Dispatches From the Games 2014: 5 - Dispatch From Game 2

Dateline Torino:

“You couldn’t carry his jock” is a boy’s gym phrase to denote the relative respect one athlete has for another. For the remaining days of World Masters Games, we leave the squalor of that boy’s gym and go to a respectable venue not even listed in the program - but no complaints.

A private sports club with a nice volleyball court housed under a huge open-sided tent - with good lighting, a little breeze thru the walls, plus restaurant, bar and flush plumbing.

Officiating apparently didn't get the change and the first few matches were played with just 2 refs - making the scores questionable at times, and downright wrong on occasion. The international rules had been changed making the USA a look a little lost when the score reached 25 to 24 and the Russians walked off the court. The "win by two" rule had been amended - but our Legends have been reading more wine lists than rule changes. And good wine it has been.

Vladimir - a golden translator

I noted that 2 teams from Russia were playing - one under the banner of Tatarstan, which I think was last a country when Genghis Khan was alive.

I found an English-speaking member of their team to ask about this, but he was not allowed to talk to the MEDIA alone and would only translate for his coach - who poked my chest as he bellowed his independence like an evil extra in a bad Cold War movie. The translator did later admit that he was actually from Moscow - the home of the other Russian team. Hmmmm?

Brazil and USA - Friendly Rivals

Their strategy worked, with the “Tatars” taking the Gold, the strong Latvian team the Silver and ... after long discussions, additions and subtractions of the complicated points scoring formula, the USA took the Bronze in a tie with Brazil. This turned into a party as the American players started putting the medals onto the popular Brazilians - many of which had become friends from years of international matches.

Legendary Wall

World Games Medalists Again

As the games wound down, more wine and food and acknowledgment of how special it is to be able to participate in such an event - but more so to be in a group of old guys still able to join together to share the playing of such a physically punishing game - a game they all love.

It has been 40+ years since I could tolerate jumping on a hard surface, and almost as long since I could hit at the net. So I am like nearly every other man in the Legend's age group - "we can't carry their jocks." I was fortunate to eat, drink and even sing with them, watch some great sport and sportsmanship - and when it would help ... carry their balls.

- Supporter Stew.