Cruise News: For the love of the game By Betsy Scherr
I was thrilled to watch, along Capistrano were two of the best with the rest of the world, the beaches in the area for women. There is a huge difmost-viewed sport at ference in the height the London Olymof men’s and women’s pics – beach volleyvolleyball nets. We ball. Let me share had to argue with the some history of this local park districts to wonderful sport and get one net set at the my involvement in it. right height so we I am from Southcould practice. ern California and Betsy Scherr Kerri Walsh, the volleyball was my three-time Olympic medalist true passion. I lived and breathed the game for 30 years. From the who just played in London is age of 10, on the courts of St. 6’ 3” tall. I am 5’6”. If you are Anthony’s in Rosemead, Calif., short do you think it makes a to 40 when I retired from the difference when you are trying sport, I spent most of my wak- to spike a ball if the net is a foot ing hours playing volleyball. To lower? You bet! I played with a group of gals watch two women’s USA teams in the beach volleyball finals at who were like me — good colthe 2012 Olympics, seen by mil- lege indoor players who switched lions around the world, is truly to sand. I would work 40 to 50 hours a week at my investment remarkable. I started playing indoor volley- job then head to the beach. ball in grammar school in 1965. There was always a tournament My love for beach volleyball in Manhattan Beach, Santa Bardeveloped while I was in college bara, Aspen or Santa Cruz. Two of my fellow players were when I attended UCLA and we would head to the beaches in a little better than the rest of Santa Monica. When I trans- us. When beach volleyball first ferred to the University of Colo- became an Olympic sport in rado, we spent weekends going 1996, they went for it and made to doubles tournaments in places the U.S. team. They didn’t win a medal, but not many people can like Vail and Aspen. The girl’s sand courts were say they went to the Olympics. In more than 30 years playalways lousy, and away from the main action. The men’s courts ing volleyball I broke my nose, were far superior. We had to fight sprained my ankles five times, to get the good courts, the good broke my wrist, broke fingers, sustained two black eyes and got sand, and the good nets. After college I moved back to knocked out cold after collidSouthern California and began ing with my partner. I even lost to play women’s beach volleyball. a tooth in the sand. I have no Laguna Beach and San Juan regrets about playing that hard
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or the beating my body took. I would do it all over again. I won a few big tournaments. Not many, but a few. Guess what I won back then? Men’s clothes! My late husband, Tony, got a boatload of clothes. They even awarded a briefcase once for winning the Women’s Open. The prizes were not exactly stellar in the ’70s and ’80s when the game was just beginning, especially if you won the women’s bracket. It took people like me going to tournament directors and saying, “Come on guys… a briefcase? Let’s come up with something better next year!” After moving to Portland, meeting my husband and deciding to buy a house, the first thing I wanted was to build a sand volleyball court in the backyard. When we were looking at homes, real estate agents always tried to show me the kitchen. But my primary concern was to measure the backyard to be sure a court would fit and it was at the right angle so nobody would be looking at the sun. At first all the neighbors thought we were loonies when the bulldozer showed up to dig out the court followed by the sand trucks. And finding the right sand wasn’t easy. As you might have seen in the Olympics, sand was an issue. It takes time to adjust to different sand conditions. How deep is it? Will it throw off your timing when you jump? How coarse is it? This stuff matters to a serious beach volleyball player. For 10 years we had the most popular house on the street. The neighborhood kids loved to come over, sit in the trees and watch everyone play. We were the best players in Portland. Seaside, Ore. has a big tournament each year in August. I played it in eight times. The teams make up funny names. My
The volleyball court at the London Olympics, a vast improvement over the courts columnist Betsy Scherr played on during the nascent years of women’s beach volleyball.
partner Jeanne and I were “Breast Friends.” We were known for my partner’s assets, not mine. Our games always attracted a crowd when our team name was announced over the loud speaker. I only won that tournament once, but at least I won a beach chair and not a briefcase. I still have that chair. It is one of my most prized possessions. I’ve coached many younger players. Many girls came to my backyard court where I showed them a few tricks and skills. I loved watching the London Olympics because I knew most of the coaches from my college years. These guys are all my age and we played for the love of the game. None of us made any money at it. We did it because we were young, athletic and it was
fun. Only later did it become a professional sport with endorsements and prize money involved. Today there many great beach volleyball tournaments from Vail and Aspen to Grand Rapids, Mich. and Chicago, Ill., The August Manhattan Beach, Calif., tournament is still considered by many to be the granddaddy of them all. Or watch international players through the International Volleyball Federation (www. FIVB.com). I hope more young people will take up this great sport. I can hardly wait for the Rio Olympics to see which teams make it. I will be watching from home, enjoying my memories. Scherr can be reached at 541385-0499. Or email: Betsy. Scherr@gmail.com
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