Novacek following in Seikaly's footsteps?

When it was announced that Rony Seikaly was giving beach volleyball a shot, we thought, OK, an isolated incident.

But now another retired pro athlete has announced he's giving the AVP a try. Jay Novacek, a former tight end for the Dallas Cowboys, will try to qualify for the main draw of the AVP's Dallas stop this Thursday. (Novacek's daughter, (niece?) Becky, will play for the Dayton Flyers next fall.)

This is getting odd. As we pointed out with Seikaly, Karch, the best player ever, is about to retire at the age of 42. Novacek's 45. If Karch is giving it up at 42, Novacek has no chance at 45.

So what is going on here? It's one thing if these guys are just looking for a new challenge, as top-notch athletes are wont to do, but isn't that what marathons and triathalons are for?

But then again, perhaps trying to qualify for the main draw of an AVP event is the 2007 version of competing in a marathon or triathalon?

Or perhaps the AVP has found a new P.R. twist to promote each stop of the tour? Afterall, in all reality Seikaly isn't going to be of much interest to those outside Miami, same with Novacek outside of Dallas. We'll know I'm right when Dan Dierdorf announces his intention to try to qualify for the Glendale, Ariz., main draw. I'm thinking "Never Nervous" Pervis Ellison will enter in Louisville, Trent Dilfer for Tampa, hm, Dale Murphy for Atlanta, Steve Stone for Chicago...and Pedro Borbon for Cincinnati.