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Back in the USA. Gold and qualification for London. Incredible. Congratulations to both teams.

Thumbs up! Go USA!

GOLD!

Both teams are coming home with gold medals with wins over Canada and more importantly with bids to the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Congrats! Thumbs up for GOLD!

One more....

Played Brasil today in the semis. Started a little slow on offense and didn't quite put away all the good looks we were creating but we had a great defensive game from start to finish. Final was 13-1 and that sounds pretty good to me. We have an off day tomorrow and we play Canada on Friday for gold and the right to represent the USA in London. Rest up then one more item of business.

Photo 1: girls warming up for the game
Photo 2: at Brenda's suggestion a shot of the team during the line up and introduction.

Thumbs up to the finals. We have arrived. Wish us luck come Friday. Go USA!!

Free time

Amazing day today. The girls finished 3-0 in bracket play to set up a game vs Brasil tomorrow in the first semi. 19-3 or something like that. Made good use of the free time post game by setting up shop in the international area with some dominoes. Later in the day I met up with my good friend Jesse who lives here in Guadalajara with her husband Eric and their soon to be 1 year old Israel (Izzy). So good to see old friends in new places.

Photo 1: doms with Jessica Mel Kelly and Jen
Photo 2: Iz scoping things out
Photo 3: Jesse and Eric's place in Guadalajara. My panoramic app felt the birthday decorations were more important than the top of Eric's head....

Thumbs up for fun days here in Guadalajara. Another thumbs up for winning.

A lot to a little

We played Argentina this morning in the first game of the day. We got a good warm up in and Argentina was nowhere to be seen. They called the teams out for introductions and still no Argentina. Finally they came running in and just in time for intros. Needless to say but we won 20-0. Great way for us to start the tournament. I always feel bad shutting a team out but we can't stop to think too hard about that one.

Photo 1: panoramic of the Scotiabank Aquatic Center
Photo 2: team for lineups
Photo 3: just talking it over

We play Puerto Rico tomorrow. Game two. Thumbs up for the first win.

One more day....

Had practice in the competition pool today. It is a really nice venue and I'm looking forward to some ruckus Mexican crowds this week. Looks like the team is ready to go. First game 8:30 am v Argentina. Go USA!

Photo 1: competition pool
Photo 2: diving on the opposite side of the polo pool
Photo 3: Brenda and Adam discussing the day's practice

Thumbs up to competition starting tomorrow!

Almost Game Time

I slept in this morning while the girls went to an early training at the practice pool. Met with them after they got back and it was actually really quiet in the village most of the girls and coaches were getting a nap or a meal in so I just sat and read for a bit. We did some video and a quick walk through. Finished the night off with a good game of dominoes. Always a good way to end the night.

Photo: team taking some time to enjoy the sights of the village and review some stuff.

Buenos Dias

Welcome to Guadalajara home of tequila. We're all settled in. We were briefed on what to eat and what not to drink. I'm in my hotel room while the team is in the village.

Thumbs up from Guadalajara!!

Photo 1: in the airport when we landed
Photo 2: the girls in the athletes lounge of the USA building in the village.
Photo 3: sign at the practice pool "winning isn't everything, it's the only thing"
Photo 4: the girls working on some 6 on 5 and 5 on 6 as well.
Photo 5: panoramic of the practice pool. It'll do.

Processed

Who doesn't like free stuff? Shoes, sandals, wristbands, socks, hat, shorts, warm up pants, khakis, jacket, hoody, t-shirts, dry-fit workout shirt, dry-fit polo, backpack, and rolling duffle. Thank you USOC Santa. The team loved it. Great way to lift spirits before a big tournament.

Early flight to Guadalajara in the morning.

Thumbs up from the North Pole of Texas.

PanAms

Off to Houston in the morning to meet the team. They just got off altitude training with the Dutch team in Colorado Springs. Looking forward to Guadalajara and The Pan American Games. First chance to qualify for London. Go USA!

