2011 Dallas Mavericks Championship Celebration

This last week was crazy and I'm finally getting around to putting up some of my recent work. This post is dedicated to the Mavs' Championship Celebration in Downtown Dallas on June 16, 2011. It was a ridiculously hectic day and I drove about 14 hours during the 24 hour period. I only saw the parade on the American Airlines Center big screens but it was nice not to have to fight the crowds and heat to get a good view. I did get to see the rest of the celebration up close and personal as the players and coaches were interviewed and thanked the fans in the AAC for making it such a memorable season. I got to bring my good equipment with me so without access to the press line I think I came away with some pretty good images. It was nice not have to run on deadline for once. Then the once in a lifetime experience continued as I had the opportunity to meet and get my photo taken with Dirk, Jet, Cuban, Carlisle and even Dirk's shooting coach from Germany. It was an amazing experience to remember and I hope to have many more. Enjoy.

Dirk and Jet celebrate as thousands of fans cheer.

Brian Cardinal cleans up the stage before his fellow Mavs enter the arena.

Brian Cardinal hypes up the crowd before the rest of the Mavericks take the stage.

Mark Cuban gives the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy a quick shine as the Mavericks take the stage.

Jason Terry thanks the fans for their support throughout the season.

Fans give Dirk a standing ovation as he takes a seat to be interviewed.

Dirk looks around the stadium as fans cheer.

A fan holds up a homemade LeBron James doll.

Caron Butler celebrates as fans cheer and streamers fall from the rafters in the AAC.

The Larry O'Brien Trophy sits on the interview table as fans give the Mavericks a standing ovation in the American Airlines Center.

High School Football Playoffs - Abilene vs Arlington, Belton vs. Longview

In the midst of shooting my daily work for The Shorthorn, I always love freelancing sports on the side. Over the weekend I had the opportunity to shoot Abilene and Belton high school football as both teams make their push to continue in the playoffs. Abilene and Arlington High put on a great game Friday at Maverick Stadium at UT-Arlington that was decided by an 18-yard field goal to put Abilene on top, 31-28, as the clock expired. The story for Belton, however, was not as cinematic as mistakes led to a 52-28 loss to Longview at Kincaide Stadium in Dallas. Overall, it was a cold but exciting weekend of football in Texas.

Abilene High’s Jake Broosk (7) intercepts a pass in the third quarter of the Eagles’ bidistrict game against Arlington High.

Abilene High’s Paxton Grayer (5) rushes for a touchdown to tie the game in the third quarter, and AHS eventually won 31-28 on a late field goal.

Quarterback Ronell Sims (1) scrabbles for a few of his 148 yards on 28 carries for the night.

Eagles running back Paxton Grayer (5) kisses the bidistrict trophy given to his team after its 31-28 win over Arlington High.

Belton quarterback David Ash throws a pass to receiver Jonathan Paysse during the Tigers' 52-28 playoff loss to Longview on Saturday night. Ash threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns, giving the senior Texas commitment 3,470 passing yards and 41 TDs this year. (Andrew Buckley/Special to the Telegram)

Belton receiver Jonathan Paysse breaks away from Longview’s Deionte Wall during the Tigers’ 52-28 bi-district playoff loss Saturday night. (Andrew Buckley/Special to the Telegram)

Ruben Alvarez celebrates after Belton recovered a fumble in the second quarter on Saturday at Kincaide Stadium in Dallas.

Belton Tigers Advance to Semifinals

Belton has yet again swept another playoff series. They beat Richardson Lake Highlands 5-1 on Saturday advancing them to the Class 5A Region II semifinals at Sam Houston State. The game was tied 1-1 in the fifth before Belton rallied after a walk off home run in sixth inning to take out the Wildcats in Game 2 of the series. This may be the last of my baseball posts for awhile since both teams I have been covering are going out of town as the continue. I’m hoping to start experimenting with some video projects soon so stay tuned.

