Whom You Know: Peachy and Polo: Star Vodka Polo's Inaugural Season! Exclusive Interview with Mover and Shaker Charles Ferri on his Winning Team

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Peachy and Polo: Star Vodka Polo's Inaugural Season! Exclusive Interview with Mover and Shaker Charles Ferri on his Winning Team

Above: Charles Ferri, Argentinean professional Mauricio Devirent, Michael Matz, Team Captain Yvonne Morabito, Steven Sands, Jeff Resnick

We first reviewed Star Vodka last August:

http://www.whomyouknow.com/2009/08/champagne-wishes-star-vodka.html

We liked it so much that Charles Ferri, Founder & CEO, became a Mover and Shaker immediately:

http://www.whomyouknow.com/2009/09/movers-and-shakers-charles-ferri.html

Since then you know we've mentioned Star Vodka a few times, and since Peachy loves sports and all things that go, she was quite happy to hear that Star Vodka is now sponsoring a Polo team. Peachy loves Polo! Here is an exclusive interview with Charles on this hot topic.

Above: Michael Matz

Peachy Deegan: How exciting to hear that Star Vodka is now sponsoring a Polo team! How did you get involved with this venture?

Charles Ferri: It was destiny! I was at an event and met Yvonne Morabito, the team Captain, and besides the fact that I was so impressed she is a woman captain in a men’s league, she mentioned the possibility of Star Vodka being able to sponsor her team. I quickly jumped at the opportunity knowing how much I love sports and especially horses and not to mention the demographic in the polo world truly fits with the Star Vodka clientele and image, and here we are.

Most Americans are not adequately informed about Polo. Aside from the fact that your team has a great sponsor what is exciting about the sport of Polo?

Speed speed and more speed! Polo is a team sport played at very high speeds and significant levels of danger. Most people fail to realize that it is a highly physical contact sport. Meanwhile, there is a lot of strategy being employed at this rapid pace. The horses are incredible athletes, running at close to 40 mph in full gallop, and they, as well as their riders, are conditioned to "bump" opposing players/horses at that speed, and to then stop and turn on a dime. Another fascinating and exciting aspect of the sport is that amateurs play on the same teams as professionals, so that a recreational player might be playing with and against some of the best professional players in the world. Polo is an international sport that enjoys a global, tight-knit community of players who generally know each other directly or indirectly. Finally, of course, for anyone who's ever hit a tennis ball, golf ball or baseball, the thrill of cracking a ball at break speed on top of a 1,000 pound galloping thoroughbred takes some of the "Yahoo!" out of other sports.

Tell us about your first game this past weekend please.

We had a tough match against a very good team. We were neck and neck until the very last chukkers when team Star Vodka pulled ahead by two goals and managed to hold the lead to win the game.

Who is on the team and what are their strengths?

The two mainstays of the Star Vodka team are Argentinean professional Mauricio Devirent, and Team Captain Yvonne Morabito. For our first tournament, Michael Matz and Steven Sands are the other members of our team. Mauricio is the quarterback and power engine of the team, who places passes, hundreds of yards if necessary, and well positioned to his offensive players, Yvonne Morabito and Steven Sands. Michael Matz is the other professional on the team who works with Mauricio on devising strategy and setting the plays to score. Matz plays heartfully and intensely, and he played a very strong game last Sunday, making a spectacular run to goal through traffic, and scoring a very crucial goal at break speed.

When Peachy was on the air in Cork (Ireland) she used to go to the pub drinking before games with the players, which is opposite from what she did in America in terms of post game celebrations only. Do the polo players drink Star Vodka before the game for a competitive edge?

Haha there will be none of that until AFTER the game then they can drink Star all they want!

Above: Argentinean professional Mauricio Devirent, Michael Matz,

Team Captain Yvonne Morabito, Steven Sands

What is the schedule and how can our readers watch Star Vodka Polo?

We will keep you posted of Star Vodka Polo Team's Schedule of Matches throughout the summer Polo Season in the Hamptons. Polo Enthusiasts are also welcome to come watch games and practices with advance notice regarding numbers in your party.

Who are the other sponsors?

Circa, Endeavor Capital, Palmers, Equuleus.

We understand the jerseys are quite sharp. Did Hunter Dixon design them?

I’m afraid they didn’t this year. The jerseys look amazing and we actually have had numerous people asking where they can buy them so we will see.

Do the horses enjoy Star Vodka after a victory?

I’m afraid Star Vodka was developed for Homo sapiens but maybe hay infused vodka could be an idea for them??

What else should we know about Star Vodka Polo?

The Star Vodka Polo Team just hosted a private chef’s tasting and Star cocktail party at the hotspot Georgica last week. Stay tuned for more Star Vodka Polo events this summer in the Hamptons!

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