By Dave Hollander

En route to a tournament at the Jersey Shore, the unbeatable, Olympic-gold women's beach volleyball duo speculates on an alternative use for the Hudson River shipyards and insists it's best if their male counterparts keep their shorts on.

The 2012 Olympics in New York is just not happening. For beach volleyball, which would be the best host city in 2012?

KW: I think NYC would be an unbelievable venue.

MM: Bring it back to the U.S.!

There has been a raging debate in New York whether a West Side stadium is the best use of real estate along the Hudson River. What if we just filled that space in with sand and made it a huge beach volleyball area?

KW: They'd have a place to go. It'd be great right on the Hudson. There's a natural crowd there and it would draw people in. The sport is growing. People need a place to play and a ton of sand somewhere around the Hudson would be perfect.

MM: Water taxis would have to dodge a lot of balls flying in the water.

It's no secret the Jersey Shore is rife with corruption. Which officials have approached you for a kickback on your winnings?

KW: We're not at liberty to speak about that. There's a body of water out there, you know what I'm saying?

Belmar and nearby Asbury Park are known as much for their nightlife as for the seaside splendor. Where will you and your tour-mates go for a game of beer pong?

MM: We really never get a chance to go out because we always seem to get into the finals. So, you've got to prioritize.

KW: Beer pong is very low on the list. If we win on Sunday then maybe we'll get some beer pong going.

MM: Unless those city officials insist on a game of beer pong…

KW: Well, yes, then of course.

I don't know if this is AVP regulations or not but it seems like female beach volleyball players are required to run around in minimal band-aid size swim suits while guys get to wear baggy shorts. Why not make the men wear Speedos?

MM: I don't know if you'd want to see all of the men in Speedos. [makes a face]. Naaah.

KW: Yeah, I like Speedos but I don't know about that.

Dave Hollander's book, 52 Weeks, a collection of his interviews with famous sports figures and memoirs about his experiences in sports, comes out in November 2005 with the Lyons Press.

AVP Nissan Series Belmar Open, Fri.-Sun., July 8-10, 4th Ave. & Ocean Blvd., Belmar, NJ (NJ Transit to Belmar, from Penn Station); www.avp.com for more info.