CU vs. CSU 2012

Last Saturday the Colorado State University Rams handed the Golden Buffaloes of the University of Colorado a disheartening and disappointing (understatement)  22-17 loss at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

First year head coach Jim McElwain out-coached Jon Embree and Eric Bienemy in the second half and the Rams were able to shut down CU's offense, particularly the running game, en route to their 5 point victory. CSU also benefited from a few very ill-timed Colorado turnovers to steal momentum just before the half and carry it through to the final whistle.

There weren't many highlights for the Buffs beyond Ralphie's traditional 100 yard dash. Freshmen Nelson Spruce and Kenneth Crawley were bright spots on an otherwise dismal day.

USA Pro Cycling Challenge-Stage 7

It's been an incredible week following the 2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge across the state of Colorado. My Dad and I rented an RV van and set off south last Friday. There will be plenty more to come from me about our travels over the past week but I had to post this frame tonight.

The final stage of the USA Pro was a time trial through the streets of Denver. Towards the middle part of the time trial Freddy Piamonte, a Colombian rider who races for the EPM-UNE cycling team, took a nasty crash on the final turn of the course, spilling himself into the orange barricade fencing and sending his bike flying across the road into the lane where the riders were starting out from. Following that, he was given a new tire and gamely got back on the bike and finished the race.

Towards the end of the stage as the leaders were coming home, one of the EPM-UNE managers came strolling up the course with either another spare tire or the bent tire that Piamonte replaced. I'm not entirely sure which tire it was because the second I saw him lift up the tire as Tejay van Garderen took his final turn and dashed towards the finish line I snapped off 3 frames. The tire may appear to be bent, but again I can't tell for sure.

We were positioned right at the intersection of Colfax and Broadway, so we were able to see riders just taking off, riders coming by about 8 minutes in, and riders coming home down the final stretch. It was a pretty solid position for a photog who didn't have an official credential, and I came away happy with what I got. 

There's more to come, stay tuned.

The Maroon Bells

The Maroon Bells. A quick hit of the Maroon Bells from my time in Aspen last summer.

Colorado vs. California basketball

Sophomore forward Andre Roberson blocks the shot of Cal's David Kravish during the first half of the Buffaloes' 70-57 victory over the Bears on Senior Day at the Coors Events Center. (Photo/Patrick Ghidossi)

Former CU greats and current NBA players Alec Burks, Cory Higgins, and Chauncey Billups take in the action during the second half of the Buffaloes' 70-57 victory over the California Bears on Sunday, February 26, 2012. (Photo/Patrick Ghidossi)

Senior Carlon Brown rises and fires over Cal's Allen Crabbe during the second half of the Buffaloes' 70-57 victory over the Bears on Senior Day at the Coors Events Center. (Photo/Patrick Ghidossi)

Tad Boyle embraces senior Nate Tomlinson as Tomlinson and fellow senior Austin Dufault (33) check out for the final time at the Coors Events Center in the final seconds of the Buffaloes' 70-57 victory over the California Bears on Sunday, February 26, 2012. (Photo/Patrick Ghidossi)

Senior Day is always an emotional occasion. For Nate Tomlinson and Austin Dufault, it was particularly poignant. These two have gone from seeing the Coors Events and Conference Center almost filled to capacity with empty seats, to being instrumental pieces in filling that same keg to capacity with raucous, cheering fans.

Following the whipping at the hands of the Stanford Cardinal, the Buffs rebounded spectacularly and shut down the Pac-12 conference leaders on both ends of the floor. CU held Lincoln High School product and NBA prospect Jorge Gutierrez to zero points and only two assists on the night. 

Heading to Oregon the Buffs have a chance to lock down a first round bye in the Pac-12 Tournament and clinch their second straight 20-win season.

Colorado vs. Stanford basketball

Senior Carlon Brown hits the deck following a lay-up attempt during the first half of the Buffaloes' 70-54 loss to the Stanford Cardinal on Thursday, February 23, 2012. (Photo/Patrick Ghidossi)

Head coach Tad Boyle gives freshman Spencer Dinwiddie a pointer following a foul call against the Buffaloes during the second half of their 74-50 loss to the Stanford Cardinal on Thursday, February 23, 2012. (Photo/Patrick Ghidossi)

Former CU greats and current NBA players  Cory Higgins and Alec Burks salute the crowd at the Coors Events Center on Thursday, February 23, 2012. Higgins, who is tied with Richard Roby as the school's all-time leading scorer, currently plays for the Charlotte Bobcats and Burks was selected with the 12th pick in the NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz.  (Photo/Patrick Ghidossi)

Freshman Spencer Dinwiddie is stifled by Stanford defenders during the second half of the Cardinal's 74-50 walloping of the Buffaloes on Thursday, February 23, 2012. (Photo/Patrick Ghidossi)

This was just one of those nights. To quote Tad Boyle, the Buffs "couldn't throw it in the ocean" from the moment the opening whistle blew to the sound of the final buzzer. Compounding matters, CU didn't execute any sort of defensive game plan and Stanford was able to tee off from beyond the arc. Stanford came prepared and Colorado didn't, pretty simple.

