostwick Memorial. Guess who is on the other side? Its California´s own Peter Ganibi who has played brilliantly by all reports. Guess who is headed to the Semi Finals in the English Gold Cup? Freddie ¨Little Mac¨ Mannix. and One more player, Julio Gracida, who is playing in S.B. for young hammer T.J. Barrack is also in the finals at Santa Barbara with Piocho Ranch who takes on Reata who has made both finals.

There are lots of youth here. On Reata you have Mike Micallef and Sapo Caset and on Piocho with TJ Barrack & Julio Gracida. It is nice to see such power in the youngsters. Now with a little help from the USPA and some patrons maybe the young North Americans could get to play some better polo before they starve to death and quit because the USPA will not limit outsiders (foreigners). We did it in soccer and we seem to have a respectful team now, but we cannot see to help the USA polo players. We only have to look at the UK to see were we are going and where we are. Finally we get the youth going through Pee Wee Polo and now what? We need them (USPA) to help. We should not give them credit for Pee Wee Polo since they have done very little to help it.
''''''''''''

See ya and good luck in the UK, Aiken SC and Texas. Well done in Mexico Team USA!

May 28th, ’04: Day Two Of the North American FIP Playoffs - Today is a showdown and it's the Maple Leafs (Team Canada) trying to stay in it. The Stars and Stripes of Team USA will try to close the door to secure a place in the finals on Sunday with 1 game to go. It should be fun at 4 p.m. Team USA vs. Team Canada. In game 2 at 6 PM will be big Eddie Martinez of Team Dom. Rep. trying to stop the Mexican Machine from taking their trip to the ticket counter and to Paris for the World Cup finals. The weather has changed from 100 to 85 and no one is crying. A little rain settled the dust and the sky is clear, so its time to roll.

Around the world of polo Miguel "the rocket" Torres is in the finals in Aiken, S.C. I'm not sure about Peter Gianibi yet and whether he made it to the finals. In the Jolly O' England it was big. The Little Mac FMJR (Frederick Mannix) showing the boys the way as he is on to the second round. Good luck Frederick, Miguel and Peter.

See ya

May 27th, ’04: Wipeout & Wild One - Things were cooking in Old Mexico today. One game was hot and then was not. The Dominican Republic (D.R.) caught fire early and zoomed out to a 4 to 1 lead and that got the yanks smoking and smoke they did. Then Team USA scored 11 goals in the next 2 chukkers holding D.R. scoreless. It was action on the man and no touch polo hit 'it' and hit it they did. Allen Martinez (Son of Eddied on Team D.R.) and Jason Crowder of Team USA ruined Big Eddie Martinez’ day. they have had some bad floods in the D.R. recently and they had one today as Chris Gannon (USA) lead the charge and Stevie Orthwein (USA) shut the door on them. As soon as they turned the ball it went out the door so did the goals and Team USA went through the door to victory!

In the second game it was just an old fashioned war as Mexico started with 4 (based on handicap) and led easily until the 4th. Then the big rig Offen (Canada) got a grip on things and started to roll. Mighty Mikee (Candad) and the boys in red came flying back and took the lead in the 6th by 11 to 10. Then Mexico got wired and took it away with 2 goals in the last 2 minutes to take the win for the day. So its do or die as Canada takes on the U.S. this Friday. Eddie Martinez (D.R.) will try to light the fire for Mexico as Team D.R. just got beat and we all know Eddie is not a fan of the Losing section. So be in Juarez this Friday night it will be a very good time just south of Texas.

See ya

May 26, 2004: SAD DAY FOR POLO - Paul Nicholson left the polo world yesterday and heads to the big field up yonder. We send our best from the West Coast to Julie and Tommy Boyle and the rest of Paul's family - From theThe Polo Crowd out West.

May 25, ’04: It’s Showtime - If you read Spanish look up the FIP Photo Gallery from Juarez, Mexico and see the Mexican News Publication El Diaria who published a news Article on the FIP Polo Tournament where you will see a ripped Chris Gannon the USA #1 on the front page on a horse provided by George Dill of Washington ,one of several flying machines from Washington Lettuce Polo playing in Juarez, Mexico World Cup. Today the games start with the USA taking on the Dominion Republic at 4 p.m. with a lineup of . . .

Team USA - Chris Gannon, Allen Martinez, Jason Crowder, Steve Orthwein, Jr.
Alternates: Dan Walker and Shane Rice

At 6pm it will be Canada and the Maple leafs taking on the heavy favorite Team Mexico, but the boys in red are not really that afraid as they bring some small firepower to the table. Canada has Mighty Mikee Matz , big rig Todd Offen and the Redhead in control Steve Dalton coaching. In the #1 position they have Cliff Sifton, #2 Brent Mirkitani, #3 Todd Offen and #4 Mike Matz, Jr. with Alternate Dayelle Bradley.

