[FIC] Commentary
Title: Commentary
Genre: Humor
Word Count: 2972
Rating/Warnings: PG
Summary: Are you tired of those sports commentators yet? Well, here's the commentary for the final for Men's Beach Volleyball, America vs. Italy
…If you’re just joining us now, this is the start of the second set of the gold medal final for Men’s beach volleyball, USA vs. Italy. The US won the first set, 22-20, very close. Let’s get a bit of background on our two boys, Tony.
They caused a lot of controversy when they entered the US Olympic trials. Arthur Kirkland was born in England and could have competed over there if he’d wanted to. Many speculated that Kirkland was simply training over here like so many athletes, and would then go to Great Britain the next season.
But Arthur has discounted all of that with a wave of his hand. He said he’d only lived in England for four years before moving to the US. In fact, he has his citizenship, and has had it for over fifteen years now. He said if that didn’t make him American, he didn’t know what did. Besides, and I quote the man himself, that he “wouldn’t be anywhere without his partner.”
Alfred Jones, yes that same partner, attracts a lot of the cameras; he is what everyone thought men’s beach volleyball should look like. You can see it; he’s tall, six four, and has that sunshine hair we’ve come to expect out of those California boys. He’s got one of the best blocking records here. See, look at Alfred now, there’s that smile that’s made America simply fall in love with him! They’re rookies at this Olympics, but already they’ve taken their pool and the world by storm.
Exactly right Steve. Most of us were extremely surprised when we saw Arthur Kirkland though. Only five feet ten inches, he’s a bit shorter than most of everyone here. But wow, can the man move! He gets height in deep sand that we’ve only seen on the indoor courts! He was the second seed digger coming into the Olympics this year, the first position taken by the Spanish Antonio Carriedo, who, you will recall, with his partner Marco Rodriguez, absolutely smashed the other US men’s team six days ago. Now it’s all up to this duo to keep the USA’s hopes for a medal alive. And so far they’ve been doing a pretty good job so far. The Italians haven’t been making it easy for them. They have their work cut out for them.
And what a task it is Tony! They’re up against the more experienced Italian team, who were seeded first coming into this Olympics and were the current Gold medal favoites. Let’s take a look at them. A brother duo, Feliciano and Lovino Vargas, they’re the second brothers to ever compete together in beach volleyball, the first being the Beilschmidt pair from Germany in 1992. The Vargases are already celebrities in Italy after winning the 2010 and then the 2011 championships and then progressing spectacularly in these Olympics. There’ve been reports, and get this Tony, of Italian women sending the brothers underwear in the post to the Olympic Village!
Haha, that’s right Steve! We’re not sure if it was let in or not, but that must’ve been an entertaining package going through security!
The ages of these teams are right in with each other with this matchup. The Vargas brothers are a bit older at 25 and 23, but Jones and Kirkland are a bit younger, Jones as 20, Kirkland at 22. If this team keep going the way they have been, and knock on wood, haha, I wouldn’t want to jinx them, but Alfred Jones may see his first Olympic medal before he graduates from UCSD!
And what a thing that would be, Tony! He’d certainly have something to talk about when he heads back to school in the fall! But they both have their work cut out for them! The Vargases are a master of combinations of set and kill. We’ll see if our boys are up to the task.
Alright, and it looks like the set is about to start! The Italians have the first serve, let’s see how it goes.
Feliciano takes the serve, hits it to Jones. Pass to Kirkland… into the air… over the net by Jones, saved by Feliciano Vargas, to Lovino, spike by Feliciano, set Kirkland, and Jones puts it away, just inside the line! Point one for the Americans. Look at that smile on Jones’s face!
Now we get to see one of Kirkland’s serves, here, and boy, can the man jump! Hits it to Lovino, short serve, and easier than we’ve seen out of him lately though. Pass to Feliciano, hits it over. Jones blocks, and Lovino hits it into the net with an arm and onto the sand! Point two for Jones-Kirkland, putting the Americans into a 2-0 lead over the Italians. What do you make of it, Steve?
