Why Taylor Crabb and Taylor Sander Stopped Pursuing the Olympics

[@fredericos4190]

Taylor is one of the most fun player to watch in beach volleyball ever, you can feel his energy through the TV! Keep it up man

[@SANDCASTPodcast]

Agreeeeeeed

[@VolleyballSource]

Good! Volleyball's focus obsession with the Olympics holds us back

[@SANDCASTPodcast]

Agreed

[@Burnaby_Jo]

I like the Taylors and think they could've done better than what they showed in limited amount of events, but saying in the description that "Taylor Sander and Taylor Crabb made a legitimate run at the Paris Olympic Games" is too funny. Guys like Tri/Chaim, Brunner/Crabb, Horl/Horst and budinger/Evans made legit runs... They averaged 343 points per event in 6 events. 9th, 9th, 17th, 25th, 25th at Challenge events and first round qualifier loss at the elite 16 they played. Also I do appreciate that the level of world tour is crazy deep right now. It would be fun to see them play more events still as they can probably do better than what they showed.

[@JuancarlosGomez-ey6lp]

what they are saying makes sense BUT ....... as a team these guys are too small for the international game. they struggle beating the teams from the USA that compete FIVB. The USA teams in the FIVB dont do well in the elite tournaments. So how would crabb and Sanders have any success. I think if taylor crabb was teamed up with theo, they would do better than theo and trevor are doing. It would be pretty unreal to see Sanders become a good defender with addition to his offense and have him behind a big blocker.

[@novasedits4764]

They aren't too small at all, they're pretty much the same size as the Swedish duo, Sander is bigger than Hellvig but Crabb is smaller than Ahman

[@SANDCASTPodcast]

The average size of blockers is actually shrinking in favor of players like Sander -- ball control, mobile, can be fast and creative. Hellvig would have a word in this argument ;)

[@SadDetonator]

​@@novasedits4764 Kevin Love is the same height as Alonzo Mourning, but nowhere near the blocker Zo was. Same applies to Sander compared to Hellvig. It's not even close. They are not in the same conversation, apart from their hitting skills. Everything else is clearly to Hellvig's advantage, plus the age factor that is in his favor. There is a reason why their FIVB results are so vastly different.

[@novasedits4764]

@@SadDetonator uhhhh so what? Their point was that Sander was too small to compete in the international game, so I brought up a shorter blocker. I'm well aware Hellvig is a much better beach player than Sander but my point is that it's not height holding Sander back, but experience and skill

[@SadDetonator]

@@novasedits4764 Your sole point initially was comparing heights. My point was that heights need to be qualified by actual skill. You did not elaborate further, but now you have, and so we can come to an agreement.

[@PiterAston34]

I like Taylor Sander, great indoor player. He was absolutely TOP. Not sure why he is not telling more on any podcasts about his presigned contract few years ago with SKRA Bełchatów in Poland. He just turn off his mobile, left the team, no comments from his side or I cannot find any info about this. Taylor Crabb is really good person. He didn't win as much as his friend, but he is humble.

[@alecmat]

Appreciate the honesty from them at least

[@SANDCASTPodcast]

For sure

[@ivarkreuger3098]

I would love to see Crabb with a new partner and go for an olympic run after Paris. Its a shame that he never got to play in the olympics with such love for the game. Pick up Budinger and lets gooooo.

[@SANDCASTPodcast]

The post-Paris shuffle is going to be a fascinating one

[@reyparks1076]

I don't know about this Taylors "partnership". I really like both of them when they were playing separately. TCrabb started playing with his brother then ended playing with Gibb before partnering with TSander. TSander was really great indoor player and I was a big fan. I felt like they lost their "mojos" and their partnership is not a good fit in beach volleyball. I know they won 1 AVP tournament (that I know of) but they were never successful in International competetion. I would love to see them with different partners (preferably with blockers) because I see them both can be successful as defenders. I think when TSanders said about not having fans sometimes to get the motivation or not making that much money when playing beach volleyball are just a testament that he doesn't have that much passion about the sports. I see Partain, Benesh growing and other players like Evans, Budinger, Brunner, Trevor Crabb , Schalk and Bourne who continued to be better players in International comptetion. I just don't see this partnerhip working, in my opinion.

[@johnbishop7572]

They’ve won like 4 AVP tournaments

[@SadDetonator]

​@@johnbishop7572 They've won five to this date, but that is no longer a strong indicator for success on the highest level, which is the FIVB.

[@reyparks1076]

@@SadDetonator yep. exactly my point. They never won any International tournament from FIVB.

