Crowder Polo Report Archives '02-'05

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March. 2005

March 28^th, ’05: The FAB Four or the Last Four? In the 2005 Governor’s Cup it is 4 made for war teams and they are still standing. They are playing this Friday afternoon :

 WHITE OAK VS G & L RANCH
  AND
SOONERS VS FRIENDLY CHEVORLET

In the 8-goal it is a one bracket race.  Bracket “A” is undefeated Bracket “B” is well the opposite. Here is the way it is with one game to go:

Shoot For the Moon 2 & 0  + 20
BTA/Playa Grande  2 & 0  + 25
Casa Blanca  2 & 0  + 23

The 4 goal is a real mixer

Mc Carnation    2 & 0         Mercari      0 & 2

Fountain View   1 & 1         Teashi       1 & 1 

Adeptus         1 & 1         Stone Canyon 1 & 1

Lt. Gov. Cup Semis are 

Buena Vista vs Empire 

Melody/Hoback vs Duende 

So you can watch plenty of polo from Friday to Sunday. On the medic report  . Alfonso Giannico is improving. Carlitos Galindo 2 is getting around ok and ready for the semis.  Daniel Fernandez is walking, but not Jumping and its not because he can not see.  He is to old for a pony sofa as he was yesterday. So watch the most dangerous, fastest and most exciting sport on Earth this weekend and join the fun. We will be there.

If your down south stop by WPB they are getting ready to rock.  It’s Open Time for 15 teams in Florida.  It all starts this week.

March 27^th, ’05: Do we get it?  I doubt it. As an ex polo player that is I just cannot figure out how cheap people can be and how they can always blame someone else. I constantly wonder about polo people.  They are our bosses, very affluent people, well educated and wealthy leaders in their field or industry, but they love to knock the Club owners. Well here is a little history and a friendly analysis. The Club I am referring to is Eldorado Polo Club.  I many ways it is the same as Royal Palm Polo or Int. Polo Club. There was one Club owner at the two Florida Clubs there, but here at Eldorado there were many approx.18 owners.  I think they borrowed money to build Eldorado on their own.  There was no gun to their head.  They just did it.  The owners wanted it and they knew they could get it and they did.  They bought a barren remote piece of sand far away from everything, but it was there for them to build something and so they did. It was cheap by today’s standard.  It was not 25 years ago, but they did it.  Now those men and ladies are well up in age and not exactly zooming down Sunday lane. I am one of many who complain that we do not fix or improve anything and really get frustrated that nothing changes for the better, just for the easier. In many ways this is our fault.  What do we do about it?  It is easy.  We complain about it . Step up to the plate "no way" it’s not my problem. But it is.  Why? What did they do? Here are some facts: Of the original share holders who are still owners?

Here are a few facts . .

Harry Collins  & The late Willis Allen  started San Diego Polo club

Henry Trione  started Santa Rosa Polo Club

Paul Von Gontard started Jackson Hole Polo

The late Carlton Beal started Midland Polo Club

Fred Mannix  made Canada a Polo country

There are others who built this and did not stop here. They just kept on moving. How many young Patrons today can say this? It’s not their problem? Maybe it isn't, but it is.  It is close to being history just like Palm Beach Polo Club.  It was  the center of it all.  If John Goodman had not said “I will fix it “ they would be playing friendly polo wherever, because Palm Beach Polo was dead, John T, Oxley did the same or Florida might not even had polo today,  In the 60's he decided to play polo and made it his way at Boca Raton Polo Club.  Bill Ylvisaker took it up a notch and said “let’s get high-end and did.  There was Steve Gose and many others who did it, but very rarely has a group said “let’s do it” until after the fact. Then they jump on the wagon, but no money please, but I will help !!! Well we are at that point here at Eldorado Polo Club.  It is the same place  that Palm Beach PC was 3 years ago.  Who is our Sugar Daddy?  Who is the Carlton Beal or John Goodman of the West Coast? Why not step up and form a group and do the same over here.  It worked in Florida.  Maybe buy out the current owners?  It is not like it’s going down on property values. Fix the cracks and build for a future. Make it a Country Club.  Water the dust, plant the trees, build a Clubhouse  Will you step into the future? Why not? You tell me do you or do you not want polo?  It is right here, right now.  We do not need to move to Thermal or beyond, we just need to let our fingers do the walking.  There is no need for talking. Here's a picture . . . a modern Clubhouse on the International  Field.  A big crowd with an uptown setting right in the middle of the favorite address in North America today. It is a retirement fund for the modern man or lady. Lets think about it? See ya.

March 27^th,  ’05: Cheaper By The Dozen - Young gun Mariano Gutierrez showed why he is still in town.  He blistered Storm Cat with 12-goals today in the feature game of day in the 8-goal John Deere Classic. Mariano had a whole bunch of help and 2 of them were flat out pretty Ladies in the form of Shelley Geiler and Lauren Sherry.  He kept their attention as they slaved away for him making the plays to free him up. The Surfer (Diego Cossio) was the gun who fired the shots, but it was Top Gun Guti who found the target. BTA/Playa Grande did their job on the Storm Cats despite a heroic effort by Rob Yackley to stop the charge. There were 3 patrons in this game and they all proved their weight.  It was a very good game . Lauren Sherry was in her usual mode of take no prisoners and a hustling Shelley Geiler never stopped bringing it on.  Craig Stainke never quit fighting and it was not over until the final 40 seconds as none of them said “okay you win."

