Hideki Matsuyama

PGA golfer Hideki Matsuyama receives the 2022 Sony Open In Hawaiʻi trophy, after taking the tournament in extra holes over Russell Henley. Matsuyama was five strokes behind Henley at the 9th hole, but made a charge to tie Henley at the 18th hole, forcing the sudden death playoff.

It was an exciting end for the golf tournament. I was part of the video board crew, with a hand-held camera on the 18th fairway.  On his push to win, Matsuyama's tee shot landed about 20 feet from my camera position. After he made the following shot, I had to run with my camera to the green for the winning shot, which ended being the tying shot. The playoff hole made it suspenseful, as to who would win.

At The Snap

Team Rice quarterback Derek Carr drops back after taking the snap, and looks for a receiver to throw to during the 2016 NFL Pro Bowl. I slowed down the shutter speed to achieve the motion blur of the offensive and defensive lines, while Carr seem to be frozen.

Si Woo Kim

In last year's Sony Open in Hawai‘i PGA Fedex Cup golf tournament, SiWoo Kim (of South Korea) won the tournament by one stroke, as Hayden Buckley missed the tying putt that could have sent the final round into a playoff. Kim is seen above, posing with the tournament trophy for the sports photographers. I got this shot after the broadcast that I was a part of ended.

Opposing Teammates

Seattle Seahawks teammates, Cornerback Richard Sherman (25) and Wide Receiver Tyler Lockett (16) played against each other in the 2016 NFL Pro Bowl. Sherman is seen trying to distract Lockett from making the catch. Lockett made the catch, then stepped out of bounds.

Those selected to play in the NFL's 2016 all-star game, were then selected to play for either Team Rice or Team Irvin. Sherman was selected to play for Team Irvin, while Lockett was selected by Team Rice. The Seahawks had two other players for Team Irvin: QB Russell Wilson, and DE Michael Bennett; and LB Bobby Wagner was selected by Team Rice.

Carli Lloyd Interview

Carli Lloyd, from the US Soccer's Women's National Team, does an interview with Hawaii News Now prior to their practice at Aloha Stadium. The team was scheduled to play Trinidad & Tobago for an international friendly victory tour, after the team won the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. The night before the match, the USWNT called off the match over concerns over the quality of the artificial turf. 

The larger story turned to be how FIFA had women's soccer play their matches on artificial turfs while the men's teams play their matches on natural grass. The women are seeking equality to play all their matches on natural grass.

2016 NFL Pro Bowl

This month's Instagram collage features photos from the 2016 NFL Pro Bowl. The league announced today that the game will be moving to Orlando, Florida, so this year's game was the last at Aloha Stadium.

Row 1: The front box office area of the stadium on game day; employee lanyards; a commemorative Pro Bowl helmet; a selfie with my Pro Bowl aloha shirt; the Kamehameha school chorus and hula dancers for Hawai‘i Pōno‘i; the Star-Spangled Banner.

Row 2: First quarter game action; with ESPN's Chris Berman; Dave Kimora shooting for ESPN; the Kansas City Chiefs mascot KC Wolf peers through a lens; second quarter game action; inside the AlohaVision control room.

Row 3: Hawai‘i high school alumni that played (or play) in the NFL; Team Irvin's Darren Woodson interviewed by NFL Network's Steve Wyche; with Tennessee Titan (& former Saint Louis Crusader) QB Marcus Mariotta; under the goal post with a fisheye lens; ESPN's Lisa Solter interviews Seattle Seahawks QB (Team Irvin) Russell Wilson; sideline interview with Tampa Bay Buccaneers LB Gerald McCoy.

Row 4: The final score Team Irvin 49 - Team Rice 27; Seahawks Russell Wilson and Michael Bennett; streamers on the turf; Michael Bennett interviewed after being named Defensive MVP; with Russell Wilson; and Seahawks fans, also known as 12s.

Signing Autographs

Team Sanders' running back Josh Charles (Kansas City Chiefs) autographs a fan's jersey on his way to boarding a bus that took players back to Ko Olina.

Warm-up

Team Sanders' quarterback Nick Foles (Philadelphia Eagles) warms up before entering the game in the 3rd quarter. Foles was also named the game's Offensive MVP.