Mexico is the favorite for sure with the flying Escpities Ulysess, winner of 22-goal in Palm Beach. His Brother Pelon, who just won everything else and went from a handicap of 2 to 4 in mid-season. They are the Monsters of Mexico, but they also have Miguel Gomez Parado and Ticos little brother Oscar Garbay and several other unknown guns Bustomante and Bermudez. It should be fun.

Another headliner is a father is playing against his son, which is the first time this has happened in a World Cup Tournament. The Father/Son players are Eddie Martinez for Dom. Rep. vs son Allen from the USA. Grab a plane and head to Texas and just go South a little ways on Zoragosa bridge, then look to your right and you will be here.

See ya


May 24, 2004: THE BIG TIME - Mexico Vs. Canada it happens at 6 p.m. Mountain time. U.S.A. Vs. Dominican Republic at 4 p.m.

After team practice on Monday it’s show time. We watched the practice and there will be no prisoners. It was wild and exciting. The field was rough and dusty with the wind blowing 20 m.p.h. and they were still flying. So look for action on Wed., Fri. and Sunday in Juarez, Mexico. It may not be organized very well, but there are about 25 kids who just do not care. They are here for one reason . . . to play polo.

There are some good horses and there are some bad horses. The trick is who can get the most out of the bad ones as every team has 27 horses. No horse is allowed to play over 7 minutes and that is the way it is here in old Mexico. Come on down.

Around the polo world young Fred “The Monster” Mannix starts the English season with Carlos Gracida. On the East Coast it’s Miguel Torres “The Rocket “ headed to the semis along with another California boy name Peter Ganibi. Peter is at the point with New Bridge. These two young guns may meet in the finals this Sunday afternoon in Aiken, South Carolina. Go West Coast and USA Teams!!! See ya. - Crowder

May 23rd, ’04: Some Hurts On The Pitch - Polo is still rolling but Santa Barbara is getting its share of hurting. Tuscany Oak had to do a big switch after their win on Friday when they beat Grant’s Farm. Tuscany got their second win of the season as they beat Long Beach on Friday minus D. Walker. Tuscany lost today minus Hector the detector as he hurt some ribs on Friday. Sapo Caset continues to dominate polo on the Gold coast. His team, Reata, beat Chadmark on Friday and had another big Sunday rally to come back from 4 in the 6th to beat Long Beach today.

Down in Mexico there are four teams gearing up for a battle royal on Wednesday. They practice Monday and its show time as team USA takes on the high-flying Dominican Republic on Wed. at 4 p.m. It is a super star studded Mexico taking on Canada at 6 PM. We will fill in with the team line-ups soon.

See YA.

May 17th, ’04: So Hot, Then Not – It was that kind of day in Santa Barbara. In the consolation Finals it was chadmark out early and Long Beach out later. Then Chadmark came back and they won it. In the finals it was 2 different games as Grants Farm (G.F. ) and Reata meeting for the second time in a week took the field. In the first half it was all G.F. as they raced away to an 8 to 2 lead to start the 4th and then lost the last 3 chukkers 7 to 1. Mike Micaleff became a major factor in the game. The young rookie really started to take G.F. out of rhythm as he set excellent picks on one G.F. player and then another which freed up Sapo and Santiago. They had a great comeback with about a minute left taking the lead for the first time in the game and holding it to th final bell. These two teams have had 2 games and they have had 2 different results. It is interesting. Last week Reata seemed in control and G.F. came back and won. This time it was the other way around. This could be a fun summer and it all starts again next Friday afternoon. We are happy to tell you the Rocket Miguel Torres, Jr. won his first game in Aiken against the champions of the last tournament making a statement on the East Coast. He played very well by all reports. Well done MT, Jr. See ya again this Friday.

May 15, ’04: Polo & Polo - There was polo from coast to coast today. In Boca Raton they were playing 22 goal matches, in Aiken it was 3 games in the 16-goal. By the way, Josey Stuart (Joe Stuart) was on the winning team there last Sunday for Newbridge as first champions of new season. Miguel Torres is there trying to win the second one, to put a West Coast stamp in the land of Aiken.

