tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-111513562024-03-06T21:13:39.519-08:00John Lariviere's BlogJohn Larivierehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07322207532348501633noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11151356.post-88264333940468630042009-10-05T22:21:00.000-07:002009-10-05T22:29:12.924-07:00I'm Blogging Again, But Not Here<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">OK, it's been months since my last blog entry. Without boring you all with excuses why it's been so long, I'm back on track. However, I have moved my blog to my hosting service using WordPress as the blog engine. So follow me at my <a href="http://oregonsportsphotos.com/blog">Oregon Sports Photos Blog</a>.<br /></span></span>John Larivierehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07322207532348501633noreply@blogger.com63tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11151356.post-55262891707328260532008-11-26T03:59:00.000-08:002008-11-26T04:46:54.789-08:00Glencoe vs Thurston Playoffs<object width="400" height="300"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="wmode" value="opaque" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#AAAAAA" /><param name="movie" value="http://pa.photoshelter.com/swf/Slideshow.swf?feedSRC=http%3A//pa.photoshelter.com/gallery-show/G0000wXdfcCMm5BY%3Ffeed%3Drss%26ppg%3D200" /><embed src="http://pa.photoshelter.com/swf/Slideshow.swf?feedSRC=http%3A//pa.photoshelter.com/gallery-show/G0000wXdfcCMm5BY%3Ffeed%3Drss%26ppg%3D200" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="300" bgcolor="#000000" wmode="opaque"></embed></object>John Larivierehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07322207532348501633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11151356.post-60438559898982325012008-10-03T00:29:00.000-07:002008-10-03T01:10:46.467-07:00Night Glow<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">As Summer arrives in Tigard, Oregon, so do the balloons. The <a href="http://www.tigardballoon.org/" target="blank">Allstate Festival of Balloons in Tigard</a> is held in mid-June, attracting about twenty-five balloon entries from around the U.S.A. and this year one entry from the Czech Republic.<br /><br />One of the fan favorite events is the night glow. Balloonists set up in the main launch area as the sun begins to set in the evening and as darkness settles in, the pilots periodically blast their burners which light up the balloon like a huge firefly. The unique challenge to getting good shots of the balloons fully aglow is part luck and part astute timing. You see, the pilots only blast the burners for a few short seconds and, except for one coordinated blast called out by the event announcer, the blasts are random. So trying to get a shot of multiple balloons can be a bit challenging; much like catching fireflies.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/104006403.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/104006405.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/104006406.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/104006408.jpg" width="350" /><br /></span></span>John Larivierehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07322207532348501633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11151356.post-46317142154904327862008-08-29T00:35:00.000-07:002008-08-29T03:16:47.053-07:00Manchester United Premier Cup U.S.A. Finals<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">The Memorial Day Weekend is the traditional start of Summer. In Beaverton, Oregon on the Nike World Campus the long weekend is also the annual U.S.A. finals of the <a href="http://www.manchesterunitedpremiercup.com/" target="blank">Manchester United Premier Cup</a>, a premier youth soccer tournament for U-15 boys and girls. This year the tournament was expanded to 32 teams in each the boys and girls brackets with matches hosted on the pristine fields on the Nike campus and fields of equal caliber on the Catlin Gable School campus.<br /><br />The <a href="http://sandiegosurf.d4sportsclub.com/" target="blank">San Diego Surf</a> defeated <a href="http://patsnet.com/" target="blank">Pateadores S.C.</a> of Mission Viejo, CA to earn the honors to play in the Man U Premier Cup Finals at Old Trafford in Manchester, England. The going at the finals was a bit rough for the Surf as they managed one win out of five matches. For the girls, the <a href="http://www.dallastexans.com/" target="blank">Dallas Texans</a> edged out <a href="http://www.crossfiresoccer.org/" target="blank">Crossfire Premier</a> from Seattle, WA in a penalty kick shoutout to win a trip to Gothenburg, Sweden to compete in the Gothia Cup. The Texans made the best of the opportunity and won the girls U-15 championship by defeating Bele Barkarby FF of Sweden 1-0 in the final.<br /><br />Photos of the Man U Premier Cup U.S.A. Finals located in the <a href="http://oregonsportsphotos.exposuremanager.com/g/2008_manchester_united_premier_cup" target="blank">Oregon Sports Photos Gallery</a>.<br /><br /></span></span><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/102337224.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/102337225.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/102337226.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/102337227.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/102337229.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/102337230.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/102337231.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/102337232.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/102337234.jpg" width="350" />John Larivierehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07322207532348501633noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11151356.post-12828267330164599572008-08-01T23:52:00.001-07:002008-08-03T22:15:09.855-07:00He's Still Got It!<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Former President Bill Clinton swung through Oregon in April to campaign for his wife Hillary's campaign bid for the Democratic ticket against <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Barack</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Obama</span>. In one day, Clinton visited North Bend, Monmouth, Oregon City and Portland. Clinton met with about 2,000 enthusiastic supporters at Oregon City High School after running 90 minutes late from his three previous stops. No one seamed to care as the chance to be in the presence of the former President in an intimate setting in the Oregon City High gymnasium kept the energy level high as Clinton received cheers from the crowd.