Note the star(s) above the name plates, that represents how many Pro Bowls that players has been selected to play in.

Sideline Interview

During some of the TV Timeouts, I had to shoot sideline interviews. Alan Roach (center) interviews Fullback Marcel Reese (right) of the Oakland Raiders, and Wide Receiver Desean Jackson (left) of the Philadelphia Eagles. I had one of my cable pullers take this photo, and in the upper left corner, you can see what I'm shooting on the second JumboTron.

Warming Up

AFC All-Star and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassell takes aim at a receiver during pre-game warm-ups at the 2011 NFL Pro Bowl. Now, if only the labor strife can get settled ...

Down The Line

NFC all-star and Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Clifton Davis autographs memorbilia for fans after the 2009 NFL Pro Bowl.

Grice-Mullen Scores 1st 2009 CFL Major

Former University of Hawai‘i Warriors slotback Ryan Grice-Mullen scored his first Canadian Football League "major" (touchdown) this season as a slotback for the British Columbia Lions, with a 2-yard run. The Lions, however, were mauled 30-18 by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats tonight, suffering their third straight loss.

Grice-Mullen was a free-agent signee of the BC Lions last September, and actually scored his first career major (a 67-yard catch) against the Calgary Stampeders in the 2008 season finale

Today's photo was taken when former teammate (and current Miami Dolphin) Davone Bess and Grice-Mullen spoke at a Hope968 worship service a couple of years ago.

Canada Day Kickoff 2009

Today marks the kickoff to the 2009 Canadian Football League regular season! It's also Canada Day, their Independence Day, in the "Great White North". And it's also the beginning of the second half of 2009.

Today's photo features former Edmonton Eskimos quarterback Warren Moon. He was working for Westwood One Radio, as a sideline reporter during the 2009 NFL Pro Bowl. I thought it was pretty cool to get a photo with one of my favorite quarterbacks.

During his six year CFL career, Moon won five Grey Cups (all with the Eskimos), passed for over 21,000 yards with 144 touchdowns, and was inducted into the CFL Hall of Fame in 2001. Moon continued his football career with four NFL teams in 17 seasons, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006. Warren Moon still has one of the top career passing yards, over 70,500 yards, during his entire pro football career.

The Edmonton Eskimos begin their 2009 campaign hosting the Winnepeg Blue Bombers tomorrow, and my favourite team, the BC Lions travel to Regina to play the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday. One of tonight's games features a rematch of last season's Grey Cup with the 2008 Grey Cup champs Calgary Stampeders hosting the Montréal Alouettes. The second game of today's double-header features an all-Ontario match-up with the Toronto Argonauts visiting the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

May I Have Your Autograph Please?

After the game, several dozen fans wait in the stands of the north end zone for players making their way across the field to the team buses parked in the tunnel. Occasionally, several players will take time to sign autographs for the die hard fans, and they aren't picky who signs their memorabilia. Pittsburgh Steelers and AFC All-star safety Troy Polamalu takes a few minutes to sign autographs before boarding a bus to take the players and coaches back to their hotel.

Polamalu is a fan favorite here in Honolulu, partly because of his Polynesian heritage. Though he was born and raised on the west coast, the graduate of USC, has family ties to Hawai‘i as well; and there are quite a few Steelers fans here too.

We always get stuck in the north end zone tunnel, because the buses are brought down the tunnel, and it's blocked off for everything else. After we break down our video equipment, and roll up our 200 yard cables, there's no place to go, since our golf cart isn't allowed past the barricade ... so what else to do, but wait to watch the players as well, and grab some free food.


There are a few '09 Pro Bowl photos I have left to post, but since I have a special photo planned for tomorrow, I'll post the Pro Bowl shots as the weeks go by.

2009 Pro Bowl MVP

NFC All-star and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald was named the 2009 NFL Pro Bowl MVP. With two touchdown receptions, including the game winner, he finished the game with five receptions for 81 yards, and was awarded a new Cadillac along with the silver trophy.

It was rather award and victory fitting for the Cardinals receiver, who had caught, what appeared to be, the game winning 64-yard touchdown pass in the Super Bowl XLIII. Though it may have been sweeter if it had been the Super Bowl victory instead.

