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Welcome to the 2002 Manhattan
Open AVP!
Beach volleyball's
premier event packed the pier with pros and partiers.
•
Manhattan Open History and Main Page
• Manhattan
Beach Bar Guide
Manhattan Beach,
CA was the place to be on the weekend of August 10-11. Top women tennis
players were hammering it out on the courts of the country club and
a mini-Tour de France was taking place in the streets.
But it was on the sand where the small Southern California seaside
community 's pulse beat the strongest as the Association of Volleyball
Professionals (AVP) held the Manhattan Open.
An estimated 6,000 people filled the stands, lined the pier and crowded
the bike path to take in Eric Fonoimoana and Dax Holdren's Finals victory
over Mike Whitmarsh and Canyon Ceman. They have now added their names
to the list of great champions – Sinjin Smith, Mike Dodd,
Karch Kiraly – who have come before them to win the sport's
most prestigious event. It was especially sweet for Fonoimoana, who
grew up in Manhattan and lives just a few blocks away."My career,"
he said afterward, "wouldn't be complete without winning here."
 The
Manhattan Open is to beach volleyball what the Super Bowl is to the
NFL, the Daytona 500 is to NASCAR, the Masters is to golf. It's more
than a tournament, it's a statement. Win Manhattan, and you have reached
the pinnacle of the sport.
This is its birthplace and it continues to thrive here. Extremely knowledgeable
fans – many of whom are outstanding recreational players in their
own right – cheer good points and challenge bad calls, something
greatly appreciated by the players. Fans will even buy players a round
at one of the nearby beachside bars after the tournament. That is something
else which is greatly appreciated by the players.
And this being a fun beach community, there's nothing like going crazy
in the bars after watching some great volleyball. It's serve, set and
salute!
Manhattan Open Celebrity Sightings:
• The Laker Girls
• San Diego Chargers' All-Pro Junior Seau
• USC Football Team
• Former UCLA Star Offensive Lineman Chris Cox
• Leonard Armato (Shaq's former agent and husband of player Holly
McPeak)
 The
Laker Girls attracted many cheers.
Former UCLA football
star Chris Cox was a smash hit with the ladies.
PubClubber Lori,
a MB resident, enjoys the Finals with The Bartender.
After the tournament,
it's a real party in the beachside bars (top, bottom).
The real star of
the weekend, for PubClub anyway, was Trish and her margaritas.
 Ride
the Party Bus to Estero Beach Volleyball
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