Apr 15: Volley Girls

Beach + women + ball = fun. Hey, it's a simple equation. And believe me, it's the truth. Beach volleyball is a blast anytime. You see lots of it being played by us amateurs all up and down the sand around Greater Fort Lauderdale. But professional women's beach volleyball - that's something else. When this fast game is taken over by athletic women in small swimsuits, well, yes that's an equation for some fun in my book. Call me crazy. It's happening this weekend in Fort Lauderdale, where the AVP will host its next big tournament. It has a long name, this event: AVP Nivea Tour Gatorade Fort Lauderdale Open. Good thing they didn't have six more major sponsors. But seriously, these athletes are the folks you see on ESPN. And in the Olympics. They're the top female beach volleyball players in the world.

Remember Misty May-Treanor? You should. She's won two Olympic gold medals for beach volleyball. She'll be in Fort Lauderdale this weekend, playing in her usual aggressive style. May-Treanor has collected more AVP Tour titles than any woman in the organization's history.

It's pretty amazing to watch her and the other competitors dive around the sand. I know this because I attended an AVP competition here in Fort Lauderdale a few years ago. I had a terrific time. Even wrote a blog about it way back then, a little ditty called "Volley of the Dolls." Heh-heh. I still remember that headline. And sure, that's part of the appeal of this sport -  the babe factor. And they know it. They're not dressed in bikinis by accident. Whether you're male or female, straight or gay, you may find it fairly enjoyable to see trim women playing sports in very little clothing. That's just the truth. But when you watch these players, you pretty quickly get beyond their skimpy uniforms. You start to appreciate the training and the athletic talent that landed them on this beach. Remember, there are only two women on each side of the net. That's a lot of sand to cover, trust me. The tournament begins on Friday at 8 a.m. and ends on Sunday at around 5:30 p.m. It takes place at Fort Lauderdale Beach Park, at the south end of the Fort Lauderdale beach. General admission tickets start at $15 if you buy them online. Just go to http://www.avp.com/. Bring lots of sunscreen and wear a hat. You'll be in the sunshine for hours. And dress about any way you like. When you go to a sporting event where the athletes wear bikinis, the crowd can get away with pretty much anything.