I think that it’s a great start for the Americans, who need to get an early lead on the Italians if they can. The Vargases work best when they build up some momentum, they can get on ungodly streaks of up to five or six points at a time, so if Jones and Kirkland can keep them from getting a long string, that’ll be good for them in the long run. The last set, the Italians came from behind, and got one of those runs. The Americans can’t let that happen again, and let them erase ten minutes of hard work within a few minutes.
Another overhand by Kirkland. The Italians use the same pass set as before. Jones jumps up to block… but misses! Kirkland dives… but it’s outside anyways, point for the Americans. Three-nothing USA.
The Vargases don’t look that concerned, Tony.
That’s right Steve, they’re counting on getting another one of those runs I was telling you about earlier. They have some very nice set pieces they need to put into play.
Service this time to the back court, hoping for an ace, but caught by Feliciano! Well done! There’s one of those set pieces… Jones jumps once more to block! Oh, off of him and out of bounds! Point to Italy, well done on the aggressive risk there by Lovino. 3-1, USA still in the lead.
Feliciano taking the serves… ooh, that’s a service error. Can’t make too many of those. 4-1 US.
Jones serves this time to Lovino, fast pass to Felicano, Jones runs up to block! Doesn’t make it. Steve, you just can’t give the Italians openings like that. They know exactly what to do with open space near the front of the court. Jones and Kirkland have to know that just because the Vargases have done the same pass set a few times now doesn’t mean they’ll change it up! You can’t get to thinking that the Italians are a one trick pony.
You know Tony, I just keep waiting for some of that pass magic we saw in the last game against China to come into play again. Jones and Kirkland were the pinball wizards of that game. They need to play together, or else it’s all going to fall to pieces.
And that’s seven points, so the sides switch here at Horseguards Parade. The sky is overcast and grey, so there’s no good side at the moment, though the US team did decide to wear their sunglasses, just in case.
Felicano serves, and it’s out! Amazing eighth service error for today.
Again Steve, you just can’t make too many of those! Those are easy points they just gave the Americans…
This US team is just one of the top teams out there, and Kirkland is one of the best servers as well. Their weakness is their offense at times; it’s just not quick enough. Jones’s blocks result in more points, and Kirkland is strong, but sometimes they just have trouble putting it away, especially when faced with a strong defensive team. But this Italian team is stronger offensively, so the Americans are actually getting a few through.
-Cut to commercial-
And we’re back! The Italians have just finished a streak, one of their famous streaks, a 9-3 streak.
This is what the Italians are famous for, they’re just putting it where Jones and Kirkland aren’t, and they’re just hammering it, when Kirkland manages to make a dig. The Vargases are just making everything difficult. The Americans look disheartened, and they just aren’t playing as well as usual. They need to focus down, it’s at 10-7 right now. Not a huge difference, when you look at it, but taken in the context of the last few minutes, it’s large. The Americans don’t want to expend their one time out for this match right now, not when they’re this close to having the 11 point time out.
Kirkland serves, his jump serve, and ace! Right in the middle of that husband-wife, no communication zone! The Italians look a little angry, actually.
Kirkland serves again! Lovino… Feliciano launches it… Kirkland is there! Jones chases it, Kirkland kills it! Point for the Americans! 10-9, evening it up.
That was truly remarkable, they weren’t even looking at it, they just knew each other would be there! Wow, you usually don’t see that in a rookie team! You usually have to wait until they get to their second Olympics or a few more years of international play to see this. There’s some of that pinball wizardry again!
Remember, the chemistry between partners makes or breaks a beach volleyball team. Look back on the greats in the sport. Ron Von Hagen and Ron Lang had some of the most brilliant chemistry and communication on the field. This unlikely duo seems to be reminiscent of that in a way. They have a lot of faith in each other as you look at the way they’re on these passes.
Oh look at that, the Italians lobbed it, the far court on the line, Kirkland just couldn’t get there. Time out at the 11 point mark.
Now we go to Heather Cox down on the Court.
I was talking to their coach, who isn’t allowed on the court, much like tennis, and he’s been saying they need to break the Italian’s streak. They cannot allow this to keep going. Kirkland’s been doing well on the digging, but the pass combinations have got the Americans guessing, and the Americans have just been guessing wrong! Jones hasn’t been doing as much blocking as he’d like, and has been playing more outside the court. He is a fantastic blocker, but he just hasn’t been playing it!
