About this episode
John Vallely. John Discusses: - His youth growing up in Newport Beach surfing, working for his dad, playing basketball, and learning the sport of volleyball, his journey as a talented basketball player starting out at Orange Coast Community College where he met his amazing wife, Karen, transferring to UCLA and playing guard for John Wooden at UCLA and winning 2 NCAA Championships in '69 & '70, what he learned at his 2 years at UCLA from Coach Wooden, his career on the beach playing volleyball and the players he played with up to landing Ron Von Hagen as a partner in '69, what it was like winning beach opens alongside the Legendary Von Hagen, including the '69 Manhattan Beach Open against Rundle & Bergmann, plus beating them at the Jonathan Club, what he remembers about Bergmann & Rundle, what made Von Hagen such an incredible player and role model to play with, his recollection of some of the other players he played with: Brian Lewis SR, Pete Ott, and Bobby Garcia, his time playing indoor for Wilt's Big Dippers, his recollection of many of the legends and characters he played with and against ( Larry Rundle, Ron Lang, Keith Erickson, Gene Selznick, Kirk Kilgour, Bob Vogelsang, Ron Coon, and Dave Bordwell), the 3 best hitters he saw, the best diggers he recalls, and the best team he competed against, his favorite win on the the beach, his thoughts on the sport today with the new rules, including what strategy he would use playing against a team like Dalhausser & Lucena under the old rules, what he's most proud of from his career, and what he is up to today! Support the show