08-28-2011, 03:28 AM
(This post was last modified: 08-28-2011, 03:29 AM by folkertino.)
Front row Spain vs Australia [scan + photos]
Front row Spain vs Australia [scan + photos]
>>>> photos below <<<<
Hey all, on Friday night I went to see Spain play Australia in a friendly game. It was the final preparation game before they're heading off to Lithuania for the European Championship.
I had booked a courtside seat but it turns out I got placed right behind the Spanish bench, so that was actually quite good. I got to see all Spanish players up close; Pau & Marc Gasol, Ricky Rubio, Serge Ibaka, Rudy Fernandez, Jose Calderon, Juan Carlos Navarro, etc.
During warm-up Pau Gasol started stretching right where I sat so I asked him if he was going to play in Spain during the lockout. Of course he told me he didn't know, but I've got a good feeling that if things haven't been resolved soon after the European Championship he'll sign up with Barcelona.
Quite interestingly Pau started throwing 3 pointers in warm up and hit 8 consecutive. How's that for your center.
The game was alright, Spain roasted Australia by 29 points. Saw a few good plays, Ibaka with a nice dunk and a huge block, few alley oops.
After the game all players were escorted almost directly into their minibuses, so couldn't get autos there. Then all of a sudden Rudy Fernandez appeared from a side exit and walked off to his car on the parking lot (with his fine Mrs.). I managed to give him a card and a sharpie aaandddd: it didn't work!
Couldn't believe it. Luckily I had another fat marker with me and at the very last second he signed it.
Shortly afterwards all police left and the doors were closed. But the strange thing was that no one had seen Pau Gasol leave. So some of us hung around for a while to see if he'd come out. And indeed, after 15 minutes he appeared from the same side exit to head for his car. He took some time for photos and autos but unfortunately he didn't get to sign my card.
Still a bit upset with that - not because he didn't sign my card (he can't please everyone), but just because I was SO close! Anyway, I got an in-person auto, spoke with Pau Gasol and had a good night, so I really can't complain at all.
Here's some photos:
Serge Ibaka
Pau Gasol shooting threes
left to right: Marc Gasol, Victor Sada, Jose Calderon, Sergio Llull, Rudy Fernandez, Pau Gasol, Juan Carlos Navarro
Ricky Rubio taking a moment for himself before the game
Serge Ibaka
Pau Gasol
San Emeterio and Ricky Rubio
Ricky Rubio
Pau Gasol
Ricky Rubio
Juan Carlos Navarro, Pau Gasol and Rudy Fernandez
roast beef
Hey all, on Friday night I went to see Spain play Australia in a friendly game. It was the final preparation game before they're heading off to Lithuania for the European Championship.
I had booked a courtside seat but it turns out I got placed right behind the Spanish bench, so that was actually quite good. I got to see all Spanish players up close; Pau & Marc Gasol, Ricky Rubio, Serge Ibaka, Rudy Fernandez, Jose Calderon, Juan Carlos Navarro, etc.
During warm-up Pau Gasol started stretching right where I sat so I asked him if he was going to play in Spain during the lockout. Of course he told me he didn't know, but I've got a good feeling that if things haven't been resolved soon after the European Championship he'll sign up with Barcelona.
Quite interestingly Pau started throwing 3 pointers in warm up and hit 8 consecutive. How's that for your center.
The game was alright, Spain roasted Australia by 29 points. Saw a few good plays, Ibaka with a nice dunk and a huge block, few alley oops.
After the game all players were escorted almost directly into their minibuses, so couldn't get autos there. Then all of a sudden Rudy Fernandez appeared from a side exit and walked off to his car on the parking lot (with his fine Mrs.). I managed to give him a card and a sharpie aaandddd: it didn't work!
Couldn't believe it. Luckily I had another fat marker with me and at the very last second he signed it.
Shortly afterwards all police left and the doors were closed. But the strange thing was that no one had seen Pau Gasol leave. So some of us hung around for a while to see if he'd come out. And indeed, after 15 minutes he appeared from the same side exit to head for his car. He took some time for photos and autos but unfortunately he didn't get to sign my card.
Still a bit upset with that - not because he didn't sign my card (he can't please everyone), but just because I was SO close! Anyway, I got an in-person auto, spoke with Pau Gasol and had a good night, so I really can't complain at all.
Here's some photos:
Serge Ibaka
Pau Gasol shooting threes
left to right: Marc Gasol, Victor Sada, Jose Calderon, Sergio Llull, Rudy Fernandez, Pau Gasol, Juan Carlos Navarro
Ricky Rubio taking a moment for himself before the game
Serge Ibaka
Pau Gasol
San Emeterio and Ricky Rubio
Ricky Rubio
Pau Gasol
Ricky Rubio
Juan Carlos Navarro, Pau Gasol and Rudy Fernandez
roast beef