Thanks Heather, let’s listen in on our two boys.
“Look, Al, you need to stay up at the net. They’re f---ing afraid of you. I can handle it back court. But only if you go up there and do that blasted smile of yours and force them to shoot. We can do this, we can win this.”
“Yeah, right… Look Art, you know you’ve been fantastic whatever happens, yeah?”
“Shut up. We’re only two behind. We can win this.”
And indeed they can. But only if they pull their game up. The Italians have gotten lucky on this one, a few tricklers, and some line balls, after those few give away points the first few minutes.
Jones serves this time, and Feliciano runs up to meet it! Lovino… Feliciano… Lovino sets, Feliciano spikes, and Jones blocks! No, Lovino manages to get his hand under it! Like a spatula, set by Feliciano, Lovino taps it over, Jones blocks… Kirkland chases! He chases it, and Jones is there! Over by Kirkland! Feliciano Vargas goes and gets it! To Lovino, hit, and third block by Jones sends it into the sand! Look at that smile, Jones’s signature smile, high fives between the two Americans! A hard won point after an excellent rally!
Serve by Kirkland, to Feliciano. To Lovino, spike by Feliciano! Jones gets it right in the bread basket, up to Kirkland, and he sends it right past Lovino’s block right to the line! Excellent point!
Kirkland serves again, Jones ready to block up by the net. Feliciano gets it, difficult one to get, pass to Lovino… and it misses! Kirkland earns an ace!
That’s the fourth ace of the match for the Americans, none for the Italians. Kirkland is chasing the overall ace record for a single games. The Italians just can’t keep doing this.
Kirkland and Jones have had a surprising lack of these aces this time around. Usually they give up at least a few a match, but this time they’ve been perfect!
Time out for the Italians. You know, the Vargases just haven’t been clicking in this match. They need another run, but the Americans just haven’t been giving them the opportunity! The Italians are trying to break the Americans’ rhythm with this time out. Let’s listen in:
“Dobbiamo parlare di più, non si può semplicemente lasciarli andare così!”
“Ve, Ma fratello ...”
“Vuoi finire con la medaglia d'argento?”
“No, ma - ”
“Allora andiamo avanti!”
And that’s the Italians. Jones and Kirkland appear tired but generally happy. They just can’t let up on the gas now that they’ve got the Italians in a position anyone would want them in.
But that’s what the Americans have consistently shown they’re good at, not letting up at the last minute, they keep going to the last.
Right, I was talking to Alfred Jones just a few days ago. He said that playing a match of volleyball was just like running a marathon; you had to save some energy for the final push.
And there’s the serve by Kirkland! He’s serving everywhere today, and that’s what makes him so difficult; he never serves to one place in particular. Back court, by the line, short, just over the net… Feliciano runs and gets this one, up, and a quick, unexpected send over by Lovino. Kirkland runs after it, but doesn’t make it! First point after the time out goes to the Italians.
Steve, Kirkland looks angry with himself. But he picks himself up again, no problem, takes the serve, sets it to Jones, who kills it!
Excellent job, Kirkland serves to Lovino, on the line, to Feliciano set, spike and block by Jones! Oh, outside the bounds! Point to the Italians.
This team for the Italians is just so fluid, they cut right in and out of their pass sets, in a way that’s difficult to anticipate! Jump serve to Kirkland, hits his and keeps going, and Jones chases it! Oh my god, unbelievable, Jones gets a hand on that! Kirkland’s up to control it, set by Jones, kill by Kirkland! You see the ritual high five once more.
- Cut to commercial -
And we’re here at the end of the second set of the gold medal final match for Men’s Beach Volleyball! Now if you recall, the Americans beat the Poles three days ago to advance to the final, and either way, they are guaranteed a medal. This match will determine which team gets gold and which gets silver, the Americans or the Italians. The Italians were the favorite for the gold coming into the match, and so far, it’s been one upset, as the Americans won the first match, 22-20, because, as you remember, it’s two points to victory.
If you’re just joining us, the score is 20-18 to the Italians. This is the first set point for them, Lovino Vargas is serving. Short serve, and Jones bangs it down! Look at that smile!
