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So indulge me for a minute as I recall my first water polo camp.

KAOS Camp 2012:

I was 57 years old, it was late February 2012, and, frankly, I was nervous.

Flew all the way to Los Angeles to play with and against I didn't know who.I remember parking the rental car and walking up to the pool on a chilly Friday night and feeling just like a little kid getting dropped off by his parents for, well, camp, this time, KAOS camp. I was worried mostly about embarrassing myself and, again like a little kid, anxious about playing with new people.

It was so awesome! 

After all those years, finally getting to play with kids my own age. It was so fun. The guys were so cool and the level of play was outstanding. There were coaches. There was camaraderie. 

Now here's the best part: 11 years later it's better than ever. KAOS is now Blue Thunder. Blue Thunder is a water polo family that gathers a few times a year, for tournaments, of course, and camp. 

2023 Blue Thunder Camp:

This year we met in Camarillo, California, the second weekend of March, and we had 45 campers from all over, guys from Guam and Alaska, from Texas, North Carolina, Idaho, Oregon,  Iowa, Hawai'i, Colorado, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Washington, Arizona, and, of course, California.

We range in age from, sorry Ron, really old -- Ron Koehler is a year shy of 80! -- to really young, because this year an injured Jamie Danishment gave his spot to his high school aged daughter, Ayla.

Most of the guys are in their 50s and 60s and we are all taught, cajoled, scolded, driven and loved for three days by Greg Enloe, who is a story in himself. Greg, who headed off to Switzerland to play professionally the week after camp, is a coach like no other. 

A couple of things about Blue Thunder. The aforementioned Turk, Jamie Danishment, was instrumental in both making the Club's transition from KAOS to Blue Thunder. He also got Coach Enloe on board, which changed the trajectory of the club. 

Simply put, players who have been coached by and have bought into Enloe's ways are improved and it's shown in both individual and team performances. "He came in for one session and everyone was so impressed he was asked to run the entire camp the following year," said Jeff Williams, now the Blue Thunder chief organizer of all things, including camp. 

Coach Enloe, 36, has tremendous energy and water polo knowledge, but is also a huge sports fan. And that comes through in his teachings to us with metaphors and analogies to boxing, basketball, and often football. Shaq, Ali, Tom Brady, and many more have made the cut.

And he has catch phrases for techniques, like "spatula," "triple threat," the "triangle of power," and so many more.

"Growing up in central California, and this might not have been the order, but you played soccer and from there went straight to basketball and when that season was over you played baseball. Or you were playing football. And I played volleyball and I swam and I dove and I learned to love all the sports and do even more sports," Enloe said. "And when I was young, I idolized and really appreciated the offensive and defensive linemen in football. I was a fat kid growing up and I thought I was gonna be one of them. But my first love was actually basketball. But I stopped growing and I couldn't jump, so it was time to find a different sport." (Quick personal note here, during one camp Greg made a couple Shaquille O'Neal references. I was the LSU basketball beat writer for the newspaper when Shaq was in college. Greg was stunned when I sent him a video of me with Shaq and him kissing me on top of the head.)

Enloe, who is a solid 6-foot-4 with a loud voice, has another phrase, "Eyes up!" when he stops practice and wants our attention. He's never condescending, either, which would be really easy. Frankly, old guys can be lousy learners and tough to coach. 

"As far as water polo goes, in general the skills are the same whether you're 10 years old or 80. Your fitness and shape determine how fast and powerful you can do your moves," Enloe said. 

"On the interaction side, I love the old guys because I know I'm going to be them at some point and I hope we can get a lot of people in our sport."

One of the guys on my 65s team, John Hildebrand, is probably the most improved player in all of Blue Thunder. He was pretty good to begin with, and he gives credit for his higher level of play to Enloe. In my case, Enloe has made me think about and improve on so many aspects of my game.

"He has total respect and is an amazing human being," Williams said. "He's an amazing player and the opportunities that he has had in his life to play and coach water polo around the world are incredible."

Our camps consist of four sessions, Friday night, two on Saturday, and Sunday morning. Greg brought an entire staff of nine with him, ranging from very patient adults, experienced coaches, an official and even high school players. It was especially cool to see the youngsters getting in the spirit of things and treating us right.

"I want them to see that the sport doesn't end in college or whenever you stop playing," Enloe said. "It's something you can do forever. And to be honest, the Blue Thunder guys really took me under their wings and everybody is so kind and appreciative. "How and why would I not love this? You guys are great."

We owe a special thanks to the folks at Camarillo High, especially Stu Long, and Saturday night of camp we went to the nearby home of Jim Altmann and his wife, Jesell. They were the hosts for the entire camp for dinner. Even local guys who play polo and weren't doing the camp showed up and it was fabulous. 

We play a game we love, we get to hang out with guys our own age, and we learn.

"To have a chance to have high-level coaching and learn those skills, even if just for a weekend, is so important," Williams said. 

And so is this, the last word is from Enloe, when asked what the best part of Blue Thunder camp is for him: "My idea that high-aspiration high school kids can get a lot out of and give a lot to the group. That there could be a connection between our high-level athletic team and Blue Thunder."

Indeed there was.