In the Governor’s Cup action its down to the final 4 in the NCAA and the Gov.'s Cup. Those left standing are G&L, who went on by the Palm Desert squad with a new gun Ashton Wolf “The Wolfman.” It was good to see Carlitos G. moving about. It was the Sooners stopping the flying Golden Falcons as the Okies rose up and cut the airways down. It was a fired up White Oak in an all pro game getting by Shanghai.  The one-eyed monster Daniel Fernandez took a meeting with Mother Earth and came up a little sore in the 4^th.  It was the Smiling Man Mr. Curt Hughes really smiling as young gun and son Lance showed them the way to the final 4 with a hustling.  A non-stop charge by Ernie Ezcurra, another one-eyed polo player, forgot how to look any other way as they put a stop on Broadway/Klentner's run to the medal round.

In the 8-goal it was Casa Blanca surviving a big scare from Mansour (sort of).  Shoot 4 the Moon & Gypsy fought it out . In the 4-goal its Geri Dardi returning with a bang as she leads MC CARNATION on a charge to the medal round as they go 2 & 0.  It was Bad Brad Schlei going to 1 & 1 as Fountain Valley errupted today and Mercari fell to 0 & 2 as they were gunned down by Ms. Colleen Wilson and her top end cavios as she scored too and led Adeptus to the unbeaten ranks. So you see, there was a lot of action today. Down South it was a bunch of Yankees in the finals as Peter Brant & White Birch proved too much for Black Watch in the finals of the CV Whitney 26-goal in WPB.

See ya there Friday afternoon

March 26^th, ’05:  Easter Saturday It Was! Good Friday it was not.  It was not a good day for polo people, but we have good news about the worst situation. ALFONSO GIANNICO is improving and said to be on the right road to recover totally, which is awesome news. He was in a bad polo accident on Friday and was flown unconscious by helicopter to the hospital.  So keep praying. It isn’t over yet. Carlos Galindo, Jr. is doing well, but feeling left out, but doing ok. Nick Winters is still tough and running and so is the polo of the week.  No winners in the Gov.'s cup today. They are up on Easter Sunday, but in other action it was like this:

Geri Dardi hit the polo field in her comeback and won over Mercari, who might of over trained at the TackMart Party.  IMcCarnation was over Mercari today. Wild Bill Freeman is back and his sidekick Sean Keyes is one-armed, but still armed as they beat Fountain View for a big win in the morning game.  Bilo continued his streak, losing that is, as Melody was singing today as they had the music tuned into Beat Bilo on this Saturday afternoon along with Sir Bosom who was not happy at the end of the day.  You play to pay sometimes then sometimes you have to pay to play better.

Bad Brad and the traveling man named Dirk Wray were too much for Adeptus as they slid through to round 2. Dudley will be happy tonight as the house burning was put off as Casa Blanca won over the Corleone crew for the day.

Mansour lacked the power to turn the tide, but it was 2 sexy Ladies (Lauren Sherry and Shelley Geiler) leading the Surfer (Diego Cossio) & Guti (Mariano Gutierre) down the road.  It was a lady on a Mission as Shelley Geiler and Guti led the battle with Mansour and came out on top.

There will be about 15 games EASTER SUNDAY.  So be there.

March 23^rd, ’05: Are you ready? It’s polo time for everybody.  It is GOVERNOR’S CUP TIME and it all starts here.  Look at the names on the trophy from previous years . . . Hector Galindo, Julio Zavaleta, Sapo Caset, Lolo Castanolia who are all 8 to 10 goals now.  It is a Cup to win and it is the Cup that starts you on the road to the future or  the crowning moment of your career.  It is something to be the Champion of the Governor’s Cup. It may not be the Open, but more people know who won it than the Open because more people play in this tournament than the Open.  Some never leave the Cup and some never come back, but no one wins it every year or seldom twice in a row.  So it is what it is.  A Monster to us all.  One chance and no room for a bad chukker.  No bad horses or no doubt no more games and you are out of there. SO BE THERE.

March 22, ’05: March Madness, the rest of the story.  We are only in the last weekend of March 2005, but the third one was a burner and here is the way it was.  I will start with the 2 goal.  It was a group from Phoenix led by Princess Libby who dropped into town and carried away the silver.  The boys from Phoenix dropped and left before sundown on Sunday with the loot in one bracket as they drilled Mark and his Angels and took no prisoners.  As a little Cactus Jacks training.  Big John closed the back door and let the threesome of Gary Haydon, Jason Coe and the Shamu run a big fast break on both teams for the weekend. They brought the Legend Doc Jim Rusher with them. It was great to see him even if he does not always see us. In the other finals it was The Gray Ghost (Demsey Mork) leading a pack of monsters past Liquid Ice. They are really baby monsters with an average age of 14 I think.There are 16 Gov. Cup Teams this year,  6 John Deere Classic (8-goal) teams  and  6 teams in the 4-Goal Fantasy Cup.

