Showing posts with label rfk stadium. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rfk stadium. Show all posts

10.15.2010

O'Connell vs. Gonzaga Soccer @ RFK Stadium

Ok, near RFK Stadium. Gonzaga College High School plays their soccer home games at the auxiliary fields of RFK, probably where some derivative versions of DC United hold practice. The actual game was second place to the great in your face setting sun that was just hitting the field at the right angle. O'Connell took a 5-0 loss to Gonzaga on this beautiful day. Shout out to headers but not to possible concussions.
O'Connell Gonzaga SoccerO'Connell Gonzaga Soccer

5.07.2010

Kansas City Wizards @ DC United. Can I get a win?

Yes I can. The first game I shot this season for DC United was their first victory. I am absolutely good luck. Danny Allsopp scored two goals and almost made it a hat trick while United goalie Bill Hamid allowed none. Read about it here. I wish I had a witty anecdote to share about my interactions and observations or the complexities of shooting Major League Soccer, but I don't. Although every Mexican restaurant that I passed on the way home (that night on May 5th) was PACKED!


Bill Hamid DC UnitedDC United Kansas City WizardsDC United Kansas City WizardsDC United Kansas City Wizards

8.07.2008

DC United 2 - Kansas City Wizards 0

Looks like things are looking up for DC's soccer team. They picked up a couple of new players in Ivan Guerrero (12) and Joe Vide (not pictured). And also picked up a shut out win against the mighty (not really) Kansas City Wizards. Even after the game, United goal scoring machine, Luciano Emilio, stayed after to sign autographs for eager fans. Shout out to goalie Kevin Hartman for rockin' the platinum plus.



7.15.2008

DC United 2 - Atlante FC 3

DC United was in action last night against the Mexican football club Atlante F.C. The mid-season match up between leagues is brought to you by SuperLiga, a small tournament that pits four teams from Major League Soccer (MLS) against four teams from the Primera Division de Mexico. Too bad for United's goalie (looks like he's already got haters)...Atlante scored early and often. Shout out to the little man in the orange cleats. He was doin' it.




6.23.2008

DC United 3 - San Jose Earthquakes 1

Welcome to another chapter in the coverage of DC United's 2008 season. Untitled, Michael Starghill is a place where you won't find stats, game strategy or post games quotes, just pictures and the humble opinions and of a sideline photographer.

Yesterday marked the first Sunday game as well as the first day game of the season and luckily the 3 p.m. start fell on a day that the humidity decided to take a short break. Yesterday's opponent: San Jose Earthquakes. What kind of team name is the Earthquakes? Just announced: The MLS will be expanding further south in 2009 where they will unveil the New Orleans Hurricanes (I don't know if Miami or Carolina ever had it this bad).

Anyway...right before the game starts, the sprinkler system comes on. It just so happens that a sprinkler head is conveniently located in the midst of where all the photographers stand/sit to shoot the game. Although I'm far too quick to be caught by any sprinklers, a photographer who was on the other side of the field and unaware of the sprinkler situation was not so lucky. The thousands of dollars of equipment that he left behind to go shoot the pre-game activities was taking an impromptu shower. Oops.

After the game ended, two new sets of teams ran on the field. Little did I know, there was a scheduled double header with the second game pitting the Womens Professional Soccer League's Washington Freedom against the Richmond Kickers Destiny (again what kind of team name is Kickers Destiny). I guess none of the other fans knew either as the stands started to empty after the first game's final whistle.

Shout out to Emilio Luciano for scoring...again.

6.05.2008

When it rains...

It rains some more. Yesterday was another installment of my coverage of the 2008 DC United season and it was quite different from the other matches. A few constants: The drive down Florida Ave., "random hip hop artist" blasting in my Jeep CD player (nope still no ipod for me) and $12 for parking. Sure wish I had a VW. A few variables: Thuderstorms, tornado warnings, and torrential downpour throughout the Washington DC area.

When I left my apartment, there was a nice little early summer rain. The windshield wipers wiping every 3-5 seconds. You know, nothing I can't handle. I strapped the rain gear on myself and on my camera and prepared to get some cool shoots of soccer players playing in the rain (light rain). But instead I was greeted with a rain delay.

The game started about twenty minutes after the scheduled time with nothing falling from the clouds. Five minutes in a light drizzle started. Ten minutes in a steady downpour ensued. Fifteen minutes in, the game was stopped and the rain was coming down so hard I couldn't see the other side of the field. Twenty seconds after that I was sitting in the old Washington Nationals dugout in RFK Stadium with about six inches of water below my feet.

So I sat in the dugout for about an hour and a half hobnobbing with the other photographers and waiting to see if the players were coming back on the field. They never did. Game postponed and scheduled for a later date.





5.27.2008

DC United 3 - Toronto FC 2

Let me first say that I like soccer but I'm not a huge soccer fan. My soccer participation comes in spurts. I played in high school. I played some FIFA in college. I went to a few games while doing a semester in Germany. I even skipped out of work in the summer of '06 to root on Portugal and Spain in the World Cup (shout out to Miguel and Fernando Torres).

My point is... I'm in the midst of another spurt while covering Washington DC's Major League Soccer team. DC United is still not winning enough games and the level of play in the MLS is a lot different (read: a lot worse) than in Europe.

Hey Sick, where we watching Euro 2008?





5.10.2008

Chicago Fire 2 - DC United 0

I've shot all of the DC United home games so far this season at RFK Stadium and Thursday night they announced a new partnership with Volkswagen. The team now sports a huge VW logo on the front of the jersey as well as ubiquitous VW reminders all over the stadium. But I'll stop hating because VW did provide free parking for the night.

Anyway...United lost again and apparently the team isn't doing that great. I'm not a huge soccer fan but being on the sideline inevitably engages me.