Driving to the stadium I really wasn’t sure what to expect. I was tasked to photograph fans and cheerleaders at the Seattle Seahawks game on Christmas Eve. The opponent was the Indianapolis Colts, a game I had wanted to see but was sold out and ticket prices on Ebay were prohibitive. I was set to watch the game at Thunderbird Cigars, having a good time among brothers.
I was excited, to be sure. This was going to be an amazing experience no matter what happened with the game. I had a Press Pass, I was going to be on the field during a professional football game. Add to that my assignment of photographing the Seagal cheerleaders and I was not only excited, but giddy! I felt like a 12 year old getting ready for my first dance. Except that I wasn’t going to get to dance with them. Too bad. When I told my friends and coworkers about that part of the job, I just couldn’t keep a smile off my face. My 12-year-old self was coming out no matter what I tried. But I still didn’t know what to expect.
While trying to find a parking spot I went down an ally and saw what I dubbed “Tailgaters Row”. About 6 blocks past it I finally found a spot to park. I looked down the street with dismay. The stadium wasn’t in sight. I could just make out a corner of Safeco Field, where the Mariners play. Quest Field (formerly Seahawks Stadium) was a block past that and I had about a mile to walk.
I chose the scenic route so I could get a few shots of the tailgaters. It turned out to be a pretty good move. The second group I came upon held a surprise. An old friend was there. He offered me a drink and we talked for a bit. He told me I just had to get a photo of Seattle’s #1 fan. He is at every Seahawks, Mariners, and Sonics game. I asked how that was possible and he said the guy won the Lotto. He chose to use his winnings to watch sports. He got sick and had to use all the money for medical bills. The major sports teams learned of this and give him the tickets now. He is the guy you see on ESPN and such with the “SEA Fence” sign (where “Fence” is a picket fence). So I made it a point to get that picture. He was easy to find, the first security guy I asked pointed him out to me. He’s well known.
On to the stadium. I found the press entrance and walked right in. It was kind of weird walking into a stadium without a ticket. I just showed my pass and the little old lady smiled me in. The door to the pressroom was to my right and I walked right in, trying not to appear like a newbie. I still don’t know if I succeeded, but I tried. I signed in and got my green vest identifying me as a photographer. I was number 112, one off my lucky number. Oh well dumb luck had got me there, now it was time to lose the luck and make it happen.
The pressroom was just what I expected. Desks went around the room and laptops were spaced every couple of feet. In the middle of the room was a very nice spread of food. Ballpark food with a twist. Hotdogs with relish and catsup, an array of fruit, and cookies…lots of cookies! As good as it looked, I passed on the food and went right to the field.
As I came out of the tunnel I couldn’t help but feel small. All the seats in the stadium were cascading down upon me. There weren’t many fans in the stadium at 11 am. But the ones who were there were looking at me, and I detected a little disappointment in their faces. I was not who they wanted to see. They were lined on both sides of the tunnel waiting for their favorite players to stroll out and warm up. I also saw how big a stadium looks from the floor. I was in awe, but still trying not to look like a newbie. I walked right out of that tunnel like it was a habit and turned left. I had no idea where I was going and didn’t know where I was going to stop. But nobody was going to see that on my face by gum! I walked all the way to the other End Zone!
I got there and found a little shelf to put my camera bag on. Then I stopped and took it all in. I read every name on the Ring of Honor and remembered every one of them. A little nostalgia for me. Of course, when I saw those men playing it was in the same place, but not the same building. Those were the Kingdome days with “Ground” Chuck, Steve Largent, Dave Krieg, and a whole slew of others.
Then I pulled my camera out of the bag and loaded the first of 8 rolls of film. I started panning the seats to get my range and look for photo ops. I wasn’t going to take any photographs until the stands started to fill, but I was getting ideas. I talked to a few of the security people and a few police officers. I had two hours to kill before the game started. It would have been an easier wait had the Seagals come out early. But alas, I had to wait until game time before they prettied the place up. So I spent the time sending messages on my cell phone, making excited calls to friends and loved ones, and posting a few messages on a few Internet message boards.
When the stadium started to fill I started to get a feeling for noise. I’ve been in the stands during loud games before. I often hear the commentators say how crowd noise can make a difference in a game and found myself laughing. I’d think, “Ya, it’s loud but come on!” That was before today’s lesson in noise. What I didn’t consider was I was in one part of the stadium/dome. Down on the field the noise comes from every direction and is focused down. I have a new respect for the players because I don’t understand how they can hear a thing on the field. The next time I see an offensive lineman jump offside I’m going to pull a Clinton with “I feel your pain”. I wanted earplugs, and if I get the opportunity to go back I will bring them.
When the cheerleaders came out I got another surprise. They were pretty…normal. Cute to be sure, but not the knockout babes I was expecting. Well, every single one of them had gorgeous legs so I guess I can’t say “normal”. I took some photos of the first group and moved on to the second. They post a squad of cheerleaders in all four corners and they rotate every quarter. This is where I fell in lov…lust. I like dark haired and red-haired women and usually look right past blondes. Usually. This one floored me. My heart skipped a beat and stopped beating all at once. Barbie looks at her and says “Daaaayum!” She’s beautiful and I never got her name. I probably couldn’t have got a decipherable word out anyway.
Then I focused my camera on a dark haired beauty. Now this is more like it! This is what I was expecting from professional cheerleaders. Again, the legs were amazing on all of them. The following two squads each had some very pretty ladies, and one who stood about 5 feet tall and was as cute as a button! And more legs, legs, legs.
Sight wasn’t my only sense in overload status. Besides the crowd noise, there was the sound of 250-pound men hitting each other at full speed. Every once in a while I’ll be watching a game and can hear a big hit. That’s nothing. I was about 40 yards from a particularly nasty hit. It was so loud I felt it in my chest. I winced in pain and I wasn’t even involved in the hit! What’s most amazing is the guys get right up and do it again like its just another day at the office. I’ll admit it, no way I’m getting up after something like that. That was just one of the many hits I heard and felt. That is something I didn’t expect and gave me even more respect for those men.
So what did I learn today? Well, point a camera at someone and they instantly act goofy, childish, and downright crazy! I learned that they were also having a great time. Barbie has nothing on a certain Seagal, and if you want to be a Seagal you better have a fine set of legs. I learned when 250-pound men run into each other at full speed, there will be some noise and I can keep my eyes open. They will be fine. An offensive lineman that jumps early should not be yelled at and given extra names that can’t be spelled out on a family website. I learned not to go into something new expecting anything, just sit back and take it in. Most of all, I learned this is a day I will never forget. To make sure of that, I learned to write it all down.