In the 4-goal The English Gent Mr. Derek Wolstenholme did his job properly and led his band of guns past the Wild Man Billy Boy (Bill Freeman) without their other big gun Sir Sean Keyes and took home the Jr. Officers Cup.  So Deb will be happy for a day or two.  It was the Surfer (Diego Cossio) warming up for the Skins in the finals of the Officers Challenge with little new gun young Amin. They rocked past Stone Canyon with a sore George Daou and Bad Brad Schlei hanging on to a small hope for some silver.  The Lawman had a little trouble catching the Surfer as the Golden Falcons took home the Silver in the Vice Officer’s.  It was the Gehache band getting by Tackmart for the title.  The Whitehouse did not burn, but they burned Broadway/Shoot 4 the Moon’s chances as the Cowboys of Klentner and theie Lovely trail boss Mrs. Lauren did not even have to get on a horse to win as Broadway had a bad day and even though they thumped Klentner they were out. Klentner Ranch is the 2005 Officer’s Cup Champs.  The other title went to Melody Ranch as they beat Friendly Chevrolet to give Paul Von Gontard a very nice Sunday afternoon. Duende was the consolation champs of the 14 –goal and it was a draw for the Skins finals as Fish Creek and Tritech finished 10 all and even money.

Here is a quick list of the results . . .

2-goal

Phoenix over JRD
La Mancha over Summerland & Carnation

4-goal

Gehache over TackMart (Consolation)
Indutech def Teachi   (Jr. Officer’s Cup Finals)

8-goal 

Golden Falcons over Stone Canyon (Officer’s Cup Challenge)
Melody over Friendly Chevy (Consolation)

CasaBlanca def. Broadway Shoot 4 the moon which gave Klentner Ranch The Officer’s Cup Trophy..

14-goal 

Duende def. Mansour  (Consolation)
Tritech & Fish Creek all even Skins 3 each 

There will be 20 games on Friday so come on by.

It Is A Draw – The Barbara Sinatra 14-Goal Skins Game will go down as a draw, but it was a very good game. It turned from one to the other. Horses were, as usua,l a big part of it all from the 150 that paraded before the game to the 40 that worked the game. Some were there for a chukker, some for 1 or 2 minutes for a couple of chukkers, but they were the warriors all day long.  They come in many sizes and shapes and all colors,  except I do not think there was a paint yesterday. The unchallenged champion of last years Skins Finals,  Mariano Fassetta, finally lost his first one in this game.  The last one he lost was 14 Skins ago, 15 if you count last years overtimewhich was against Tritech in the first chukker of 2003. It was the 4 th chukker of 2005 before he would lose another one. That’s the way the Skins of ‘05 would go.  A big win by TRITECH in the 1st chukker and 4 grand in the pocket. A wild 2 nd chukker and it ended in a tie with Fish Creek missing an open goal. Chukker 3 was wide open very few whistles.  Outstanding play by Silent Chris Maloney to eliminate. Agustin Zavaleta set up both Tri Tech goals and sent the Macho Man (Julio Zavaleta) howling as Tritech collected 8 grand for their 1/2 time diet. The 4th was all Fish Creek and the end of Fast-etta run. The fifth was controlled by Tritech for 5 minutes then a very silly foul tied it up at 2 all .  Then it was 8 grand on the line again and the battle was on for both sides swapping to their favorite warriors.  The Surfer (Diego Cossio) and Mariano Fassetta were rocking.  Silent Chris was being mauled by the Wolfman (Ashton Wolf) and Agustin Zavaleta was able to dance. Just when it looked like a 20 grand day for Tritech the old whistle blew again.  A missed #4 turned into a safety and it was down the middle to send it all into overtime . A very weak foul turned into a penalty 4 and it was double wide at the post .  It was so long and a even money draw as both Fish Creek and Tritech shared the purse equally. It was an adventure for Silent Chris as he had so many teammates during this tournament.  He had no pages left.  It was a team that had in all 11 different players over the course of a few weeks including Chris Maloney, who was the only one to be there the whole time.  It all came together and ended on a good note. If you were there you seen it if you were not you missed a fine finals.  And for the rest of the story please check back later where on PoloBarn.com .  See Ya .See ya

 March 19^th, ’05:  Seven Minute Polo - It all starts and ends in 7 minutes tomorrow.  That is the way it is.  Stay until half time it is 3 games.  It’s called Skins Polo and it is exciting. There is no mistake unseen or unjudged. Every goal is so very expensive if you make it.  If you miss it “oh no" that really cost the team and it will.  A temper tantrum is a no, no and a foul word maybe worse than soap. It all starts at 2 p.m. and its the new vs. the established. Fred Mannix, Sr. is a polo legend and here in the desert he is a real polo God because he made it be here.   Silent Chris Maloney is a newer kid on the block and he is here to stay.  Much like Fred Mannix, Sr. he makes things happen.  Chris has been here before and he was second.  Now he wants the money tree to fall his way! They earned their way here and now it is time to gather the fruit. They both bring big guns to town. There is the Macho Man (Julio Zavaleta) and he goes fast and hard. Julio probably has more Desert Trophies than anyone here now or ever.  Across from him is a young gun who is quick and fast.  He goes so fast that his name is Fast_eta or just Mariano Fassetta. He owns more Skins in 4 years than anybody else because he owns all but 3 skins in that time.  He is backed up with Chris Maloney and has the Surfer, Diego Cossio, shutting the door. Alvaro Tadeo is  running the field. Macho Man (Julio Z.) has baby Bro (Agustin Zavaleta) to hold his hand.  They also have The Wolf Man (Ashton Wolf) or kid to work for them. The Big Mac, Fred Mannix, Sr. has more stick and Pic  years than anybody else. So be here on the biggest event of the season this Sunday.  It will be the hundreds of horses and 1000's of people and they will all have something to yell about, so be there.  

