SAN DIEGO — A new professional sports team is in America's Finest City, the San Diego Smash.
It's made up of an AVP men's team and an AVP women's team. Highlighting the Smash is La Costa Canyon High School alum Chase Budinger.
Budinger is a rare, two-sport athlete. After 7 years in the NBA, he retired to start a beach volleyball career. He has just returned from the olympic games in Paris.
Budinger and The Smash will compete at Viejas Arena starting Sept. 28. The league plays an 8-week season including Oceanside in October.
The top four teams play for the championship in Los Angeles in November. CBS 8's John Howard sat down with Budinger for a one-on-one interview.
One-on-One
John: Okay, Chase, we appreciate you joining us. First question, as an athlete, you've experienced a lot the McDonald's, all American game, playing the NBA, AVP, but how does the Olympic experience compare to those things?
Chase: The Olympics was such an amazing experience. I felt like we had one of the most iconic venues to ever be part of any Olympics, like being able to play underneath the Eiffel Tower and have such an amazing crowd and venue and all that was just spectacular.
John: I know you're not the youngest beach volleyball player out there. Is a goal to play in the 28 games.
Chase: Yes, definitely. I think after experience the last Olympics, it kind of gave me more more energy. As long as my body stays in shape, as long as my body stays healthy, I'm gonna give it go. Give it a shot.
John: A young Spry, 36 years old, yeah, and let me ask you, this, does does the beach game better enable a player of age to continue to play, as opposed to the indoor game.
Chase: Because of the sand just really helps the body. You know, you don't create all these injuries on your knees or ankles, on your joints. The sand so, so forgiving and allows you to, you know, prolong your career.
John: About this new AVP League. How excited are you about it? I've never heard about it, and I'm thinking, why are they shipping sand into Viejas arena? We live in San Diego. Just go out onto the Mission Beach or wherever.
Chase: Yeah, well, it's it's really cool, because it's only one court that they need to bring in sand for. This is something that I think that could really blow up, because they're events that you can come to now. It's not a full volleyball tournament three, four days that you have to come watch and stay there all day. It's a three, three hour event that you come get four great matches. They're they're high intensity, they're fast, and then you get to go home.
John: The San Diego Smash. Is that what your team is called?
Chase: I play for the San Diego Smash, as you can see on my shirt right here,
John: Very nice. How optimistic are you that the San Diego Smash is going to win this inaugural season?
Chase: I mean, that's the goal of ours. You know, I'm the ultimate competitor, competitor, so anytime I step into that court, my job is to is to win
John: Chase. We appreciate your time and best of luck to you In this AVP tour.
Chase: Thank you. I appreciate it.
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