<br /><br />Clinton spoke for over 30 minutes, covering the various points of Hillary's campaign with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">substantial</span> amounts of data backing up his rhetoric. He never missed a beat as he spoke about her plans to deal with Iraq, health care, the economy and energy issues. Clinton speaks with elements of charm, often adding humor to keep his audience engaged. He dances from topic-to-topic with smooth eloquence and his energy level totally masked any hint of fatigue from the marathon day of speaking engagements. Whether or not you agree with the Clinton's politics, its hard to deny Bill Clinton's skills as a public speaker and gift for politics.<br /></span></span><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/101071040.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/101071038.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/101071039.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/101071041.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/101071042.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/101071043.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/101071439.jpg" width="350" />John Larivierehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07322207532348501633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11151356.post-4560351247587693582008-08-01T22:16:00.001-07:002008-08-01T23:36:09.471-07:00Passing the Bar<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">As I catch back up once again with blogging, below are some shots from early Spring dual track meets featuring jumpers and vaulters battling against the same foe...gravity. Milwaukie High School jumpers lost out by an inch to Oregon City High School as the OC top two of Alex Humpreys and Derek Hinkle both cleared 6'-1" followed by Milwaukie's Neo Smith at 6'-0". The Lake Oswego High School girls took the top two spots in dual action against Rex Putnam High as Morgan McGuire set a school record of 9'-7" followed in second place by Gabi d'Amoto at 8'-6".<br /></span></span><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/101068735.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/101068736.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/101068737.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/101068738.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/101068741.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/101068739.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/101068740.jpg" width="350" />John Larivierehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07322207532348501633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11151356.post-72368847399625525792008-05-08T23:18:00.000-07:002008-05-09T00:07:44.138-07:00Pacific's Field of Dreams<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">On a Saturday late in March, the rain stopped and the clouds parted for a very special event in Forest Grove, Oregon. On this day Pacific University held a dedication ceremony for their sparkling new baseball stadium named after the late Chuck Bafaro, Pacific's baseball coach for 31 seasons between 1964 and 1994. Bafaro's teams captured three conference championships and racked up 533 victories, as he was named the NAIA District II Coach of the Year three times, in 1968, 1972 and 1979.<br /><br />The all natural grass field sports dimensions similar to major league parks with the baselines hitting the wall at 345 feet, the power alleys stretch out to 375 feet and it will take serious power to send it over the center field wall at 390 feet. The dugout and press box facilities are first class with the grandstands capable of seating 500 fans. Overall, Bafaro Stadium is a jewel of a diamond.<br /><br />The Pacific Boxers took to the field following the dedication ceremony to play a double-header against the Whitman College Missionaries. With a rare afternoon of early Spring sunshine, the Boxers made it a perfect day by winning both games 5-3 and 7-6. The second game was a thriller come-from-behind victory in the ninth inning, as they overcame a 3-6 deficit by rallying to bringing home four runners for the win. It was a perfect day for Pacific and a perfect day for baseball.<br /></span></span><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/96800385.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/96800386.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/96800387.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/96800389.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/96800390.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/96800391.jpg" width="350" />John Larivierehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07322207532348501633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11151356.post-48592169836767736802008-04-11T01:27:00.000-07:002008-04-11T02:36:57.887-07:00The Four-tunes of Two<span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >In high school sports, every athlete's dream is to win a state championship. Few are able to realize such a dream during their four years of high school competition. It is actually just a select few that get a chance to play at the varsity level more than two years, so to be so fortunate to win more than one state championship is beyond most athlete's comprehension. So imagine what it is like to win four state championships during your high school career. And not just ride the pines the first couple of years, but to step on the court in year one and be an integral component your school's first championship title, and over the next three years become the team's heart and soul, team leaders and two of the top players in the state.<br /><br />Meet Alex Earl and Michelle Jenkins of Southridge High School in Beaverton, Oregon.