 Today was a big day in town as the Cowboys of Klentner Ranch fired up the chuck wagon and ran circles around the White House as they decide the whupping on Friday was a fluke and rolled over Casa Blanca by 4.  So tomorrow is a big one as Casa Blanca has to beat the New York squad (Shoot 4 The Moon/Broadway) by about 6 to have a chance and that will be Dudley's position tonight in the Officers Challenge.  It will be the Lawman and Bad Brad Schlie out to show the way for on-eye (Daniel Fernandez) to the trophy table, but they got a big bird in their way. It is called a Falcon and this one is Golden. In the Jr. Officer’s challenge it is TackMart tangling with the Ambassador Glen Holden and Gehache. It the finals of the Jr. Officer’s Cup it is Wild Bill Freeman showing his partner he has silver on his mind even if Sir Sean is in a sling with a bad wing.  They have to deal with the UK Duke Mr. Wolsteinholme as he cannot hide from Deb no mas.  It is a Sunday final. Also today a group of Phoneicans and their Queen Libby snuck into town and made the finals as they did a thumping on Adeptus. They now meet JRD for the Silver at 10 a.m. On the other side it was the Gray Ghost, Dempsey Mork,  doing a very good job and showing a herd of youngsters how to boogie as they head to the final.  It is La Mancha taking on Summerland and Carnation Farms. It will be a full day of polo and then everybody can take their seats as it is Barbara Sinatra Skins time. So be there all day and enjoy the weather and the games. We will. See ya

March 19th, ’05: Wild Wild Weather & Polo - It was time for the annual super party @ Mike Hakan’s ranch. It always brings the best in desert weather along with the Pacific Classic. Guess what? They were at the same time and it was wild, pleasant at times, cold at times, windy most of the time, a little rainy and somewhat ugly. We played polo and it was fast & furious.

Here is the way it went. Bad Brad Schlei was late. Geri Dardi waited on him and then he beat her, but barely. George Daou substituted for an injured Steve Wayda who has still not hired me to click his camera while he is out. Noel Muller substituted for Ms. Morabati as NY was calling. The man from Broadway, Sir Michael, continues his run to the Whitehouse in the Officer’s Cup. As they were a little too much for The Cowboys of Klentner Ranch. It continues to be the Gentleman who Deb calls Derek leading Indutech to the final round of the Jr. Officer’s in the 4-goal as they slid by Park Place. They maybe looking for a showdown on Sunday with Tackmart, who did away with Pami Sue and Larsen Cart's. In the 14-goal it was Duende settling down in 40 mile an hour winds stopping a late Ben Soleimani as LA traffic was not the best today even though the wind was blowing out of there. Here is the way it was:

Stone Canyon over McPolo
Melody over Gypsy/Corleone
Shoot4the Moon over Klentner Ranch
Indutech over Park Place
PLAYA Grande over Ore-Pac
Duebde over Mansour
Tack Mart over Larsen Cart

There are 15 more games today and the Skin’s manana. So be here rain or shine. See ya.

March 16, '05: Chris Says Not.  We Gotta Go!! Silent Chris Maloney got it rolling today when nobody else could. Tri Tech rolled through the first 2 rounds of the Skins with ease and all they had to do today was not lose bad, 5 goals or so. Well at the top of the 6th it was a 7 goal spread and nowhere to go, but outside. Silent Chris reared up and fired a big one and chased it down through them all and stuck it on the board.  That put Tri Tech down by only 5.  He grabbed the next throw in and fired a neck shot to Fast-Etta and boom it was down by 4.  That  is what was needed for Tri Tech to secure their place in the finals against Fish Creek.  Duende is out. Fish Creek and Tri-Tech meet again in the finals of the Skins this Sunday afternoon where it will be a sad day if they win only 1 chukker as they did today.  Tri Tech will be the underdog, but they will be a little bit more ready.  A loss is a loss in the Skins as each chukker is a game.. It is not cool to lose, but to lose 5 games in 6 would be really uncool and expensive as well. It all shows up as 3 of the 4 are tied at 2 / 1. If Duende beats Mansour on Friday.  The Big Mac (Fred Mannix)  showed he was tough as we all knew today. As a star searching head butt was just a slight delay until he was back in action after all the railroad man finds horse heads hurting, but not halting.  Down South in Florida the Little Mac (Frederick Mannix, Jr.) had a worse day. Millarville fell to Los Monjitas in the CV Whitney Cup at International Polo Club Palm Beach.

Some of the things we missed on Monday were troublesome as Steve Wayda had a grounder and separated a collar bone. Daniel Fernandez did a dive and came up smelly, but looking out of one eye and continued . Big Mike and Duende put a butt kicking on big Mac and Fish Creek, but came out short with a bad day on Friday .

Super Saddle Abby Riggs was the champ at the Hits Desert Classic horse show. She is truly a Desert Princess after startling the horse show world with her Jumping and riding ability. 

This Friday is a big day for many and here is the way it is at:

12 noon

Stone Canyon vs MCPOLO
GYPSY /CORLEONE VS MELODY RANCH
KLENTNER RANCH VS BROADWAY 4 THE MOON
PARK PLACE VS INDUTECH

2 P.M.
PLAYA GRANDE VS ORE-PAC 

2.30
MANSOUR VS DUENDE 

4 P.M
LARSEN CARTS BS TACKMART

MIKE HAKAN PARTY TILL DAYLIGHT IN THE DESERT

SEE YA

March 13^th PM ’05: The Part Of The Decade!!! I know I am not in the best form ,but if you want to have a party call Stainke of STORM CAT POLO and he will make it happen. I have been here close to 13 yrs and I have seen 1 party this good and it was Canada night. Maybe the polo moms should call  Craig.  Maybe it would be an attendance bonanza because it had the same amount of people they have in a full season in one moonless windy night and it was fun ,fun, fun.  There were patrons , grooms , players and just downright fun loving people and lots of them . That is what polo is all about and it was Sunday night ,so there. Take a hint.  The bar made a bigger profit than all the 30 dollar meals all season long in 6 hours.  When you count the free ones for team members and guess what ? It was f u n.

