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Vancouver Whitecaps FC at San Jose Earthquakes 4/7/12

April 9, 2012 by mc

Riding a hot start, the Earthquakes returned home to Buck Shaw Stadium to face Vancouver Whitecaps FC. After a breakdown in their solid yet new defense put them down 1-0, the Quakes scored three in the second half to swamp the visiting Whitecaps.

Earthquakes defender Victor Bernardez tracks a bouncing ball.

Whitecaps FC midfielder Davide Chiumiento leaps to control a bouncing ball.

Whitecaps FC midfielder Matt Watson holds off Earthquakes midfielder Tressor Moreno.

My least favorite former US Men’s National Team player (no mean feat) Jay DeMerit captains the Whitecaps:

Whitecaps FC defender Jay DeMerit heads the ball away.

Here DeMerit tries to manhandle (the sum total of his skills) Quakes’ striker Chris Wondolowski before the ball arrives…

Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski and Whitecaps FC defender Jay DeMerit battle for position.

…then after it arrives…

Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski and Whitecaps FC defender Jay DeMerit battle for the ball.

…oops…

Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski gets behind Whitecaps FC defender Jay DeMerit on his way to scoring a second-half goal.

Jon Busch makes a nice diving save:

Earthquakes goalkeeper Jon Busch makes a diving save.

Earthquakes midfielder Marvin Chavez runs into the Whitecaps defense.

Whitecaps FC defender Jay DeMerit and Earthquakes forward Alan Gordon battle for a header.

After showing promise after the Earthquakes traded for him in 2011, Alan Gordon’s season ended with an injury. His first game back at Buck Shaw produced the winning goal:

Earthquakes forward Alan Gordon celebrates his second-half goal.

Teammates mob Earthquakes forward Alan Gordon after his second-half goal.

Earthquakes forward Alan Gordon celebrates his second-half goal.

The Quakes are off to a 4-1 start, their best in team history. I’m away for the next home game, so I won’t see them again until their May 2nd match against D.C. United.

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Jackpot Bull Riding at B-Bar Arena 3/31/12

April 5, 2012 by mc

One day before my rodeo season officially kicked off at La Grange, I went up to Lincoln, CA to shoot a jackpot bull riding at B-Bar arena. Each rider put up $100 in the hopes of taking everyone else’s money. I had never been to B-Bar during the day, and was hoping that some daylight would make its way into the barn, but no such luck. While it was light outside, all of the light was behind the chutes, exactly where I didn’t need it. So after a few pictures of riders warming up and the bulls being loaded into the chutes, I set up a couple of speedlites and went at it.

Posted in blog, rodeo · 2 Comments

2012 La Grange Rodeo

April 3, 2012 by mc

As I was putting together my rodeo schedule for this season, I noticed that I could get a couple of weeks’ head start by shooting the La Grange Rodeo. With the help of Chuck and Kristin Morris of Rockin M Rodeos, I was in. A downpour on Saturday made everything a mess, but the sun came out to illuminate blue skies dotted with clouds.

I caught up with friends and met a few Facebook friends for the first time:

Donnie Landis & Dave Murdoch clown around before the performance.

Donnie Landis didn't even wait for the rodeo to get started to begin his performance.

Tim Bridwell brought some young Growney Brothers broncs to their first rodeo.

Tim Bridwell

I spent some time in the cramped area behind the chutes:

Bull rider Bo Bacigalupi of Oakdale, CA ties his rope.

The arena at La Grange is circled by an 8-foot chicken wire fence, so I shot a bit while sitting on the exit gate and some through the fence. “How’s that 400 workin’ out for ya?” indeed.

Bull rider Dakota Kruse of Bishop, CA rides Cluster.

Bull rider Chase Yanez of Atascadero, CA gets rammed by his bull.

Bull rider Ben Miles of Jamestown, CA loses his battle.

Lots of work for the bullfighters:

Dave Murdoch, Ad Bugenig & Matthew Powell

Bullfighters Dave Murdoch and Ad Bugenig step in to protect bull rider Matthew Powell of Newark, CA.

Bullfighter Dave Murdoch steps in to protect bull rider Damien Uribe.

Bullfighter Ad Bugenig of Ferndale, CA battles a bull.

The announcer said that Mark Thompson was “north of 50″ which is really amazing for any kind of roughstock rider, bareback especially.

Bareback rider Mark Thompson of Tehachipi, CA prepares to ride.

Casey Meroshnekoff of Red Bluff, CA rides Hogan's Hero.

Saddle bronc rider Don Costa of Mariposa, CA gets bucked off Pony Man.

Joaquin Real of Woody, CA rides Hillbilly Deluxe.

I had a nice chat with Forrest Mallory before the rodeo where he mentioned that he was working toward his teaching credential. For the rest of the day, the idea of a cowboy teacher meant I couldn’t get this scene from Weird Science out of my head. And then Forrest went head first into the dirt:

Saddle bronc rider Forrest Mallory falls off his horse head first.

Saddle bronc rider Greg Lewis of Atascadero, CA gets bucked off.