Home

Both the boys and girls teams leave Puerto Rico with silver medals. A great showing for the cadet teams.

We're at the airport now waiting to get home.

It's been an amazing summer traveling the world through water polo.

Photo is of the girls after receiving their medals. What an amazing experience for us all.

Until next summer...Thumbs Up!!

Nothing But Proud

We came up short. 6-7 loss but we battled like warriors. Heart all around. Can't say anything but that I am proud to be a part of this team.

Thumbs up for the Women's Cadet National Team!!

Medal round

We played Brazil last night in the semi finals and it was a great game. We went down 3-0 before fighting back to win it 10-8. We did some great things and still have room for improvement. Today we play Canada for gold and I'm looking forward to a shot at redemption. 3:15 eastern time.

The boys beat Colombia in their semi so after starting the tournament with losses to Brazil and Colombia, worrying about finishing top 5, they are now also playing for gold.

Photo: USA and Brazil stop for a picture before heading to the pool for the game.

Here we are playing for gold. As it should be.

Thumbs up.

Came up short.

We played Canada yesterday (Wednesday) and didn't play well. We gave up three goals to start the game and battled back to finish the half down by one. We got away from what we do and that made it tough for us to keep in that game. We still bade the semi finals as the 2 seed and will play Brazil today. You can follow on the @usawpODP twitter.

We stuck around to watch the mens team play Trinidad and Tobago which they really needed to win. It was a close game but the boys pulled it out and go into the semis seeded 3rd.

Photo 1: the girls cheering in the boys

Photo 2: a thumbs up from the girls team.

Hopefully we can pull this one out and get another shot at Canada for gold.

Thumbs up. We have arrived in the semis.

Old San Juan

We had our day off today and we took the girls to Old San Juan for a little culture and to make the most of the experience beyond polo.

Photo 1: the girls just as the tour was about to start. Beautiful views everywhere of old buildings and the water all around.

Photo 2: one of many old buildings in Old San Juan. Pretty cool.

Photo 3: the girls pausing to pose on a visit to the state department.

Photo 4: one of the historic preserved pieces of the city.

It was great to see the historic part of the city. Wasn't able to find the dominoes games but maybe next time.

Thumbs up from Old San Juan.

Visiting team

Tonight we played the host team from Puerto Rico. It was an intense game and the home town crowd was incredible. Drums and instruments. I'm pretty sure I saw a trombone. We fought hard through a close first half. The girls got a great sense of nerves, a big stage, and a team ready to make us work for our win. Eventually we got that (14-4) and the girls got a great experience.

Photo: our girls before the start of the first quarter. A view of the PR crowd.

Rest day tomorrow then Canada Wednesday.

Thumbs up!!

Good start.

We've started the tournament and things are going well. We beat Brazil 9-6 yesterday and that's a big first win for this team. Today we beat Trinidad & Tobago 22-0. The team looks good. Tomorrow we play the home town Puerto Rico team then a day off before finishing the round robin with Canada. Looking forward to the next couple games and looking forward to watching the girls continue to improve.

Only picture I have to share right now: view of the police escort from the bus. This is how we get back and forth to the pool. Traveling in style.

Wish us luck. Thumbs up!!

Oh San Juan

We're now settled into San Juan. Last stop on my list before heading home. The tournament starts today and we play Brazil tonight. Yesterday we trained at the natatorium and in the evening we joined in for the opening ceremonies. It wasn't anything crazy but it was cool for the teams to go out representing the US for the first time.

Photo 1: the natatorium in San Juan. It is a beautiful pool.

Photo 2: the team taking some time before opening ceremonies to pose for a picture

Photo 3: procession during opening ceremonies

Photo 4: oh and here's the view from the balcony of my 17th floor hotel room. Not bad.

We get to work today. Both the boys and girls play Brazil today. Wish us luck. Go USA!

Thumbs up from San Juan!

South Beach

We took the girls to south beach yesterday for dinner and to let them explore. Had Cuban food at a restaurant called Puerto Sagura. A little taste of Miami, and the food was great.

