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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
RIP beach volleyball
Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Indiana | IN | USA | Posted: 10:15 AM on 08.14.10 |
| ->> Wally, thanks for that link. I covered several tour stops since 2006 and will miss the action. It was such a nice change from shooting the usual sports. |
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Matthew Sauk, Photographer
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Sandy | UT | United States | Posted: 10:49 AM on 08.14.10 |
->> wow. That sport used to be huge like 10 or more years ago. I can remember watching it on TV and it being packed to the brim with people.
Sucks that income source for those guys and gals is going away. |
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Randy Abrams, Photographer
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Jim Colburn, Photo Editor, Photographer
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McAllen | TX | USA | Posted: 8:30 PM on 08.14.10 |
| ->> No big loss. The idea that beach volleyball exists as a professional sport if a stretch anyway. |
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Bryan Hulse, Photographer
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Nashville | Tn | USA | Posted: 8:19 PM on 08.15.10 |
->> "No big loss. The idea that beach volleyball exists as a professional sport if a stretch anyway."
I've considered how to respond to this assnine and unnecessary comment since I read it this morning, but why bother getting into yet another SS.com argument.
I'm sure that those of us that have watched and played the sport for years don't agree. But that seems pretty obvious. |
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Jose Carlos Fajardo, Photographer
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Walnut Creek | CA | U.S.A. | Posted: 8:37 PM on 08.15.10 |
->> I've covered beach volleyball several times when the tour visited San Francisco. It's a fun event to cover. These people are real athletes and they give it their all. The media contacts are awesome and the athletes always have time to chat especially when a pesky photographer keeps bugging them to speak louder into his recorder because he's making a soundslide project.
Maybe Jim has never covered an AVP event.
Honestly any sport that disappears because of money woes is sad. I hope they pull through but if not, thanks AVP for the memories. |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 9:20 PM on 08.15.10 |
| ->> one of the problems with this site is when folks get their panties in a bunch and make nasty statements or giving an inappropriate to someone for posting their opinion. was what jim said "inappropriate"? no. was it asinine? I think not. is beach volleyball a sport? sure. is it a professional sport? well I don't know. is kickball a professional sport? are horseshoes a professional sport? yeah it's great to cover. I shot it at the 2000 olympics in sydney. fun times. but shit happens. if there is no money or sponsorship (money) then a "professional" sport seems to become a "hobby" or recreational activity. fact of life. don't smack jim around for stating his opinion |
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Jim Colburn, Photo Editor, Photographer
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McAllen | TX | USA | Posted: 10:06 PM on 08.15.10 |
->> Not withstanding that the fewer "sports" there are to cover the fewer sports photographers are needed, IMO beach volleyball is nothing more than an excuse for TV to show a little buff-body/T&A with a little help from some beer sponsorship.
It's like the "X Games" or which ever reality show is currently in favor, i.e. mindless "entertainment." Television will turn almost ANYTHING into a professional sport in order to fill air time.
Of course, as always, YMMV.
(P.S. It's asinine, not assnine.) |
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Patrick Fallon, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Columbia | MO | USA | Posted: 1:44 AM on 08.16.10 |
->> Really Jim?
"beach volleyball is nothing more than an excuse for TV to show a little buff-body/T&A"
Try telling that to the people of Redondo, Hermosa, and Manhattan Beach - with dozens of public vb courts - where people of all ages, sizes and shapes play the sport, some professionally, some for fun. I think they would disagree. They play and watch it for a love of the game.
Only recently has it even had decent TV coverage.
The Manhattan Beach Open has been running for 50 years now, this year it will continue without AVP now that they've ceased operations - but that didn't start - and will not continue - because of TV deals. It is because of the dedicated fans of the players, communities that come out to support local (and non-local) athletes, and kids playing volleyball in middle and high school who want to watch some incredible action and have something to aspire to.
Its been going a lot longer than it has been on TV.
Please, try explaining how Karch Kiraly is not a professional athlete while you're at it. I'd like to know.
What about male and female indoor Volleyball? Gymnastics? Swimming? Track? |
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Jamie Sabau, Photographer
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Pickerington | OH | US | Posted: 9:11 AM on 08.16.10 |
->> Jim,
NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, NASCAR, NCAA, PGA, etc. It's ALL "mindless entertainment." AVP was no different from any of the other pro sports, it just didn't make as much money as the others.
BTW, seems like Spring Break on South Padre Island was just an excuse to "show a little buff-body/T&A." Yep, sex sells...in every facet of life. |
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Greg Francis, Photographer
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Rochester | NY | USA | Posted: 9:17 AM on 08.16.10 |
| ->> Ouch, that one is going to sting ;-) |
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Richard Denham, Photographer
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Toronto/Buffalo/Niagara | On | Canada | Posted: 10:15 AM on 08.16.10 |
| ->> WOWZERS, chalk one up for jamie sabau. |
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Brad Barr, Photographer
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Port St. Lucie | FL | USA | Posted: 10:24 AM on 08.16.10 |
->> Brilliant argument here...considering none of those have a professional component. You illustrate Jim's point eloquently.
Lets be real...just cause everyone likes to watch T&A doesnt make it a professional sport...Thats ok...Yes its fun to watch every once in a while but that doesnt mean its a sustainable, viable sport from which to base a professional league, especially in these economic times.
Giving Jim inappropriate for stating his opinion is .....well...VERY inappropriate.
There are really 2 parts to what makes any sport qualify as a "professional sport".
1. Do enough people actually play the sport to gain national interest? In this case...sadly no. Look at High school and college. The number of kids playing this sport is paltry in comparison to baseball, football or the other well regarded pro sports.