I covered Billy Bugenig’s trip to the National Finals Rodeo last december, and it was great to see him pick up the win in La Grange.

Steer wrestler Billy Bugenig of Ferndale, CA.

Rodeos handle kiddie events differently, but the Goat Scramble at La Grange has to be my favorite. Workers release a bunch of goats in the arena, and kids chase after them. The kids who catch one GET TO KEEP IT. If anyone knows a rodeo when they do this for adults, please let me know!

A worker carries a goat to the arena for the Goat Scramble.

Kids chase goats during the Goat Scramble.

A young girl holds on to a goat she caught in the Goat Scramble.

I’d like to thank Chuck & Kristin Morris and Greg Bennet for setting this up for me.

Posted in blog, rodeo · 5 Comments

Mexico vs Senegal 3/17/12

March 27, 2012 by mc

The U-23 teams full of Olympic hopefuls from Mexico and Senegal faced off at AT&T Park in San Francisco on St. Patrick’s Day. While the score was 2-1 with all goals coming on penalty kicks, Mexico owned the match while Senegal struggled for possession and chances.

Senegal midfielder Souleymane Cisse knocks the ball away from Mexico midfielder Hector Herrera.

Mexico forward Jeronimo Amione leaps to control a pass.

Senegal defender Hadj Sady El Gueye controls a pass.

Mexico midfielder Hector Herrera dribbles by Senegal defender Hadj Sady El Gueye.

Saliou Ciss, Souleymane Cisse & Elias Bazakos

Senegal defender Saliou Ciss and midfielder Souleymane Cisse argue a penalty kick call with referee Elias Bazakos.

Mexico fans

Senegal midfielder Arthur Yannick Gomisv brings down Mexico midfielder Javier Aquino.

Senegal defender Victor Bindia receives treatment from a trainer.

Senegal goalkeeper Ousmane Mane comes up with the ball.

Mexico midfielder Hector Herrera follows through on a shot.

Mexico goalkeeper Liborio Sanchez makes a diving save.

Senegal midfielder Emile Paul Tendeng carries the ball past Mexico defender Israel Jimenez.

Mexico midfielder Miguel Ponce fouls Senegal midfielder Souleymane Cisse.

Senegal forward Ousseynou Boye winds up for a shot.

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Houston Dynamo at San Jose Earthquakes 3/17/12

March 26, 2012 by mc

In an attempt to get some exposure outside of San Jose, the Earthquakes gave up their home field advantage (the usually packed Buck Shaw Stadium) for a sparse AT&T Park in San Francisco on St. Patrick’s Day.

The only goal of the match came in the 14th minute when Earthquakes goalkeeper Jon Busch and defender Victor Bernardez collided with Dynamo forward Brian Ching at the edge of the San Jose six-yard box. On a play that easily could have been a no-call, referee Chris Penso awarded the Dynamo a penalty kick.

Jon Busch, Victor Bernardez, & Brian Ching

Earthquakes goalkeeper Jon Busch and defender Victor Bernardez foul Dynamo forward Brian Ching in the box.

Earthquakes defender Victor Bernardez and Dynamo forward Brian Ching hold their heads after colliding in the box.

Steven Beitashour, Jon Busch, Victor Bernardez & Chris Wondolowski

Earthquakes defender Steven Beitashour, goalkeeper Jon Busch, defender Victor Bernardez, and forward Chris Wondolowski argue with referee Chris Penso after Penso awarded Houston a penalty kick.

Dynamo midfielder Brad Davis converts a penalty kick.

The game was hard-fought, but the Quakes just couldn’t get anything going for most of the game, and then started going for broke far too late.

Dynamo forward Will Bruin and Earthquakes defender Steven Beitashour vie for a header.

Earthquakes midfielder Khari Stephenson defends Dynamo midfielder Colin Clark.

San Jose is going to have to do something about Steven Lenhart, who picked up his second yellow card in the Quakes’ first two games. Obviously Lenhart’s job is to be physical, win balls, and lay them off for Wondolowski. But Lenhart isn’t winning balls, and he seems more intent on colliding with opposing players than serving Wondolowski.

Earthquakes forward Steven Lenhart and Dynamo midfielder Geoff Cameron battle for the ball.

Earthquakes forward Steven Lenhart chases after the ball and then looks for a call that was not to be.

Houston committed a few fouls at the edge of their own box late in the game, but made sure not to concede a penalty kick on any of them.

Dynamo defender Andre Hainault brings down Earthquakes midfielder Shea Salinas at the edge of the box.

Dynamo defender Jermaine Taylor brings down Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski for a foul.

Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski fires a shot with time running down.

The Earthquakes need to get their best 11 on the field at the same time, and it’s possible they will have to change formations to get it right…

Earthquakes defender Ramiro Corrales writhes in pain after a collision.

Earthquakes midfielder Shea Salinas holds his head after his shot went wide.

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Blog

Vancouver Whitecaps FC at San Jose Earthquakes 4/7/12

Jackpot Bull Riding at B-Bar Arena 3/31/12

2012 La Grange Rodeo

Mexico vs Senegal 3/17/12

Houston Dynamo at San Jose Earthquakes 3/17/12

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