That is one in a sequence previewing the inductees going into the Worldwide Volleyball Corridor of Fame in Holyoke, Massachusetts, on Saturday.
This yr there are 9 inductees, two indoor gamers in Italian Andrea Zorzi and Cuba’s Regla Bell; two seaside gamers in American Tim Hovland and Brazilian Ana Paula Henkel; Brazilian coach Jose “Ze” Roberto and ParaVolley coach Hadi Rezaei of Iran; two officers in Argentinian Juan Angel Pereyra and American Sue Lemaire; and Italian Giuseppe Panini, who’s going in as a pacesetter.
There are additionally three particular honoree classes acknowledged this yr: John Kessel is receiving the Mintonette Medallion of Advantage Award; Invoice Kauffman and Ed Chan are being honored posthumously with the inaugural Award for Media Excellence; and Michael Kane, Mike Knapik, Aaron Vega and Don Humason are receiving the Mayoral Award of Excellence.
The “authentic” “Zorro” was a fictional character, created in 1919, who was sometimes portrayed as a dashing masked vigilante who defends the commoners in opposition to tyrannical officers and different villains. He was the precursor to most of the superheroes of the final century, suppose Batman and the Lone Ranger.
Now, 70 or so years later, it was no shock that the Italian reverse Andrea Zorzi was bequeathed with the nickname of Zorro. In any case, Zorzi had the “matinee idol” seems to be, and the high-level abilities to match his namesake. He reduce fairly a swath each on the courtroom and off.
In recognition for all he has meant to the sport of volleyball, Andrea Zorzi turns into the fourth participant of that seminal Italian nationwide staff from the early Nineties to be inducted into the Worldwide Volleyball Corridor of Fame.
“I haven’t been an energetic volleyball athlete since 1998,” Zorzi responded by way of e mail. “So, the IVHF honor is a implausible acknowledgment of my previous accomplishments. I’m pleased with what I achieved within the 90s with that unimaginable staff, however I don’t need to be outlined solely by my sport profession. I would really like to not be a ‘hostage’ of the previous. I’m wanting to embrace the long run, drawing inspiration from my previous experiences. The IVHF honor is a chance to look forward.”
At 6-foot-7 (2.01 meters) Zorzi was tall for a volleyball participant within the early Nineties. He was additionally skinny as a rail, however very rangy. He had a depraved serve and was a terminator on offense. “Whereas I used to be bodily gifted with peak, energy, and leaping potential (contemplating my peak) and fewer with technical abilities, I used to be all the time targeted on psychological toughness,” Zorzi says now. “My coaches typically praised my fast studying potential, which I hope has carried over into my post-volleyball profession. Though I wasn’t as technically expert as a few of my teammates, I consider my psychological attributes and talent to adapt have been vital strengths.”
Zorzi, 59, was an affect participant from the get-go, a wunderkind, making the Padua Membership staff at age 17, and from there making his first Nationwide Workforce look at age 23 in 1989. A yr later he gained the primary of his two Italian League Championships, with Maxicono Parma. That very same yr in 1990, Zorzi made an enormous impression on an American viewers, competing for the Italians within the Goodwill Video games, successful a gold medal over the two-time reigning Olympic gold medal USA staff, earlier than a raucous crowd at Hec Edmundson Pavilion on the campus of the College of Washington.
The Italian groups throughout that period might be thought-about amongst among the best nationwide groups in historical past. They included at one time or one other IVHF inductees Lorenzo Bernardi, the “Andrea’s:” Gardini, Giani and Zorzi, in addition to Samuele Papi. One other marvelous participant from these groups was Luca Cantagalli. They have been coached by a Corridor of Famer in Julio Velasco.
“We achieved many victories collectively and persevered by means of tough losses, all the time collectively,” Zorzi commented. “Our potential to steadiness individualistic attitudes with teamwork, and our dedication to mentoring youthful gamers, made that have really distinctive.”
Contemplate the accomplishments of this dynamic group: Two gold medals on the World Championships (1990, 1994), three European Championships (1989, 1993, 1995), three FIVB World League titles (1990-1992), a World Grand Champions Cup in 1993, and the aforementioned Goodwill Video games triumph. In 1991, Zorzi on the peak of his powers, was named the “World’s Finest Participant,” by the FIVB.
For Zorzi, although the spotlight of his profession occurred throughout that first World Champs run. “The semifinal in Rio de Janeiro was undoubtedly probably the most thrilling match of my profession,” Zorzi recounted. “Taking part in in entrance of a packed Maracanazinho stadium with 27,000 passionate Brazilian followers was an unforgettable expertise. It was additionally a turning level in Italian volleyball historical past.” The Italians silenced the surprised Brazilian devoted with a nail biting 15-13 triumph within the fifth set, to advance to the ultimate the place they subsequently disposed of Cuba in 4.
Through Zorzi and his teammates’ exploits, and their larger-than-lifelike personalities, shortly volleyball as a sport turned massively well-liked all through Italy, getting huge protection to rival even futbol within the day by day mainstream newspapers like “La Gazzetta dello sport,” and thru elevated tv publicity as nicely.
However, sport, like life, can have its share of ups and downs. The Gli Azzurri (Italian Males’s Nationwide Workforce) has been vexed when it has come to the Olympic Video games. Zorzi’s second of three Olympic appearances occurred in 1992, in Barcelona, Spain. Heavy favorites getting into the Video games, Italy was additionally the primary seed popping out of the Group A pool. They drew the Netherlands, the fourth seed in Group B, within the single elimination quarterfinal. The Italians inexplicably dropped a heartbreaker to the Netherlands, 17-16 within the sideout scoring that prevailed at the moment, within the fifth and deciding set. The Dutch staff ultimately gained the silver, however the loss stung, after which some, for the proud Gli Azzurri.
Quick ahead 4 years later, to Atlanta, and the gold medal match in what in the end, maybe indisputably, was the best single match in Olympic historical past. Italy was on an absolute mission. They took no prisoners in pool play, going undefeated in Group B, sweeping all 5 of their matches in three, together with, 15-8, 15-8, and 15-13 over the Netherlands. However alas, the Dutch, and the Italians, have been as soon as once more on a collision course and would ultimately meet but once more, this time for the gold medal.
A back-and-forth donnybrook adopted, and after 2:31 of the highest-level volleyball conceivable, the Italians lastly had a match level within the side-out scoring battle royale, 15-14. A gold medal was of their grasp. However the Dutch scored three straight factors, and prevailed 17-15 within the fifth. “The 1996 Olympic closing in opposition to the Netherlands was a extremely dramatic match,” Zorzi recalled.
“Nevertheless, from the courtroom, it’s tough to completely respect the importance of the second. I bear in mind solely the extraordinary strain, the excessive expectations, and the frustration of shedding the ultimate rally, when the ball hit the left antenna. Regardless of the frustration on the time, I now look again on that silver medal with a way of accomplishment.”
And therein one can get a window into the world of Zorro. Gracious in victory, magnanimous in defeat, Andrea Zorzi is the epitome of a Corridor of Fame sportsman.
“Volleyball performed an important position in my private improvement,” Zorzi mentioned. “As a tall boy who typically felt misplaced, volleyball remodeled my peak into a big benefit. Volleyball allowed me to forge lifelong friendships, and discover the world.
“Even after retiring at a comparatively younger age, Volleyball inspired me to embrace a brand new chapter in my life. Now, as I get older, I’m grateful for the numerous advantages it has offered me.”
For extra about Saturday’s induction celebration and/or to purchase tickets: https://www.volleyhall.org/induction-celebration.html
In the event you can’t make it, watch stay: https://www.youtube.com/@ivhfofficial