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| Clay "Bird" Stanley |
Four years ago Stanley told Hawai'i he was leaving — three semesters short of a degree and with a year of volleyball eligibility left — because he believed he could not get better staying. He has proven to be a prophet.
"Honestly, he's improved 200 percent," said Desiree Duran, the former Rainbow Wahine pitcher who has been with Stanley since early in their college days. "He's much stronger, more consistent and overall more focused and dedicated as a person and player.
"Back then he was real quiet. I remember telling him to show emotion. Now I see him frustrated and happy, and he talks out on the court. It's hard to believe. I can't wait for everyone to see him as opposed to what he was in college. He's improved drastically."
| USA men's volleyball
At Peace & Friendship Stadium Hawai'i times (might differ from TV times) Sunday — vs. Italy, 8:30 a.m. Tuesday — vs. Netherlands, 3 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 19 — vs. Russia, 8:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 20 — vs. Australia, 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 23 — vs. Brazil, 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 25 — Quarterfinals (1 a.m., 3 a.m., 6:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m.) Friday, Aug. 27 — Semifinals (6:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m.) Saturday, Aug. 28 — Bronze, 11:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 29 — Gold Medal, 1:30 a.m. |
He was so talented he could smell what it took to succeed internationally, and all the personal and financial rewards that go with it. Agonizingly, he could never quite grasp it ... until he took off.
Now, Stanley has seized it with both huge hands. He owns a home in Colorado Springs, where the national team trains. He intends to return the moment the Olympics end because he "loves being a part" of the U.S. program.
While others gasp at $5,000-a-day Greek room tariffs, Duran is settled into an apartment Stanley arranged through his professional team. He speaks Greek and has had great success on its volleyball courts.
He is more conscious now of "duplicating the good and not the bad." His improvements are not dramatic in any area but every phase of his game is refined. On this team, with five returnees from the disastrous, winless, 2000 Games, he might be the difference.
"We don't even talk about that," Stanley said. "They all know they did terrible. We don't know why they did so bad. We never asked. We have tons of new talent and we know we can be real good."
As good as gold? That would be an offbeat prediction for a team that nearly didn't qualify. Down 8-5 in the fifth against Cuba, the Americans found a way to rally earlier this year to get to Athens.
Stanley said that game defined his team — "We fight" — and is his finest volleyball experience to this day. He sincerely believes that will change in the next few weeks.
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