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Editorial Review Product Description
On the worldwide stage, Beach Volleyball rules - no ifs, ands, or butts! Its fast action, sex appeal, and beach party vibe lure millions of television viewers to what NBC proclaimed the hottest ticket during the Olympic Games. The United States has long dominated this sport. Yet, as these Olympic champions return home, the afterglow rapidly burns out. The ever-optimistic Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) always hopes for an Olympic spike that will sweep its Pro Beach Volleyball tour into the sports mainstream. Instead, this provocative sport struggles year after year. What gives? What's going on underneath this lustrous sun-baked layer of sun, fun, and buns? Order On The Court strips away this glistening front, revealing the dark clouds that smog Pro Beach Volleyball's visions of respect and recognition. This benchmark book not only dives deep into the sport's turbulent and amusing times, but also traces its history and projects its future. ... Read more Customer Reviews (3) 
Fantastic look into the world of Beach Volleyball & it's history
My wife and I are avid Pro Beach volleyball fans, dating back to 2005 after volunteering at our first AVP event in Cincinnati.Since that time we have had the privilege to work at tournaments around the US and have fallen in love with the sport. During a recent tournament back in Cinci, we had the good fortune of meeting the author, Tom Burke. As we flew back home to San Diego, I was totally engrossed in his book "Order on the Court". I'm not sure which part I enjoyed most, it was excellent from start to finish.The sport's history was chronicled back to the very beginning and his in-depth knowledge and analysis was highly illuminating from the early days up to 2008 when the book was released.
As the AVP recently announced it was closing it's doors, I kept hearing the old saying about history repeating itself. This is certainly the case when it comes to the AVP and current state of pro-beach volleyball in the US. Hopefully some of the excellent points made by Tom will be given some serious thought and consideration by the future leaders of sport and it will once again rise to prominance. This book is a great read not only for us rabid fans, but also newbies to the sport interested to learn more and those hopeful it will get back on track and transform into something bigger and better for the players and fans alike.
Olympic Fan
I am a casual fan of Olympic Beach Volleyball, who has attended two Women's Olympic Finals, and one AVP event.As an avid all around sports fan, I found that Order on the Court provided context and perspective by chronicling the up and down history of the USA's AVP, which is the tour that attempts to market ths sport as a professional event for the US sports fan consumer.Additionally, as Tom Burke juxtaposes the seemingly no-brainer appeal of the sport versus the business of running a tour one is able to understand the issues that cause the tour to struggle year in and year out with sponsors and fans.I learned a great deal about the inner-workings of the AVP from reading this book, and I walked away with a greater respect for the athletes who pursue their athletic dreams via beach volleyball.
Super Book! Inside Look at the Life & Times of Pro Beach Volleyball
This book rocks and lives up to all its promises!It certainly is a groundbreaking book for it covers not only the history of the pro beach volleyball sport but also all its present challenges and successes.The book is loaded with drama and comedy as it describes every facet of the sport: the AVP organization, the players, the media and sponsors, and even the fans. A definite must-have for any Sports or Olympics fan.
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