It was a dark and rainy night

It had rained on and off throughout the day here in Chengdu and as game time approached it looked like the weather was about to clear. Just as the teams were being introduced, it began to mist. The mist turned to sprinkles and then sprinkles turned to rain. It rained and rain some more, and continued for the entire evening.


As expected the Korean team came out running and immediately began attacking, they were fast and intense and constantly on the US team. Every moment was intense. There were no breaks; both teams ran the entire field for the full game.

Without scoring in the first half, Abby Wambach scored on a pass from Kristine Lilly. Leading 1-0, minutes later, Abby was on her back at the far end of the field with a gash to her head. Unable to stop the bleeding quickly, the ref made them leave to field and the US continued for the next 9 minutes, a player short. While Abby was being stitched up in the locker room, the Koreans scored twice within 4 minutes.

Heather O’Reilly tied the game at 2-2 with her first World Cup goal.

Even in the rain, you could see Abby’s blood stained uniform and she continued to play. She like the others, never lost their composure, never let up for a minute. It was a great game.

The second game of the night, Sweden vs. Nigeria was also a great game but lacked the intensity of the US and Korea. Great plays, great technical skills, but far less physical. At the end it was also a tie 1-1.

The first round of play ended pretty much as it had begun, all teams on equal group with one point as we wait for Friday.

There is a fine line

For many things in life there is a fine line that we need to be mindful not to cross. There is a fine line between diversity and lack of focus; there is a fine line between passion and obsession; and there is a fine line between confidence and over-confidence.

In today’s brief media session Kate Markgraf, Hope Solo and Carli Lloyd were a quiet display of confidence. In response to the standard questions they each provided the standard answers, of ‘one game at a time’ and ‘Group B has 3 of the top 5 teams in the world; but what was evident was the look in their eyes.

Each look said: I’m here and I’m ready to play. I may be half a world away from where I live, when I walk on the field, I am at home. If you want to keep up, you better bring your best, and then some.

They are here to play, they are here to work harder than anyone else; and oh yes, they are definitely here to win.

Indeed it was Kate Markgraf that made everyone else smile, when asked how she was going spend her evening, she told us of the long-standing tradition of doing each other’s nails in red, white and blue! I will definitely try to get that in a game photo!

The look in their eyes – confidence, passion and indomitable spirit.

Welcome to Chengdu

Arriving in Chengdu, I met one of the British Announcers, Nick London and two people from The Football Association (of England). The airport as well as the city streets has banners and billboards about the tournament. Chengdu’s reputation for support of the tournament is in evidence everywhere.

Upon picking up my luggage, there are World Cup Volunteers to help get me pointed in the right direction with taxi driver. A taxi ride in Chengdu is only part transportation; but mostly a thrill ride. Everyone has been extraordinarily gracious, particularly the two college students at my hotel, He Semin and Xie Xin. They are giving me directions, notes to give to taxi drivers and teaching me Chinese and both are thrilled to be practicing their English.

Immediately upon picking up my credentials I walked across the street to see the crowd gathered at the stadium. I was waved into the media area and arrived just as the US Team were finishing practice and coming out for a couple of quick interviews.

Although I had not pre-arranged any interviews, listening to Abby Wambach and Hope Solo, they are clearly confident and eager to get the tournament started.

One More Flight

Overnight in Shanghai allowed me to clean up, regroup and get some sleep in a bed after over 20 hours of flying.

I am in the final portion of this final flight on the way to the Tournament and it is less than 48 hours until I arrive at the Chengdu Stadium for the initial US game, facing North Korea.

I am finally getting excited, anticipating the energy of the crowd, the interaction with the other photographers and having one of the best seats in the house for the greatest women’s soccer that has ever been played. I am more than pleased to be there, I am proud to be there.

As I sit here I am smiling, thinking about how much I love being there shooting. I will do my best to bring you the action that can only be experienced from eye level and the intensity of the action when it is right in front of you.

Separation Anxiety

At 32,000 feet, more or less, the reality of spending the next 3 ½ weeks in China is finally beginning to sink in. My preparation, while directed at the Women’s World Cup has been mostly working in my office. E-mail, Fax, Meetings, lots more e-mail and even more meetings. But now the trip is underway and although I will not arrive in Chengdu until Sunday afternoon, my excitement is building.

At 6:00 AM this morning I dropped off Skyler and Wrigley and came home to a very quiet house. Life with Wrigley, a four-month old Golden Retriever, is rarely quiet. He has two speeds, fast and nap, but the ever-maternal nine year old Skyler is always in control as the Queen of the house.



Wrigley (my father was a life-long Cubs fan) and Skyler are with good friends Joanna and Bob, and will no doubt have their own visitors while I am away. Anyone who knows Goldens will understand that they have their own set of friends.

Indeed there was some separation anxiety, but I am sure I will be fine!

Posting this from Tokyo’s Narita Airport I feel surprisingly rested and ready to go. Next stop Shanghai!

Portrait of Passion

The challenge for any photographer is to make their images rise above the others. As I prepare to leave for China in the morning, it is not enough to say that I want to get some great soccer photos. Every international photographer on the field will get some great shots. I want mine to be more memorable. I want mine to transcend the photo and convey the emotion of the players. I want mine to show the energy and the indomitable spirit of the team. I want you to look into the eyes of players and see their passion. I want you to see their passion for the game and their passion for life.



My theme for the tournament is Portrait of Passion. I am sure I will get some great soccer shots, and if I am lucky I will be able to reveal the spirit of the players.

My next stop is Shanghai and the adventure begins.

Indomitable Spirit

There have been two things that have been a constant thread in my adult life, endurance sports and photography. The 70’s were filled with swimming and bike racing. In the 80’s and 90’s I was running marathons and cross country ski racing. Since there, well I have slowed down a bit as parts wear out, but my photography has remained constant.

Since my first camera in 1971, my concentration has always been endurance sports, it’s only natural, I shoot what I know, and I know how it feels. However, it wasn’t until I began to study Tae Kwon Do that I could articulate what it took to be an endurance athlete. Indomitable spirit, one of the underlying tenets of TKD – one that you can see on the face of any serious endurance athlete.

In the send off game against New Zealand, when Natasha Kai entered the game in the 64th minute, you could see her spirit in your eyes, in her step and in every move she made. Everyone in the stadium knew that she was going to score. She knew it, her teammates knew it, the fans knew it and I am certain New Zealand knew it as well.



Every move she made had power and direction. Every pass knew where it was going and her single focus was directed at the goal. It wasn’t until the 90th minute that Abby Wambach finished off one of her shots for the final goal of the game.

Indomitable spirit, indeed.