See ya. Thanks  Craig Steinke. It was the best!

March 13^th PM ’05: Turning Up The Heat – It’s been hot this weekend in Indio, CA,  but today was not that bad heat wise.  It was just a plain old bad day for the wind and dust, but hey it’s better than rain, snow & sleet. So polo went on big time.  Here is a quick run at the results.  I will elaborate later.

In the main game it was Silent Chris Maloney burying the maroon harpoons as he scored 3 times and Fassetta was fast -etta again. He wore the flaggers out as they were looking at 10 waves for the day. The Surfer, Diego Cossio, was following him, but Silent Chris was usually leading the charge as it is skins time and it has been one whole weekend with the same team and they are rockin’. At 2 & 0 they hold the fate of next Sunday’s prime time as they play Fish Creek. It will be either them again or help Duende.  So more horses and money may be needed from one or the other.  Just kidding, but all offers accepted for hearing.

And the rest of the day here is part of it  . . .

Casa Blanca def. McPolo
Broadway/Moon def. Stone Canyon
Duende def. Fish Creek
Friendly Chevy def. Palm Desert
Tri Tech def. Mansour
Liquid Ice def. Menlo
Princeps def. Aspen
Klentner Ranch def. Golden Falcons
Teashi won
Indutech won
Carnation Farms eithe won or lost?

See ya with up to date info ASAP.

March 13^th, 05:  She Can Ride - Since I first met her in 1992 I think this Lady has been a rider.  Her name is Abby Riggs and she has been one of the better lady player's here for many years.  Just last weekend she did something only few have ever dreamed about.  Abby was the champion of the Big Desert Horse show HITS here in Indio, one of the biggest in the nation. She is right there with a big chance to repeat as champion today as she sits 2nd or tied for the average lead now as the final round is today.  Good luck Lady.  Kick a ** and go get ‘em.  Abby was always feared by some of the best players if she was assigned to keep them out of the play because she could do it.  She joins the famous Robert Chelburg for being one of the top riders recognized in both horse Worlds of jumping and polo. I love it. 

Another # 1 lady is smoking out of the recovery room MS. Lynn will be clicking away next weekend so cheer her on.  In the Polo World here is the way it was and the way it is today, as March madness grows. It was the Golden Falcons and a new very young gun named Khaled Badr el Din or Amin, Jr. doing it to Sir Sean in their first round of the Officers Cup. Today in the quarters it’s the Golden Falcons taking on the Cowboys from Klentner Ranch and the cowgirl named Lauren. It is Mc Polo without Bud but his other 1/2 along with a speedy Lady from New York that is Yvonne M. taking on the high-flying CasaBlanca team who came out of the cellar last week and made Dudley happy at the Whitehouse. Another New Yorker is still in the hunt as Broadway. Michael Rothbard and the Moons tangle with Bad Brad Schlei and his Stone Canyon production. They got the clicker Photo man Steve Wayda running the back door.

In the Jr. Officers it was Teachi and Wild Bill Freemand doing what Sir Sean likes best, winning over Mr. Ward and Armour's Shanghai. Today taking on Ore -Pac and its Playa -Grande taking on Runnin gunnin Derek as he hides from Deb. Also at 10 am it’s Josey and Carnation Farms trying to get by Menlo and Irvine taking on Makawao. That’s a mouthful. All this is at 10 am along with Big Mike Hakan trying to repeat last tournament happiness and stop Fish Creek again, but the Big Mac (Fred Mannix, Sr.) is on a roll. We will see you at the Eldorado Polo Club or watching Abby go fast and High.  See ya. 

March 11, ’05: Drill Day - There was some drilling done tody in the 14 goal. It was two very serious drillings as Big Mac (Fred Mannix) was on the attack as they slaughtered Mansour who did not play bad. Fish creek was on fire and they BBQ’d Mansour. Just as they were done Silent Chris Maloney waited a chukker and then led the charge as TRI TECH just smoked DUENDE. Mike Hakan was the leading scorer for sponsors and I guess Captain of the team as he had a giant day scoring 4 goals.  The only problem was Fast-Etta scored 6, so come on Mike do your job.  When you do not get Alvaro get Mariano Fassetta. What’s the problem? Take 9 goals we got the rest. Well it was a bad day for Ben & Mike and BS wants all players grooms coaches and polo horses fired ASAP because they got out horsed. Well maybe they did as one team buys 50 + horses and pays double. It is the way it is and that is the way it was.

In the 8-goal it was Casa Blanca still doing well as they slid by Palm Desert and finished by 2.  Bad Brad Schlei of Stone Canyon got caught in a snow storm out of Boston, but made it anyway to crush Dandy Dan and Palm Desert.  They kept pace with thei big boys as they slid by and won again. It was Stone Canyon playing knock out with Melody and kept a side of beef out there for anyone who wants it. So come and see us run down Sunday lane. See ya

March 10^th, ‘’05: March Madness Is Here – It is not basketball, but it is ball just the same. It is a polo ball which goes 60 times faster than a basketball and the horses run 3 times faster than a basketball player so there!

