Brandon Phillips was born in King City, Canada and raised on a horse farm outside Toronto. The game of polo was in Phillips’ blood as his father and brother played polo as amateurs at the Toronto Polo Club and two of his uncles were Olympic show jumpers. Phillips rode his first horse when he was just 18 months old and took up the hammer polo at 6 years old. At the age of 11, he played his first match at the Toronto Polo Club, becoming the youngest polo player at the time. .
In June 1992 at the age of 14, Phillips developed harsh swelling in his right leg. Shortly thereafter, he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma after doctors found a grapefruit-sized tumor wrapped around his ureter and given six weeks to live. (Something his parents did not share with him). Based on his physical strength and positive outlook, Phillips is cancer free after five months of intensive chemotherapy.
Once his battle with cancer was over, Phillips began pursuing polo more aggressively. A standout athlete who has excelled in several sports, Phillips surprised his Canadian counterparts when he chose to focus on the less traditional sport of polo. A weekend in 1994 at Peter Brant’s Connecticut ranch turned into the launching pad for a professional polo career. There, he met a top polo player who got him a job for the following season in Palm Beach with White Birch Farm. He spent the winters of his last two years of highschool in South Florida playing polo working with tutors and traveling back to Canada during down time to finish schoolwork.
Over the last 20 years of Phillips’ professional career, he has established himself as one of the elite polo players, winning the most coveted tournaments. Although Phillips spends most of his time training and caring for his more than 20 horses, he finds time to give back and help kids with cancer.
MJ: I had the pleasure of sitting down and interviewing my client Brandon Philipps and asking a few questions that any sports fan might find interesting to read. I feel so lucky to work with Phillips because he’s an incredible man, athlete and humanitarian who is really passionate about life.
MJ: When did you start playing polo?
blood pressure: I started playing polo in Toronto when I was 11 years old. Then when I was 17 years old, I was asked to come to Palm Beach Florida and begin my professional career. What I love most about this sport are the horses. I have lived with horses my whole life and that I am so lucky to be capable to work with them every day.
Brandon Phillips on the field at Polo For A Purpose (LILA PHOTHI)
MJ: Why do you think polo has started to become more popular in last few years?
blood pressure: Polo is gaining popularity because of more TV time. NBC Sports has started showing major tournament finals and there are also more websites posting polo and tournament scores. Recently, a website called Chukker TV has started live streaming of many of our games. People started to see polo more and more on the internet, TV, and more product advertisers used polo players and polo for their brands.
Brandon Phillips in Polo For Purpose (LILA PHOTO)
MJ: You were diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma when you were 14 years old. What was your recovery like and how did your remissions impact who you are today?
blood pressure: After my last chemo, it took four weeks for my body to start getting stronger. In week eight, I returned to my highschool basketball team and never looked back. I have used that attitude my whole life. For me, life is a game. You’re continuously throwing curveballs and you better find out how to hit them. Being able to just hit a fastball will get you nowhere and in my case it would have killed me.
MJ: What’s your polo schedule like during the year and do you have a favourite place to play?
blood pressure: I play polo about 11 months a year. From January to June, I play in Wellington, Florida. Then from June to September, I’m on my way. Every summer it is a little different where I can play. Whether it is New York, Greenwich, Santa Barbara or Europe. Then I returned to Wellington in October for the fall league start followed by training in Argentina and snow polo in Aspen during December. After that, I returned to Wellington to prepare for the winter.
MJ: I know you’ll be playing at Greenwich this summer. Of course there’s lots of history at that club. Are you looking forward to playing there?
blood pressure: Yes, I started my career at Greenwich. When I was 17 years old, I was invited to watch the US Open there. One year later, I was playing with the Greenwich-based polo team, White Birch Farms. So it is going to be fun to come back for a few months to play there.
Nic Roldan & Brandon Philipps in Polo For a Purpose
(PHOTO LILA)
MJ: Let’s speak about your ambassadorship with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). You host an annual event which I have the pleasure of attending in Wellington called “Polo For a Purpose”. Can you share a little about the event?
blood pressure: Three years ago, I started Polo For A Purpose to support LLS. The event was held at the International Polo Club in Wellington. It’s a nice lunch with a live and silent auction followed by an all-star polo match which includes some of polo’s top players. This year, we have included more activities for teenagers and added a complete side-course section crammed with fun games and attractions.
MJ: I know you are working on plans to expand Polo For Purpose and that there are discussions a few possible New York/Connecticut fundraising event for this summer. Can you share your vision?
Brandon Phillips celebrates his Polo For A Purpose win with cancer survivor Eric Steinberg (LILA PHOTO)
blood pressure: Yes, there are plans to develop the Polo For a Purpose from this summer. My goal is to bring as much awareness as possible to this underfunded cause. I hope my efforts play a major role in funding a cure for the terrible disease that claims the lives of numerous kids every year.
Brandon Phillips having fun with special guests at Polo For A Purpose (LILA PHOTO)
MJ: If you were not a professional polo player, what career path do you think you would have chosen?
blood pressure: I absolutely thought I would become a professional NHL player.
MJ: To date, how much has Polo For A Purpose collected?
blood pressure: To date, we have raised almost $750k for LLS. I’m so blessed with how this event continues to grow and I actually appreciate all the sponsors and donors who come and support this cause.
MJ: Thank you for your time and congratulations on your hard work on and off the field. I’m looking forward to Polo For A Purpose this summer.
blood pressure: Thanks for everything you do.