<br /><br />As seniors this year Alex and Michelle tapped off their remarkable high school careers with their fourth straight OSAA 6A Basketball Championship for Southridge by defeating Oregon City 49-43. Alex is a quick play-making guard who is comfortable running the team's offense, is tenacious on defense and has no fear when it comes to putting up pressure shots from outside. Alex's talents will be very much appreciated at Arizona State University starting next Fall. The University of Southern California will be the beneficiaries of Jenkins' powerful play at the low post and seemingly never ending work rate. It was four fabulous years for two phenomenal players.<br /><br /></span><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/95271427.jpg" width="350" /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Alex Earl (left) and Michelle Jenkins (right) celebrate during the OSAA<br />6A Basketball Championship game against Oregon City.<br /><br /></span></span><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/95271422.jpg" width="350" /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Alex Earl works the ball against Central Catholic's Chelsey Christensen<br />during Southridge's 39-24 OSAA 6A semi-final victory.<br /></span></span><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/95271428.jpg" width="350" /><br /><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" >Alex Earl takes her turn during the ceremonial cutting of the net following<br />her team's fourth straight OSAA 6A Championship title.<br /></span><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/95271425.jpg" width="350" /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Michelle Jenkins Jenkins drives against Central Catholic's Courtney Flynn<br />during the OSAA 6A semi-final game.<br /><br /></span></span><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/95271426.jpg" width="350" /><br /><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" >Michelle Jenkins works the low post against Oregon City's Lindsey Shearer<br />during the OSAA 6A Championship game.</span>John Larivierehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07322207532348501633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11151356.post-84653876532381589632008-02-29T22:42:00.000-08:002008-02-29T23:37:56.569-08:00Check out the Les Schwab Invitational Action<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I recently found the time to update my <a href="http://oregonsportsphotos.com/" target="blank">Oregon Sports Photos</a> site with three pages of action from this year's Les Schwab Invitational High School Basketball Tournament held over the Christmas break. Once again, the Schwab brought outstanding basketball talent to the state as ten Oregon schools competed along with six visiting schools from California, Louisiana, Washington and British Columbia to the twelfth annual title.<br /><br />I have shot the Schwab the past few years as I take a few vacation days and seize the opportunity to get into the flow of shooting basketball at the outset of the season. It was great to meet fellow <a href="http://www.sportsshooter.com/members.html?id=2591" target="blank">SportsShooter Juliann Tallino</a> as she was on site to cover the last day of the tournament for Max Preps.<br /><br />To see all the action > <a href="http://oregonsportsphotos.com/archives/2007lsi1.htm" target="blank">Start by clicking here!</a><br /></span></span><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/93593115.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/93593116.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/93593117.jpg" width="350" />John Larivierehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07322207532348501633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11151356.post-88212198085680604812008-01-21T23:04:00.000-08:002008-01-22T15:35:19.823-08:00Meet Mr. Six<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I always proclaimed myself to be open-minded, except when it came to owning a cat. I didn't have anything against cats; I just did not want to be "a cat owner." Little did I realize that my mind would be wedged wide open a couple years ago by a cute little rescue kitty.<br /><br />My wife and her friend were eating out at a local restaurant and heard the whining sounds of newborn kittens in the rafters of the eave over the entrance. Without hesitation, the two summoned the manager and found out they were born to a feral cat who had not been seen in a couple days. That's all they needed to know...the two got a box, brought them home and for weeks nursed them to health.<br /><br />One of the litter stood out amongst the others. First, he had an extra toe on each foot which is known as being a polydactyl cat. This type of cat is sometimes referred to as a Hemingway Cat, named after the famed Ernest Hemingway who owned and raised polydactyls after falling in love with them upon receiving his first as a gift from a ship's captain.<br /><br />The second thing that made this little six-toed cutie stand out was that he was extremely social; followed my wife everywhere she went as she was sharing the nursing duties for the litter. It didn't take long for the two to fall in love and when my wife asked if we could keep him, I knew I was out-matched.<br /><br />It turned out to be a great decision. Mr. Six, whose name started as just light-hearted moniker due to his extra toes, turned out to be the a great addition to the family. He acts more like a dog than a cat. He always wants to be around one of the family members, loves to drink water from the faucet and even responds to a handful of voice commands. Mr. Six certainly charmed his way into my heart and with his great personality is a constant source of entertainment around the house.<br /></span></span><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/91981018.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/91981017.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/91981016.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/91981015.jpg" width="350" />John Larivierehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07322207532348501633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11151356.post-37624070138336435522008-01-18T23:31:00.000-08:002008-01-19T00:49:54.656-08:00There's Something Funny Going on in Beaverton<span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >Eric Kingstad figured Beaverton (Oregon) could use a good laugh. So he is doing something about it. In November, Kingstad opened the <a href="http://www.jestercomedyclub.com/">Jester Comedy Club</a> in the corporate events and meeting complex he owns in Beaverton. There is no other club of its kind in the suburb town just outside of Portland and Kingstad is going all out to provide an upscale establishment with nationally known headline acts.