Dress for Success - Part Two - Footwear

I'm bigger than average.  Shopping for me is less a matter of fashion and more a search for size.  Recently I shopped for shoes at Academy Sports and Outdoors.  My approach is to look for bigger shoe boxes and then plain looking shoes inside.  Not gaudy.  Not in my shoe size.  Large gaudy is worse than regular gaudy and I don't like regular gaudy. 

My shopping trip was a success.  I found a pair of plain white walking shoes that fit.  I bought them and brought them home.  And my wife - who has a very hard life living with me - gently told me the Velcro ties are really not something I want to wear at this stage of life.  "They are intended for the elderly, folks who have trouble tying laces."  Now some, including the calendar, may suggest I fit in that elderly class.  But I don't need to advertise it.  And I don't have difficulty tying laces. 

I immediately sought a second opinion.  Actually a lot of second opinions.  I  posted the issue on Facebook.  And the reply was unanimous.  If I like the shoes, don't worry about whether they are stylish.  And I like them.  Because they fit and aren't gaudy.

A couple posts back addressed the way Outlaws dress for practice.  I admitted to not being fashion minded but having noticed interesting practice attire, I suggested the topic of football fashion calls for our attention with more posts.  I'm beginning to have second thoughts about that "more" idea.

Notice the black pair with white stripes.  I refer
back to them in the text that follows.

But here we go. (This may be the last on the subject of football fashion.)

Today is about socks.  Some of you may recall a posting I did some time back about socks.  I had a lot of fun with it.  I figured maybe there is more fun to be had so I assembled a small collection of socks photos. 


I guess I should comment on the socks pictured here in terms of fashion statements.  I will try.  But it would be better  if you helped me out.  This blog does permit visitors to comment.  I'd love to hear (read) your comments. 

These socks interested me.  Do you notice anything?   Right.  They don't really match.  Kinda sorta but not really.  I suspect the player has another pair just like them at home.

I wondered if this is the same player as in the picture above.  If so, did she change during practice?  Or did I take these photos on different practice days?  We'll never know.

These socks match.  Even I can tell.  Well, I haven't counted diamonds to be sure both socks have the same number of black and white. I don't think that is necessary for a match.

I can't tell whether these match or not. 

As a fashion comment, I don't think I like the grays and blacks.  Whether they match or not.  Give me some color.

Like red!  That's better.  Don't you think?  And notice they match.  Not only do the socks match each other, they also match the gloves.  Knowing nothing about fashion I still feel safe saying this ensemble is an example of high fashion.

Paying attention to the way socks match each other and then also match other fashion accessories got me noticing shoes.  These socks didn't qualify for commentary but the shoes certainly do.  Most shoes aren't interesting but some are rather colorful, don't you think?   What do you call this color?  Kind of a fluorescent yellow.  Chartreuse?  Do you think they might influence the outcome in a game?  Maybe the defender will be so fixated on the shoes she'll forget to make the tackle?  Are they bright enough to temporarily blind opponents?  Are they legal?

Red and white make for nice colors.  I don't think this player is wearing socks, do you?  Looks like maybe leggings?  Is that what those things are called that are like pants but go all the way down to the feet?   Isn't it neat the way there is a Velcro flap over the laces.  The laces prove this is not an elderly player in spite of the Velcro.  The Velcro is intended to keep the laces in place so they don't come untied and trip the player in the middle of a game.  Very fashionable.

While I'm reluctant to make a judgement regarding the fashion represented by footwear pictured here, I do feel comfortable saying every player should wear something on her feet.

 Something more substantial than just socks. With everyone else wearing cleats, going unshod risks injury to toes.


When I started following the Outlaws, I fancied myself a sports photographer and commentator.  A lover of football.  I had visions of a business card with fancy words like "Official" and "Expert" and I dreamed of a career with the Outlaws being comparable to being an official photographer for the Dallas Cowboys.

What might have been.

Look at me.  I'm taking pictures of socks.  Shoes.  Commenting on fashion. 

Maybe it is time to sell my camera, put on my Velcro-tie shoes, and retire to a rocking chair.  What do you think?

Fund Raising Fun, Superbowl Party

Smelled so good!

I don't like parties.  I do like food. 

Yesterday was Superbowl Sunday.  Yesterday the Outlaws had a fund raiser party at Quinns Neighborhood Bar in Round Rock.  And you know, I was almost drawn into the party.  Photos don't capture the aroma of food cooking but that smell of good cooking was almost enough.

Quarterback Marisa Rivas posing
outside of Quinns for a future blog
player profile.