2. Do enough people actually want to watch it enough to warrant sponsors spending millions of dollars in advertising to support it. Again, sadly not in this case. Ratings are clear. Sure its popular on 3 beaches in Cali...so what. Folks in Pigsnuckle Ar. apparently didnt tune in enough to watch it. Even here in sunny S. Florida there isnt enough support to sustain the league.
Time to grow up people. Just cause someone has an opinion that doesnt mirror your own, does NOT make that opinion inappropriate!! |
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Brad Barr, Photographer
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Port St. Lucie | FL | USA | Posted: 10:31 AM on 08.16.10 |
->> sorry the quote referenced in my post above didnt show up...it was "What about male and female indoor Volleyball? Gymnastics? Swimming? Track?"
There are lots of sports that dont warrant the "professional" moniker. Those are all examples of them. Wrestling is another. Sure the participants are athletes. Nobody said anything to the contrary. But it fails in the 2 criteria listed in my earlier post.
Look at half the sports in the Olympics.....many of which are not sustainable professional sports. |
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Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Indiana | IN | USA | Posted: 10:43 AM on 08.16.10 |
->> It's a professional sport if the players are receiving money to play.
Don't worry about Jim too much. He has Bowel-optics disease. That's because his optic nerves are connected to his bowels and everything looks shitty to him. :o) |
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Jason Orth, Photographer
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Lincoln | NE | USA | Posted: 11:02 AM on 08.16.10 |
->> Jim,
P.S. It's "is a stretch anyway" not "if a stretch anyway." |
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John Germ, Photographer
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Wadsworth | Oh | USA | Posted: 12:34 PM on 08.16.10 |
->> "if there is no money or sponsorship (money) then a "professional" sport seems to become a "hobby" or recreational activity."
this same definition could be applied to sports photography pretty soon |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 12:43 PM on 08.16.10 |
| ->> what do you mean pretty soon? pretty soon was three years ago....... |
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Mark Sobhani, Photographer
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San Antonio | TX | USA | Posted: 1:25 PM on 08.16.10 |
| ->> Maybe Jim received one or two of those "Inappropriate" clicks for taking a thread off topic and reducing it into a "is it a sport or not" pissing match. |
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Jim Colburn, Photo Editor, Photographer
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McAllen | TX | USA | Posted: 1:36 PM on 08.16.10 |
->> "AVP was no different from any of the other pro sports"
Except for the whole bikini/Speedo thing of course.
Now that beach volleyball is no more perhaps we'll start seeing NFL players take the field in there tighty whiteies or MLB players at bat wearing nothing more than thongs.
"...seems like Spring Break on South Padre Island was just an excuse to "show a little buff-body/T&A."'
I agree, but Spring Break (or the latest issue of Maxim) isn't touted as a professional sport. Do you really think that beach volleyball would reached its present "heights" if the players had to wear the same outfits as regular volleyball players? |
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Philip Johnson, Photographer
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Garland | TX | USA | Posted: 3:28 PM on 08.16.10 |
| ->> Hey Jim, they have a league like that, LINGERIE FOOTBALL LEAGUE. I looked and they do have a 2010-2011 schedule. |
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Sam Santilli, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Philippi | WV | USA | Posted: 8:42 PM on 08.16.10 |
->> Philip....Got a web address for us??? I wonder how many GWC's show up for that? The press pass probably comes with a bucket of slime.
Jim C., I gave you a funny. Now let's see who fesses up to the inappropriates. Since when do you get grilled here for having an opinion? That's right, always. Stand tall Jim! |
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Michael Fischer, Photographer
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Spencer | Ia | USA | Posted: 10:25 PM on 08.16.10 |
->> Jim's our resident curmudgeon. He may not always be right, but he WILL ALWAYS have a opinion. Best of all, you never have to coax it out of him. :P
It's amazing how many times the trap gets baited, and someone takes the bait around here. Just for the record, Jim.. was there a problem with a little T and A?
Seriously.. for a moment.. IT's too bad that AVP wasn't financially able to continue. |
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Jeremy Harmon, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Salt Lake City | UT | USA | Posted: 11:30 PM on 08.16.10 |
->> "Try telling that to the people of Redondo, Hermosa, and Manhattan Beach - with dozens of public vb courts - where people of all ages, sizes and shapes play the sport, some professionally, some for fun. I think they would disagree."
But apparently they don't disagree enough to keep the league financially viable. The sport has limited appeal so it went out of business. |
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Ed Chan, Photographer
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San Diego | CA | US | Posted: 9:30 AM on 08.17.10 |
->> In any case, Pro Beach Volleyball will be back. They just need to file bankruptcy to lose their existing debt from the '90's and the new buyer will be in a stronger position than the tour was this year, IMO.
The only reason they didn't complete the tour this year was because they couldn't raise the $4M to complete the tour and inherit the existing debt and share ownership with RJSM partners. And why would you put in $4M now, when after the BK filing, you can probably buy the entire tour for $4M. |
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John Green, Photographer, Photo Editor
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BAY AREA | CA | | Posted: 11:40 AM on 08.17.10 |
| ->> Thank you for speaking the truth Jim |
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Jon Longo, Photographer
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Independence | KY | USA | Posted: 12:54 PM on 08.18.10 |
| ->> AVP is dead. However, at least one of the events will continue to go on under the new name of "Pro Beach Volleyball Players Championship" and will feature Olympians Misty May Treanor, Kerri Walsh, Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser. This is for the Cincinnati OH venue. I have not heard about any others. http://www.mustseeavp.com |
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