<br /><br />On opening weekend <a href="http://www.cowboybill.com/">Cowboy Bill Martin</a> christened the club as he brought his hilarious down-home country routine into town. Despite the moniker, hat, boots and western clothes, Martin's comedy has a broad appeal and taps on elements of life to which city folk and rustlers can relate. The opening weekend crowds responded with barrels of laughter providing a great atmosphere which Martin mastered keenly.<br /><br />Opening for Martin was Northwest based <a href="http://www.kermitholiday.com/">Kermit Holiday</a> who bills himself as "the world's skinniest comic." He took the crowd on a ride through pop culture and got the laughter rolling. Coverage of Jester's opening night was for a <a href="http://www.beavertonvalleytimes.com/features/story.php?story_id=119515137990939100">Beaverton Valley Times feature story</a>.<br /></span><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/91835300.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/91835299.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/91835301.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/91835298.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/91835302.jpg" width="350" />John Larivierehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07322207532348501633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11151356.post-67552333191751672342007-12-20T00:18:00.000-08:002007-12-20T01:20:41.953-08:00The Dream Season<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">After loosing in the quarter-finals of the OSAA 5A High School Soccer Championships in 2006, the fourteen seniors on the 2007 Glencoe Crimson Tide team knew this <span style="font-style: italic;">had </span>to be "the season." The side rolled through the regular season undefeated with a 14-0-1 record. And during the playoffs, Glencoe scored twelve goals for with only one against in three games to land a spot in the state championship final against returning finalist Bend High School.<br /><br />Coach Tom Stephens knew this year's team was special. The staff and the players often referred to atmosphere on the team as a family. The school had never made it to the state finals and Stephens wanted it so bad...for his players...for his seniors. After falling behind 0-1 early in the second half, the Tide actually became energized and began backing Bend up against its own goal. A goal off a corner kick by Nolan Dempster to equalize was followed by a driving far post shot by Wil Hiles beating the keeper with eight minutes remaining to push Glencoe ahead 2-1. The final whistle at the end of regulation set off an emotional celebration as players and fans cherished the special moments of winning the school's first state championship title.<br /><br />It was a special season...it was a special team....it was a family celebration.<br /><br />Also view a <a href="http://oregonsportsphotos.com/shows/glencoe_soccer_2007_f.htm" target="blank">photo video honoring Glencoe's 2007 OSAA 5A High School Soccer Championship season</a> on OregonSportsPhotos.com.<br /></span></span><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/90523778.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/90523779.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/90523780.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/90523781.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/90523782.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/90523777.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/90523776.jpg" width="350" />John Larivierehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07322207532348501633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11151356.post-48161824250468112622007-12-16T21:47:00.000-08:002007-12-20T19:00:45.692-08:00Fall Season Winds Down<span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >At the beginning of the Fall high school sports season in Oregon, the weather is warm and wearing jeans and a t-shirt can even be over-dressed at times. At the end of the season, it's three layers of clothing, gloves and cups of hot tea. I covered the OSAA Cross Country Championships at Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon for four Pamplin Media Group newspapers. The day was a mix of cold and crisp in the morning and warm and sunny in the afternoon; a testament to the mix of weather experienced during the Fall in Oregon.<br /><br />The Jesuit High School (Beaverton, OR) girls kept their string of championships running as they took home their sixth straight 6A first place trophy. The Jesuit boys took second seating to the kings of the 6A boys harriers, their rivals Central Catholic (Portland, OR) who won their third consecutive title. Other schools I was covering in the 3A, 4A and 5A divisions had great individual accomplishments, but team results were not honored with hardware.<br /></span><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/90424992.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/90424994.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/90424988.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/90424990.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/90426501.jpg" width="350" />John Larivierehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07322207532348501633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11151356.post-30938233067187030182007-11-27T22:46:00.000-08:002007-11-27T23:08:21.675-08:00Skate On!<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Finally! Five years after Tigard youth suggested to then Mayor Jim Griffith that a skatepark be added to the city's park system, the dream has been realized. After Griffith's death in 2003, members of the Skatepark Taskforce asked that the proposed park be named in honor of Griffith because of his strong advocacy of the park and youth activities in Tigard. Current Mayor Craig Dirksen blessed the request and led the charge to secure funding for the Jim Griffith Memorial Skate Park.