Just a week left until the NBVL Inaugural Season Draft. Update on registration: Both the men and women have hit the minimum number of required players (though there are an unlimited number of spots available, and until Dec. 7th to register). Still looking for that last Owner to step up to become a part of NBVL History, but it’s shaping up to be a fun Combine, and an entertaining Draft.
I’ve mentioned this in our intro videos, and in the League vs. Tour article that was posted about a month ago, but since I was a child, I’ve always loved pro sport’s leagues, and wished I could be a part of them. I’m not alone in this, countless households tune in to various pro sport activities on a daily basis. So many children and adults alike are captivated by their favorite players and teams as they take action in all the various National “Insert sport” Leagues/Associations. I would always track how Steve Nash’s assist total would grow over the course of a season for the Mavericks and Suns (we won’t talk about the Lakers). I’d try to guess whether Peyton Manning for the Colts or Tom Brady with the Patriots would break the next QB record. I’d get excited knowing that Jerome Iginla was about to heat up for the Flames now that November had rolled around. When Lisa Leslie dunked in a game for the first time, it changed what people thought was possible, and gave the WNBA it’s due in the male dominated world of pro sports leagues.
Professional sports league’s bring with them a countless number of narratives, that revolve not only around the Teams, but also the players themselves. An athlete can become a hero over the course of a season. Their play can define the stories that will be shared about them from one game to the next. It’s the strength of the team as a whole that wins games/seasons/championships, but it’s the individual efforts that can win lifelong supporters.
As we move into the Inaugural Season Draft, I want to recognize those players that are taking the leap to register. The NBVL is providing a platform for beach volleyball to grow in Canada, but these players in Vancouver will get the chance to write the first chapter of the narrative. Here’s the story as I see it heading into Draft night.
The key thing to pay attention to during draft night, is the comparative value of men versus that of the women. There is still a week left to register, so we don’t yet have the whole picture when it comes to numbers, but as it stands, the count is at 12 Women, and 18 Men (Sadly the women’s number dropped after an unfortunate injury to Jayme Lepp, we wish her a speedy recovery). This means that comparatively, each woman’s value amongst their own gender, in theory, should be more valuable than their equally ranked male counterpart by a ratio of about 3 to 2 (I’m not entirely certain if that’s how the odds should work in this case, please feel free to correct me) What I’m getting at is that the top women are more valuable than the top men, because from a simple numbers standpoint there should be more top men to choose from than top women, meaning that each top female player should provide more of an impact on a per game basis compared to the field of players. To summarize further, Ladies rule, Fellas Drool.
Theoretically (again) it is possible for every player to be of equal skill, and for every team to be exactly equal in all ways, and we haven’t seen how the Inaugural Season will play out, so for all we know that may end up being the case. Someone still needs to get picked first, however, so every player will inevitably be ranked. I won’t personally be the one to put out a player ranking, if that’s what you’re here for. I could, but there are still likely to be some last minute entries that could turn any pre-draft predictions on their head. Plus, I want the team Owners to come to their own decisions and not draft based on what I’ve written down for them (no cheat sheets here). Instead, I will give a few interesting preseason facts about some of the players that are blazing the trail for the NBVL.
-At 21 years old, Justin Faester is currently the youngest player registered, and will hopefully be a mainstay in the league for years to come. At 44, Ryan Gandy is the “most wise”. Tamiko Young is neither, but remains forever Young
-The average age of all players is 32.3 years. The women are far more youthful, averaging 32.2 compared to the elderly men averaging 32.4
-Only one of the players has won the Vancouver Open, Denise Wooding earlier this year. Joanna Braun has come the next closest with a 2nd place finish in 2015
-The most common name is John/Jonny shared by John Galloway, Jonny Wiskar, and Jonny Wong
-The first player to register, on Saturday, October 27th, was Kumiko Chow, making her THE trailblazer amongst trailblazers. Chloe Stone is our most recent addition, over a month later on November 29th.
–Krystian Wetulani is the only player guaranteed to be drafted as the only Player/Owner so far. This will negate Active ReLeaf‘s first round pick, however, and makes Krystian ineligible to be chosen as the coveted first ever #1 pick in NBVL History
This Wednesday, December 5th, all team Owner’s will be locked and the Draft order will be selected by random draw. All the players will have the opportunity to show themselves off at the NBVL Combine, then twenty four athletes will be selected at the NBVL Draft on December 8th, at 6Pack Indoor Beach. Choices will be made, players will be chosen, and the very first stars of the NBVL will be born. I hope you all enjoy the show.
