Pumas Press Conference

Just when I thought I was going to have a mini vacation (though I did get to take a beach trip with my buddy Tamar and parents yesterday) turns out Pumas and Monarcas are playing at the Coliseum tomorrow. So today, I headed over to the Pumas press conference at Mi Pueblo Food Center in Oakland. Anytime, the press conference is in the parking lot of a grocery store, you know you are in for a good time.

Four of the Pumas players walked up, Angel Dinamita of Dinamitation Consulatioin introduced them and welcomed the fans and media, y US PresswiRRRRReee, ha, that's me!!

The players were:

Alejandro Perez

Juan Francisco Palencia

Juan Carlos Cacho

and Efrain Velarde

There were two cameras for Spanish TV stations, who asked questions one on one. Otherwise there wasn't any other photo media except for me.

Everything is taking place in Spanish, and all a little too fast plus some slang, so I gave up on trying to follow what's going on, then I hear in English to me "do you have any questions?" -- "no, thanks, just photos"... then back to Spanish facing the players, and the guy next to me looks at me laughing and says "right?"... I smile with that look of I-have-no-idea-what's-going-on and he says "He just told the players you are single" haha, aye aye aye! So stuck around a bit to get a few shots of them signing autographs and promptly left before I found myself agreeing to go to dinner with one of the players ;-)

Mexico defeats Paraguay 3-1

Headed over to the Oakland Coliseum today for a fun Mexico vs Paraguay game.

Mexico defeated Paraguay 3-1 and it was a celebration!!

Now I'm off to do my own celebrating for my friend's birthday. Have a great weekend! =)

HSBC Rugby Sevens

Apart from the USA games and the Cup Final, I'm putting all the other rugby matches I covered into one big post. What an exciting tournament!

The "normal" 15 players rugby, aka rugby union, is a very thrilling sport, and rugby sevens is no different.

It's exciting because it's only seven minute halves (compared to forty). Conversions are dropped kicked (compared to place kicked). Three player scrums (compared to eight) and the team who scores subsequently kicks off to the conceding team. The difference in play, from my view, is there are fewer defenders, so missed tackles are unrecoverable, and a quick runner who can break away, can be unstoppable.

There also seems to be more lateral passing.

Though rugby union was eliminated from Olympic competition after the 1924 games, rugby sevens was voted into olympic games in 2009 and will makes it's debut in the 2016 games. So exciting!

Being a fan of soccer, I like the set up of having a club team as well as an international team.

Though the uniform kits are obviously different in design, I like that Argentina still has those famous baby blue and white stripes as their soccer team.

Conversely, New Zealand's rugby team is officially called the "All Blacks" and the soccer team the "All Whites" Though their kits are similar, the names are different due to a FIFA law that reserved the black stripe for referees, so as a play on words, soccer became the "All Whites".

Since my family recently returned from a trip to New Zealand with my aunt, uncle, sister and her Kiwi boyfriend, and brought me back an "All Blacks" pen, I was very exciting to catch them live!

Though it appears another photographer cheering for Kenya over New Zealand.

I consider rugby an incredibly masculine sport considering the pad-free tackling, frequency of bleeding, and the general "beast mode" of the players, but that's not to say it's a man's sport.

Yeah, Canada vs the Netherlands in the women's final, throwing up the stiff arm, you go girl!

And of course, no sport is complete without cheerleaders.

All in all, an awesome tournament!

Full set up: http://photos.kelleylcox.com/usasevens/lasvegas2011

USA Rugby Sevens vs Japan - Shield Final

After the Cup Final was the Shield Final with USA vs Japan. A great win for the USA Sevens!

Zach Test had a great try.

The fun was really in the fans, especially the bunnies.

And the players walked around the entire stadium postgame, thanking the fans for their support, shaking hands, taking pictures, and autographing everything.

Some even jumped up to the stands to take a picture WITH the fans.

Full set up: http://photos.kelleylcox.com/usasevens/lasvegas2011/usavsjapan

USA Sevens Rugby - South Africa vs Fiji Cup Final

South African had a thrilling victory over Fiji for the Cup Final in the HSBC Rugby Sevens World Series at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas.

A lot of great runs by South Africa.

And they stopped Fiji's final run to seal the win.

Though not the final game in the tournament due to TV timing, this was the big win, so it gets it's own post =)

Full set up: http://photos.kelleylcox.com/usasevens/lasvegas2011/southafricavsfiji

USA Rugby Sevens vs Uruguay

After a quick break for team USA, they were back on the field for their match against Uruguay.

It was great to see Cal alum, Colin Hawley, get on the pitch and make an impact with two tries!

Also, as anyone who reads this blog knows, one of my favorite things to photograph in sports is unique hair... and there was certainly no shortfall of fun hair.

Full set: http://photos.kelleylcox.com/usasevens/lasvegas2011/usavsuruguay

USA Rugby vs Canada - Paul Emerick

Covered USA Sevens vs Canada this morning. Unfortunately, USA fell to Canada 19-15.

After selecting some of the photos I wanted to include in this blog, I realized they were almost all of Paul Emerick, so I decided this would be the all Paul blog.

Apart from breaking tackles and scoring two tries, Emerick made a tackle and got a nasty cut above his eye. You can see the blood flying off his face.

And then see him catching it as a pool forms in his hands.

Then he stands up as it continues to drip down his face.

Then he gets taped up, and continues to play.

What a manly man!

Full set: http://photos.kelleylcox.com/usasevens/lasvegas2011/usavscanada