Why I Was Off The Net Last Night And Why I Am So Far Behind In My Blogging -- February 16, 2016

It's possible the Director's Cut will be released today. If so, I won't see it until late this evening. The link is here for those waiting.

Most of this was writtenTuesday night, but it was put in draft form and did not "go live" until Wednesday, February 17, 2016.

This is entirely personal and has nothing to do with the Bakken. It is for the granddaughters.

This is why I was off the net last night. Olympic trials for water polo are being held in Lewisville, TX, about 20 minutes north of where we live. Our daughter was part of a group of eight water middle school water polo players invited to participate in the "opening ceremonies."

Below are the notes I took while watching the first two games. We did not stay for the third game (Japan vs Canada). Three games will be held each day through the rest of the week, and then the championship round will be played on Saturday and Sunday.

There are six teams, represented here this week, including China, Australia, and Brazil; all three have qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Others competing but not yet qualified: Japan, USA, and Canada. I assume other water polo teams are competing in other venues around the world.

The notes were written in real-time while watching the games.

First game, China (black/guest) v Australia (white/home).

I was surprised; not particularly exciting. After score went to 2 - 2, I watched more closely to see why it doesn’t seem so exciting compared to high school play. This appears to be the reason: the distance between the defenders and the offense is a good two feet, maybe a meter. Unlike high school water polo where the players seem to literally fight each other making it a contact sport. This hardly seems like a contact sport. I expected a little bit more like our professional NBA, but nothing of the sort.

China started out a bit slow, took the early lead, 2 - 1 but then Australia tied it in the first period. Australia seems to have a stronger throwing arm, from farther out. The “expert” next to me “likes the way China passes the ball around.

The game is little different than what high school water polo teams play — no differences as far as I can tell — except each of the four periods last eight (8) minutes instead of four (4) minutes.

I am incredibly negatively impressed. These are the “finals” for determining who goes to the Olympics, or something to that effect, and the stands are empty. Admission was $5, although this weekend with the championship rounds, the price will go to $10/day.

After an unexciting first half, the score is tied, 5 - 5.

The third period begins. The Australians “break away” in this period, moving to a two-point lead early on. Australia was able to hold onto that margin and the third period ended 9 - 7.

The final period begins. Australia scores with 6 minutes left in the fourth quarter, and a three-point lead, 10 - 7. Less than 30 seconds later, Australia scores again, now an insurmountable 11 - 7 score. It’s just a matter, now, of finishing the game.

The final: 12 - 10, Australia.

Opening ceremonies.  

Arianna (our oldest granddaughter, age 12) held the Brazilian placard. Surprisingly and unbelievably she was given a Brazilian warm-up jacket from the team captain, priceless to say the least. Arianna is having the time of her life.

 

Now, the second game of the tournament: USA (black/guest) vs Brazil (white/home).

The other thing I noticed is how “genteel” the sport is. Swimmers on the bench sit throughout, and those in the second (back) row must crane their necks to see the action at times. During the introductions of the teams, when individuals are introduced by name, there is a quiet, simple short clap.

The first period begins slowly; well into the first period, with less than 5 minutes to play, the game is scoreless.

The stands are now full with the USA playing.

Brazil scored first, but with about 3 minutes left in the first period, USA scored, bringing the crowd to its feet, and with a loudness of cheering that was deafening. At the end of the first period, the US leads 3 - 1. One wonders if they are that good, or if Brazil will find its footing. Remember: Brazil has qualified for the Olympics; the US has not. With less than 30 seconds into the second period, we might have our answer: US just scored another commanding point. But Brazil answers quickly, 4 - 2.

Isn’t this interesting? During the first game I mentioned that the defenders played a full three feet from the offense. I thought that was the college / Olympic style. Apparently not: it was team specific. In the USA vs Brazil game, the one-on-one is very, very lively. A lot of contact. Prior to the game I did not see the individual Brazilians but I did see the individual Americans on the deck. The thing that struck me was how “big,” muscular, the American women were. I was also surprised that this was not an all-white sport that I expected. I would not be surprised if the majority of Americans were not African American.

The Americans are clearly the dominant team. They seem to be scoring at will. One member already has four goals, and another member just scored her first goal from “3-point land.” The Americans are stealing the ball, bringing it the length of the pool, and here again, on a close-in shot, a player scores her first point, making it an American blow-out, 8 - 2, with just over 4 minutes to play in this period. Again, a reminder, periods are 8 minutes long, so this period is just barely half over.

Compared to the first game, China vs Australia, this game is much, much more physical. And much more exciting to watch. The American goalie is quite incredible blocking shots. I can’t tell but it looks like the US has only four swimmers on the bench. It appears Brazil has six. I could be wrong. I missed the last goal, but it’s now 9 - 2. It appears now it’s just a matter of how many goals the US “allows” Brazil to get. Another US score with 3 minutes to play, this player's second goal of the game, 10 - 2.

It’s funny. This is the level of play, the level of competition I expected. When I saw the first game, I was concerned. It seemed our high school players played at a higher level than these college/Olympic players. The Brazilians are now taking wide shots that have no chance of scoring. One minute to play in this half. The US can play keep-away for the full 25 seconds before shooting; the Brazilians, as they say in some sports, are being schooled by the Americans. (For newbies, there is a 30-second shot clock.)

I had not planned to come to any more games — I came today because our granddaughter was in the opening ceremonies — but with this level of play, I may, in fact, come out all week. We will see.

The first half ends 10 - 2.

I got into a sidebar with the facility manager of this natatorium and although I watched the third period, do not remember enough to blog about it. This $21 million facility was opened two years ago. It hosted the US national high school tournament last fall. It was the second year in a row for the national tournament to be held here. Until now, US Water Polo had never held national championships in the same venue two years in a row. The Lewisville Natatorium was the first to score two consecutive national water polo championships and they did it the first two years after the facility opened its doors.

The third period ended with the US on top, 15 - 2.

There has been absolutely no scoring in the fourth period. With only three minutes left to play in the game, the US finally scores. It was the player’s first goal of the game, now 16 - 2.

The game ends with one last shot by the Americans with less than 10 second to play. Yes, 17 - 2.

And that’s the ball game.

The US has yet to qualify for the Olympics.

Brazil has qualified.

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Opening Ceremonies Granddaughter Arianna is holding the Brazil placard; the Brazilian team captain behind her gave Arianna her warm-up jacket (not shown). The jerkiness is due to long telephoto lens not on a tripod.