AMID A DEEP RECESSION, STRIKES WERE NOT UNCOMMON. THE UNITED AUTO WORKERS (UAW) AND AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS WERE AMONG THE MOST PUBLICIZED.

THEN WITHIN TWO YEARS OF ONE ANOTHER, BOTH THE NFL AND MLB PLAYER UNIONS STRUCK. OWNERS AND PLAYERS WERE CAST IN UNFAVORABLE LIGHT. PARTIES ULTIMATELY SETTLED, AND PLAY EVENTUALLY RESUMED, BUT THE DAMAGE TO THEIR PUBLIC IMAGES TOOK YEARS TO FIX.

TAKING A PAGE FROM THAT PLAYBOOK, SEVERAL BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS STRUCK AMID ONE OF THE TOUR’S BIGGEST EVENTS IN 1984. AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN PLAYBOY MAGAZINE ENTITLED “VOLLEYBALL GODS” CHRONICLED THE EVENT IN HYPERBOLIC DETAIL AND CAST SERIOUS SHADE ON ITS TOP TIER OF PLAYERS, AND LARGELY RIDICULED A “LIFESTYLE” SPORT THAT WAS STILL STRUGGLING TO GAIN CREDIBILITY.