Friday it starts in California and it starts in the Sunshine State as well. It’s sudden death polo. ¥ou lose one, you lose. You are HISTORY and that’s what makes it so fun. If you do not lose it’s always a challenge, but it’s a little more this time of the year. There are from 58 to 60 horses at the field for each game. Approx. 16 to 20 grooms, 8 players, 4 to 10 wives, always some extras and one word in common play.  Yes play.  As you have not all season so go for it.  Die for it.  Do you get it?  It’s tournament time.  There is 2-goal, there is 26-goal and everything in between.  Some where in these 2 sunny coastal states there is something for anyone who carries a taco.  It’s a pure polo month and there will be at one hour Friday in two states at least 1600 hooves flying down the field at one time. That is 400 horses, 100 players, 25 games all in one hour 3700 miles apart.  From Indio, CA to Boca Raton, FL there will at 10.30 a.m. West Coast time and 1 pm East Coast time be games in Indio CA, Sarasota FL , Tampa FL, Lakeworth FL, Boca Raton FL & Welington FL all at once. Quite a feat for a little sport of probably less than 8,000 people Worldwide, but its growing in many places.

There will be players from wherever you can name including: England, Australia, France, Brazil, Peru, Chile, Germany, Turkey, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico. Dominican Republic, Colombia, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Jamaica & even a few from the good old USA.  They will all  have a smile on their face sometime in the game.  That’s why we are here doing something that is fast, dangerous, thrilling and the most exciting thing you will ever do other than getting married and just as expensive, but so much fun. All that aside, here is what’s happening in our area in the 14 its:

12.30 Mansour vs Fish Creek  
2.30 TriTech vs Duende

In the Officers Cup it is:

10 am La Valencia vs. Klentner Ranch
2 pm Stone Canyon vs. Palm Desert
3 pm Casa Blanca vs. Melody Ranch

Jr. Officers Cup 

12 pm Ore Pac vs. Tackmart 

And a few practice games and lets all say a good one for our # 1 Lady of Polo Lynn Bremner as she does a little surgery tomorrow. LETS GO LB good luck.  See you all at the Sunday showdown.

Hopefully you will be here because if your not your missing it.

March 9th, '05: The Big Sticks So Far this season . . .See ya.

Ratings

 -1  Santi Torres - He is shining everyday. Sean Keyes No more.

 0  Juan Martin Gutierrez. Laith Alsarraf before thunder at the goal.

 1  Ashton Wolf. Chris Maloney is not on top, but playing so good.

 2  Ernie Ezcurra using only one eye.

 3  Was M.Torres Jr., but after Sunday Shane Rice.

 4  Diego Cossio.  Mariano Gutierrez is close as can be.

 5  Fatti Reynot

 6  Marco Llambias as he is the only one

 7  Julio Zavaleta to date, but he is looking at fast-etta (Mariano Fassetta)

Despite a very wet and boring season to date, we have had fewer wrecks, better fields, less horse problems and its all because we have had less polo, probably but we will never know. March Madness is here and we have some people in town to make it fly.  Four the fourteen as Cossio & Fassetta replace the Palomino (Jason Crowder) & Hugo Barabucci with Tri Tech and Alvaro comes back as Silent Chris waits to send a lineup for reasons and players unknown. In the Officers Cup there are 12 teams as Queen Bee Geri Dardi returns to the Polo tour from the fairways and Mr. Amin stops in with young gun Amin to look at the snow caps above. MS. Yvonne comes from the land of Wall Street to take a run at California cuisine. Under the radar and Debs sight MR. Derek Wolstenhome has snuck back on the field as Indutech becomes a power player again. We need a good March and it looks like we will get it for a while. s Santa Barbara and San Diego try to dry out.  You have to be somewhere where the ponies can lay down without a waterbed.

Feb. brought some awesome performances from a few as the Mig (Miguel Torres, Jr.) was on fire in the Quarters of the 14-goal and came right back in the finals to do well. Shane Rice was a monster on Sunday as he did a torpedo job on Gehache. It was called a Wipeout by many or a Whiteout.  The Vancouver Flash has been very good as a newcomer and Lady Susan has had a very good winter even with the weather with the SS boys Sean and Santi.  The minus 1's really T's and there is a new man from the wild wild west and his name is Wild Bill. You know who I am talking about or your not here. Randy has been on a trip from somewhere and he is still trying to find where, but he continues to be the solo fight for Polo America. Down South it’s been a Dalton time as he rips them up with a band of gringoes in the 14-goal.  The rest is history as we look to sunny skies and green fields and all this with a smile. Teams to be listed very soon !!!!

See ya.

It was the traveling  man Dirk and Photo Man Steve Wayda getting by the boys in chaps, the cowboys from Klentner Ranch.  II really do not know who won it was a draw for JHHE and Park Place . Shanghi with Okie Ragland got by Pami Sue and Larsen Cart.  It was Rancho Esperanza ruining Broadway Michael’s weekend as he heads back to the concrete jungle as they just did not have a good weekend but he still has a pretty Woman . It was George Dill substituting for Sean Mcleoud, but just lacked the wind to help Bad Brad Schlei come and surprise the flash and slash from Vancouver his neighbor to the north .  One is Lettuce  and one is Storm Cat.  It must be the ice to get them together as Bad Brad is a warm woman.  I mean weather man.