Serve by star digger Arthur Kirkland, to the outside. Lovino, Feliciano… block by Jones, recovered by Feliciano, hits it into the net, and second recovery by Lovino! The Italians do not want this to be tied up. Kirkland demonstrates his mastery by getting his arms under that ball, and Jones is there for the set, and Kirkland sends it home!
Set point is now two away, because you have to have two to win. The question that everyone is asking is can the Americans keep this streak up?
Well Tony, the crowd is definitely with them, the chants of U-S-A echoing here at the lovely Horseguards Parade! If the Americans pull this off, they’ll be only the second team in history to pull off an Olympic gold with two scores of 22-20. And it’ll be quite the upset to the first seeded Italians!
Serve once more by Kirkland, you can see the determination on both their faces. They’ve just been with it tonight! Complete focus behind those sunglasses!
Lovino… Feliciano, Lovino, and Jones BLOCKS IT!
Oh my god! Oh my god! Alfred Jones and Arthur Kirkland have swept the Italians! I didn’t think it was possible! You should hear the crowd here, everyone’s hysterical! They’ve won the gold medal! They’ve won the gold medal! They’ve won gold, leaving the Italians with silver! I can’t believe it, I can’t believe it!
And oh my god! Kirkland just, just planted one on Jones! Oh ho! That is quite the celebration! Jones, look at his face, he looks absolutely shocked! But there he goes, and kisses Kirkland back! Oh my god!
Steve, I bet some girls back in the US are crying tonight. Looks like our golden boys are more than just that kind of partners…
Be sure to check back in with NBC 4 tomorrow, as we have Alfred Jones and Arthur Kirkland to discuss their win! And what a way to win! Two sets, 22-20 each, for the Americans.
It was definitely to their advantage that they’d been an underdog so much in this Olympics. They’ve been playing low, slow, hard matches so much more than the Italians, who were so used to seeing things go their way immediately. Definitely one of the most dearly won gold medals for the USA this year. Let’s see if we can talk with them now…
Oh my god, they’re still at it.
Genre: Humor
Word Count: 2972
Rating/Warnings: PG
Summary: Are you tired of those sports commentators yet? Well, here's the commentary for the final for Men's Beach Volleyball, America vs. Italy
…If you’re just joining us now, this is the start of the second set of the gold medal final for Men’s beach volleyball, USA vs. Italy. The US won the first set, 22-20, very close. Let’s get a bit of background on our two boys, Tony.
They caused a lot of controversy when they entered the US Olympic trials. Arthur Kirkland was born in England and could have competed over there if he’d wanted to. Many speculated that Kirkland was simply training over here like so many athletes, and would then go to Great Britain the next season.
But Arthur has discounted all of that with a wave of his hand. He said he’d only lived in England for four years before moving to the US. In fact, he has his citizenship, and has had it for over fifteen years now. He said if that didn’t make him American, he didn’t know what did. Besides, and I quote the man himself, that he “wouldn’t be anywhere without his partner.”
Alfred Jones, yes that same partner, attracts a lot of the cameras; he is what everyone thought men’s beach volleyball should look like. You can see it; he’s tall, six four, and has that sunshine hair we’ve come to expect out of those California boys. He’s got one of the best blocking records here. See, look at Alfred now, there’s that smile that’s made America simply fall in love with him! They’re rookies at this Olympics, but already they’ve taken their pool and the world by storm.
Exactly right Steve. Most of us were extremely surprised when we saw Arthur Kirkland though. Only five feet ten inches, he’s a bit shorter than most of everyone here. But wow, can the man move! He gets height in deep sand that we’ve only seen on the indoor courts! He was the second seed digger coming into the Olympics this year, the first position taken by the Spanish Antonio Carriedo, who, you will recall, with his partner Marco Rodriguez, absolutely smashed the other US men’s team six days ago. Now it’s all up to this duo to keep the USA’s hopes for a medal alive. And so far they’ve been doing a pretty good job so far. The Italians haven’t been making it easy for them. They have their work cut out for them.
