Posts for category ‘Photo Galleries’

My "Entourage" after Game 5 of the World Series.

As I was for the other games in the post-season, I began Game 5 on the field for batting practice.  My routine has been to take a few player shots there, where I have then best access to the players, then I retire to the media room in the basement of CBP.  There I  process the shots, edit the shots, and post the shots.  Since it was the last game, I decided to put that processing off a little bit.  I headed to the 3rd deck and met some of my friends that had standing room only seats. There I watched the game as the fan I have not been able to be the rest of the post season!  I cheered, I got into it with Yankees fans, I enjoyed an adult beverage, and I even bought a stadium hot dog!   It was so awesome to experience that with my friends.  It was the most fun I had at a Series game since 1980.  Me and my entourage! HA!

Soon after it was back to work in the basement, editing and uploading the stuff from earlier in the day, then watching the game on a TV.  The media room was packed.  As the Phillies entered the top of the 9th inning, I packed my stuff to head back to the field for post game.  Being a “cagey veteran” of several post season games now, I knew an out of the way TV closer to the field I could watch the last three outs.  Just like the other games, when I got to the TV no one was there.  So,   I watched quietly rooting the Phillies home.  I was all alone.

Jay-Z texting his friends to say he can't believe he saw me at a Phillies World Series game.

Until Jay-Z and HIS ENTOURAGE showed up out of nowhere !  He and his over-the-top Yankee posse took over my private TV experience in a flash.  To his credit,  Jay-Z was quiet, respectful and smelled awesome!  His hangers-on?  Not so much.  They were all trailed by two MLB Security Guards to protect him and his friends from the crowd, or possibly vice versa.  His posse screamed and yelled so much in pro-Yankee fashion that OTHER Yankee fans that were in earshot headed towards that TV and it became Yankee corner.  One Yankee-Come-Lately faneven asked me to take a picture of him and Jay-Z with his cell phone.  Only a Yankee fan would ask a guy with thousands of dollars of camera gear strapped to his back to take a photo with a cell phone!  I told him he’d have to clear it with Jay-Z, who happily obliged.  So, I took the picture with the guys cell phone.  “By mistake” (translation — on purpose) I took the photo upside down and handed it back to him.  The Phils retired the side, the entourage cursed, the security people cringed  and we all exited in different directions.  As I walked away, I turned to the one Phillies employee that saw the whole thing and whispered, 

“I have been a Phillies die-hard since I was 5, I can’t believe I just watched the last three outs of a World Series game in Philly with Jay-Z!?!?”

Speaking of entourages, if the Phillies and Pedro can somehow win game 6 in New York, an “Entourage of Pitchers” is what we will need to win game 7.  All pitching hands on deck to get us that final game.  But, one game at a time…

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Game 5 Photo Gallery

As I stood on the field for the trophy presentation at the NLCS game clincher in Philadelphia, I had just one thought. That thought was; “PLEASE, please, please Gods of Baseball, let me see this again next week, only next week, let it be a World Series Trophy I see presented!”  That’s all I wished.  Tonight at Citizens Bank Park there is a 50/50 chance that I see that trophy presented.

Seeing the trophy presented to the Phillies, however, has a ZERO percent chance of occurring.  The Baseball Gods have the same sense of humor as the Monkey’s Paw from the Simpsons Treehouse of Horror!  I guess next time I should be more specific with my requests of the Baseball Gods.

In any event, Games 3 and 4 have been a home field disappointment for the Phillies and for the fans. I do think that three consecutive home games, all that start after 8pm, take something away from the Philadelphia crowd.  (As does a home Eagles game at 1:00 pm).   The crowds were there in force Saturday to start, but then lessened, and followed suit on Sunday.  Sure when the Phillies gave them something to cheer about, the fans were there, but overall, this was not the Phillies crowd we’ve come to expect.  Maybe the Yankee Mystique makes fans more nervous then boisterous? Or maybe the proximity of the game to New York puts too many New York fans in the seats.   I know a few Phillies fans that had their mortgages paid this month with Yankee dollars they got from selling their Phillies tickets!  All were factors.

Which brings us to Game 5.

I am making a new wish.  I’d like to see a trophy NOT presented tonight. Sure it would be interesting on a professional level as I may never be this close to baseball history, but on a personal level… NO.   While I have given up realistic hope that the Phillies can win three straight, I just don’t want to see the Yankees clinch here.  I don’t want to see them clinch on a night that the Series MVP had it gone the Phillies way, Cliff Lee, is on the hill and not on a night that even MORE of the Phillies faithful will line their pockets with “disappointment dollars” by selling their seats to the highest New York bidders.  Not on a night that this Phillies 2009 takes the field at home for the last time.  The Phils have given us an amazing two-year ride.  Tonight I hope to send the Fightins back to New York with a victory and to salute our Phils one last time at home as the Champions they still are.