[@jerkarver]

I love the Taylors but feel like this is a bit of an easy out. If they had got a podium in their first few FIVB events rather than a best of 9th they probably would have kept trying. It is okay to say that you failed at something.

[@Raf-yt7yx]

Exacty. The level of AVP is very different than the World Tour. It is much better to say they tried and lost in many Challengers they could have placed better than to give excuses about not having enough people watching, and the prize money.Because yes, this is true, but it is also true for all the other teams in the US, Europe, and so on. The Taylors play well when there’s no pressure for them to win. The Huntington one for example, Andy/Miles, Evans/Budinger, and Theo/Trevor were not there, so they didn’t have to face strong teams that play World Tour all the way to the final, that they ended up wining.

[@Karrots96]

I’m not sure where you’re getting the tone that they “took an easy out” and he’s not “admitting failure”. T.S. literally said that the international tour was way too hard for him and the people dedicated to it are better than him at the game (scroll to 02:10). So why beat your head into something you’re unlikely to win and have a lot to lose, when your impact and gains domestically is drastically higher.

[@Raf-yt7yx]

Yes, he does say that ‘you just gotta be good at volleyball’ but together with the lack of people watching the tournament, the prize money being low. Instead of saying ‘we just didn’t play well together on any World Tour event’. There’s also the fact that if they had played better they could have been among the 3 teams that receive more financial help from the US federation. And if we are all being honest, even if the prize money was higher, if there were more people in the arenas, they still would have lost. Because together they have a team that plays well AVP and their game does not translate to the high level of the World Tour.

[@wegwerfDave]

I got a similar feeling. I felt like they changed the narrative and their commitment, after they (probably Sander more than Crabb) noticed that winning consistently on the highest level was harder than anticipated and didn't want to push as hard. I got the feeling that Sander got blessed and dominated indoors "by nature" and expected beach to be the same if not easier. I'm not saying that he didn't work hard in both sports, but seeing all of what happened, makes me think that they want to enjoy a more comfortable lifestyle instead of pushing every single day and even then maybe still end up on challenger level instead of olympic/elite16 level .

[@nojy3]

Is there any discussion of why the USA cities host zero international volleyball tournaments?

[@Karrots96]

Would love to hear more about this. The advantage of being a host city and getting automatic seeding into elite 16 pool is literally life changing for some volleyball teams on the international tour

[@SANDCASTPodcast]

$$$$

[@travelmikey9]

A lot of truth in this podcast! ❤

[@SANDCASTPodcast]

Always love the Tays. Super open about it all

[@the-line-shot]

I'm wondering if there's an alternate proposal for improving how USA volleyball appropriates money/health care for their beach volleyball athletes? Given the constraints ($$$$), is there a better way to do it?

[@SANDCASTPodcast]

And that is the ultimate question my friend

[@t20sgrunt36]

Tay Tay is one of the most teams to watch. And they seem a lot more approachable to take a picture or buy a beer. Best of luck to the guys. That stache would make a 70s porn star jealous.

[@SANDCASTPodcast]

straight outta Super Troopers

[@jeffstuart1992]

Question: Can you guys ever address Patellar Tendonitis on the pod? What practices you use/what helps? I’ve been dealing with it for 2 years now as a recreational player and active all around. Can’t seem to get rid of it and have it very chronically. Thanks!

[@YESArenas]

It's a bitch. I have also struggled with it in the past. And nothing seemed to work. And then I moved to an area where I could start cycling more, you know, doing my little errands by bike. And that did it. Over the next couple of months it was completely gone. And I was still hitting the sand pretty regularly over that period. Good luck

[@SANDCASTPodcast]

Got you covered brother: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaHEpaidfrZroa8

[@SANDCASTPodcast]

This is the one to listen to: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaHEpaidfrZroa8

[@MissingWilson]

Cbd really helps with pain

[@SANDCASTPodcast]

@@MissingWilson Lotta players are big into CBD

[@SadDetonator]

I still consider Taylor Crabb one of the premier defenders in beach volleyball. He has proven that he can succeed on the highest level (the FIVB); so the key individual in this pairing is not him. Listening to his partner's motivational problems when playing in empty stadiums - that's the job. Even the world's finest once started out like that and had to grind their way towards the biggest stage, the largest crowds, the most lucrative (though still small) purse. It is crucial to pay your dues and earn the right to bigger stadiums, bigger crowds, better prize money. I just don't see that determination in Taylor Sander, the will to climb the FIVB ladder.

[@chrisjugaru2196]

Sure there, who are you to comment on what others thoughts and views are. He entitled to his opinion . Now you’re just running your fingers about nonsense

[@SadDetonator]

@@chrisjugaru2196 He is entitled to his opinion, as I am to mine and you are to yours.