And what a task it is Tony! They’re up against the more experienced Italian team, who were seeded first coming into this Olympics and were the current Gold medal favoites. Let’s take a look at them. A brother duo, Feliciano and Lovino Vargas, they’re the second brothers to ever compete together in beach volleyball, the first being the Beilschmidt pair from Germany in 1992. The Vargases are already celebrities in Italy after winning the 2010 and then the 2011 championships and then progressing spectacularly in these Olympics. There’ve been reports, and get this Tony, of Italian women sending the brothers underwear in the post to the Olympic Village!
Haha, that’s right Steve! We’re not sure if it was let in or not, but that must’ve been an entertaining package going through security!
The ages of these teams are right in with each other with this matchup. The Vargas brothers are a bit older at 25 and 23, but Jones and Kirkland are a bit younger, Jones as 20, Kirkland at 22. If this team keep going the way they have been, and knock on wood, haha, I wouldn’t want to jinx them, but Alfred Jones may see his first Olympic medal before he graduates from UCSD!
And what a thing that would be, Tony! He’d certainly have something to talk about when he heads back to school in the fall! But they both have their work cut out for them! The Vargases are a master of combinations of set and kill. We’ll see if our boys are up to the task.
Alright, and it looks like the set is about to start! The Italians have the first serve, let’s see how it goes.
Feliciano takes the serve, hits it to Jones. Pass to Kirkland… into the air… over the net by Jones, saved by Feliciano Vargas, to Lovino, spike by Feliciano, set Kirkland, and Jones puts it away, just inside the line! Point one for the Americans. Look at that smile on Jones’s face!
Now we get to see one of Kirkland’s serves, here, and boy, can the man jump! Hits it to Lovino, short serve, and easier than we’ve seen out of him lately though. Pass to Feliciano, hits it over. Jones blocks, and Lovino hits it into the net with an arm and onto the sand! Point two for Jones-Kirkland, putting the Americans into a 2-0 lead over the Italians. What do you make of it, Steve?
I think that it’s a great start for the Americans, who need to get an early lead on the Italians if they can. The Vargases work best when they build up some momentum, they can get on ungodly streaks of up to five or six points at a time, so if Jones and Kirkland can keep them from getting a long string, that’ll be good for them in the long run. The last set, the Italians came from behind, and got one of those runs. The Americans can’t let that happen again, and let them erase ten minutes of hard work within a few minutes.
Another overhand by Kirkland. The Italians use the same pass set as before. Jones jumps up to block… but misses! Kirkland dives… but it’s outside anyways, point for the Americans. Three-nothing USA.
The Vargases don’t look that concerned, Tony.
That’s right Steve, they’re counting on getting another one of those runs I was telling you about earlier. They have some very nice set pieces they need to put into play.
Service this time to the back court, hoping for an ace, but caught by Feliciano! Well done! There’s one of those set pieces… Jones jumps once more to block! Oh, off of him and out of bounds! Point to Italy, well done on the aggressive risk there by Lovino. 3-1, USA still in the lead.
Feliciano taking the serves… ooh, that’s a service error. Can’t make too many of those. 4-1 US.
Jones serves this time to Lovino, fast pass to Felicano, Jones runs up to block! Doesn’t make it. Steve, you just can’t give the Italians openings like that. They know exactly what to do with open space near the front of the court. Jones and Kirkland have to know that just because the Vargases have done the same pass set a few times now doesn’t mean they’ll change it up! You can’t get to thinking that the Italians are a one trick pony.
You know Tony, I just keep waiting for some of that pass magic we saw in the last game against China to come into play again. Jones and Kirkland were the pinball wizards of that game. They need to play together, or else it’s all going to fall to pieces.
And that’s seven points, so the sides switch here at Horseguards Parade. The sky is overcast and grey, so there’s no good side at the moment, though the US team did decide to wear their sunglasses, just in case.
Felicano serves, and it’s out! Amazing eighth service error for today.
Again Steve, you just can’t make too many of those! Those are easy points they just gave the Americans…
This US team is just one of the top teams out there, and Kirkland is one of the best servers as well. Their weakness is their offense at times; it’s just not quick enough. Jones’s blocks result in more points, and Kirkland is strong, but sometimes they just have trouble putting it away, especially when faced with a strong defensive team. But this Italian team is stronger offensively, so the Americans are actually getting a few through.
