More Game Photos From Thursday, With Dance Team Bonus Pics.
by insomniacslounge on Feb 6, 2010 6:09 AM PST
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PrintBumped. GO BRUINS. -N
There definitely appear to be some mixed reviews from the last night's game vs Stanford. The people who went to the game seemed to view it far more favorably than those that watched on tv. I think ultimately, the reason for the optimistic view from those in attendance is because, for once this year, the crowd was actually really into the game (at least down the stretch). There was a lot more energy in the arena and I think the players responded to it. Hopefully, the crowd will continue to show some enthusiasm for the final three home games of the season. (Quick aside: I don't want to hear any more 'blue-hair'/geezer excuses for the lack of energy in Pauley. I've caught a few Arizona home games on tv this season, and that crowd really gets behind their teams..and that's an arena full of retirees.)
Anyway, I was very pleased with the overall effort our team showed. There were many opportunities for this team to fold and they refused to do so. Everyone that played contributed in some way, and when we actually ran our sets, we were a very efficient scoring machine (only 5 turnovers and great production in the paint). No, it certainly wasn't a vision of perfection, but it did look like progress; and it to me, it looks like we're developing an identity that will bode well for the future. B D already whetted our appetite with some of his great pics from the game. Here are a few shots from my seats last night:
Reeves Nelson banging down low and drawing some contact
I do believe that someone is about to get dunked on
There was no foul called on this play
Nelson reacts with incredulity
Footage rarer than bigfoot? Dragovic playing a little help D
"Pitbull" Lee breaks off his chain and drives for two
The number 1 threat to America: Giant acrobatic bears!
Tyler was taken over to the student section to cheer for a bit. He had a blast. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to snap any pics while he was there. However, here he is coming back afterwards. Thanks, Dana. You rock!
Nobody ventures out further on the court without getting a "T" than Howland. If he were an opposing coach, I'd be livid. But since he's our coach, I love it. This was late coming out of a timeout, but even still...
To his credit, Lee did hit some big free throws in crunch time.
The bench was very much into this game.
Win, as a team.
Tyler Honeycutt getting some much needed rest.
The same photo, but with some cropping and heavy processing. It seemed kinda edgy and dramatic at 2 am. Now? I'm not so certain.
. . .
Oh, I believe there were some requests for photos of our dance team? For you guys, I went ahead and snapped a few. I'm a giver in that way.
From my vantage point, there were definitely reasons to cheer for this team. Hopefully most people here will feel the same way.
Go Bruins!
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.
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That's a little cold dude!
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
by tasser10 on Feb 6, 2010 10:29 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
Awesome!
Thanks for sharing those, I miss going to the games and those pictures take me right there. Great job and much appreciated. And the TH crop/edit is pretty cool I must say. At keep it up
Love the Dance Team pics, but...
pics of Tyler still top them all.
greg in denver - UCLA guy for life
Too kind.
Here’s one more of him from last night. By far the most starstruck he’s ever been.
by insomniacslounge on Feb 5, 2010 7:58 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
A great picture of a pair of great Bruins.
Awesome shot man. Glad to see the little guy is back at Pauley.
Definite keeper.
Two of the toughest Bruins that ever walked onto Wooden Court.
M
"In this program your passion bucket must be full to play SC." -- CRN, to Dan Patrick, 1/2008
pitbulls
Sorry insomniac … I am just comparing Tyler and AA to Orel Hershisher … one of my favorite baseball players of all time. :-)
Orel was one of my favorites, too
I was lucky enough to be at the game in San Diego when Orel pitched TEN innings of shutout ball (it was funny rooting against the LA offense in the 9th and hoping it would go extras) to break Don Drysdale’s record for consecutive scoreless innings.
One of his sons plays baseball for USC now, but I believe he’s already caught the Hershiser injury bug.
by insomniacslounge on Feb 6, 2010 11:43 AM PST up reply actions
88 - Dodgers/Lakers (back to back)
That was an amazing year. It was also cool to have Tim Leary – a Bruin – as one of the key starters in that rotation.
Lasorda's nickname for Orel was Bulldog
A bulldog is much more refined and has a better temperment than a pitbull.
Orel’s run of scoreless innings was a once in a lifetime thing. Incredible. And tied to Gibby’s homer off Eck. Yeah, good good memories.
greg in denver - UCLA guy for life
Tyler
I was in the second row directly in front of Tyler when he came over to lead the 8 clap with the students. Just wanted to let you know how excited we all were to have him join us for the cheer. He definitely seems to have his own little fan club in the Den so far. I’m so glad he enjoyed himself and was able to share some of his mojo with the Bruins to help us get the win!