<br /><br />The 15,000 square foot in-ground facility opened in October, much to the delight of the local thrashers. The design includes three bowls, along with common street features. Located in the northeast portion of the City of Tigard City Hall parking lot, the park, needless to say, is packed with skaters of all abilities who give it a big "thumbs up."<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/89595457.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/89595459.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/89595460.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/89595461.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/89595462.jpg" width="350" /><br /></span></span>John Larivierehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07322207532348501633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11151356.post-87777482815970463292007-11-27T20:37:00.000-08:002007-11-27T21:19:42.267-08:00Good Lord, What a Gourd<span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >The West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta held in Tualatin, Oregon in late October is an event that words alone fall miles short of providing one with a perspective of the event. Think about it. If you read that well bread, educated adults carve out pumpkins ranging between 500 and 1,200 pounds, then drop them into a lake, climb inside the gourd and proceed to paddle around a buoyed course all in the name of fun; do you think you would really "get it" without seeing it?<br /><br />A few thousand people showed up at the Lake at Tualatin Commons to witness the event for themselves. For a fourth year, the <a href="http://pgvg.org/" target="blank">Pacific Giant Vegetable Growers Association</a> hosted the giant pumpkin regatta, which has become a popular Fall event in Tualatin. The growers donated the pumpkins and the community joined in the fun as event spectators were welcome, and encouraged, to don a life vest and kayak paddle. You can read about the event in the Tigard-Tualatin-Sherwod Times <a href="http://www.tigardtimes.com/news/story.php?story_id=119327605753782200" target="blank">pre-race feature</a> and <a href="http://www.tigardtimes.com/news/story.php?story_id=119388153682525700" target="blank">post-race feature,</a> but the pictures will surely complete the scene.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/89591257.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/89591258.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/89591260.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/89591261.jpg" width="350" /><br /></span>John Larivierehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07322207532348501633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11151356.post-27461758211067573072007-11-23T16:22:00.000-08:002007-11-23T17:36:44.939-08:00How Ironic<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Pre-season assessments of Oregon's back-to-back state championship football team didn't have them as a clear favorite to three-peat, but as the Jesuit Crusaders started off their season by demolishing early foes, people began to think that Jesuit will surely be in the thick of the playoff race in late November.<br /><br />Well, fate has its cruel side. During season play, Jesuit stomped on its Holy War rival Central Catholic with 60-0 drubbing in the second week of the 2007 season. It was an embarrassingly sad showing for the Rams. Then, a 27-13 win over Westview set up the Crusaders for its fourth Metro League crown and top seeding in the playoffs. But on the final week of the season, Jesuit dropped a contest against Southridge 28-27 in overtime, ending its Metro League season sharing the title with Southridge and Westview.<br /><br />How could fate be even more cruel for the Crusaders? An uncharacteristic early dismissal from the playoffs in the first round with a 47-35 loss to Canby...this hasn't happened to them in 20 years. And cruelest fate? Central Catholic and Westview are both playing in the quarter-finals tonight for the OSAA Championship while the Crusaders are likely at home helping clean up after the Thanksgiving holiday. Talk about winning the battles and losing with war.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">Jesuit 60 vs Central Catholic 0</span><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/89376488.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/89376495.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/89376523.jpg" width="350" /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Jesuit 27 vs Westview 13</span><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/89378321.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/89378346.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/89378357.jpg" width="350" /><br /></span></span>John Larivierehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07322207532348501633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11151356.post-33712123645506113512007-11-09T00:31:00.000-08:002007-11-10T02:18:34.723-08:00Where Did The Summer Go?<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I am supposed to be blogging weekly. Well, that hasn't happened for a while. Shooting...I've been doing. Writing took a back seat. So let's give you a quick highlight blog of some Summer assignments.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Little League Softball World Series</span><br />Umpires dancing to "The Chicken Dance" can only mean one thing. It's the Little League Softball World Series held at Alpenrose Dairy in Portland, Oregon. Teams were treated to beautiful weather, great softball competition, a first-class venue and a fabulous host...Alpenrose. The South team from Morristown, Tennessee edged out the Southwest 3-2 to claim the 2007 title.<br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/88668759.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/88668805.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/88668835.jpg" width="350" /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Tualatin Crawfish Festival</span><br />The City of Tualatin has had a love affair with the crawfish for 56 years. It celebrates its anniversary every August by throwing a festival which includes a parade, live music, a crawfish cook-off and a slew of other events. Most notably is the famous crawfish eating contest. The record number eaten in the fifteen minute contest? 