Going Batty

Tonight was the first game of the first tournament of the new baseball season. You can tell some of the kids got new bats this year because they're hanging up in the bat rack rather than lying on the ground.

The First Church of Basketball

In our house, Sunday means church. So, why not one more picture from Late Night in the Phog?

Champions!

The weekend in Lawrence continues. If you're a K-State fan, you won't know what that glass-like trophy is above, but KU fans do! That was a great year! National champions! Speaking of champions...

...this is my champion right here. Future Jayhawk answering the question "What's Your Wingspan?". He's not quite to Cole Aldrich's span yet, but the boy is just in junior high. There's still time.

Beware of the Phog

Andrew and I made I first journey to Late Night in the Phog. It was everything we thought it'd be and more! We met up with my brother and his family. My mom was there, too. What a great night to watch the Kansas Jayhawk's basketball season get underway! I love this time of year!

Beginning of Basketball

Amber had a basketball clinic tonight. This is her third year in the program and she gets better every year. I like this gymnasium. It's older and has a little character to it. This place gets LOUD on game days!

Glowing Basketball Tee

In a scramble to find something to snap a picture of tonight, I went outside with a flashlight to try and find a different point of view. Andrew was out with me and as the light moved across his shirt, I saw the glow. So, I told him to stand still, I pointed the flashlight at him and clicked (well...there wasn't actually any clicking. I just pressed OK. But, the word click jives with the name of this blog). And now, I share it with the world! It's almost basketball season anyway. Just a couple more games before the end of his season.

Waterline

Another tough night for the high school football team. But, on another note, I like the contrast this image of water bottles against the turf provided.

Team Pictures

Hornet Truck

Another tough loss tonight for VCHS. I think we're improving as a team, though. We scored twice which is an improvement, but we really beat ourselves up when something goes wrong. Gotta learn to let it go and move on. I think coach seems to be doing the right things and believe we'll turn a corner eventually. Until then, I'll continue to cheer them on and support the team. Rome wasn't built in a day, you know.

Cole Aldrich Meets His Match

The Oklahoma City Thunder had their first ever rally in Wichita today. They brought two former University of Kansas players with them that now play for the Thunder, Nick Collison and Cole Aldrich. People have always told us that Andrew looks a lot like Cole. My mom, a huge KU basketball fan, was the first one to ever point it out. We saw the resemblance so there was no question that we should go meet Cole and get a picture of the two of them. Andrew tells us that many of the kids at this mini-camp kept telling him that he looked just like Cole Aldrich and asking him if they were brothers. Even employees of the Thunder saw the resemblance. I think Kelly McKeown, their Director of Marketing & Brand Management mentioned it when we spoke with him on the playground outside of the venue while waiting for the doors to open. Then, when Cole and Nick showed up, one of the guys leading the camp grabbed Andrew from his group drills and brought him over to Cole for this picture. Pretty cool! I've never really been a fan of pro basketball, but we've all taken an interest in the Oklahoma City Thunder this year and are looking forward to the season.

Across the Yellow Line

You know when you're watching a football game on TV and you see that yellow line that marks where the first down is? This isn't it. That line on TV doesn't even exist in the real world. This yellow line is for the press on the sideline of the high school football game I was shooting video at tonight. The officials were pretty strict about making sure we stood behind that line. At one point during the game, I looked down and my foot had crossed it. REBELLION! I didn't get a penalty but the game was called due to strong storms in the area with two-seconds left in the 3rd quarter. I guess that could've been my fault. I'm not gonna lose any sleep over it, though.

Football Tapes

The VCMS 8th Grade Football team beat Haysville tonight 26-0. Transferring the victory to DVD for the coaching staff.

Football Weather

College football started today. Well, there were a few games on Thursday, but today is Saturday and that's college football day. So, in this guy's world, it started today. Especially with all of the Big XII games being played. It was so nice outside that we sat out in the driveway to listen to the games on the radio. It was sort of like being at the game, except we had great parking, the snacks were a lot cheaper, the seats were more comfortable and our dog was sitting on the field under the tree growing in the middle of it.

Line Judge

Tonight was the first VCHS football game with our new head football coach. The beginning of the game was exciting and full of electricity. The energy of the coach and the team cheering and pumping their fists really penetrated the crowd. It was great! Things took a turn, though, and we ended up losing. But you know, this is just game one of the beginning of a new era of Valley Center football. The potential this program has is great and the crowd in the stands proves that hope springs eternal and there's a community surrounding this coach and these boys that continues to believe.

Ocho Cinco 90210

It was a big day today. We had the first football game of the season and it was Andrew's birthday. We were excited about both, but neither really turned out the way we had hoped. The football game was a nail-biter going into several overtimes and lasting much longer than anyone at the stadium expected. We lost in a heart-breaker 22-24, but the boys put up a good fight. Now that we have that loss out of the way, we can focus on winning. Unfortunately, when we got home, Andrew wasn't in much of a mood to celebrate his birthday, so we'll postpone it to another day. Losing a game that close and playing for nearly three hours really wears on a guy so I understand. Good thing birthdays last all week around here.

Sidelines

Friday night, and the high school team goes head to head. It's a new season with a new coach, and the crowd at tonight's scrimmage proved that hope springs eternal.

Scrimmage Tape

Football season has started! Tonight was the scrimmage for the middle school football team. I ran tape on the game as usual and got it ready for coaches to review over the weekend. Here's to a great season!

Beware the Hook

Game Face

Tomorrow. First day of school. First day of football practice. He's been preparing all summer and he's ready to go. He's gonna do great!

B.A.D.

I asked him what he wanted to call this post. He said "Beastly Awesome Skills". The title I chose fits better. "Basketball After Dark". Well, no one can say the kid isn't confident!