#baskow

Where has 17 years gone? I can still remember stumbling into the massive 9/11 disaster scene near the towers with Portland Tribune reporter Don Hamilton after being awake over 24 hours and navigating the gauntlet of security checkpoints and media credentialing. These may not be some of the best images I made but they are some of the favorites, wonder how differently I’d cover the event now? Thanks once more to Tim Jewett for believing in me, Jim Clark and Kyle Green for the team support and Winn Gossler for keeping our world back home somewhat normal after such an unbelievable tragedy. Life sure is fast and short, live it!!!

Was fortunate to score another plane share before dawn with some great photographers Doug Perrine, G. Brad Lewis and skilled pilot Scott Wilson with Aloha Skies Aviation here on the Big Island of Hawaii. Tomorrow is my last day in Puna so trying to cover as much ground as possible, AP picked up another dozen images today so that takes the sting out of the expenses to come - I’d have done it either way! While there has been lava in the caldera chamber on and off for eons, it is totally drained now and being fed through the lava tubes along the new rift zone and still pumping like mad mostly out of Fissure 8. A cone is now forming on three sides and growing higher daily, lava pouring out and forming what folks here are calling “The River” flowing all the way down to Kalapana miles away and ending at the ocean. As devastating and it’s been to hundreds of residents and their properties there’s no denying to beauty and power of nature. More to come!

Women’s UFC Featherweight Cris Cyborg defeated Holly Holm after 5 hard-fought rounds during their UFC219 fight at the T-Mobile Arena. Seems to me others saw things a bit differently but I saw Holm take the fight to Cyborg, connect often and stay extremely active. Clearly it was close but I’d have given it to Holly this time, guess that’s why I’m not a ring judge :D

Of course I would have preferred to be shooting game action at the T-Mobile Arena but that’s not how it worked out this time. Instead I enjoyed the evening with 4,500 others on hand to watch the Vegas Golden Knights battle the Washington Capitals during their first Stanley Cup finals game on the big screen at a Henderson Pavilion watch party. Was a lot of fun, some great energy and lots of laughs too. One of the best parts was a lone Washington Capitals fan John Straum amongst a sea of Knights fans who had the guts to rise and celebrate each time they scored, he took the loss well too and will be back Wednesday to try it again. That’s a fan!!!

With playoffs a distant possibility the LV Lights FC battled Fresno at Cashman Field and appeared to have the game won until a tie in score in the 94th minute of the game. Still drawing an average of 6,000 fans and there’s lots of fun to be had in the tailgate party area before and in the crowd during the game. Next weekend there will be a $5000 bill drop from a helicopter over 200 fans midfield at halftime, going to be quite interesting! Been a fun season, certainly grateful for the team opportunity.

Awesome to be in the building as the Vegas Golden Knights edged out the Los Angeles Kings 1-0 during their first NHL playoff game at the T-Mobile Arena. No ice-level position but my spot from the second level is quite good too, easier to see what’s going on for sure. So many great shots on goal but it just took one to win, Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) faced many too but rejected them all. The game was chock full of hard hits, steals and skirmishes with the intensity level clearly up for both teams. Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick (32) is excellent too and it seems these will be low scoring games. Enjoyed the giant helmet descending down to the ice, my sports entertainer friend Cameron Hughes grabbing a fan’s popcorn bucket and tossing it in the air, the group of front-row Elvis’ and much more. Excited for tomorrow night’s game already!

Might as well jump on the bandwagon and post some of my pics from the Vegas Golden Knights against the San Jose Sharks during their first game of round 2 in the Stanley Cup playoffs at the T-Mobile Arena. Was quite the rout, certainly not what was expected in their first meeting and hope it continues. A fantastic team effort for sure especially with all the cheap shots by the Sharks, Fleury a force as usual in the net. Will be on other freelance Saturday so will have to monitor the game online, possibly I won’t cover another until the 3rd round if all goes well next week :D

Finished up the night with the Mystic Roots Band performing before a large crowd at Mandalay Bay Beach concluding with a short fireworks show there by the Pyritz Fireworks company. Not a bad way to come back into town after a week away traveling about southern and eastern Utah. A good run I’m having!