I was there early to interview  Quarterback Marisa Rivas and to shoot some photos - for this blog. She'll be one of my player profiles in the near future.  For the profile I use a photo of the player away from the football field. 

So I made the trip to Quinns and planned a quick visit, snap some photos of Marisa, ask a few questions to make the profile interesting.

And then I caught the scent of the fajitas. 

And then party people started arriving.  Nice people.  I like the Outlaws. 

I think they're singing. 

Fund raising is a fact of life for the Outlaws.  If you're a fan, feel free to contribute money.  When you hear about fund raisers, come on out. 

Participate.  It is cool to be able to go to a party (if you're normal and enjoy parties), sing along, enjoy fajitas and refried beans and your choice of beverage, socialize with interesting people, watch a game on large screen television - and all the while know you're helping the Outlaws cover the expenses of the 2012 football season. 

The players aren't paid for playing football.  In fact each player is responsible for generating income.  The team estimates the cost of the season - over $30,000!  And players are responsible to produce a pro-rata share.  Nearly $1,000 per player.  So the players arrange fund raisers like the Superbowl party.  Opportunities for fans to have fun while supporting the team.

If you're a fan of the Outlaws, if you want to promote opportunities for women in sports, consider responding to fund raisers.  Or consider sponsoring a player.  If you have a favorite player, contribute $$$ to the team in her name. 

Early arrivers already in a party mood.  You
can see pre-game stuff going on on the TV in
the background.

Fund raising can be fun.  Contributing to the Outlaws can be fun.  Visiting with nice friends before the game starts is fun..Watching the game on a large screen, fun.  And wasn't that a great game!

Hosting, welcoming.

I keep coming back to the chef.  I think maybe chef's are the most important people
in the world. 

Early arrivers.



These photos were all shot early in the party.  As I said, I'm not a party guy.  Anytime there are more than four people in one place, I get uncomfortable.  Unless I have my camera in hand and the people are playing football.   So I went home early.  But I think they give you a sense of just how much fun it can be to be involved in Austin Outlaws football.

Dress for Success

A men's semi-pro team practices on the same field as and just before the Outlaws.  I normally don't notice clothing, attire, fashion.  But with the guys trailing off the field as the ladies charged on, I noticed a stark contrast.  In four words - the ladies look better. 

I could post a photo of the guys, just so you can see the contrast, but I'm a photographer and my mission in life is to catch people look good.  So lets just focus on the ladies.

I'll need to ask Marisa about
the wrist-wear. Are those watches?
Bracelets? When I play sports
I never wear jewelry of any kind.
Well, actually I never wear jewelry
except a watch anyway.

By way of disclaimer, I'm not into fashion. I don't subscribe to GQ. I disagree with the opinions expressed in the "Dress for Success" books. I am ill equipped to place a value on the photos I'm about to post. I'd be interested in your opinion. Should we do a best-dressed Outlaw contest? If so, you'll have to be the judge(s). Not I.

One early observation - quarterbacks tend to consider the football to be a part of their uniform.  Both of my quarterback photos show the player holding the ball even though there's no one to throw it to or hand it to. 

 

Quarterbacks seem to have a ball in
hand a lot.  I wonder if they carry the
ball with them at work or school or
home?

Color seems an important part of
dressing for success.  Lots of Outlaws
wear colorful workout outfits. 

I said I don't notice attire and that's
generally true but I'll admit I did notice
this all yellow outfit even before I thought
about a post on clothing. 
(Ask me about my Canary Joke.)

Isn't there a movie with a title about
ladies wearing pink? 

 

What do you call this color?  Teal?  Aqua?  Are both
the same color, just different shades?  In another
post I'll comment about footwear - or the lack of - at
Outlaws practices.

Many of the practice outfits advertise or express
support for various organizations, teams, towns.
This shirt has a long title:  "League of United
Latin American Citizens" - or LULAC.

Who wouldn't be proud to wear a Forty-Niners shirt,
considering the great record they had this season.

Lots of UT gear is worn by Outlaws.
This one is for basketball, not football.
I don't think UT has a women's football
team.

I'm from Michigan so I had to include
this one.  Mackinaw City is on the northern
tip of the Michigan Lower Peninsula and is
a gateway to Mackinac Island - which is
pronounced Mackinaw Island. 

Lots of the ladies wear Outlaws signature shirts.  I believe you can but Outlaws gear
by visiting the Outlaws website. 

When I started this post I doubted I'd have enough material.  I was pleased to note that my photo files are rich in material relating to attire on the field, whether in practice or in games.  I'll be sure to do some future posts on the subject.  If you see me at a practice or game and you note an interesting fashion display, please let me know and I'll make a picture and post it here. 