Tyler's mojo
I think there may be something to this. Insomniac, can you get him to all the remaining home games? And the road games, while you’re at it? I think Tyler may be the cosmic connection we’re looking for. (I have never been really enthusiastic about Nestor’s George Costanza style reverse karma.)
The Bruins are on their own today as we do not have tickets.
I’m wondering how big of a crowd there will be today as the weather has been pretty miserable for most of the day.
(Btw, I’m with you in your tepid response to the Costanza reverse karma, but N certainly isn’t alone in that philosophy. One year, my brother (who was an Angels fan at the time) felt that anytime he watched the Halos play, they would lose, whereas if he missed the game, they’d win. So for the rest of the season, he refused to watch his favorite team play. No, they did not go undefeated the rest of the way, but he still stuck to his guns. To each his own, I suppose.)
by insomniacslounge on Feb 6, 2010 11:28 AM PST up reply actions
Hey N,
what do DC folks think of that pretty miserable weather in Los Angeles today? lol
I’m actually hoping we get some snow in the mountains here soon. It’s a little bare right now. Both you two can send me some of your crappy weather.
greg in denver - UCLA guy for life
TV vs. Live
I attended the Eagle Bank Bowl, and the second half of that game, at least, was memorable and left me very impressed with our team’s play. I enjoyed it so much, in fact, that I decided to watch the game again at home via Tivo. That’s when I realized how annoyed I would have been with even the second half of the game had I only watched it on TV. There’s something about being at a game — experiencing the excitement and really feeling the emotion of the players, that you don’t get on TV. Watching on TV also allows you to dissect every flaw in a manner that you just can’t do if you’re at the game (even with great seats.) And this, I think, explains the difference of opinion. I watched the Stanford game on TV and came away with a 50-50 view of how we played. My parents were at the game and were overwhelmingly positive in their review.
by Bruin Die Hard on Feb 6, 2010 6:59 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
Totally agree
Great example too. I remember reading N’s first person account of the Eagle Bank Bowl and wondering if we had watched the same game. The in-person experience can sometimes make all the difference.
On the other hand, I don’t care where you were for our home basketball game vs SC this season (I happened to be in Pauley with my dad), it was a depressing and miserable experience from start to finish.
by insomniacslounge on Feb 6, 2010 11:47 AM PST up reply actions
That game
If we didn’t come back in the second half and made necessary adjustments, I think the tone would have been different. It was a huge game with lot on the line for our program (there is a big difference between 7-6 and 6-7, from the perspective of pitching program to recruits).
I would also add
Here on BN we will always analyze the programs using numbers, details and overall perspective not just based on how much joy someone is feeling from tailgaiting at the Rose Bowl or hanging out at Pauley. There is a reason why we called it the “reality based community.” It was done to separate ourselves from the blindos who were all about just enjoying the “experience” such as “true moral victory” over Southern Cal.
AA with Tyler is probably the best shot you took!
Although the cheerleader shots are pretty amazing too. Too bad they aren’t higher quality…but they’re awesome. Thanks for taking the time to post them all!
Still letting out a pre-geezer sigh at the one who SI listed as No. 1 cheerleader
Forgot her name, but you all know which one.
"In this program your passion bucket must be full to play SC." -- CRN, to Dan Patrick, 1/2008
If by higher quality, you mean bigger image size
If you click each image, it will take you to Flickr, where you can click “all sizes” and you’ll get a slighter larger view than what’s presented here. I no longer post full resolution photos on Flickr b/c I’ve been burned too many times by people who use the photos on their own site without providing any photo credit.
If by higher quality, you mean closer to the action, then a photo pass would be pretty cool so I could bring a larger lens into the game. (Security has really decided to crack down on cameras this season. I’ve already had a number of frustrating encounters.)
And if by higher quality, you simply mean better composition and sharper focus, well, all I can do is keep practicing. Which I’m more than willing to do!
by insomniacslounge on Feb 6, 2010 11:35 AM PST up reply actions
"Higher quality"
absolutely did NOT refer to the subjects themselves.
greg in denver - UCLA guy for life
Wow, I didn't realize
that security is restricting cameras. Guess I can chalk that up to another advantage of entering through the tunnel. The only reason I could want a photo pass is for access to the arena flashes, which I might try to pull out next season (at least for the Women’s games)
by b d on Feb 7, 2010 8:00 PM PST up reply actions
The official rule is nothing w/ a lens longer than 3"
But it’s really pretty much up to the interpretation of whatever security guy you end up w/ at the door. The lens I put on my camera is officially (according to the specs) 2.8", but I’ve been denied entry w/ that lens on multiple occasions.
