Why Fox Sports Net left the sand dollars on the beach versus the future of the AVP on TV

Sorry, but for now, we have no answer to how Versus, and not FSN, will have the bulk of the AVP events this summer. We wish we could explain it more. Maybe those who run company aren't even sure how it happened, or what to say about it. But they're not talking. Again.

In discussions with some AVP folks over the last few months about an upcoming TV deal -- and how it could capitalize on the success it had with two gold-medal winning teams at the recent Beijing Summer Olympics, as well as the recent news that "sand" volleyball would be a sanctioned NCAA sport -- we heard some talk that even ESPN could have stepped up and taken it as a live, weekend series.

But somewhere along the way, AVP CEO Leonard Armato stepped down, things changed, Misty May Treanor and Kerri Walsh weren't going to be around, and now there's the news that Versus and NBC would be the network homes for the sport.

And it ends a very long AVP-FSN relationship that, frankly, makes little sense if you're a TV viewer trying to follow the sport. But then again, there were always viewer confusion as far as when events were on, etc.

The AVP-FSN deal goes back to the local Prime Ticket days of the 1980s with Chris Marlowe and Paul Sunderland, even Lynn Shackleford, doing the matches before rather rowdy crowds in their towels and sand chairs (no bleachers, no big sponsors, and plenty of sideouts). We were there.

So how did this end? No one at FSN will go on the record to discuss how this change came about. We could speculate -- but why bother, if they don't want to bother?

Chris "Geeter" McGee will be doing the play-by-play (with Karch Kiraly on the men's events and Holly McPeak on the women, and Sinjin Smith on the sidelines) when Versus airs the first of 11 AVP tape-delayed events, starting with last week's deal near San Diego -- actually, at a sand pit next to a casino in Valley Center instead of on one of the city's fabulous beaches. That won't air until Monday (May 11, 2-4 p.m.) and Tuesday (May 12, 1-3 p.m.) on Versus -- more than a week after it happened.

The event coming up in Houston (May 16-17) won't air on Versus until May 24 and 26 -- which is after the tour will have gone to Huntington Beach. And that classic event won't air until May 31 and June 2, by which time, the tour will be finished in Atlanta...

The two-hour block on Sundays, despite the awkward PDT, are at least locked in.

For the local stuff, the famed Manhattan Beach Open takes place July 16-19, but doesn't air on Versus until July 27-28.

That's not real convenient for those beach volleyball fans used to "hot summer nights" Sunday night programming. But at least it's on TV, a national carrier, a place to build.

Says McGee: "I'm happy for the opportunity to do play by play for the AVP on Versus with Karch, Holly, and Sinjin. This has always been a goal for me and after 12 years of being the MC for the AVP I'm excited for the challenge."

A press release quote from new AVP CEO Jason Hodell: "We are thrilled to partner with Versus, the fastest growing sports cable network in the country. Our comprehensive schedule on Versus gives fans all around the country the ability to tune in to the majority of AVP events."

NBC will do three events this season: Coney Island, N.Y. (July 4-5), Hermosa Beach (Aug. 8-9) and Chicago (Aug. 29-30), most likely with Marlowe on the call, with Mike Dodd and Karch Kiraly. And they're either be live or slightly delayed on the same day.

The AVP did a deal with Fox Sports Net to carry its second event of the season, in Riverside, last month.

The AVP.com website also does live streaming of its events.

But then again, what do we know (go to this link)?