Wish I had a monkey’s paw.  Go Phils.

So my first World Series game at Citizens Bank Park was a loss.  Still that does not detract, at all,  from the excitement of being a part of the media for a World Series game.   I was so happy when I took that shot of Jeter, above, because it seemed to foreshadow what I was sure was going to be the beginning of a three game home stand sweep by the Phillies. I was wrong.  Still love the shot!

The Yankees are pretty good, let’s face it.  I heard grumblings last night about calls that turned the game.  But the Yankees are just good.  (Honestly I thought Game 2 was the more “winnable” game of the two losses so far.)  I was on the field to see the Phillies warm up throughout the playoffs and if I said it once, I said it a million times.  The Phillies are a loose bunch that looks like they are having a blast and really enjoy each others company.  The Rockies and Dodgers seemed much tighter.  Joe Torre was reminded me of the somnambulist in the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.   After spending a pre-game with the Yankees?  Turns out the Yankees  are every bit as loose, confident and upbeat as the Phillies. 

During warm ups, former Philly, Michael Jack Schmidt came down to the field. (See Galleries).  Schmidt spent several minutes talking with both Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez.  He spent the most time talking to former Yankee great Reggie Jackson.  Jackson is a member of the Yankees staff.  To see the two with over 1000 homeruns talk on the field of a World Series game close enough to flip a Topps baseball card at them was a highlight of my evening.

The second highlight came during the rain delay.  And truth be told, I did not know it was a highlight until someone explained it to me later.  I spent the lengthy rain delay in the interview room you see on Comcast SportsNet.   What you can”t see from TV is that it is lined with about 100 chairs.  As the game was in delay I sat there with camera people, national media, various baseball writers etc.  As we sat there, a group of 5 or 6 very goofy teenish kids in bright red WORLD SERIES jackets descended upon the podium that is used for post game interviews.  They mock interviewed each other, cracked jokes, beat-boxed, sang a cappella, and giggled.  I thought some of the older folks from the BBWA’s heads would explode.   It smelled like teen spirit to be sure!  Later in the evening I learned they were the cast from GLEE that was singing that national anthem.  I was the closest one to the podium, I wish I knew it was them to take a picture for my friends kids!  Damn you Fox!!!

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Here is my Yankees Gallery

Here is my Phillies Gallery

So the culmination of my sports, personal and professional life came to an amazing crescendo tonight!  As the Phillies clinched their second straight NLCS, I was on the field.  Actually that is not 100% true.  I was in the tunnel when they clinched.  As per MLB, press is not allowed on the field for another 10 minutes after the game ends.  So after waiting the required 10, I was able to be on the field as the National League Trophy was presented to the Phillies.  I got some amazing shots that you can see in this gallery.  (2009 NLCS Trophy Presentation at Citizens Bank Park.)  In another stroke of luck, my life long friend, TJ was in the crowd.  He was able to sneak down to the rail and I gave him my camera for the ONLY shot of me that exists for all the NLCS/NLDS access I have been fortunate enough to have.

If I said it once, I have said it a million times.  The Phillies are a loose bunch, that legitimately like playing with and for each other.  I don’t think there is a player on the team that would not take a bullet for manager Charlie Manuel.    You can see their fondness for one another and confidence in the NLCS Game 5 pre-game warm up photos I shot.   I will be interested to see if they look as loose against the Yankees.  My hunch?  Absolutely…

Prediction?  Phils in 5 and I am on the field seeing another Trophy being presented!

So day two at Citizen’s Bank was a world of difference. I was there in time for the early press conferences. Joe Torre and Charlie Manuel are worlds apart right now. Charlie smiled more then he usually does and Joe Torre just sounds like a beaten man. He looks beaten as well. Although after working both home games til, 3 am, who doesn’t!?

I was also on the field at Citizens Bank Park and able to take in the Phillies Pre-Game warm up and get some really good shots. The Phillies are a very loose bunch right now. They are like a High School team, and I mean that in a good way. They genuinely seem to enjoy each others company and they do not seem the least bit intimidated by the enormous magnitude of these games. I had no doubt in my mind they’d win Game 4 and I have less doubt that they will win Game 5. Bring on the Yankees! Here is that gallery…

In the mix, I bumped into TJ which was a very cool thing. Until you go to a major sporting event in your home town/ home team alone, you forget how much of “sports” is about the other people you enjoy it with. TJ and I have logged a lot of games! Sorry I could not be sharing this one with more of my friends and family.