-Cut to commercial-
And we’re back! The Italians have just finished a streak, one of their famous streaks, a 9-3 streak.
This is what the Italians are famous for, they’re just putting it where Jones and Kirkland aren’t, and they’re just hammering it, when Kirkland manages to make a dig. The Vargases are just making everything difficult. The Americans look disheartened, and they just aren’t playing as well as usual. They need to focus down, it’s at 10-7 right now. Not a huge difference, when you look at it, but taken in the context of the last few minutes, it’s large. The Americans don’t want to expend their one time out for this match right now, not when they’re this close to having the 11 point time out.
Kirkland serves, his jump serve, and ace! Right in the middle of that husband-wife, no communication zone! The Italians look a little angry, actually.
Kirkland serves again! Lovino… Feliciano launches it… Kirkland is there! Jones chases it, Kirkland kills it! Point for the Americans! 10-9, evening it up.
That was truly remarkable, they weren’t even looking at it, they just knew each other would be there! Wow, you usually don’t see that in a rookie team! You usually have to wait until they get to their second Olympics or a few more years of international play to see this. There’s some of that pinball wizardry again!
Remember, the chemistry between partners makes or breaks a beach volleyball team. Look back on the greats in the sport. Ron Von Hagen and Ron Lang had some of the most brilliant chemistry and communication on the field. This unlikely duo seems to be reminiscent of that in a way. They have a lot of faith in each other as you look at the way they’re on these passes.
Oh look at that, the Italians lobbed it, the far court on the line, Kirkland just couldn’t get there. Time out at the 11 point mark.
Now we go to Heather Cox down on the Court.
I was talking to their coach, who isn’t allowed on the court, much like tennis, and he’s been saying they need to break the Italian’s streak. They cannot allow this to keep going. Kirkland’s been doing well on the digging, but the pass combinations have got the Americans guessing, and the Americans have just been guessing wrong! Jones hasn’t been doing as much blocking as he’d like, and has been playing more outside the court. He is a fantastic blocker, but he just hasn’t been playing it!
Thanks Heather, let’s listen in on our two boys.
“Look, Al, you need to stay up at the net. They’re f---ing afraid of you. I can handle it back court. But only if you go up there and do that blasted smile of yours and force them to shoot. We can do this, we can win this.”
“Yeah, right… Look Art, you know you’ve been fantastic whatever happens, yeah?”
“Shut up. We’re only two behind. We can win this.”
And indeed they can. But only if they pull their game up. The Italians have gotten lucky on this one, a few tricklers, and some line balls, after those few give away points the first few minutes.
Jones serves this time, and Feliciano runs up to meet it! Lovino… Feliciano… Lovino sets, Feliciano spikes, and Jones blocks! No, Lovino manages to get his hand under it! Like a spatula, set by Feliciano, Lovino taps it over, Jones blocks… Kirkland chases! He chases it, and Jones is there! Over by Kirkland! Feliciano Vargas goes and gets it! To Lovino, hit, and third block by Jones sends it into the sand! Look at that smile, Jones’s signature smile, high fives between the two Americans! A hard won point after an excellent rally!
Serve by Kirkland, to Feliciano. To Lovino, spike by Feliciano! Jones gets it right in the bread basket, up to Kirkland, and he sends it right past Lovino’s block right to the line! Excellent point!
Kirkland serves again, Jones ready to block up by the net. Feliciano gets it, difficult one to get, pass to Lovino… and it misses! Kirkland earns an ace!
That’s the fourth ace of the match for the Americans, none for the Italians. Kirkland is chasing the overall ace record for a single games. The Italians just can’t keep doing this.
Kirkland and Jones have had a surprising lack of these aces this time around. Usually they give up at least a few a match, but this time they’ve been perfect!
Time out for the Italians. You know, the Vargases just haven’t been clicking in this match. They need another run, but the Americans just haven’t been giving them the opportunity! The Italians are trying to break the Americans’ rhythm with this time out. Let’s listen in:
“Dobbiamo parlare di più, non si può semplicemente lasciarli andare così!”