I'd also love to hear from you on whether or not to do a best/worst dressed Outlaw competition.

Maybe we should do a best-dressed fan competition?

The Face is Familiar...

Lily Messina 

This is Lily.  I remember her name.  She is the general manager of the Outlaws and has been with the team since it  began.  I've known Lily for seven or eight years now.

If you've been visiting my blog you may have noticed I have lots of photos without adequate identification.  Faces without names.  That is because of a flaw in me.  I try to blame it on bein' old but this has been a problem for much of my life.  I can't remember names.  Until I've had them drilled into my memory over months or years.  And even then I often forget names of people I knew very well. 

Today's post is in two parts.  First I'm reposting something I did several months ago.  So newcomers to the blog will have this information about me.  So players will understand when I come to practice or game and say "Hi" instead of "Hi Sarah". 

Second, I'm posting some close-up photos of Outlaws.  I love the candid close-ups.  These will be faces without names.  Because, well, refer to "first." 

First - Forgetting:
My former employer held a meeting for retirees. There were about 300 of us, many of whom had been close business associates when I was working.

One guy came up and I knew I knew him but I couldn't place him. Even with a hint - he was wearing a name tag. "Mike." Reading his name didn't help. It quickly got worse. He told me his daughter worked in my department. I couldn't remember her name either, even after he told me. I was a manager of a small department within a big company. We were good. We had anywhere from 30 to 50 very special employees during my tenure. Not so many I shouldn't have been able to remember every name.

But I couldn't recall Mike's daughter's name. Until about an hour later. Then I had a flash of recollection. Oh, that Mike! Mike was in agency management in Houston. His daughter worked with me - I don't recall exactly how long but I do recall she was an asset to the department. And I've forgotten her first name. Again.

In my job I worked closely with agency management throughout Texas. There is no excuse for forgetting their names. But I also forgot Norman. Saw him at the meeting and said "Hi." But it took about a half-hour before I could place his full name and where he officed.

Another guy was there, Phil. I couldn't recall his name. I thought and thought. It wouldn't come. Part of the problem was the name I was trying to remember wasn't "Phil" but Jim. So trying to remember Phil was more difficult because I was trying to remember Jim and Jim wasn't Phil but someone else entirely.
Why am I telling you this in a blog about women who play football? I'm planning to go to the practice Saturday and shoot lots of photos. If I see you there, I may not remember your name. If I give you a blank stare and a simple "Hi there!" greeting, don't feel bad. After all, I couldn't even remember Mike and he was wearing a name tag.

Senior moments. Gettin' old.

Second - Faces

I like candids.  I rarely do posed pictures. I'm terrible
at portraits.  But these ladies were having fun and
I had my camera and I think it came out okay.

The helmets make it difficult to get good facial shots.  So
I keep trying.  Somehow pretty feminine faces in
football helmets just seem natural photo subjects.

Part of the fun of watching the Outlaws play is knowing the players as individuals.  These photos give you some feeling for who the players are.  In the past I did player interviews and followed them with player profiles published on the Outlaws website and in this blog.    I keep promising to resume the profiles so you can get to know even more. 

I'll do that. 

If I don't forget.

Where's the Ball?

Hockey star Wayne Gretzky said "I don't skate to where the puck is, I skate to where it is going to be." 

Catching the football requires running to where the ball is going to be.  In earlier posts I talked a little about the amazing amount of thinking that goes on to catch a ball.  Judging the speed and distance it will travel, figuring out the line it is taking and what line you need to run to get under it.  Figuring out whether to leap or dive for it. 

 "Keep your eye on the ball."
You'll see in these photos, players are focused on the target.

I love posting ball-photos where you see the ball at the instant the the receiver catches it. A lot has happened before those moments. If you could see the expression on the player's face you'd see the concentration and focus. 

Today let's try to give you some close-up photos of players reading the pass and gettig in position to catch it.

The receiver is running down field, away from the quarterback.
She has to know when to turn and look for the ball.  Catching
a ball over the shoulder is different from and harder than
facing the passer and catching it head on.

Eye on the ball, running to where it is going to come down.

Sometimes the ball comes in high, over your shoulder.
Sometimes it is low and you may have to dive to catch it.

Okay, I love the camera and that 300mm lens.  It is capturing
facial expressions.  You can see her eyes, where she is
looking for the ball.

Watch the ball, run to where it will land. 

I like this one because I can't tell quite what is happening.
A good photographer would have enough of her arms and
legs in the photo that you can see if she is running (she is)
or if the play is over.  I like the tee shirt.

