Locked-out Love hits the volleyball circuit

If you're out of work, just about any job looks good.

If you're Kevin Love and the job is beach volleyball, you put on a pair of swim trunks and start practicing your serves and spikes.

That's exactly what Love, the locked-out Minnesota Timberwolves center, is planning to do next month when he enters the Manhattan Beach Open on the pro volleyball tour. He's pretty much a beginner in the sport, but at 6-feet-10 and 260 pounds, he's got the appropriate size.

"I'm not necessarily expecting to win," Love said, "but I'm expecting to go out there and compete."

The three-day event, with a total prize purse of $200,000, will take place Aug. 26 to 28.

Love, 22, showed some impressive skills Tuesday during a demonstration in New York's Times Square, but he's really a beach boy at heart. He was born in Santa Monica, and his uncle is Mike Love of the Beach Boys. His father used to play volleyball with noted player Wilt Chamberlain.

So while NBA players are locked out, Love figures it's a good way to stay in shape and enjoy himself. When he was approached by representatives of Jose Cuervo, which is sponsoring four events on tour this year, he agreed.

"I thought it was a great idea, a way for me to be out in the sun, be active and have fun during the lockout," he said. "It's sport, it's active, it's a way to stay in shape, so I just thought it was a home run."

Love said he has no illusions that he can beat the pros, but he said he's "hoping to surprise them."

Timberwolves officials may cringe at the idea that their All-Star player is jumping and diving on the sand, but Love said there's risk in any sport.

"That's the elephant in the room right now," he said, "but at the same time it's like with basketball. If you go out there and play hard most of the time, you're not going to get hurt. If you're loafing and not going 100 percent, then you're more likely to suffer."

Somebody bring the sun block.