Endeavor Games
Dave Nelson of Omaha, Neb., wheeled over to me as I was leaving the track events of the Endeavor Games at Edmond North High School. Nelson was injured in a car accident several years ago and this was his first Endeavor Games. He wanted to tell me how great the event was and how he was excited to tell his friends, family and doctors back home about it. But most of all he wanted to show me his tattoo he got before traveling to Oklahoma for the games. “You have to have a sense of humor,” he said.
Dave Nelson of Omaha, Neb., shows his tattoo he got before traveling to Oklahoma for his first Endeavor Games at Edmond North High School in Edmond, Okla., Sunday, June 14, 2009. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
View all Endeavor Games photos
-Sarah Phipps
Your AP monthly contest results
I have gotten behind on posting our department’s winning images from the monthly AP photo contest. Here are our winners from recent months. Congratulations to all.
FIRST PLACE, FEBRUARY: Residents work to clean up damage to a home in the Oak Tree housing addition on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009, after a tornado hit the area on Tuesday in Edmond, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
THIRD PLACE, FEBRUARY: Firefighters work to extinguish flames in a barn that was set ablaze by a grass fire near SE 108th and Maguire Road in Slaughterville, Oklahoma, on Friday February 20, 2009. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman
SECOND PLACE, ARPIL: Flames leap out of a broken gas line in Midwest City, Okla., Thursday, April 9, 2009. Fire crews in Oklahoma and Texas raced Thursday to control wind-whipped wildfires that destroyed dozens of homes, forced evacuations and shut down parts of a major highway. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
THIRD PLACE, APRIL: Iowa Tribe volunteer firefighter David Milby with his wife Bonnie Milby at the Integris Baptist Burn Center in Oklahoma City Monday, April 13, 2009. Photo by Paul B. Southerland, The Oklahoman
FIRST PLACE, MAY: Oklahoma City public school students swim during the Wacky Water Wahoo water safety class at White Water, on Thursday, May 21, 2009, in Oklahoma City. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
SECOND PLACE, MAY: Graduates watch fireworks following the 2009 University of Oklahoma Commencement at the Gaylord Family -- Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Friday, May 15, 2009, in Norman, Okla. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
-Nate Billings
Hey, take my picture, drag boat edition
I spent part of the weekend taking photos at the Oklahoma City Nationals drag boat races. For much of the time I was at the river, racing was stopped because the wind had made the water too choppy. Eventually, the water calmed down and racing got going. Because of the delay, I spent a lot time just talking to fans. Here’s a fan shot, a cool helmet and a pic for our on-going feature “Hey, take my picture!”
Fans Dee Dee Hayes, left, and Mitchel Watan watch a boat take a test run during the Oklahoma City Nationals drag boat races on the Oklahoma River, Saturday, June 6, 2009. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
Dan Rogers waits at the ramp in his boat, Flat Black, for his qualifying race during the Oklahoma City Nationals drag boat races on the Oklahoma River, Saturday, June 6, 2009. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
HEY, TAKE MY PICTURE-From left, fans Betty Harwick, Jo Choate and R.T. MacIntosh hang out during the Oklahoma City Nationals drag boat races on the Oklahoma River, Saturday, June 6, 2009. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
-Nate Billings
Red Earth
At the Red Earth Festival competitive dancing takes up most of the event’s time. This is a glimpse at the action and the non-action of the 2009 Red Earth competitive dancing.
People On Sundays
Merl Childs displays his artwork in dowtown Oklahoma City on Sunday, June 7, 2009. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Merl Childs learned woodworking while serving 6 months in a federal prison. On Sunday, he set up a display of his work on a bench near the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum in Oklahoma City and started shaping crosses. Childs, who lives in Del City, has been making crosses for about a year and a half. He sits in the morning sun between a tour bus from Durant, Oklahoma and a fence filled with momentos. “I’m gonna be a famous artist someday.”
Merl Childs poses in Oklahoma City on Sunday, June 7, 2009. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Pictures I like
Tammy Moore and her mother Helen Lucille Davis pose in Helen's room at The Lakes Assisted Living Center in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, May 27, 2009. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
I’ve been using a new 35mm@f2 for my assignments in the last week. Here are a couple of pictures I like from the last week or so. Look for the return of ‘People on Sundays’ this weekend.
Veterans Robert Prest, Bill McKibben and William Hill (From left to right) salute the flag during the national anthem during the 45th Infantry Division Museum Memorial Day Ceremony outside the museum in Oklahoma City on Monday, May 25, 2009. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
University of Oklahoma's J.T. Wise is comforted by assistant coach Tim Tadlock following the Sooners loss to Arkansas during their game at the NCAA Baseball tournament's Norman Regional at L. Dale Mitchell Park in Norman, Okla., on Sunday, May 31, 2009. Arkansas beat Oklahoma 11-0. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Grand slam dreams
Florida celebrates a game-winning grand slam by Ali Gardiner to advance the Gators past Alabama to the championship round of the Women's College World Series, Sunday May 31, 2008. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Every little girl who plays softball dreams of the day when she will hit a grand-slam home run to give her team a win.
On Sunday this dream became a reality for Florida Gator Ali Gardiner.
Gardiner walked up to the plate in the bottom of the 7th as the Gators trailed Alabama by 3. With two outs and the bases loaded, Gardiner, who was 0-for-9 in the WCWS, hit the 2-1 pitch just beyond the fence in left field, propelling the Gators into the championship round.
After shooting one of the longest softball games of my life (the previous game between Georgia and Washington went for more than four hours), Gardiner’s heroics were a nice highlight. College softball rarely produces high scores. On Sunday, I saw 28 runs in just two games including 2 grand slams. This year’s WCWS has produced a record 24 home runs setting a new single tournament record. Sunday’s 7,000 plus fans got their money’s worth.
After six-plus hours standing in burning sun on Sunday, I was pretty miserable. But after editing the pictures of Gardiner being dog piled by her teammates, I knew it was worth the pain.
The WCWS stands are often filled young softball players and their families. Knowing that there are now several little girls dreaming of the day they can be just like Ali Gardiner puts a smile on my sunburnt face.
Florida's Ali Gardiner celebrates her game-winning grand slam as Alabama's Lauren Parker reacts during NCAA softball tournament game between Alabama and Florida, Sunday May 31, 2008. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Florida's Ali Gardiner celebrates her game-winning grand slam as as she rounds the bases during NCAA softball tournament game between Alabama and Florida, Sunday May 31, 2008. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Florida head coach Tim Walton celebrates the Gators' win over Alabama during NCAA softball tournament, Sunday May 31, 2008. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Here are two photo galleries from the games I shot yesterday and one from the night game photographed by Bryan Terry.
Washington vs. Georgia, the rematch
-Sarah Phipps
