The One In Which I Finally Attend a Game

The tip of my first sporting event of 2012

This site is titled Confessions of a Sports Junkie. I really haven’t been feeling much like a sports junkie lately though. My last sporting event was in early December making it a nearly month and a half dry spell for me. Last night I received a text that asked if I wanted to see Purdue play Michigan tonight. I jumped at the chance. I have seen Michigan and Purdue play every year since moving back from Iowa. Purdue played a very good game against the #22 team in the country, but fell short 66-64. After a slow start to both halves Purdue had the game seemingly in control before letting it slip away. This would have been a nice win for Purdue, but the shots just didn’t fall at the end when they needed them to. Here are some photos from the game:

Tim Hardaway Jr. drives on Terone Johnson

Travis Carroll blocks the shot of Zach Novak

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Thank You Ryne Smith!

Ryne Smith nailing one of his eight threes tonight

Thanks to a fellow Knucklehead I attended the second game of the season tonight for the Boilers. With my Packers on Monday Night Football I thought that I would watch the game until it got ugly, and then head home to watch the Pack. Little did I know that the game would start ugly and never really get better. Purdue just really seemed to be out of it tonight. They had trouble hanging on to the ball, and more importantly could not hit a free throw. During the game I was joking around that the team already had sun tan lotion on their hands in preparation for their trip to Puerto Rico. If not for a great night by Senior Ryne Smith I think the Boilers would be 1-1 on the season. Instead they sit at 2-0 going into the tournament. Smith nailed eight threes, but his most important shot might have been a jumper from just inside that arc that was the difference in the game. I read a lot of comments bashing Smith this past week so it was nice to see him come out and carry the team on his back. He is that little bulldog that you need out there. Scoring 26 points is nice as well.

Boilers Win Big On Bobby Riddell Day

Today Purdue officially re-opened Mackey Arena. I was pretty excited for what should have been a great atmosphere. I guess after some of the great crowds last season my expectations were pretty high. In a blowout like the one tonight it would have been the perfect opportunity for someone like Bobby Riddell to get into the game. It would have been fitting since today was a day full of 11’s. As with the last post I will quit talking and just post some pictures from the big night. For some reason they are very heavy on Kelsey Barlow, but he did seem to be in the middle of the action a lot tonight.

This was the program highlight of the night for me as the American flag was brought onto the court

Purdue vs. Northern State Photo Gallery

Instead of rambling on about a complete mismatch in an exhibition game I thought that I would just post a few pictures from the game. Nobody reads what I write anyway do they? One thought before I get started though. Was anyone else nervous about seeing Robbie Hummel on the floor against a team wearing Minnesota colors? The colors of Minnesota thrown together with the Hickory uniform seemed to get Rob fired up enough to have a great game. It was fun seeing him on the court again.

I have been experimenting in some HDR photography, and this is the new front entrance with a small HDR spin

Gaels Bring Valpo Season to an End

Cory Johnson falling after getting hit hard.

Tonight I was at the first round game of the CIT in Valpo. Knowing that they would not be in the big dance Valpo fans were hoping for a NIT bid. With all the weird things surrounding the conference tourneys this year that was a long shot. I am not the loyal Valpo fan, but I was happy that they did not get the NIT so that they could have at least one more home game. Tonight they played the team that Purdue’s opponent in the tourney St. Peter’s beat to get there. The Iona Gaels come in with a better RPI, but both teams appeared to be fairly even. On paper it looked as if it would be one good game.

Wisconsin Photo Gallery

With my good seats for the second half I took a few more pictures today than normal. After seeing how some of them turned out I wish I had taken more. If anyone has any lower level seats they don’t need let me know. I love how much better the pictures look down there. I felt like Tom Campbell except a lot less talented. I left out some pictures that I normally would have posted because I need storage space on WordPress. I still will post over 30 pictures from the game. Out of those at least one of them has to be good…right?

 

Who farted? Yes I am classy off the bat