[@c4gstorm878]

Yeah playing world tour and not progressing fast or being one of the top teams must be very draining when you pay out of pocket and are not supported by some national sport organization like some athletes from other countries are.

[@BojanKordic]

Quick answer to the title of this video: as a team - they are not good enough for the Olympics

[@adamzalewski6135]

(not a Psychiatrist) (just a KZbin comment).. It seems too me the Taylor's are talking about contentment and happiness. Whereas Tri is using terminology like "fulfilment".. being filled in your inner being is a much deeper, and more complex question. Im curious if the crisis is more of a crisis of purpose than of direction. Questions such as who are we as people? Is this a cosmic joke, is it not? And what do these things mean for my life seem to be more adequate questions to the feel I'm picking up from Tri . Not saying what too believe just maybe where to start looking and thinking. If this is out of line I genuinely apologize, or if it's inappropriate for something like a KZbin comment please feel free to delete it. ❤❤ Thanks for all you Do guys!

[@JuancarlosGomez-ey6lp]

i just have 2 questions ...........where did you get your weed from? and how big was the blunt you rolled up and smoked before you decided to comment on this video?

[@SANDCASTPodcast]

Nothing to apologize for, we're here for the esoteric and existential discussions :)

[@xd-gl9bq]

They are just not good enough and that's fine.

[@олегкалиновський-э3д]

So much "like"😂

[@MarxZeff]

Only in the US can they say such thing.

[@Karrots96]

Definitely a lot of international players are envious of the AVP. Although I suppose the trade off is that the U.S. doesn’t host any FIVB events, so USA players are quite at the disadvantage on the international tour because of the travel and not getting host city seeding draws

[@SANDCASTPodcast]

Maybe, but every international player (every single one) wants to play on the AVP for all of the reasons they detailed

[@bertramstier2540]

@@SANDCASTPodcast thats nonsense. sorry. i know americans have a lot of confidence... but guys you need to be aware that this position it incredibly skewed. No. not every single player wants to play the AVP. every player wants to play the olympics. not everybody has it in them to get there. an apparently these two dont. thats fine. thats ok. but... just dont do that 'ooohhhh my body couldnt do it, so now imma trash the other event'. just dont.

[@SadDetonator]

​@@SANDCASTPodcast would you care to back this up? I've never ever encountered a non-US player who mentioned playing on the AVP as one of their major career ambitions (say, next to playing at the Worlds and the Olympics), at least not while they are still in their prime.

[@makhuphukamnguni9782]

I don't want to be nasty. But I see why Americans still praise Phil. Europeans are much more stronger emotionally than Americans

[@reallifescience2069]

The world tour has packed stadiums and crazy crowds all across Brazil and Europe. The excuse of not having fans or enough energy just because of Doha was a bad excuse. Let's be real. The European teams are just much better. Just be honest. You don't have a chance to beat them. There's no shame in being some of the past players from America. They just can't keep up internationally right now.

[@BojanKordic]

Absolutely correct. They dont stand a chance of getting to top 3 in any elite tournament 🤷‍♂️

[@broken9268]

Some past players from America? Sander has 4 bronze 4 gold and 1 silver that s not a some random past player 😂

[@reallifescience2069]

@@broken9268 that was meant to say, 'best players from America'. The best American players right now, or at least top ten American at beach. I didn't edit or proofread my comment

[@broken9268]

@@reallifescience2069 oh , tought u tried to downplay how good they we re . In that case yea u are right semi right they can t keep as good as they used to but that doesn t mean they couldn t win anything they are still beasts but they are just past their prime

[@chrisjugaru2196]

lol ok pal Who the heck are you with your dumb ass opinion Sit this one out

[@Easymoneyspiker]

Can’t beat em? Blame the system

[@andre999barata]

"I enjoy the game of... the game" -Taylor Crabb, 2024

[@SANDCASTPodcast]

hahahaha quote of the year!

[@ivarkreuger3098]

I think what he refers to is the game within the game aka metagame of volleyball. He has talked about that in other podcasts

[@chenyitube]

Athletes have a short career window to earn a living. So they must balance time, income, cost, body longevity, medals.

[@SANDCASTPodcast]

Yep yep yep

[@chenyitube]

@@SANDCASTPodcast And KZbin career. Haha

[@bluepawn]

Great players ! They need to update their technics to reflect 2024... Right now it's the technics of 1980... 3 touches most of the time, very high settings etc very has been for 20 years but for about 5 years... It s really has been. They need new trainers.

[@diamondhyena5631]

Can’t booze as much when youre trying to qualify