Deseret News | BYU volleyball: Sterling Silva — Cougar spiker is hoping to go gold with Venezuela

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BYU volleyball: Sterling Silva — Cougar spiker is hoping to go gold with Venezuela

Dr JAY | 7:19 a.m. July 1, 2008

Effeminate?! Who is this author and what background gives him the right to call men's volleyball effeminate?! If anyone has been to a men's volleyball match at BYU or UVSC or any other men's VB venue they would know effeminate is not an appropriate term. With all the speed and power, you could get your head taken off if you're not careful! Congrats to Joel Silva on the national team for Venezuela. Great passer with great defensive skills.

Coognchina | 8:11 a.m. July 1, 2008

Please....go back and read the article. I realize the words are big and the grammar a bit on the tricky side, but its not the author 'eschewing' volleyball to be effeminate, but Silva himself...when he was younger. While I understand the good Dr's point, how many Utah high school sports programs have men's volleyball teams? Usually, its all women's volleyball at that level, except maybe in some of the larger schools. Congrats to Silva on his achievement...maybe I'll snag a ticket to his game...

Granny | 8:55 a.m. July 1, 2008

Dr. Jay, lso consider that in other countries people view sports in different ways.

My Spanish teacher, originally from Argentina, told me basketball was slow in taking hold in Argentina because men there felt it was also a sport for girls. Guys there thought using one's hands for a sport was a women's thing, and that "real men" do a sport that mainly involves using one's feet.

This would be consistent with Silva's initial view of volleyball.

We Americans are generally speaking quite ignorant about different cultures thinking and behaving differently than we do.

Comments continue below

Reality | 1:56 p.m. July 1, 2008

To Dr. Jay,

Sorry to burst your bubble, but men's volleyball is very effeminate. It's not like clogging or tap dance, but still, it is very effeminate. My daughters will not be allowed to date anyone who Riverdances or plays men's volleyball.

Gaucho | 3:46 p.m. July 1, 2008

To Granny: Your Spanish teacher (from Argentina) looks that is pretty ignorant about the fact the Argentina has won the Olimpics in basquetball and even beat the US Dream Team a few times. His comment is non sense.Basquetball is a popular sport in Argentina. Of course second to soccer.

Mediator | 7:00 p.m. July 1, 2008

To Gaucho,

Granny did not say in 2008 or even 90's or 80's, it said "basketball was slow in taking hold in Argentina" it could have been the 1930's he was referring to. do you know the history of Argentinean Basketball and how fast it spread in the country?

Nowhere did it mention that basketball is not a popular sport in Argentina NOW, or that Argentina is bad at basketball.

Read and understand before you start bashing people.

anon | 8:19 p.m. July 1, 2008

Having lived in San Fernando de Apure.....this story is amazing! Well done Joel! What a journey! God bless and good luck!

Observer | 10:33 p.m. July 1, 2008

So a BYU volleyball player is going to play for Venezuela? A country that the Bush administration has basically labeled a terrorist nation? My, my.

... | 10:31 p.m. Sept. 19, 2008

Because of it I love it! That beautiful is!
I miss you...

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