Kevin Love Talks to B/R About Pursuing Volleyball Career with Jose Cuervo

Jose Cuervo, in promotion of their newly instituted Pro Beach Volleyball Series, turned Times Square’s Pedestrian Plaza into a beach volleyball court, complete with sand and professional players, as well as newly announced pro volleyball athlete Kevin Love.

New Yorkers crowded the street and watched as pro volleyball players Sean Scott, John Hayden, Jess Gysin and Christle Engle displayed their talents, even breaking Love into the volleyball scene with a bit of exhibition play.

Motivation for Jose Cuervo’s Pro Beach Volleyball Series stems from the recent ongoing labor disputes among professional sports leagues. As a result, on Tuesday afternoon, Jose Cuervo declared to “always keep beach volleyball in play.”

A proclamation, or rather an honorary bottle of Jose Cuervo tequila, was even signed stating that “Jose Cuervo intends to always keep players on the court and fans in the stands,” which is a refreshing state of mind given the current nature of the NBA’s lockout and the NFL’s newly concluded lockout.

Additionally, if any differences should arise in the future, representatives have agreed to resolve any issues “on the beach volleyball court capped off by a shot of Cuervo shared among the two sides.”

Spectators embraced Jose Cuervo’s innovative approach to problem-solving, and it showed through the crowd’s energy-packed attitude over the course of the day. 

Bystanders weren’t the only ones who supported this philosophy either. Love announced that he will compete in Cuervo’s Pro Beach Volleyball Series in an effort to remain active while the NBA lockout sorts itself out.

“For me, I want to be multi-faceted and play different sports,” Love explained to the eager New York City crowd. “And what better way to do it in the lockout then to be out here, in the sun, in the middle of Times Square.”

The three-event series boasts a $500,000 cumulative prize, which is the most in the U.S. this year, and will kick off August 26-28, at the Manhattan Beach Open, in Manhattan Beach, California.

Shortly after Love spoke to the crowd about his involvement in the series, he took to the court-- volleyball, not basketball-- to show what he could do. His transition from the basketball court to the beach volleyball court was almost seamless.

Love, often and effectively, used his 6’10” stature to his advantage, spiking sets into the sand with power, much to the pleasure of the crowd. When finished showing what he brought to the volleyball court, Love took to answering questions and gave members of the crowd, 21 and older, an opportunity to play with and against the professional volleyball players on hand.

While members of the crowd took part in the beach volleyball festivities, I had the chance to ask Love what we could expect from him as he begins his career as a beach volleyball player.

“I’m hoping that in a month I’ll be able to compete if not at a very high level at least a decently high level,” he said. 

“It comes pretty natural to me,” he continued, “I don’t know if it’s my California bloodline or it’s just the fact that I’m relatively athletic and can hit the ball decent as well.”

Being a part of Jose Cuervo’s Pro Beach Volleyball Series may be a way for Love to stay active and in shape for the rigors of an NBA season, but it is not all work motivated for the Timberwolves superstar.

“It gives me an excuse to be in the sun and have fun with it,” Love explained. He cites that and the competition as what he is looking forward to most as the series begins.

Love’s support, along with the opportunity to participate and play alongside the pros, really enhanced Jose Cuervo’s reach to the crowd. And by the end of the day, the public’s enthusiasm toward this campaign was obvious.

What was also obvious was the Jose Cuervo had found a way to keep fans and athletes of all sports busy in a league free from the ruthless, fan-crippling business aspects that are normally associated with professional sports leagues.

Who knows: maybe the NBA will take a page out of Jose Cuervo’s book and settle its differences between players and owners with a shot of Cuervo and giving Love a two-job workload to balance.