Any Given Saturday
November 7th, 2009 by Rob Hart
24 hours, 3 games, 6 teams, 16.6 gigs of JPG’s, 4111 frames, 54 photos transmitted, 1 car battery almost died, 3 burritos.
“I *hate* sports.” I’ve been quoted saying that so many times. But really, I love sports and high school football in particular. Just in moderation. Let me refine that. I love playoff sports. Give me a poorly lit field with the smoke from the brat grill slowly creeping into your nose. Knowing for a lot of kids this moment will be a highlight of thier lives. Running to your car at halftime to send the first wave of photos back in the 15 min before the 2nd half kickoff. I love the cold, the rain, the mud, or sometimes snow. Those days like today that are 70 degrees in November. I love talking to those Chicago guys who know everything about the teams, the ones that go back and link to your photos on their message boards. I love when a moderately crappy marching band plays Soul Finger.
Everything that happens outside that rectangle is great, but it’s the game that gets me. Maybe because shooting sports is like a video game. You gotta be there and be ready to push that button. It’s Duck Hunt. I read the formation as they line up, looking for a clue just like a defender. Sometimes you follow the correct receiver, have him in focus right as the ball is hitting his hands. And sometimes a ref, player, parent, coach, or mascot decides to place themselves between you and the action. Then lots of times you blow it cause that’s what happens.
So today I drew Glenbard South vs. Vernon Hills and then rushed over for top ranked Maine South versus Leyden. Here’s a few of my favorites from inside that rectangle.
GLEN ELLYN11/7/09 Glenbard South's Tyler Benware (22)gets the ball knocked out of his arms by Vernon Hills' Joseph Morehead (24) after Benware intercepted a Cougar pass in the second round of IHSA Class 5A playoffs in Glen Ellyn Nov. 7, 2009. (Rob Hart/Staff Photographer)
GLEN ELLYN11/7/09 Vernon Hills' Chris Anders (1) tackles Glenbard South's Trace Wanless in the endzone in the second round of IHSA Class 5A playoffs in Glen Ellyn Nov. 7, 2009. The Cougars are losing 33-8 atfter the first half. (Rob Hart/Staff Photographer)
GLEN ELLYN11/7/09 Vernon Hills' Chris Anders (1) tries to get in front of Glenbard South's Connor Douglas (3) in the second round of IHSA Class 5A playoffs in Glen Ellyn Nov. 7, 2009. (Rob Hart/Staff Photographer)
NORTHLAKE11/7/09 Maine South's quarterback Tyler Benez (18) throws a pass versus Leyden in the second round of IHSA Class 8A playoffs in Northlake Nov. 7, 2009. The Hawks advance to the third round with a 34-16 victory. (Rob Hart/Staff Photographer)
NORTHLAKE11/7/09 Leyden's Angel Maldonado (3) outruns Maine South's Cody Fallico (31) for a touchdown in the second round of IHSA Class 8A playoffs in Northlake Nov. 7, 2009.(Rob Hart/Staff Photographer)
NORTHLAKE11/7/09 Maine South's Kevin Maloney (5) can't keep Leyden's Adam Bielech (84) from catching a low pass in the second round of IHSA Class 8A playoffs in Northlake Nov. 7, 2009. The Hawks advanced to the third round by beating the Eagles 34-16. (Rob Hart/Staff Photographer)
NORTHLAKE11/7/09 Leyden's Victor Fuentes (22) jumps to block a pass in the endzone intended for Maine South's Luke Mottley (15) in the second round of IHSA Class 8A playoffs in Northlake Nov. 7, 2009. The Hawks advanced to the third round by beating the Eagles 34-16. (Rob Hart/Staff Photographer)
NORTHLAKE11/7/09 Maine South's quarterback Tyler Benez (18) gets tackled by Leyden's Jeff Casella (11) in the second round of IHSA Class 8A playoffs in Northlake Nov. 7, 2009. The Hawks advance to the third round with a 34-16 victory. (Rob Hart/Staff Photographer)
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