Photo 1: the girls at dinner

Photo 2: storm clouds rolling into south beach

Photo 3: a view of the water. It was bath tub warm. Such a different feel from the pacific.

We leave for San Juan today after practice. Can't wait to get to the tournament.

Thumbs up from South Beach!

Bienvenido a Miami

I'm in Miami and it's been good so far. It's hot and humid but not worse than Shanghai. We're practicing at Ransom Everglades and it has been good. The bugs are out in full force so I stocked up on bug spray.

No pictures really except these two.

Photo 1: Randy Jackson, my dog was in first class in my flight over. Terrible photo both because he decided to scratch his eye when I walked by and because Americas best dance crew was nowhere to be found.

Photo 2: the pool we are training at. Team looks good. We're getting there.

Onward.

Thumbs up Miami.

Just another tourist just another fan

Now that the games are over, we had some time to get around. Went to see the men play against Spain. Unfortunately they came up short.

Next Dan and I went to the Yuyuen Gardens. The area is surrounded by shopping and old style Chinese buildings. We found the gardens which ended up being a mix of koi ponds temples and incredible rock formations. It was beautiful.

Later in the day we went to the pool to watch swimming. Saw the US win a couple medals including Phelps winning gold in the 100 fly.

Went out for some drinks to complete the productive day.

Photo 1: outside the gardens

Photo 2: a view inside

Photo 3: Phelps on his way to gold in the 100 fly

Photo 4: a cold one in the bund district.

Check out and on the plane back to LA tomorrow.

Thumbs up Shanghai. It's been real.

Not today

We played Australia for 5th today and it wasn't meant to be. We went up and played well. Australia fought back and we just didn't have enough to hold them off. We ended up losing which is tough for this team. Hopefully they learn from this set back and grow as a team.

We are the best in the world. And we will show that soon enough.

Photo 1: the team. The future.

Thumbs up for the future. It's as bright as ever.

Close...

Today was the rematch of the mens gold medal match from Beijing. This was for top 4 and assuming Serbia would make top 4 and they had already qualified for London the other three would also qualify. That would be huge for our guys. Game started out really good. The guys don't always start well but they were right in it the whole time. Eventually they fell short but to lose by one to Hungary is no small thing.

Photo 1: Ryan Bailey on the jumbo-tron after putting the US up 7-6.

Photo 2: final score just short but well played

Photo 3: another stash of food in one if the girls' rooms. They could open up shop and sell all this stuff.

Photo 4: new book I just started. Lent to me by Betsy. I read the first chapter and already like the way this guy writes.

So we play Canada tomorrow at 12:10pm. Should be good. Hopefully the team can bounce back in a big way.

Thumbs up. Proud of the mens team today.

Not today

Tough day for the team. We lost in the quarterfinals to Russia. We played a great first half but Russia made a run in the third we just couldn't stop.

So top four in no order will be: Russia, Greece, Italy and China. 5-8 will be between: USA, Netherlands, Australia and Canada. We match up with Canada next. It's a preview of Pan Ams. Again we find ourselves in need of bouncing back.

Not a thumbs up day. Maybe tomorrow.

Misc China

Good tourist day in Shanghai. Had a video session then some of the girls and coaches went to the fabric district. I got a suit and a couple dress shirts made custom. All for around $110. Not bad at all.

Then to the pool to film. Nothing too interesting. Had a chance to talk to VB after the Australia game. They beat Hungary and seemed pretty in control.

After I left the pool, I had missed the last shuttle back to the hotel by about 2 mins so I walked to the main street to catch a cab and saw a taxi get tagged by a bus.

Other than that, not much to report. Oh Amanda Beard is in room 1510.

Photo 1: typical scene in the girls rooms. Stocking up on food for the long tournament.

Photo 2: another late night view of the polo venue

Photo 3: bus v taxi. Winner: bus

So the girls play Russia on Monday. Training tomorrow. Getting down to it now.

Thumbs up!!