One And The Same

Little did I know that when I took Oakland A's outfielder Coco Crisp's picture - with his son Caden - at a Los Angeles Clippers basketball game last November that I would have a reason to use it here on the photo blog. But recently, the Associated Press ran some shots of Crisp who gave his hair a break when he took his braids out. The result is giant afro that got plenty of attention.

Yankee Stadium Fixture

Since 1995, this Yankee fan has been coming to games in the Bronx with his hand puppet he calls Jackie "Rabbitson." He entertains kids and adults alike with his creation and lends an innocent air to the sometimes rough and tumble image of baseball at Yankee Stadium. I saw the both of them on the number 4 subway platform located outside the entrance to the ballpark and I just had to take a picture.

Jackie Robinson Night in New York

The annual Jackie Robinson Day - held to honor the breaking of baseball's color barrier on April 15, 1947 by the late Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers - was held at New York's Yankee Stadium and every other Major League stadium on Friday. All players, coaches, managers and umpires wore Robinson's uniform number 42. The middle photo features (L to R) Andrew Jones, Curtis Granderson and Nick Swisher of the Yankees standing at attention during the national anthem. The bottom photo shows - among others - Robinson's widow, Rachel (R in yellow), his daughter, Sharon Robinson to Mrs. Robinson's right and five members of the famed Tuskegee Airmen who were the first African-American pilots, bombardiers, navigators and support personnel during World War II. The Yankee players are Mariano Rivera - in the center- with the big smile (he's the only player who's allowed to wear #42 during the season since he was wearing the number before it was retired by MLB), Curtis Granderson and on the far right, Robinson Cano whose parents named him after Jackie Robinson.

Rainy Night in New York

No baseball in the Bronx thanks to a lingering storm that could last for another day. So when there is bad weather that means good photos can be made. The top picture is from the subway platform across the street from Yankee Stadium. The middle and bottom shots are from downtown Brooklyn after I got off the #4 train.

Movie Star

I took this shot of pro surfer Bethany Hamilton a few years ago when I was based in southern California. I finally have a good reason to showcase it here - she's the subject of a new movie about her life and triumph over having a shark bite off her left arm. Soul Surfer is the story of Hamilton's recovery and return to the professional ranks.

Pretty Shots From The Stadium

It's early in the season - it's cold - and the light is not the best for action shots from the Stadium. So I looked for something else to shoot and found these two images. The rain clouds are on their way out of the area but they helped turn the skies in the Bronx into an interesting backdrop.

Brooklyn's Latest Project

You're looking at the future home of the New Jersey Nets NBA basketball team. This is an early peak at the new Barclays Center near downtown Brooklyn. It won't be completed until the summer of 2012 - with the Nets moving in for the start of the 2012-13 season. It will mark the return of the first big time professional sports team to the borough since the Dodgers moved from here to Los Angeles in 1958. We'll have an pictorial update on the first of each month until the Barclays Center is built and ready for games.