Cal's First Home game at the new Memorial Stadium

It's always fun to be at the home opener for a team, but I've never quite been to a home opener like this before.  Last Saturday, Cal re-opened its rebuilt Memorial Stadium and the excitement in the air.  Fans lined the grand staircase before the game to hi-five the football players entering the stadium.

I realized photographing the pre-game festivities I haven't been to a lot of college football games.  Actually one I can remember which was when Cal beat USC in triple overtime in 2003. So, in a lot of ways, it was a whole new experience for me.

It was fun watching the fans get excited at the prep rally at Sproul Plaza...

 ...and then joining the cheerleaders and band members as they marched across campus.

The band walked passed the Campanile...

And stepped to Memorial stadium.

The crowds entered the new gates.

It was fun watching the band do its pre-game routine on the field.

And see the fans receive their commemorative tickets for the game.

I had a birds-eye view of the ribbon cutting.

Which gave me a lot more space then the photographers on the field.

And then the team rushed the field and the game was on!

One of the shots I needed to get was of the full stadium with tightwad hill in the background.

The student section was ready and excited to cheer on the game.

And it was cool that the cheerleaders had their own stand in front of the student section to lead the cheers.

Cal went down by two goals early, but scored a touchdown in the second quarter to bring the home fans alive.

The Cal fans urged their team on in a back and forth game.

Cal's mascot Oski keeping the troops into the game.

When Cal scored a touchdown to tie the game in the 4th Quarter it seemed like the comeback was complete.

The Cal fans celebrated....

...and urged their team on.

But Nevada scored a last-minute touchdown to dash the Cal fan's dreams.

So although the Cal fans left the game dejected it was in the end a celebration.  Cal football was back home.

New Edition in Concert in Oakland

I was excited last week cause my friend, music and food writer extraordinaire Tamara Palmer called me up last week with a juicy assignment:  photographing New Edition on their nationwide tour.

Now you have to understand: I love New Edition.  They were my favorite band growing up.

And in particular I always thought Bobby Brown was just...cool.

So to photograph them on their 29th anniversary reunion tour was a special treat for me.

And it was awesome because with Johnny Gill and Bobby Brown both there all six members of New Edition were on stage.

And the amazing crowd (of people all my age) ate it up!

The opener was Tony! Toni! Toné!, which was beset by sound problems and only played two songs.

But that didn't stop New Edition.  The ultimate professionals they've been bringing it for 29 years.

And on Saturday night they didn't disappoint.

You can read the Tamara Palmer's review of the concert on the SF Weekly website.

USA vs. Guatemala World Cup Qualifier

World Cup Qualifiers can be tight, ugly affairs and except for two moments of brilliance that was the case in the USA's game against Guatemala at Estadio Mateo Flores in Guatemala City.  Unfortunately each team had a moment, and it canceled out a great chance for the USA to take control of their qualifying group.

Before the game a hardcore group of USA fans (numbering roughly 20 or so) made their way to the stadium to enjoy the pre-game festivities.

And wearing their colors with pride.

The USA fans made their presence known before the game.

Grabbed a couple of beers available outside the stadium...

...and danced it up with the Guatemalan fans.

They were even able to get a Guate TV announcer to wear a USA head band.

Not all the Guatemalan fans were happy to greet the USA Fans...

but it was all in all a festive atmosphere outside the stadium.

The USA arrived a few hours before the game...

...and Chris Wondolowski signed a kids shirt.

Then game time!

The national anthem...

...the coin toss...

...and let the game begin!

The USA came out for 3 points in this game...

But Guatemala was determined to play a physical chippy game.

And try to get the ball away from the Americans any way they could.

The one moment of brilliance for the USA was started by Fabian Johnson who passed a quick ball to Clint Dempsey...

And made sure to finish when it counted.

The whole second half it looked more like the USA was trying to hang onto its 1-0 lead instead of add to it.

and as Klinsmann paced the sidelines, the Pescalito was able to get a foul...

Which set up Marco Pappa to hit an excellent free kick over the USA wall...

...for a goal.

The USA tried to press in the final minutes...

...but the result was a 1-1 tie.  They are still up in their group cause of goal differential but it could've been a much smoother road if they had sewn up this game.  Lets hope Pappa's goal is not one that American fans rue for a long time.

You can view more of my photographs on ISI Photos.