A while ago I wrote about how the Argentine polo professionals were taking over the game of polo all over the world. As I recently reviewed the rosters of the British high-goal season; the high-goal season at Sotogrande in Spain; and the lineups for the Deauville Gold Cup I noticed a blatant absence of Americans. In fact, the only Americans I came across playing in Europe were 8-goalers Nicolas Roldan and Julio Arellano, neither of which were born in the United States.
The days of American pros playing among the teams in Europe has passed, their positions have been filled by Argentines, Australians, New Zealanders, Chileans, etc. What I’m wondering is why? The other question I have is why so many foreigners have taken seats in the front row while our beleaguered American players are relegated to standby positions? Maybe there’s more to being a professional polo player than hitting the ball and scoring goals. Maybe the American professionals exude a sense of entitlement or prideful arrogance. Or maybe the American professionals don’t know how to deal with patrons or potential patrons.
Are the Argentines taking the game away from us, or are we just giving it to them?
There was a time when American polo players were considered among the best in the game. That time has passed. The USPA no longer has the international clout it once exercised, there doesn’t appear to be any vision for the future, and our young professionals are struggling to stay in the game-even in their own country.
Is it the stigma of the Ugly American in polo or just a lack of professionalism, I really don’t know? But unless our players are promoted internationally, until our top players are sought for slots on one of the twenty something number of teams in Great Britain, until American names appear on rosters in the Sotogrande Gold Cup of the Gold Cup in Deauville, until they can show the international polo community that they are among the top tier of players, United States polo will be considered to be second class. No annual international competitions. A timid and toothless national Association. A lack of cohesiveness in direction or ambition. Unless changes are made, polo in America will go the way of the Royal Palm Polo club. Once proud, now dead and buried.
