Q loves beach volleyball in a big way. He plays it in Houston and travels the country (sometimes the world) in pursuit of live volleyball. He is one of the most generous people I have ever met, and beach volleyball players are often the beneficiaries of said generosity. He loves to throw a party, but doesn’t even party. I’ve never seen Q drink or partake in other vices— besides gambling; he is an avid Craps player. And he loves to go on trips with his friends.
We once went to Las Vegas with Sarah Sponcil (who’s very lucky on the slots), Sean Rosenthal (who is a crazy good blackjack player), and Chaim Schalk (who is not a crazy good blackjack player). Q hosted a 4’s tournament in late October in Austin but flew us all out days before to gallivant around Houston. It was ridiculously fun.
The only thing Q may like more than volleyball and Craps is good food. Q is known for his dinners. He scopes the best places in town, wherever that town may be. We’ve had Nobu in Vegas, Uchi in Houston, and Italian food with my parents in Chicago. He intrinsically knows the best dishes to order and isn’t shy about taking charge.
I love these From My Perspective pieces; they’re a little slice of how people experience this game we all share. Olympians Dain Blanton, Jen Kessy, and Sarah Pavan have written FMP pieces about their paths to the podium and perspectives on the sport. My FMP was the first thing I ever wrote for the AVP (and was unknowingly my audition for this job). For this FMP, I wanted something a little different, a perspective that most of our readers could relate to – being a crazy beach volleyball fan that just can’t get enough of the AVP. Enter Q Nguyen:
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QN: I’m a sports fan in the biggest way. Ask anybody that knows me. I have been fortunate enough to attend the World Series, the Super Bowl, and countless other sporting events. However, the AVP is what I am most excited about every year.
My first AVP event was New Orleans 2016. That event quite literally changed my life. Everything about the events draws you in, starting with the unbeatable free general admission. There’s never any lull in excitement or entertainment with multiple games on multiple courts throughout the day. And Stadium Court is something special. Whether you sit in a courtside box or the stands – you can hear everything between the crowd and the players.
Listening to all the heckling makes the matches more entertaining. Players feed off the crowd, sometimes participating in the spectacle. They all have thick skin (unlike LeBron James). And they sometimes feed off of each other, too. I am always curious to see if the Crabb brothers will hug after a match or who will start the trash talking first. Odds are, during a Crabb v. Crabb match, fans will see at least one staredown after a kill or big block.
Now let’s talk location. The AVP cities of choice are phenomenal tourist hot spots already. But combine that with an AVP event, and you get so much more. I really love the places they go. The venue is almost always located near a body of water, which makes for some incredible scenery. You could be looking at the California coast, Lake Michigan, or a major city skyline. Aside from sports, I like to eat. It is always an experience finding the best food and drinks in these cities.
In New York, I go for the steakhouses – it just feels right. In Hawaii, we search far and wide for the best sushi on the island. Hawaii is one of my favorite places in the world (really hoping we go back there; just saying). Chicago has excellent pizza, sure, but their Nobu (my all-time favorite restaurant) is the best I’ve ever been to. Manhattan and Hermosa bring Palmilla, the Strand House, and MB Post. I’m from Houston, though, so the Austin tourney is my favorite. It’s hard to beat Uchi.
Going to an AVP becomes a mini-vacation. I have a lot of friends in the Qualifier, so I like to arrive early and support them. AVP Qualifiers are another reason the AVP is so different (and better) than other larger sporting events. The Quali is fun and open, and the level of play is almost as good as the Main Draw. There is just so much volleyball all day long it feels like my head is on a swivel. Or that it should be.
I’m not a partier, but I do like to socialize. Interacting and engaging with the players off the court is a highlight. You can usually find the Saturday night players’ party location; it’s usually open to the public and an incredible way to interact with the athletes. It’s nice to see the players unwind after a grueling couple of days of competition. I have some awesome memories, whether it was partying on Bourbon Street with Rosie and Theo, playing ping-pong at spin against Chaim and Sponcil, or celebrating Nick’s birthday at Lucky Strike.
Of course, this is my favorite part. I saved the best for last. The fan/player interaction is what sets this sport apart. That interaction draws us volleyball enthusiasts in and makes us yearn for more. More battles on the court. More jokes and jabs. More smiles and laughs.
This brings me back to my first AVP event. I was watching the Qualifier on a rainy day in New Orleans. I look to my left and see Sean Rosenthal watching the Qualifier a few rows over. I was star-struck and probably froze. He chatted with fans, signed autographs, and posed for pictures. For a while. He’s still that guy – a two-time Olympian who’s one of the most down-to-earth, humble guys I’ve ever met.
It’s not just Rosie. I don’t think I have seen an AVP player refuse to sign something or take a selfie for us crazy fans. This is why these athletes are so special to me. I’ve been lucky to form great friendships with many of them; some are more like family now. And it all started watching the AVP on a rainy day in New Orleans.