The lone bright spot was the return of former Buffs and current NBA players Cory Higgins and Alec Burks to the Foam Dome. 

Jennifer Hudson at Jazz Aspen Snowmass

Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson performs at the Benedict Music Tent as part of the 21st annual Jazz Aspen Snowmass Festival on Sunday, June 27,  2011. (Patrick Ghidossi/The Aspen Times)

Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson prepares to perform at the Benedict Music Tent as part of the 21st annual Jazz Aspen Snowmass Festival on Sunday, June 27, 2011. (Patrick Ghidossi/The Aspen Times)

Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson performs at the Benedict Music Tent as part of the 21st annual Jazz Aspen Snowmass Festival on Sunday, June 27, 2011. (Patrick Ghidossi/The Aspen Times)

Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson performs at the Benedict Music Tent as part of the 21st annual Jazz Aspen Snowmass Festival on Sunday, June 27, 2011. (Patrick Ghidossi/The Aspen Times)

In honor of Jennifer Hudson's performance at the 54th Grammy Awards tonight, I thought I'd post a few photos of her performing this past June at the Jazz Aspen Snowmass festival. To say she knows how to put on an incredible show would be an understatement. Diva indeed.

Colorado vs. Oregon basketball

Freshman guard Askia Booker exhorts the student section during the final minutes of the second half of the Buffaloes' 72-71 victory over the Oregon Ducks. (Photo/Patrick Ghidossi)

University of Colorado students sing the alma mater with the team following the Buffaloes' 72-71 victory over the Oregon Ducks on Saturday night at the Coors Events Center. (Photo/Patrick Ghidossi)

Sophomore forward Andre Roberson skies to block the shot of Oregon's Devoe Joseph late in the second half of the Buffaloes' 72-71 victory over the Ducks. (Photo/Patrick Ghidossi)

Senior guard Nate Tomlinson drives into Oregon's E.J. Singler in the final seconds of the game. Tomlinson drew a foul on the play and made the first free throw giving the Buffaloes a 72-71 victory over the Ducks on Saturday night. (Photo/Patrick Ghidossi)

Sometimes a single image can sum up an entire game. (See: Tom Brady sitting slumped over on the turf in Indianapolis) Just as often, however, a single photo can fall short of conveying the full context of that game, or even the entirety of one play.  Judged solely on the frame above, the foul called on E.J. Singler seems ridiculous. But viewed in real time with bodies colliding in the air, Nate Tomlinson was likely fouled on the play.

No one likes seeing the final play come down to a foul, but this was a fair call on a physical sequence that capped off a tight back-and-forth match full of such sequences. Nate earned his free throws and CU earned the win. The Ducks will get another crack at the Buffs on March 1st in Eugene, and if Saturday night was any indication these teams will be going through another tight one, a game that will again fail to be defined by a single image.

Colorado vs. Oregon State basketball

Sophomore Andre Roberson drives to the basket between the outstretched arms of two Oregon State University defenders during the first half of the Buffaloes' 82-60 victory over the Beavers on Thursday, February 2, 2012. (Photo/Patrick Ghidossi)

Senior guard Nate Tomlinson battles for a loose ball with Oregon State's Roberto Nelson during the first half of the Buffaloes' 82-60 victory over the Beavers on Thursday, February 2, 2012. (Photo/Patrick Ghidossi)

Freshman guard Askia Booker attempts a lay-up against two Oregon State University defenders during the Buffaloes' 82-60 victory over the Beavers on Thursday, February 2, 2012. (Photo/Patrick Ghidossi)

From here on I'll be posting my main blog entries in this space while re-purposing my Tumblr to display more spontaneous images and quick thoughts. 

Blogger is a much better fit for what I'm trying to accomplish and the format of these posts will continue to evolve.

As for the game last night, the Buffs romped over the Beavers keeping the race for the Pac-12 Championship wide open. Thanks to Arizona defeating Cal, a win on Saturday against Oregon would vault CU into second place, right behind Washington whom the Buffaloes defeated by 18 points a month ago. This conference may be relatively "down" this season, but that doesn't mean this last month won't be an exciting one.

Colorado vs. Arizona basketball

Arizona's Kevin Parrom attempts a last-second 3 to win at the buzzer. Parrom's shot would miss its mark and the Buffaloes defeated the Wildcats 64-63. (Photo/Patrick Ghidossi)