170...In 1970 by then 43 year old Cotton Scheckla. This year's winner was a far distance from Cotton's record, winning by downing 97 mudbugs.<br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/88704643.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/88706911.jpg" width="350" /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Lake Oswego School District Alumni Bash</span><br />The <a href="http://losdalumni.org/" target="blank">Lake Oswego Alumni Association</a> tried an experiment. They threw a party, inviting all alumni from the district's two high schools; Lake Oswego and Lakeridge. The first high school in the district was Oswego High (now Lake Oswego) built in 1951, followed by the addition of Lakeridge in 1971. Without knowing what to expect, organizers were pleasantly surprised when about 600 alums showed up for the bash held at Millennium Plaza Park. Event coverage was for the Lake Oswego Review.<br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/88705564.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/88705597.jpg" width="350" /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Showing Patriotism in St. Helens</span><br />The Lions Club in St. Helens, Oregon volunteered to place flags on the town's main thoroughfares every legal holiday five years ago and, without fail, have lived up to their commitment. At dawn, club members spread throughout town and get the 218 flags set up and at sunset, the process is reversed. The South County Spotlight featured the event in their July 4th edition.<br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/88706814.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/88706817.jpg" width="350" /><br /></span></span>John Larivierehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07322207532348501633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11151356.post-52433206528391523342007-09-06T23:41:00.000-07:002007-12-20T11:27:49.917-08:00I Don't Do Weddings<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Well...that's what I keep telling folks. It's not that I am adversed to shooting a wedding...I just know that they are far from simple undertakings and I have not felt prepared to take on such a challenge at this point in time.<br /><br />I was asked to help out as a second shooter for a recent wedding. I figured that it would be a good opportunity, and I was very glad I gave it a go. The setting was outdoors at the farm home of the bride's parents just outside of Scholls, Oregon. It was one of the coolest weddings I have been to. A great mix of people and a terrific atmosphere...they even served beer before the ceremony started!<br /><br />I "stole with pride" a concept from <a href="http://www.craigmitchelldyer.com/blog/">Craig Mitchelldyer</a>, who is an extremely talented wedding photographer, and put together a collage of some of the photos. Overall, I am very pleased with the results. I wouldn't call myself a wedding photographer yet...but I had my first taste and I enjoyed it.<br /></span></span><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/85180409.jpg" width="350" />John Larivierehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07322207532348501633noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11151356.post-39631529605275999512007-08-17T23:22:00.000-07:002007-12-20T11:29:14.092-08:00Free Family Fun<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">The Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation District hosted its second annual Party in the Park at the Howard M. Terpenning recreation complex in Beaverton, Oregon. The day-long festival included a classic car show, entertainment and lots of sports related activities for young and old. The climbing walls were extremely popular with the kids as the lines to attempt a scaling lasted throughout the day.<br /><br />I shot the event last year for the Beaverton Valley Times, and my photos of that shoot were used for this year's insert to promote the event. The variety of activities provided a wealth of shooting opportunities. A couple shots were used on the front page of the Valley Times the following week and the rest were filed away for next year's insert. A crowd favorite was the <a href="http://www.getalifemb.org/" target="blank">Get a Life Marching Band</a>, which consists of former high school band members that are mostly well over 40 who can't let go of marching band experience. They play great music and know how to have a good time.<br /></span> </span><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/84066647.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/84065935.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/84065936.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/84065933.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/84065932.jpg" width="350" />John Larivierehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07322207532348501633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11151356.post-60892041977367038872007-08-10T00:54:00.000-07:002007-12-20T11:30:43.497-08:00Condon's Allen Hamner Memorial Cook-off<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">If you never have been to a BBQ cook-off...by all means, go! You will be treated to some of the best tasting beef, chicken and pork you have ever tasted. But don't just sample the food and walk off...take the time to chat with the participants. They are extremely passionate about their craft, or as some call it, their sport. Most travel long distances to competitions, invest hundred or thousands of dollars in equipment and work tirelessly for twenty-four hours preparing and cooking their entries for judging. They are a special breed of people. When asked why they are involved in competitive cooking, quite often the answer is, "the people" or "the community of the competitors." Despite the fact it is a competition, the camaraderie and support for fellow participants is very high.