 In the 2:30 finals it was the Rice Man Show as for the first time in 3 years of finals I finally seen Shane Rice play polo the way he can .  Maybe nerves are getting better or time is healing,  but he was absolutely a one man destroyer of Gehache who needed the Ambassador to slow the rice power down. They are using that for fuel now you know. It was to be a battle of 3-goalers and it was not a battle just an old fashion a_ _ kicking as they led 4 to 1 and 5 to 2 at the 1/2.  Then it got on some slow caballos and gave up a big lead .  Then they got on Dudley's Go Carts and kicked it up.  They did a tap dance on the boys in the red.  Ronai and big Dudley are smiling tonight.  It has been a while since they got close to that R & R medal but they did it well.  I guess the fire at the house is out for a while, but not long though as March starts on Wed.

So much for the break down South.   It was the Wolf Gang (Millarville) taking a beating in the semis of the consolation.   White Birch  did what they do best winning. Peter Brant  played a smoker they say and they stopped Skeeterville connection after spotting them a 5 goal lead.  They just fired up in the second half and kicked a_ _ it seems . Well saddle up. March Madness is here and its Friday show time. So lets get ready to rock and roll . No, I did not forget the Seniors or the 4-goal/ 4 chukker.  I just do not know who are the champions, but I will before the sun is at midway manana .

See ya.

March 6^th, ’05: Well Seasoned Polo - They may come slower, but in many cases not. The swings are pure aged arcs and the ball goes like a bullet toward the goal. It should. They have been doing it for 30 to 50 years and they are doing it again on Sat. It was the second round of the Henry Trione tournament and it was strong. Ludwig Polo’s Hurricane from Jamaica, Dennis Lalor and Stephan Louis, followed the speeding Lettuce Man George Dill. Rege sent them forward and it was big George just missing to tie it up as they lost to a Will Rodgers squad who did Will's name fine. They had beauty and speed in Mrs. Lee Bercheen, the Flying Englishman Andrew Bossom and the Canadian Cross Steve Benadixon. They had the final say with the Q-man in control. Next door it was the Smiling man from friendly Chevrolet getting lucky as they eked out a win over Libby's Desert Storm led by Speed Balls from Arizona Rick Schallmo and Gary Hayden. Schamoo was on fire as it was kind of a rainy day and he liked the weather. He stuffed the goal with 5 big ones and got plenty of fire power from Gary Hayden as Buzz Easterling shut the back door for Charlie Russel. They blew by another Wyoming Cowboy, Scott Davis, and the ladies of the day Judith Baker and Linni Hutton, who had the Secretary of defense Mr. Armstrong at their back door.  None were able to stop the Sled man Brian Gabbard they say he ran in a dog race twice, so he must be very tough. The Gray Ghost (Dempsey Mork) kept the back door shut just enough to let the smiling Man to turn the corner and hit to Brian and Mr. Davis Richard that is. Today it’s Melody with the singing cowboy, the Maffia Man, the Doctor and their lead man Mr. Dardi the Mac Man vs. Colorado’s own Embassy Danny Brown, Mr. Geiler and the Garlock from Northern CA. Next door it will be the Canadian Rouge led by The Canadian Rocket Cam the Man Diggons and the Desert Doc and Mountain Man Glenn Hart backed up by Ms. Brown. They see the comforts of La Valencia led by the Silver Fox Harry Collins and Dr. Mason who have a secret weapon Infra LASER Joe Infanger, who snuck out of the Rockies to see if he can get racehorse George to run. There is polo all day where the sun will be shining all day long.  See ya at the good times with a smile. 

March 4^th, ’05: The Gray Beards Come To Town. These well-seasoned polo players come from around the Globe.  They come to send them cannon balls down Sunday Lane. They are all here because of a very nice man name Henry Trione.  He is a gentleman who loves fine wine and vintage polo players.  So once a year in the desert he brings them to town for fine wine, dining & polo. They come from everywhere. From California you have pretty lady Lee bercheen Rege Ludwig, Bill Garlock, Denny Geiler The Desert Vet Henry Randazzo, The Gray Ghost Dempsey Mork, The Smiling Man Curt Hughes, The Silver Fox Harry Collins, the Lady Lynni Hutton and the Mac Man Bud Dardi, Scott Davis from the great state of Wyoming, the singing cowboy Paul Von Gontard, and from the great state of Washington the Lettuce Man George Dill, Glenn Hart, Gratia Brown and leading the charge from Canada Kelly Armstrong, Cameron Diggon, Steve Benadixon ,from Utah comes John Mason.  With many battle scars from the past and from the United Kingdom comes Andrew Bossom & Judith Baker form the racehorse state you got the burner George Conkright from Colorado rockies Danny Brown and New Mexico Christan Neuman, and from the Mafia city Chicago comes Sheriff Mike Ward, and farther away in Europe comes Stephan Louis. Out of the Caribbean comes Dennis Lalor of Jamica, and from the Dominican Republic Domingo Questel. From across the Colorado River comes the desert storm led by Libby, but played by Gary Hayden Rich Schallmo, Chuck Rodgers, and Buzz Easterling.  He may be from New Mexico as well.  Out of Okie Land comes David Ragland.  They all have one thing in common which makes me think about professional polo players.  None of these seniors were except Domingo Questel.  So it makes me wonder are all the old pros too crippled to play or too poor to come?  It just shows it’s better to go to school and learn to be a patron I guess.  Well it will be a fun weekend there.  Maybe as much white on the fields as there is on the mountains, but they will be experienced and they will all be smiling and so should you.