Belton senior Shane Hoelscher shouts after hitting his school-record 14th homer of the year in the sixth inning, sparking the seventh-ranked Tigers to a series-clinching 5-1 victory over Richardson Lake Highlands on Saturday. Belton (33-6) advanced to play Klein Collins in the Class 5A Region II semifinals. (Andrew Buckley/Special to the Telegram)

Belton and Temple College Baseball

This week is dominated by baseball freelancing. While everything at The Shorthorn is starting up for the summer, I’ve been shooting Belton High School and Temple College baseball during their post-season runs for the Temple Daily Telegram. It has been great shooting these teams to get more baseball experience in blazing sun and pouring rain alike. I’m definitely starting to get the hang of positioning myself around the field for certain shots but sometimes you just can’t help where something happens. Here are some shots from the first four games this week and will post more when I hopefully shoot Belton and, hopefully, Temple College again later this week.

Belton shortstop Shane Hoelscher (23) uses his glove to feed the baseball to second baseman Drew Delgado, who turned the game-ending double play in the ninth-ranked Tigers' 12-2 win at Richardson Berkner on Saturday. Hoelscher also hit his 13th home run to extend his Belton single-season record. (Andrew Buckley/Special to the Telegram)

Belton pitcher Tyler Vail (21) and third baseman Dillon Newman (right) celebrate with second baseman Drew Delgado after shortstop Shane Hoelscher and Delgado turned a double play to end the Tigers’ 12-2 win over Richardson Berkner on Saturday for a Class 5A area-round sweep. (Andrew Buckley/Special to the Telegram)

#11 pitches during Temple College's opening game of the NJCAA Region V Tournament against Odessa.

Temple’s Stafford Brantley, who was 3-for-5, slides into home plate during the Leopards’ win over Odessa. (Andrew Buckley/Special to the Telegram)

#12 hits a foul ball off of the rain-soaked ground in the third inning as TC takes on Midland.

Temple College’s Duncan McGee tags out Midland’s Matt Moreno during the Leopards’ 10-2 win Monday at the NJCAA Region V Tournament. (Andrew Buckley/Special To The Telegram)

TC second baseman Zach Cohen throws over MCC’s DeMario Thibodeaux to complete a double play in the Leopards’ loss Tuesday. (Andrew Buckley/Special to the Telegram)

Zach Cohen connects with a pitch on Tuesday during the Leopards' loss to McLennan.

Mavs Narrowly Beat Thunder 99-98

The Mavericks broke their 2-game home losing streak last night with a narrow win against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder have lost nine straight to Dallas and with this loss brings the record to 2-17 between the teams. Kevin Durant, a UT Austin alum, recorded a 30 point and 13 rebound double-double in the loss. Dirk Nowitzki posted is 11th 30-point game of the season with 32 points for the night. Overall, a good game by the Mavs but it never needed to be as close as it was.

Dirk Nowitzki shoots over the Thunder's Jeff Green.

Shawn Marion shoots a layup against the Thunder's Serge Ibaka.

Dirk Nowitzki and the Thunder's Nick Collison scramble for a loose ball.

Josh Howard attempts to block the Thunder's Kevin Durant.

Jason Terry is blocked and fouled by Nick Collison.

The Thunder's Serge Ibaka attempts to block and fouls Dirk Nowitzki.

Josh Howard attempts a layup on Serge Ibaka.

Jason Kidd shoots a layup against the Thunder's Eric Maynor.

Erick Dampier leaps for an alley-oop over Nick Collison.

Dirk Nowitzki drives to the basket against Jeff Green.

Thunder head coach Scott Brooks directs his team during the final moments of the game.

The Thunder's Jeff Green attempts a reverse layup.

The Thunder's Jeff Green shoots over Erick Dampier.

The Thunder's Kevin Durant looks to pass around defender Drew Gooden.

The Thunder's Russell Westbrook dunks off of a fast break.

Monday Creek Exploration

I went down to the creek by my house for the first time this summer and here are some of my finds.