by insomniacslounge on Feb 7, 2010 10:51 PM PST up reply actions
That sucks
Between the 3.1" lens and the hood, they’d bounce me out for sure. Wonder if we could finagle a pass for BN/through cheer (for you). I snooped in the EXIF data from your shots, and now I’ve got glass envy :P I’ve been shooting most everything I post here on a Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6, though for most of the shots that make it here, it might as well be a 200 f/5.6. I saw f/2.0 and I was jealous. I need the focal length since I sit pretty high up in the band section, so any fast lenses at the length I need tend to be four figures…far too much for a starving grad student.
So I figure your seats were pretty low in the bleachers opposite the band, right? I’m pretty amused that we were covering the game on both sides of the court from the spectator section (though your dunk/general Reeves shots are clearly superior), so between the two of us, we get the angles the pros with their fancy passes get.
Glass Envy
Well, the lens I used for this game was a 85mm f/1.8, which is a little sharper at f/2.0 and is a relative bargain at around $375. The only thing is that the autofocus isn’t the most reliable, so for this game, I tried shooting a lot in manual focus- with mixed results. What kills me is that I have to leave my more expensive 135mm f/2L at home; and that thing takes some incredibly beautiful pictures and makes me look like a much better photographer than I actually am. I can definitely remember the starving grad student days, but if you happen to get a grant or scholly that you weren’t expecting, I’d highly recommend taking the leap on a fast lens. (The new Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 VR II is supposed to be amazing. But it’s also $2400. Ouch. Hopefully, that means the “old” version will drop in price tho.)
I think the cheer squad already has their own photographer, but if you ever think a pass could be a possibility, I’d definitely be interested.
You are correct in your calculations of where my seats were. I scored some pretty nice tickets on stubhub for that game. It’s pretty funny that we were essentially shooting right at each other. In fact, you can even see me (and Ty) in one of your posted photos (front row, far left, camera strap dangling around neck).
by insomniacslounge on Feb 8, 2010 2:32 AM PST up reply actions
Wow, totally didn't notice that before
but I recognize Tyler at least from your posts, and I don’t suppose there are too many people with dSLRs in the stands. I guess I just don’t notice the fans anymore since they’re usually boke’d out anyway. Great seats though, I thought you had a pass from some of the shots from under the hoop you posted.
Speaking of…I’ll be sure to let you know if I find anything out about passes. I feel like it shouldn’t be terribly difficult (at least for the women’s games) but we’ll see. Oh, and if you have trouble finding tix for a game on stubhub or whatever, shoot me an email a few days in advance- I’m usually able to hook up a few tickets if I have enough notice. I can’t really make a habit of it, but I can certainly spare a few here and there if you’re in a bind.
by b d on Feb 8, 2010 9:57 PM PST up reply actions
thanks for the offer
and since this thread is about to drift off into the archives soon, you can also feel free to hit me up anytime at insomniacslounge[at]gmail[dot]com.
by insomniacslounge on Feb 8, 2010 11:08 PM PST up reply actions
great photos!
Love the photos, esp. the one w/ Tyler & AA. What wonderful smiles! Thx for posting them. :D
Awesome!
Thanks!
Don’t forget the backflippers!
by mplsbruin on Feb 6, 2010 10:06 AM PST via mobile reply actions
I had every intention of taking backflip pics after free throws
But the cheer squad was only on my side of the court during the first half, during which we went 0-4 from the line. But if you want pics of cheerleaders preparing for a backflip and then just sitting down…well, I’ve got some of those. :(
by insomniacslounge on Feb 6, 2010 11:07 AM PST up reply actions
Tyler's my hero
But didn’t he get to dance this time?
Seriously, Guerrero should give the two of you tix to every game for the courage the little warrior brings to the arena.
And I loved the photo with AA.
Some of our players need to learn what real toughness is, and Tyler can teach them.
Re: Guerrero- I like the way you think!
As for dancing, I’m sure the spirit squad would have let him join them if we’d asked. But truthfully, by the time the game ended, Tyler was pretty tired, so I didn’t want to push it.
by insomniacslounge on Feb 6, 2010 11:16 AM PST up reply actions
I'm feeling better after those pics
and knock on wood, I felt good to start with…
Great shots
I commented earlier, but I totally forgot to give credit where it’s so obviously due. Epic shots. I’m glad someone could cover the other side of the court, especially during the second half. The second half is always frustrating for me when shooting, because I’m still on the other side of the court.
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