The AVP Gold Series Atlanta Open athletes are unsuspecting from the lens of a new spectator. They appear to be ordinary people coming to see volleyball in Atlanta, just like the next sports lover. For example, Olympian Phil Dalhuasser, who won Gold in the 2008 games, quietly got out of his car this morning, locking eyes with me, but said nothing and walked into the tournament grounds. It took me a moment to realize who he was, and then it dawned on me: what do Olympians look like?
Admittedly, I couldn’t answer that question because, as a former athlete, I know that athletes come in so many variations. Reminiscent of the 1996 Olympics, beach volleyball descended upon Atlanta today, bringing Olympians, legends, and raw talent at multiple levels. The play on the courts today was gritty. It was punchy. It was an immersion into a world that is genuinely fascinating. It didn’t matter if you were a former NBA player like Chase Budinger (who secured an AVP tour win in Atlanta two years ago) or the oldest player in the tournament like fifty-year-old John Hyden. Everyone came to compete, and everyone came to defy whatever assumptions or expectations I unconsciously had.
Moreover, the fans who came out to support their favorites were yelling and screaming from the stands as if it was them playing. Despite the sweltering Atlanta heat and humidity, they are investing in every shot, every block, every dig, every grunt, and every yell. However, I am not yelling or screaming but observing like a good journalist should. I am – waiting for the “story” to appear. Like this morning, it suddenly hits me again: my lens allows me to tell their stories and the stories of those they support.
The Atlanta Open is a platform that elevates volleyball and builds a bridge for the next generations of fans to appreciate what the sport offers, starting with announcing a new pro volleyball team. It’s a chance for ordinary people to meet “ordinary” people. It creates an invisible thread tying volleyball to Atlanta’s culture, history, and spirit.
Sports is life-changing, but more importantly, it is a view shaper, and today, it made me a believer in a ball and a net.
Hall About Sports 