“Ve, Ma fratello ...”
“Vuoi finire con la medaglia d'argento?”
“No, ma - ”
“Allora andiamo avanti!”
And that’s the Italians. Jones and Kirkland appear tired but generally happy. They just can’t let up on the gas now that they’ve got the Italians in a position anyone would want them in.
But that’s what the Americans have consistently shown they’re good at, not letting up at the last minute, they keep going to the last.
Right, I was talking to Alfred Jones just a few days ago. He said that playing a match of volleyball was just like running a marathon; you had to save some energy for the final push.
And there’s the serve by Kirkland! He’s serving everywhere today, and that’s what makes him so difficult; he never serves to one place in particular. Back court, by the line, short, just over the net… Feliciano runs and gets this one, up, and a quick, unexpected send over by Lovino. Kirkland runs after it, but doesn’t make it! First point after the time out goes to the Italians.
Steve, Kirkland looks angry with himself. But he picks himself up again, no problem, takes the serve, sets it to Jones, who kills it!
Excellent job, Kirkland serves to Lovino, on the line, to Feliciano set, spike and block by Jones! Oh, outside the bounds! Point to the Italians.
This team for the Italians is just so fluid, they cut right in and out of their pass sets, in a way that’s difficult to anticipate! Jump serve to Kirkland, hits his and keeps going, and Jones chases it! Oh my god, unbelievable, Jones gets a hand on that! Kirkland’s up to control it, set by Jones, kill by Kirkland! You see the ritual high five once more.
- Cut to commercial -
And we’re here at the end of the second set of the gold medal final match for Men’s Beach Volleyball! Now if you recall, the Americans beat the Poles three days ago to advance to the final, and either way, they are guaranteed a medal. This match will determine which team gets gold and which gets silver, the Americans or the Italians. The Italians were the favorite for the gold coming into the match, and so far, it’s been one upset, as the Americans won the first match, 22-20, because, as you remember, it’s two points to victory.
If you’re just joining us, the score is 20-18 to the Italians. This is the first set point for them, Lovino Vargas is serving. Short serve, and Jones bangs it down! Look at that smile!
Serve by star digger Arthur Kirkland, to the outside. Lovino, Feliciano… block by Jones, recovered by Feliciano, hits it into the net, and second recovery by Lovino! The Italians do not want this to be tied up. Kirkland demonstrates his mastery by getting his arms under that ball, and Jones is there for the set, and Kirkland sends it home!
Set point is now two away, because you have to have two to win. The question that everyone is asking is can the Americans keep this streak up?
Well Tony, the crowd is definitely with them, the chants of U-S-A echoing here at the lovely Horseguards Parade! If the Americans pull this off, they’ll be only the second team in history to pull off an Olympic gold with two scores of 22-20. And it’ll be quite the upset to the first seeded Italians!
Serve once more by Kirkland, you can see the determination on both their faces. They’ve just been with it tonight! Complete focus behind those sunglasses!
Lovino… Feliciano, Lovino, and Jones BLOCKS IT!
Oh my god! Oh my god! Alfred Jones and Arthur Kirkland have swept the Italians! I didn’t think it was possible! You should hear the crowd here, everyone’s hysterical! They’ve won the gold medal! They’ve won the gold medal! They’ve won gold, leaving the Italians with silver! I can’t believe it, I can’t believe it!
And oh my god! Kirkland just, just planted one on Jones! Oh ho! That is quite the celebration! Jones, look at his face, he looks absolutely shocked! But there he goes, and kisses Kirkland back! Oh my god!
Steve, I bet some girls back in the US are crying tonight. Looks like our golden boys are more than just that kind of partners…
Be sure to check back in with NBC 4 tomorrow, as we have Alfred Jones and Arthur Kirkland to discuss their win! And what a way to win! Two sets, 22-20 each, for the Americans.
It was definitely to their advantage that they’d been an underdog so much in this Olympics. They’ve been playing low, slow, hard matches so much more than the Italians, who were so used to seeing things go their way immediately. Definitely one of the most dearly won gold medals for the USA this year. Let’s see if we can talk with them now…
Oh my god, they’re still at it.