This is also Larry Fitzgerald's second appearance on this photo blog, as he was featured in a photo from last year's Pro Bowl

2009 Pro Bowl Ohana Day

The National Football League puts on Ohana Day the day before the Pro Bowl, the NFL All-Star Game. Both AFC and NFC teams hold their run-throughs, and include performances by team mascots and cheerleaders. There are also games and contests for fans, young and old.

Today's photo features NFC All-Star, and Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith signing autographs for a few young fans that participated in the NFL's Play 60 physical education program, during the NFC's practice session.

Bess Scores 1st NFL Touchdown!

Former University of Hawai‘i Warriors receiver Davone Bess scored his first NFL touchdown yesterday as the Miami Dolphins hosted the Baltimore Ravens. Bess, who signed a rookie free agent contract with the Miami Dolphins earlier this year, caught a seven yard pass touchdown from quarterback Chad Pennington. However, the Ravens won 27-13.

Davone decided to declare his eligibility for the 2008 NFL Draft (and forego his senior season) after the Warriors completed a 12-1 season that achieved a 12-0 regular season, the 2007 WAC Championship, but a loss to the University of Georgia Bulldogs in the 2008 Sugar Bowl.

I took this shot of Davone Bess when he spoke at a Hope968 worship service. He spoke of his upbringing, life challenges and victories, the Warriors, and his faith in the Lord.

Congratulations Davone!

Scouting Trip

University of Southern California Trojans football Head Coach Pete Carroll was in town with two of his assistant coaches Brennan Carroll (tight ends & recruiting) and Ken Norton Jr (linebackers) to scout Punahou School's senior linebacker Manti Te‘o, among other potential prospects. Te‘o also happens to be the #1 high school linebacker in the entire country. The Punahou Scholl Buff-n-Blue hosted the Kamehameha Schools (Kapalama) Warriors this past Friday evening as the feature game (of an ILH double-header) at Aloha Stadium. The Buff-n-Blue beat the Warriors 28-6, before a crowd of over 4,000.

Coach Carroll and company arrived in Honolulu, after their 27-21 upset loss to the Oregon State Beavers, this past Thursday night. The trio watched Te‘o's stellar performance, who played offense (running back), defense (linebacker), and even special teams. Carroll's presence also attracted the media covering the game as well. Newspaper photographers and TV videographers got their shots of Carroll on the Punahou sidelines. Both Carroll and Norton signed autographs for the Punahou fans, who made their way down to the front railing. USC is one of five colleges who are vying for Te‘o's acceptance of a football scholarship. BYU, UCLA, Stanford and Notre Dame are the other four. In my five seasons on the Aloha Stadium Jumbotron crew, this was the first time I have seen a head coach from a major mainland college come to a Hawai‘i high school game to watch a prospect.

I got this photo of Pete Carroll and myself from a friend of Carroll, who was with the coaches. I was also the field level camera operator for this game.

Pro Bowl MVP

Minnesota Vikings rookie sensation running back Adrian Peterson was named the Dan McGuire Player Of The Game of the 2008 NFL Pro Bowl. The NFL's Offensive Rookie Of The Year had 16 carries for 129 yards, with the longest run being a 39-yard scamper during an NFC scoring drive. Peterson also scored two touchdowns in the game. His second TD sealed the NFC's 42-30 victory over the AFC. Peterson also won a Cadillac sedan for being named the 2008 Pro Bowl MVP.

I had the opportunity to be on camera during the first half, and personally videograph Adrian Peterson run the football. In the second half, I floor directed our field camera crew, and got to be a spectator ... I can see why he was voted MVP and Rookie Of The Year.

2008 NFL Pro Bowl

The National Football League played its 2008 Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium for the 29th year with the National Football Conference beating the American Football Conference, 42-30.

In today's photo, the NFL Network's Rich Eisen interviews Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald of the NFC for both the NFL Network and the Aloha Stadium JumboTron. That's your's truly shooting the interview, and what I'm shooting is on the JumboTron in the background. Thanks Martin for taking this shot. We also did interviews with Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver T.J. Houshmanzadeh, and Baltimore Ravens defensive back Ed Reed.

In the first quarter, Fitzgerald caught a six-yard touchdown pass from Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo to tie the game at 7-7, and he ended the day with three catches for 25 yards.