In Santa Barbara it was the 12-goal in the final weekend. It will be Grants Farm (G.F.) against Reata in the finals. They faced off last Sunday morning in the best game of the season thus far. It was G.F. who won it in OT, so it could be a dandy. To get there it was G.F. beating up Chadmar Farms by 3 today and Reata with a high goal rookie name Mike beating Long Beach for the road to the finals. The Governor (Pat Nesbitt) was too tough for Robert Fell & Tuscany Oaks and shut the door on Piocho Ranch to get a badly needed Win in their team's third try.
Come out Sunday and see three brilliant new stars in the making. They are all rookies T.J. for Piocho and hard riding Justin for Grants Farm and Mike who will be the point man on Reata. These gentlemen may well be the future of SB polo and they are ready to roll. Sundays show down should be good. You have two of the fastest cats in polo . . .Sapo Caset and Fast-etta (Mariano Fassetta) and they have some firepower with them. Besides the rockin’ rookies Mr. Back shot Andy Busch and a brand new lad name Santiago Bottro, who has been a definite delight to watch as he plays team polo in the old-fashioned way . . . man, ball and hit it. Then there is the boss man Al and a pretty little Lady named Jessica Bailey who knows what to do on the polo field.

See you at Showtime somewhere they play POLO.

May 11, ’04: And The Rest Of The Story! - As Paul Harvey used to say and the rest story. Well its the rest of the story. I would take just a moment to say how sorry I and most of us in the local polo area are at the loss of Curly Ramos this past Saturday. I say most as most people knew Curly Ramos around here lost his battle with the big C as it finally took him sometime Saturday. We send our firmest condolence to Billy Ramos and his family in these hard times as Curly will missed in these circles of polo. So long Curly and when you get up there get those boys organized and make big Artie, Eric and Big Gee behave will you.

As we go in to the second week of 12-goal its a big surprise. Some up and some down so you can look at the first tournament in many ways. Some are not ready some are trying to win the first as they know its often the easiest if your ready. Some are thinking this team is a mistake and on the other side they could be saying I cannot believe they were so good. Well its a long ways from over as this is only the first of four tournaments so nobody knows, but everyone wonders is Memo galloping to get horses ready? Is Tuscany weak on horses? Is Chadmor better than they look? Is Grants Farm that strong? Is Reata the best team so far? Maybe ask me in 2 weeks. We do know there are some new players, a new format, 2 patrons on each team, and there are a lot of people not ready, but if they can it will be 88 and out the gate. It’s showtime this week. There will be some people on the move and some just laying back, but the winners will be rocking so get ready to roll. We have a summer full of funpolo.

On the East Coast it was Josey Stuart (Joseph) taking a trip to Virginia and coming out of the Aiken based Newbridge team grand champs. West Coast young gun Josey made his name known East of the Mississippi. They like him as his team won the 16-goal in Aiken, but don't worry he is on the way back with more jewelry. In Texas it was mad Matt Gonzalez blowing out the lights as he and former Eldorado, SD and SB star TP (not toilet paper) but Tomas Pieres beat up on Isla Carroll in the first round of the Texas Open. So things are shaking in the polo world. Young gun Freddie Mannix takes to the British Skies soon as he joins Carlos Gracida in the Queens tournament in Jolly O England next week. We wish him luck as he is a North American. I think he is on the brink to being the next superstar.

See ya

May 10, ’04: Take It To The Hoop, 6 or 12? - Justin Klentner and Jessica Bailey are doing just that. They are playing the 6-goal and the 12-goal. Which is a big step for both from arena polo to 12-goal in a heartbeat. Their hearts must be on good beats as they made the finals of the 6-goal and lost in O.T. and finished a big valley battle 2 hours before in the 12-goal which was also in O.T. It was a day of polo on Mothers Day. Amanda Klentner must be wondering what this sport is as Justin K. is going to be gone occasionally for this horse or that one. It’s quite a story this one. J.K. comes out of motor city and picks up building houses and switches to 4-legged transport, but he has done them all well from the hammer to the horse. Justin is moving at a fast pace and he has the hammer down quite often. He was a big reason Grants Farm entered the 2nd week of the 12-goals undefeated with 2 very important wins over Tuscany Oaks and stopping the scoring machine of Reata on Sunday. In other action it was Chadmar Farm plowing up the ranchland of Piocho to give them a 0 & 2 start and level Chadmar to 1 & 1. In the 1 o’clock it was Hector the Detector (Galindo) doing a big dance as he and Brad Blake came out in the 6th with smoke following them. They rallied from 3 down to even their record to 1 & 1 and lower Long Beach to 1 & 1. The 3 p.m. was the finals of the 6-goal and 14 chukkers might have been a little too much as they won the first 13 chukkers, but could not win the last one and Western Badge slid by young gun Mariano Gutierrez and Max Durate to win the final finals of the spring season. We will post results of the all 12 goal games later.

