Age old secrets
MUSKEGON CHRONICLE SPORTS
Friday, July 13, 2001
Twenty years ago, Linda Hanley was playing volleyball on the beaches of Southern
California for free coolers and water bottles.When there was prize money available, she
often was playing for a fraction of what the men earned.When she took time off to have children, there were those who said she'd never make it back to the pros.But Hanley turned a deaf ear to the critics. And she listened to her heart."You can do anything you want, if you want it badly enough," said Hanley.And Hanley wanted it all. The professional sports career. The husband. The kids. A nice house in which to come home.It shouldn't surprise you that Hanley has all of those things. "I have a very understanding husband who has played professional volleyball and he knows the commitment it takes," said Hanley, who has two sons _ Turner, 10, and Matthews, 8. Not that it's been easy. Running and jumping in the sand day after day takes its toll on the body. And when you're 41, the recovery time takes longer.
Still, Hanley makes it work. It is that focus and determination that has made her one of the
most feared competitors on the Association of Volleyball Professionals tour."I have been very fortunate," said Hanley. "My advice to young girls considering doing this kind of thing is not only can you do it, but you should do it." Hanley not only is the oldest woman on the
tour but she is one of the most successful, having won 19 career titles and finished
runner-up 38 times. She made the finals two years ago in Muskegon, bowing to Olympic
qualifiers Jennifer Johnson-Jordan and Annett Buckner-Davis.Hanley, who has earned more than $406,000 playing beach volleyball, took fourth place in the Olympics in 1996 with partner, Barbra Fontana.Beach volleyball has been good to Hanley. But this likely will be her last year. "I'm not one to make a big production out of it,but I have a feeling this is it," said Hanley. "I'm thinking that it's time, which makes me kind of sad because I really like the things that (AVP tour owner) Leonard Armato and his company can do for this sport."
Hanley herself has been one of the biggest ambassadors of beach volleyball. She's done it
with her all-out play on the court and her desire to give back off of it. "This is such an exciting time for girls in sports," said Hanley. "It's culturally accepted today to be strong athletes as well as wives and mothers. Carl Lewis and I were talking to some elementary kids a while back and I remember Carl telling the girls, 'you guys are in the best time in history to be athletes. You have so much opportunity and you should take advantage of those opportunities.' "I thought back to what it was like when I was getting started and I knew he was right." When it comes to role modeling, Hanley is at the top of her game. That's because the game is only part of her life. "It's nice to not just be focused on one aspect
of your life," said Hanley, who works out three days a week with partner Sarah Straton.
"When you have your eggs all in one basket, you're stuck with the results. But when I come
home from a tough loss on Sundays, I come home to a loving husband and children. It
really teaches you about what's important in life." Not that Hanley won't be trying her best to win when competition gets under way Saturday at 9 a.m. at Pere Marquette Beach. She may be one of the nicest players on the beach. Just remember, she's also one of the fiercest. And Linda Hanley is used to getting what she wants.