<br /><br />The 2nd <a href="http://www.condoncookoff.com/" target="blank">Annual Allen Hamner Memorial Cook-off</a> was held in Condon, Oregon during the Fourth of July week. It's far from the largest cook-off around, but what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for it in spirit. The organizer, Kim Ryan, is the daughter of Allen Hamner, who was Condon's pharmacist until his passing in 2005, a victim of skin cancer. The cook-off was initiated in 2006 to help raise funds for the Allen Hamner Foundation, dedicated to the awareness and prevention of skin cancer. The cook-off, sanctioned by the Pacific Northwest Barbecue Association, will be back and looking to grow in size next year, as the Fourth of July falls on a Thursday and Condon's Fabulous Fourth celebration will draw a large number of visitors to town.<br /></span></span><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/83649463.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/83649468.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/83649470.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/83649472.jpg" width="350" />John Larivierehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07322207532348501633noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11151356.post-53487673878872875252007-07-11T01:16:00.000-07:002007-08-10T02:09:30.935-07:00Intel® Rides with Orange County Choppers<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">In passing, it may seam like an odd pairing...The roughneck Teutuls of the famed <a href="http://www.orangecountychoppers.com/" target="blank">Orange County Choppers</a> designing and building a custom chopper for the eggheads at Intel<span style="font-size:78%;">®</span>. But upon closer inspection, one can see how leading edge technology is the common denominator between Intel and OCC. To design their world-renown custom bikes, the Teutuls utilize Hewlett Packard xw8400 workstations powered by Intel's quad-core technology processors. OCC creates leading edge chopper designs using Intel's leading edge technology.<br /><br />In April of this year, Intel and OCC unveiled a chopper designed and built for Intel in commemoration of the company's 30th year of providing embedded computing technology. The 250 horsepower bike includes a military grade ultra-mobile PC instrument panel that incorporates a fingerprint recognition ignition system, built-in GPS, Bluetooth, Internet wireless access and review-facing webcams that replace review-mirrors.<br /><br />The details and superior craftsmanship, a trademark of each Teutul creation, is clearly evident when one has an opportunity to view the bike up-close and personal. <a href="http://tlc.discovery.com/" target="blank">The Learning Channel</a> will be running a two-part series highlighting the Intel build July 12th through 19th. It includes scenes when Paul Senior, Junior and Mikey visit an Intel fab to gain inspiration for the design concept.<br /></span></span><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/82064348.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/82064349.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/82064350.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/82064351.jpg" width="350" />John Larivierehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07322207532348501633noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11151356.post-60958068536518509452007-05-18T01:39:00.000-07:002007-05-20T23:47:58.045-07:00Carrying on a Legacy of Peace<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Like his grandfather Mahatma K. Gandhi, Arun Gandhi speaks in a soft and gentle tone, but his message is one of power and strength. He speaks of the power humankind has to inflict change in the world through non-violent means. He encourages people to find the strength to separate anger from violence. Anger, he says, is a natural emotion; violence is not natural, it is a learned behavior that man too often chooses to respond to anger.<br /><br />As a young child, Arun Gandhi was the victim of racial prejudice and violence growing up in South Africa. His life changed when his parents, frustrated with young Arun's reaction of violence against violence, sent him to live with his grandfather, Mahatma Gandhi, in India. His grandfather had a profound influence on Arun, so much so that Arun now has dedicated his life to carry on his grandfather's legacy of teaching about non-violence and influencing peace throughout the world.<br /><br />Arun Gandhi brought his message of peace to ninth grade students at the International School of Beaverton, where he shared the story of his young life and how he chose, at an age similar to that of the student audience, to follow the lessons of his grandfather and be a catalyst for peace. He is the founder of <a href="http://www.gandhiinstitute.org/">The Gandhi Institute</a> and through his work has met with the world's leaders to speak of solving differences through non-violent means. During the hour he spent with the students, Gandhi engaged in a dialog of questions and answers. It was a rare opportunity to share time with a man who continues the work of the most renowned symbol of peace through the human spirit; Mahatma Gandhi.<br /></span></span><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/78961608.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/78961615.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/78961618.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/78961621.jpg" width="350" />John Larivierehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07322207532348501633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11151356.post-83141388003007906182007-04-12T01:18:00.001-07:002007-04-12T01:58:57.723-07:00Love - 40 Against the Photographer<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I put this down as a lesson learned when covering pre-season tennis in Oregon...get there a half-hour early, or one just might miss the key matches.<br /><br />When covering a recent pre-season match between Westview and Tigard high schools for the Beaverton Valley Times, the reporter and I showed up minutes after the scheduled 4:00pm start, only to watch the final few points of the first singles match. Upon inquiring, we found out that it was common practice for the coaches to get the matches started right after the kids get off the bus when there is a threat of rain. Hardly any warm up...just get out there and start playing.