Hope all had a Happy Mother's Day

May 8, '04: Records, Talent or ? I was watching the Kentucky Derby last weekend and they said something I knew, but had not thought of. We see records broken every year and some we just do not. We have seen Memo Gracida break a record for most Opens won, but it was his already to break. We have seen Barry Bonds set a home run record a couple of years ago that was just broken the year before which had stood for 30 years and before that 50 years. We still have not seen Joe Dimaggios 56 straight games broken, but most records fall. Everyone says everything is better, maybe when Memo was 15 in 1973 he probably did not know he would be this good, but he probably knows in 1973 a horse named Secretariat won the Kentucky Derby and that record still stands to this day 31 years later. We hear how much better horses are now are they? I am not so sure. Memo had good horses because his Dad knew good horses and most were race horses. If he could have taken care of them then as he does now with the same knowledge and expense would he be able to say the ones now are much better? Maybe not. Why can we not improve horses like man? In 1973, Jim Ryan ran the mile in 3.51 and the 4 minute mile was broken in 1954. Now the mile record is 3.43 that’s 8 seconds faster. In 31 years the record for the Kentucky Derby on a fast track is still 1.3 seconds slower than 1973. The shoes are lighter, the tracks faster and the horses are bigger and more developed so what is it? In the early 1900's the 10-goal players came from US, UK and a couple from other places. Now they are most often found in the South American country of Argentina. It can not all be breeding as it can not all be experience and it cannot all be opportunity. What is it ? To me it’s DESIRE and talent. Memo wanted to be great, maybe Carlos was better easier, but Memo has that desire. Cambiaso must have that desire. Secretariat had it. If you watched the Belmont in 1973 Secretariat won in a record time and was not whipped and was 31 lengths ahead of the second place horse and he still set a record. So I am going on record to state that I believe in order to improve polo in America, we need to feed the youths the desire to be the kings of this sport. Maybe if we all push a little for polo ,wherever it maybe, there will be some kids with that desire. Lets give them the opportunity to play and to not bring in players from other countries. Maybe they will have that desire, Lets get the PTF to send young Americans to compete in Argentina , England and wherever possible to build polo. Lets make Polo a sport Americans are paid to play in America and have 8 Mike Azzaros or Adam Snows not just 2 every generation or less. We in the USPA are like the government. We cut the teachers salaries and the police and then wonder why we are uneducated and always in danger. We are not improving our polo as they are not improving driving or teaching the World. Education would save money, lives and provide safer and cleaner country to live in.

JUST PLAY POLO

May 8, ’04: The FIP will start the World Cup qualifications on May 26th, 04 in Juarez, Mexico with the following schedule:

May 26

5 p.m. USA vs DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
6.30 p.m. CANADA vs MEXICO

May 28

5.30 p.m. USA vs CANADA
6.30 p.m. MEXICO vs DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

May 30

5.30 p.m. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC vs CANADA
6.30 p.m. USA vs MEXICO

The US team is not for sure because of the scheduling problems of getting our boys there as they are not paid and the brilliant scheduling by the FIP we have a circus to get people there who have to make a living the main group however is:

Chris Gannon
Miguel Torres
Shane Rice
Dan Walker
Allen Martinez
Joe Wayne Barry
Steve Orthwein
Jason Crowder
Julio Gracida

We are headed that way on May 23rd, so help if you can.


May 7 ’04: Light That Board - Light the board, the scoreboard that is and that is what they did in the opening round of the 12-goals. It was wipeout time as Long Beach Dan & Henry Walker joined up with a gun from the south named Martin De Narvaez and they were way too much for Chadmar Farms. It would have been the same even if Ben would have been here as Long Beach got off to a sweet start by drilling Chadmar by 10. The second game was no better as 16-time U.S. Open winner Memo ''william'' Gracida found no respect from a bunch of hungry farm boys from the Texas Hills. Reata, a new team in town, with Al & Mike Micallef and another newcomer Santiago Botarro came out fired up with Sapo Saset and buried the California Ranchers from Piocho with the Governor playing back. He must have stopped some, but they still scored 23 times on the old hockey player, he must not have been a goal keeper. In the final game of the day it was 3 newcomers all from about the same place playing their 1st 12-goal polo match and doing well. It was the photo man Steve Wayda joining up with Tuscany Oaks and showing well. He played against pretty Jessica Bailey who is in her 1st 12-goal and rocking the boys and new comer to polo Justin Klenter. Justin has polo on his mind and has no intentions of taking the trails to the game. He is on the freeway from 1st grass game in Oct. ‘03 to in May that will be 7 months of polo doing 70 mph all the way. They did well as Andy Busch and the Fast-etta express fit right in with Justin as Grants Farm slid by T.O. with the + sign in the first round of the Lisle Nixon Cup. Sunday has Mother's Day written all over it, but Mom might have to watch Polo before brunch as there are 4 games on tap :

11 a.m.

Chadmar vs Piocho Ranch
Reata vs Grants Farm

1 p.m.

Tuscany Oaks vs Long Beach

3 p.m.

finals of 6 goal Players Cup

Klentner Ranch vs Western Badge

be there on Mothers Day and take Mom to brunch.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY