Rudy & G’s 6-Man Experience!

The power of 2 party people players!

Our very own Rudy and Geena have finally recovered from their 6-Man experience which took place last weekend in Manhattan Beach, CA. According to our source, a crowd of more than 60,000 partied and played throughout the sunny weekend.

Before we forget, we’d like to congratulate Team Simmzys/Beckers for winning the men’s division against 3 time defending champs  Team Smack (formerly known as Team Magnum). Simmzys’ roster was composed of UCSB stars Jeff Menzel, Cullen Irons, USC’s Austin Zahn, UC Irvine’s Carson Clark and a player to watch out for from France  Kevin Tillie. Former national team player David Mckenzie, Olympic Gold Medalist Rich Lambourne & Albert Hannemann were among the well known faces on Team Smack.

Team 900 won the women’s division for the 5th time in a row. Damn Girlfriends! 900 defeated Moonlight Yacht Club, winning 15-11. “I think that they really made it about the volleyball this year. It’s a volleyball reunion for us; we all played college and are either coaches or have played at the professional level. So it’s a great reunion for all of us and a time to showcase what a great sport we have.” said former professional beach volleyball player Lisa Zimmerman.

Other volleyball stars spotted at the tournament were David Lee, Clay Stanley, Donald Suxho, Lindsey Berg, Heather Bown, Brook Billings, Max Holt, Dustin Watten and many more.

Before we forget, Hollywood celebrity David Hasselhoff and NBA players Jordan Farmar, Luke Walton, Richard Jefferson and Kevin Love also attended the event.

Side Dish: Police arrested 35 people in Manhattan Beach during the 6-Man. Charges range from public intoxication to resisting arrest.

(images: Sylwia M. Ozdzynski for MB Patch)

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Now, it’s Geena’s turn to dish about her 6-Man experience. We’d also like to greet Geena a Happy Belated Birthday!

My 6-Man Experience by Geena Urango

A few days later and I’m still having withdraws.

The Manhattan Beach 6-Man this year was just as good, if not better, than all the others I have experienced. What made it one of the best? Read to find out…

Thursday came up fast, and I could not believe another 6-Man was already here. I headed up to one of my good friends houses in Manhattan, and we met my boyfriend (Max Holt) and some other friends down at Hermosa Beach Pier St. where the party was already getting started. A nice sushi dinner was then followed by our team’s player party at Sharkeez. Players on our team (Team Smackeez) were asked to guest bartend at the bar, which meant one thing…I’ll leave that blank for you to fill in yourself. The night was filled with fun, friends, dancing, and a few spilled drinks.

All in all, it was a very successful first night.

But why stop there?

Friday morning began with a nice breakfast on Pier St. again along with morning mimosas and excellent people watching. There are many different characters that hang out in Hermosa Beach, which is always pure entertainment.

After a couple hours in the sun, a cheap happy hour, and a few laughs with good friends, it was time to get ready for Team Smackeez player dinner. It was the first time our whole team was together, and from the start I could already tell that this group of girls was going to rock! After some last minute details were set into place for the next morning’s festivities, we all made our way to Sangria in Hermosa.

It was a dance party to say the least. Sangria is seriously the biggest hang out spot for volleyball players. There were so many people I knew there, all of which are apart of the volleyball community. But that is one of my favorite parts about 6-Man…the fact that you get to see so many people you know and grew up with, or haven’t seen in awhile, and we all get to party together!

The next morning came faster than expected. It was the first time all year that I was actually excited my alarm went off; I jumped out of bed and immediately started getting ready for the tournament. Our team met up at a mutual apartment, where we took photos in our matching pink bathing suits and took part in some other activities to get ready for the long day ahead of us!

As play began, more and more people began piling onto the beach. I heard there were at least 60,000 people there in attendance this year, which I believe after looking at photos. But after a long day of pool play, Team Smackeez ended up 7-1! Which meant that our team made it to playoffs the next day. But why should the party stop after the volleyball ends? Oh…it doesn’t. I hung around with a couple of my friends and watched some other matches being played as well as just enjoyed the whole experience and atmosphere of this amazing event that only happens once a year.

Another night out and another morning alarm. The final day of play was (and normally is) a lot less crowded, but that didn’t stop anyone who was there. After about 5 rounds of playoffs, Team Smackeez ended up 5^th and we couldn’t be happier!

The Manhattan Beach 6-Man is not just about partying though (as I may have made it seem). Truly, this event is about bringing together the volleyball community (much like Ace does for Volleywood). It is about bringing awareness to the sport, and about bringing together people who love and play volleyball.

I love the 6-Man because I get to enjoy a full weekend of fun with my best friends and see people who I don’t get much of a chance to see. I also love this event because I get to be apart of a tradition that has been going on for many generations.

I can’t wait to see what next year brings! And all the years after that! Let the countdown begin 🙂

*Geena

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Day 1 by Rudy Tomarchio

Since the affordable hotels are about a mile from the beach, the warm-up for this morning’s 9am start includes one the most beautiful walks you can imagine up and down hills around beautiful homes, and mid 60-degree weather and the sounds of the Pacific Ocean. The South Bay as it’s called (Manhattan, Hermosa, Redondo etc.) is pure paradise. I hope to live here in the next couple of years.

Quick hits from today: -The crowd today was INSANE! Who said 6-man had an attendance problem. By mid-day, you could not find a place to walk to the courts.

• Because of the crowds, it pretty much shows how the stricter rules and hiked fees are hurting the teams more than the partiers. There were significantly fewer teams, but the same amount of inebriation on the strand.

• I’m calling out Olympic gold medalist DAVID LEE. Dude, you told me earlier this year that you were out of town for 6-man! You had a verbal commitment to play for KindaGood this year, you made it at Sangria last year at the 6-Man post party.

• It’s ok that D. Lee is not playing for us. His team is STACKED. His team includes current “the voice of volleyball,” Chris “Geeter” McGee, beach star Matt Fuerbringer, beach LEGEND Mike Lambert, and national team young guns Tyler Hildebrand and Max Holt. There were also a number of NBA stars on the team, like Jordan Farmar, Richard Jefferson, Luke Walton and the ever popular Kevin Love.

• I am referring to my esteemed colleague and cocktail tag-team partner, NBC Universal volleyball analyst Hans Stolfus as “Judas” for the weekend since he is playing for “The most interesting man in the world” team (homage to the Dos Equis beer commercial character). He has his reasons, and he has been forgiven.

My team today: We kicked some serious tail. The KindaGood roster is significantly smaller than previous years, but so far we have been playing lights out. The key to it all as it always is in 6-man volleyball, whether indoors or on the beach, continues to be ball control. We passed NAILS all day, which helped out setters, who have hands of gold, distribute the NECTAR all day. We played some fun teams, including a team dressed like old ladies who are a class act, just like team “Working for the weekend,” dressed in speedos and bowties, and team Rockstar, (sponsored by the energy drink) with our good friend Lucas Black.

We went 8-0 in pool play, meaning we did not drop a single set in our 4 matches. We had a 5-team pool where we played two sets each side out scoring to 11. The top two teams in each pool advance.

Off to Hermosa for some partying before playoffs tomorrow. Play starts again at 9am, with the first match being a single set, side-out to 15, and SINGLE ELIMINATION. You lose, you’re DONE. The rest of the play after that is double elimination.

Let’s see what happens tomorrow! Much love to our sister team the CARE BEARS, who even though they didn’t advance to playoffs, are a hell of a lot of fun all weekend. Regardless of the outcome tomorrow, this has already been the best weekend of the year, and it’s because of the great people I get to share this experience with. Happy 6-Man everyone!

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Day 2 by Rudy Tomarchio

Sunday was the big day. Needless to say, we were stoked when we found out that our success in pool play (not dropping a single set) earned us a bye through the single elinimation round. Our second round match in the double-elimination bracket was delayed after a mutual agreement between us, the officials and our opponents (a team headed by beach pro Dane Jensen) so we could watch the conclusion of the single-elimination match going down on the court next to us. One more big sighting too by the way, *Clay Stanley* made an appearance, but did not play on a team.

Epic match. 3-time defending champs (Beat us in the finals in ’08 & ’09), Team Smack, aka “Magnum P.I.” were losing to a team of young guns. The same group of young guns that finished 3rd in our pool last year behind us and Las Palmas, aka “Trim Lords” This year with Geeter, D.Lee and Lambo. When someone asked who Smack was losing to, an onlooker said “some high school grooms.” They were older than high school kids, but still…young guns giving the bully on the block a run for their money. Magnum fought off a few match points, got some of their own, and the side-out marathon continued. Magnum finally won, but the tone was set for the day, young guns were going to be the main focus.

Our match got started, we didn’t play our best. We let Jensen’s team back in, but wow, everything was being let go on our court. Not one double-contact called, and several sets were spinning like a top. It’s all good though, no excuses. We lost to a good team. Onto the contender’s bracket. We took out the “Shake weight all-stars” who were hilarious. Shake weights were everywhere, and always going. It took a comeback to get the job done, but we climbed back to stay alive.

Onto the next challenge, team 801. This is the team we beat in the winner’s bracket in 2009 who gave us a run. The team is stacked, and the biggest problem is, they HYDRATE! After hitting lines, a guy ran around handing bottles of water to their players, (REALLY? It’s 6-Man guys, keep your water in the tent for post-match.) The team name “8-0-1” comes from the area code for part of Northern Utah, including the town of Provo, where BYU is located. BYU is men’s volleyball powerhouse, and this year’s roster had some talent: Beach pro’s Ryan Mariano, Ed “The Rat” Ratledge, and the new to 2011 beach pair known as “Team Wingspan,” Brad Keenan and Casey Patterson.

You guys know Casey, Mr. Intensity, Mr. “BOOM!” He tears it up on the beach, and even kills it indoors. He was the MVP for Platanos Corozal in Puerto Rico when they took the league title a couple years ago, and with American club Team Paul Mitchell, blasted against Russian League power Dinamo Moscow, who has Brazilian superstar Dante Amaral. Casey bounced one 4 to 4 through Dante’s block. He does all that while maintaining some how the BEST HAIR in volleyball. He’s won the award for at least the past 3 years running. He’s probably a first ballot hall of famer in volley hair, right up on the list with Brent Frohoff.

One big run in the beginning and a late momentum swing cost us the win. We responded really well, but in the end it was too little too late. Our tournament was over. We finished 9th overall. For a small team, we were KindaGood, finished well…and had an excellent time. Two of our new additions for this year, Paul Baxter and Guy Hamilton were huge contributors to our team. Also, a big thank you goes out to team KG, as every year for having me take part. Nobody has more fun than we do.

Now back to the young guns, our captain and team namesake Dan, aka “Danny Kinda” mentioned how this is the first time he can recall in 6-Man that so many teams with youngsters were doing so well. First team to point out is “Young & Reckless,” the team sponsored by Chris “Drama Pfaff, the cousin of DC Shoes mogul and pro skater Rob Dyrdek. “Drama” also co-starred in Dyrdek’s MTV reality shows “Rob & Big” and currently “Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory.” His clothing line which has taken off, got some big publicity with that team. They were the team that bounced us from Six Man last year, when they were “The Golfers.” They got eliminated by Magnum in the Loser’s bracket finals.

A big congrats to the other young guns, Simmzy’s. They unseated Magnum in the finals, winning 15-9. Their team was the same group of college stars that placed third last year, and they had one huge weapon, Kevin Tillie. Tillie, a member of the French national team, has one of the hardest jump serves in the WORLD. Hans Stolfus has even said that if it were more consistent, it would be harder to pass than Phil Dalhausser’s. He was BOMBING in the Manhattan sand. Tillie’s ability to sky Rosie-eque on the sand proves to be a big sigh of relief for the beach volleyball intelligentsia. There are future stars and Tillie looks to be an heir apparent.

I’m back in Miami, but still California dreaming. Until then, it’s time to stay tan, and keep playing volleyball, and dream of next year. See you soon South Bay.

*Rudy

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From the bottom of our hearts, we’d like to thank Geena and Rudy for taking time to write about their experiences at The 6-Man tournament. After reading their adventures, we’re now planning to be there next year. Promise. Even if we don’t have a team, we’d still go but we’re hoping our imaginary friend Cullen Irons from Team Simmzy will invite us.

We’re just kidding Cullen! LOL!

Seriously, more than 60,000 people made this tournament a huge success despite the $$$ problems prior to the event.

No doubt Charlie Saikley, the founder, had a fabulous time watching everyone enjoying and continuing the tournament he started 50 years ago.

Cheers!