<br /><br />After starting nearly 45 minutes before scheduled time, the first singles match was over very quickly in straight sets. This left the first doubles as the only news-worthy item. Luckily, that contest ran a bit longer as the match was a bit more even, and I was able to get some shots for our coverage. So...If the sky is gray...arrive early that day.<br /></span></span><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/77042936.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/77042937.jpg" width="350" />John Larivierehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07322207532348501633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11151356.post-37549081233675902742007-03-23T19:51:00.000-07:002007-03-28T12:58:11.867-07:00Hello, This is Michele from Sports Illustrated...<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">...my first thought after answering this call on my cell phone was, "Oh no, a solicitation for me to subscribe to SI." But that thought was quickly purged from my brain as Michele finished her opening statement..."I am an assistant photo editor and I was wondering if you might have any photos of Kevin Love."<br /><br />Imagine the thoughts that were </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">now </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> rushing through my head. In a cool, composed tone, I simply answered, "Sure I do. What type of shots are you looking for?"<br /><br />Long story short...I had my first submission to Sports Illustrated make the cut and was published in the March 10, 2007 "March Madness" issue and on the <b><a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/highschool/03/15/lake.oswego0319/index.html" target="blank">SI.com web site</a></b>. It is quite a thrill to achieve this milestone. The photo is of Oregon prep basketball star Kevin Love and is used in the <span style="font-style: italic;">SI Players</span> section in the leading feature sections of the magazine. I was shooting the Les <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Schwab</span> Invitational High School Basketball Tournament in December when I captured a nice shot of Love about to hammer a fast-break dunk (<b><a href="http://johnlawpdx.blogspot.com/2007/01/2006-schwab.html" target="blank">my LSI blog post featuring the SI photo of Love</a></b>). The SI editor asked me to upload a handful of shots to their database. I submitted some good images of Love, but I figured the one selected was a front-runner for potential publication. The SI editor found me through my <b><a href="http://sportsshooter.com/lariviere" target="blank"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">SportsShooter</span> page</a></b> and Googling Love's name....it pays to capture photos!<br /><br />A special thanks to <b><a href="http://www.craigmitchelldyer.com/" target="blank">Craig <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Mitchelldyer</span></a></b> who sponsored my application to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">SportsShooter</span> and whose work has been an inspiration as I have developed my skills and knowledge that provided the opportunity to make it in SI. It was also nice to hear from him that my shot made SI when he opened up his copy, saw the photo and called to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">congratulate</span> me....I hadn't known it made the cut until then. Thanks Craig!!!<br /></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Photo Published in 03/10/07 Sports Illustrated </span></span><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/76074018.jpg" width="350" /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Photo Published on SI.com (<a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/highschool/03/15/lake.oswego0319/index.html" target="blank">link</a>)</span></span><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/76074042.jpg" width="350" />John Larivierehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07322207532348501633noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11151356.post-45558604283744513052007-03-14T17:39:00.000-07:002007-03-15T01:14:18.587-07:00Mothers and Sons<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">A very important chapter closed </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Saturday </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">on the hardwood of McArthur Court in Eugene, Oregon </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">for two mothers of prominent Oregon high school students. Four years of joy, </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">disappointment, </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">excitement, apprehension, rewards and failures ended when the seconds ticked down to zero and the arena buzzer cued the start of a victory celebration for a team from a modest Southern Oregon town while bringing silent moments of hollow reflection upon the dethroned champions from the suburbs of Portland. As the teams reacted in their respective manner, each mother was quick to seek out their sons. One mom embraced her two boys, who as teammates, celebrated with such a degree of emotion each were brought to impassioned tears. The other stood on a chair and gently hugged her giant of a son and kissed his temple as he held in his emotions of a dramatic loss and gazed down court watching his rivals celebrate wildly.<br /><br />Kris Singler, mother of South Medford star recruit Kyle Singer, and Karen Love, mother of Lake Oswego's gift to UCLA Kevin Love, shared deeply emotional moments with their sons, but with South Medford defeating Lake Oswego 58-54 for the OSAA 6A Basketball Championship, their emotions were on the opposite ends of the spectrum. What the two women shared equally at that moment in time was closing the four year chapter of successes, setbacks and stresses of being the mother of an elite college recruit. As both mothers held their sons tightly during the post game celebrations, each may have be experiencing very different emotions in respect to the game's outcome, but very likely they shared very simular feelings as each reflected on her son's remarkable high school careers.<br /></span></span><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/75669168.jpg" width="350" /><br /><img src="http://www.pbase.com/johnlawpdx/image/75669177.jpg" width="350" />John Larivierehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07322207532348501633noreply@blogger.com1