Smith, Stoklos Fined, Suspended for One Tournament

Sinjin Smith and Randy Stoklos will be fined and suspended for one tournament for skipping the $100,000 Seal Beach Open pro beach volleyball tournament, Assn. of Volleyball Professionals’ President Jon Stevenson said Saturday.

Stevenson said the AVP board of directors will meet early this week to determine the amount of the fine, which is expected to be at least $10,000 each. Smith and Stoklos have been suspended for the Jose Cuervo tournament that starts Friday in Santa Cruz.

Stevenson said Smith and Stoklos will be allowed to appeal the fine and suspension.

Smith and Stoklos skipped Seal Beach to play in the $250,000 Olympic year ’92 tournament in Almeria, Spain. In doing so, Smith and Stoklos violated the AVP players agreement, Stevenson said.

“They’re automatically fined and suspended,” Stevenson said. “It (board meeting) will happen in the next few days, before the next tournament.”

Smith and Stoklos, who will play in today’s final of the Almeria tournament against a team from Brazil, have threatened to leave the AVP tour for the rest of the season, and possibly for good, if they are fined and suspended. Smith said he and Stoklos plan to play in two upcoming International Volleyball Federation tournaments in Italy and Japan.

“If we’re not back in town next week,” Smith said, “then we’re not part of the AVP anymore.”

Stevenson said Smith and Stoklos’ threat will have no impact on the board’s decision.

“Should we throw away everything we’ve said because one of the top teams wants to leave?” he said. “We will follow through with our punitive action.

“We created circumstances (players agreement) that (are) fair and good for all the players. It’s fair for Smith and Stoklos, and they didn’t accept it.”

Smith and Stoklos said they went to Spain to promote the sport as an Olympic event, but Stevenson said their motives were based on financial rewards. The winning team at Seal Beach splits $20,000; The winning team at the Spain tournament splits $75,000.

Stevenson said he explained the consequences of missing the Seal Beach tournament to Smith and Stoklos last week. They left Monday night for Spain.

“It’s like Eric Dickerson signing a contract with the Raiders,” Stevenson said. “Then, before an important game against the Kansas City Chiefs, he’s offered $1 million to play for another team. Can he go? No.”

San Clemente’s Karch Kiraly, who is top-seeded with Kent Steffes, said he and Steffes turned down an invitation to play in Spain.

“We should be here,” Kiraly said of Seal Beach, where he and Steffes are trying to win their 14th consecutive tournament. “I didn’t want to travel anymore. That’s the reason I didn’t want to go to the Olympics. I didn’t want to go over there (Spain tournament) just for the money.”

Capistrano Beach’s Adam Johnson said Smith and Stoklos’ absence hasn’t hurt the tournament.

“I don’t mind not having them here,” Johnson said. “Not at all.

“Whatever the board comes up with, it has to stick to it. They (board members) can’t let Sinjin and Randy push them around.”