In an earlier post I featured this receiver sharing the frame with
a ghost.  I've learned her name is Ereka Howard.  She's a
graduate of Texas State.  And she is just full of enthusiasm
and energy.

I don't know her name yet but I've already decided she'll be a star.  She is fast.  If she gets a step on a defender, the defender will not catch her.  I'm eager to see her play in a game.



Someday soon I'm going to resume player profiles.  Helping you get to know the Outlaws.  Knowing the players makes the games more fun.  It takes a special kind of person to put on helmet and pads and numbered shirts and go out there and use strength and skill to impose your will on the opponent.

Is Everything I Know is Wrong? Blocking Practice

My best day; my worst day.  I was playing defensive tackle.  It was cold, windy, sleety.  We were playing a better team. 

I learned about blocking by being blocked.

The guy blocking me was winning.  This was fifty years ago and I can still vividly see his wide back spreading out in front of me like the hood of my 1989 Mercury.  I can feel his shoulder in my belly driving me backwards and to my left, creating a running lane to my right.  And here came the runner using that lane to gain yards.  My worst day in a not very illustrious football career.

You'll be happy to know I did salvage something to preserve my ego.  The ball carrier held the ball around the middle.  Weird.  Nobody holds the ball like that.  So while I'm riding the blocker's shoulder, I reached over his broad back.  With my right hand I tapped the nose of the football.  Popped it out of the runner's grasp.  I grabbed it with my left hand. 

The runner kept running.  My blocker discarded me and went on to seek another target.  No one noticed the runner didn't still have the ball. 

I had a problem.  I'm a lineman.  Lineman are coached to never never never pick up a fumble and run with it.  If the ball is loose fall on it!  Now technically this was a fumble.  I had possession of the loose ball.  So I did as I had been coached to do and fell on it.  All these years later I wonder if I could have just kind of ambled to the end zone, maybe whistling Dixie in nonchalant stroll.  No no one knew I had the ball.  I might have just walked it in for a score.  That opportunity was lost when I went to the ground and protected the ball.

A little while later the whistle blew.  The play stopped. 

The official, a puzzled look on his face, said "Who has the ball?" 

I confessed.  I do. 

One of my career highlights.  One of my best days.  I won the praise and love of my coach and team.  I got to go the bench and snuggle up in one of those fur-lined rubber rain parkas, out of the sleet and wind.

Through the rest of the game that blocker owned me.  But through the rest of the game I kept reaching over his back, grabbing at the ball.  The runner didn't lose it again but fighting me for possession slowed him down, allowing my unblocked teammates to tackle him.

I watch blocking drills at the Outlaws practice.  Not very much.  It doesn't make for cool photos the way the passing game does.   There's no ball.  I'm never quite certain in the drills which player is on offense and which on defense.  And it does make a difference.  The offense wants to maintain the contact, defense wants to break free to pursue the ball. 

In the drills, one player holds a blocking pad but I can't tell if she is role playing the blocker?  or blockee? 

Sadly, the pictures aren't all that much fun.  Well, maybe if you're in the picture? 

I would never have my arms extended.  I'd be trying to
get my shoulder into the pad.  Things have changed
since I played the game.

There is a lot of arm in the way the game is played these days.  In my day the aim was to get solid contact with my shoulder and maybe upper arm as an extension. 

It is hard to tell in a photo just how much energy is being expended.  But take a look
at that blocking pad.  All scrunched up - Ski is really working it over.

Okay, starting low.  If you keep your balance and you are
lower than the opponent, you'll win.

When the opponent is taller it is easier to be lower.  Once again
the accepted technique is to extend the arms.  My out-of-date
method would be to drive my shoulder into the opponent.

There was one match-up in the drills that I thoroughly enjoyed.  Ski versus Dikibo.  I've know Ski for years and love her all-out blue-collar hard hitting approach to the game.  I used a photo of her on the cover of my book.  Dikibo I'm just beginning to know.  She seems quiet, almost bored, almost tranquil. 

The the coach says go hit that blocking pad.  And wow!  It sounds different, as in loud.  The popping of pads is like being at a pro game.  Ski is immovable.  Dikibo irresistible.  What a cool match-up.

Dikibo's arm drives through and over the top of the pad.  I think maybe the pad holder should
wear her helmet when Dikibo is the hitter.  Hard as the hit is, Ski isn't giving an inch.

The pad is supposed to protect the hittee.  I think.  But it is so floppy and there's so much
force going on it just gives up and folds.

In the Superbowl Sunday, I'm going to study line play.  They don't play the line the way we did back in the fifties.  And we don't coach Outlaws to play the way I was taught.  After the game I'll comment more on line play.