March 3, ’05: The End of the Line! Yes, it’s the end of line. Feb. is now almost in the history books and it’s down to the final 2 in one and the final 4 in the others. Here is the way it goes. The first game on Friday is the finals of the 14-Goal League and it could be a dandy. You have a lot of smoke coming down the line.See ya with the snow caps.

It will be Duende and Fish Creek.  Two old yet strong local CAMPS. BOTH MIXING THE OLD AND NEW. On Fish Creek we have the Macho Man (Julizo Zavaleta) and Big Mac (Fred Mannix, Sr. ) along with Baby Zavaleta and The Wolf Man (Ashton Wolf).  Ashton just turned out to be 21. On the other side you have Big Mike Hakan and Fati Reynot with a quick stick in Marcos Llambias, but their youth comes in a Mig and it is not a Russian fighter, but he is as quick. Miguel Torres, Jr. is the Rocket from Carpinteria .  He is about 15 maybe just 16 years old, but he is here to rock. So it should be a good one as their only loss was to Big Mac and Fast-eta in the whole month.  In the consolation at 1 pm it’s TriTech with somebody new vs. the Govrenor and Mr Palmer, so it should be a fun game. Silent Chris Maloney looks at a new player ahead of him. In the 8-Goal you have Mr. Flash & Slash with a 6 & 0 record headed into the burning house of Casa Blanca. It will be speedy as you have two Junior Polo stars in this one in the form of Santi Torres and Carlitos Galindo. It should be fun. Mr. Slash from the Vancouver forest is ready to roll one more time.  He has the Yack at the back and Papa Mig running the show. In the other semis for the 8-Goal it’s Stone Canyon with or without Laith & Hector Bad Brad & Sean are there to help Dandy Danny from the good-eye section. They take on the Ambassador Glen Holden and I do not know who will be here as Mike is a working man and Mr. G maybe here or not.  It could be 4 pros against Bad Brad and Mcleoud who is the back door of this whole deal. It is Fish Creek 2 in the 4-goal with a front row seat to the finals as they have to get by the cowboys from Rancho Esperanza. We will see you in the desert where the fields maybe the best in the country, even though we have only low-goal polo. We do have grass and its seems in Florida they are very short of that on their fields. But that’s why they spend the big bucks.  See ya

Feb. 2^nd, ’05: Polo Chance Of A Lifetime - There is a chance for all the patrons in the World, but especially in places where some people who play polo would like to play with the best in the World right NOW. Polo America has a very simple, cheap situation to play this kind of polo for 2 weeks with the BEST In THE WORLD.  You have a chance to win all your money back . In South Florida, Boca Raton where the fields are good and the polo will be the only sport in town.  You will be on ESPN and with the truly rich and famous. If you have the nerve and a little bit of money step up to the plate and call us.  If you do not have the nerve to step on the field with four 10- ten goal players then you need not respond. It will be like riding in the Kentucky Derby or driving in the Indy 500 not for the weak or poor.   If you do call 760-342-3976 or e-mail randy@poloamerica.com it will be the biggest thrill of your life!

March 2nd, ’05: Have you ever noticed . . . polo in the West seems to be going like pro football and good drivers out of town. A few years ago during the recession people talked the clubs into lowering the polo handicaps of the high-goal tournaments.  It was true to form in California Polo, but it never came back. I believe there would have been fewer teams for a year or two as was the case in Santa Barbara, but they lowered it 2-goals.  It was honor between patrons not a club deal.  Now and for 4 years it has been back at 20 in Santa Barbara.  Here in Indio, CA it was 18 to 20 and backed by the same patrons that are now still playing plus a couple who left or retired. Anyway, the point is we have lowered the bar to where we are the biggest club in the World with very weak polo. I am not talking about the fact there are few young pros above 3-goals. I am talking about the fact that there are so few people improving. We are going in reverse. It’s not productive for new people and it is probably the reason why we have so few new people. There were less than 20 players, maybe as few as 10 people whose handicaps have improved other than minus 1 to 0.  That is pretty sad, but expected if there is no where to go.  Why bother. I think the burden of this situation lies heavily on the Clubs. Many of our patrons and main men are very late in their polo careers and they are over it.  But the new blood is no blood.  Just join the local checker game and complain about it. Why? In Florida there are more 26-goal teams than ever before.  The fields are the worst ever and it is the most expensive place in the World to play polo. So is it us or the fact we do not care? I cannot imagine there is so much more money in Florida than here, but maybe there is.  We have no decent clubhouses, no guest improvements, no separation from anything. Why? Tell us? Is it money?  I see more fancy houses, more fancy cars, more cheap horses, underpaid grooms who do not care and horses which show less care than the barn cat. This is not right and I think people have begun to believe in Ca. polo is just a cheap sport and not what it is, a sport of kings. If it was not for Mike Hakan, Pat Nesbitt Geoff Palmer and Fred Mannix where would we be?  At least they still support the good polo and they were here when it was 20-goals.  Now there are two new people, Chris Maloney and Ben Soleimani.  The who? Lets build a clubhouse, make a private section, invite the rich and famous and make it what it is.  A very expensive, exciting sport.  The rest of us will still enjoy the Cantina and Beverly, but maybe they will be able to buy something to drive not live in tack rooms and feed hay only and shoe horses every 4 to 5 weeks and even put in shavings. We need new people, new blood and a future.  Not a pasture. Lets hear your opinions? Click here to post your opinion on the message board. See ya at the polo we have.