A Day Outside French Womens Basketball
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April 30, 2010
How sweet, Lindsay walking her cat Lilly in the
park....an occasional dog has little impact on her; Lilly that
is. |
April 31, 2010
How
very funny, Tasha thinks jumping makes the difference
when hitchhiking ..... "If I show them my hops, they're sure to
stop" ...... by the way no one stopped |
April 31, 2010
Question?
So would you pick up these two (Tasha, a Russian and Lindsay an
American) not knowing if they were legally or illegally in
France?
Answer; Wouldn't matter, but the fact is they both have a
working Visa for France |
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A Day in the Life;
In and Around Nantes, Women off to Toulouse, France to play a
game......... |
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April 20, 2010
Box score...
even though I was in Nantes and did not travel to
Toulouse; difficult and a very long trip. I was able to follow
the game via the internet. Note that "Reze" in the boxscore, it
is the same as Nantes. Reze is a suburb of Nantes and many games
are played in Reze and not Nantes |
April 20, 2010
So while the
women of Nantes were in Toulouse, I had some down time.
Since it was absolutely an Arizona glorious day decided to go to
the Château des ducs de Bretagne (English: Castle of the Dukes
of Brittany) |
April 20, 2010
Nice Google
Earth of the Castle.
Inside the castle grounds. Actually Nantes was a very heavily
fortified city probably because it was ravaged every couple
hundred years; invaded by the Saxons (around 285), the Franks
(around 500), the Britons (in the 6th and 7th centuries) and the
Normans who laid waste to it in 843. Would have to give you an
inferior complex? |
April 20, 2010
Favorite
cafe in Nantes; Le Molière right next to the Opera
House....so sophisticated, or if I keep hanging out there maybe
it rubs off. |
April 20, 2010
Marek, the
Czech waiter; my favorite monsieur in Nantes. Speaks
perfect english and is funny to boot. |
April 20, 2010
Basketball
Arena; Home of the Men and Women of Nantes Basketball. |
April 20, 2010
Game in
Toulouse turned into a rout as Lindsay hits two of her
16 points. Picture from the Eurobasketball site and is not from
the game in Toulouse; it is a file photo, but we can pretend.
Notice the good quality of the action shot... |
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What to do on a Friday
Night in Nantes, France?
If your a fan of basketball you go see the Men of Nantes
professional basketball team play. Of course the Women of Nantes
go in support of the Men. |
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April 14, 2010
The group from top left; Leslie Ardon, Lindsay,
Kathleen Macleod, Natasha Bogdanova ,the Womens coach's two sons
and Melanie Plust in the middle. It is always amazing how
different athletes look out of uniform or work-out gear. |
April 17 2010
Just chillin'... the quality of play was good,
and the game was entertaining. I could imagine how good the
arena's atmosphere would have been had this been a meaningful
game; both teams are out of the play-off chase. |
April 17 2010
What was most impressive
about this whole basketball event was the VIP hospiality area
forthe post game gathering; quite the spread of food and wine.
This area is reserved for team sponsors and dignitaries; of
course all I need to do was hang on to my daughters shirt tail
and maybe get in. |
April 17 2010
The grub looks great and the wine is....well
French. |
April 17 2010
Natasha being introduced to a good French Red
Wine. You know I was all over that...do you think it
inappropriate of me to sneak a bottle? Lindsay introduced me to
the Team Owner.... "I am Somebody", not just a bodyguard to the
women players! |
April 17 2010
The Mens season has not been good for them but
on this night they pretty much thrashed Clermont, France. And I
am done apologizing for my action shots... |
April 17 2010 Problematic skies
over Europe. |
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I knew the suspense was killin You!!! Nantes lost 69-65 and
finishes in fifth place in the French Womens Basketball League.
But not all is lost, they are the top qualifier for the French
Challenge (Consolation Tournament) and start play next Tuesday,
April 20th against Toulouse in Toulouse, France..... can we say
"Road Trip"!!! |
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Bourges 69 - Nantes 64 |
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April 14, 2010
My first sight of the very friendly confines of the Bourges
Gymnasium.
Noted for the past accomlishments (note banners hanging from
ceiling), rabid fan support (sea of orange), superior players
(three ex-Olympians),excellent basketball court surface (not
always typical in France), and notorious referee bias for the
Home team (one loss at home).......and you have the makings of a
Bad Day in Basketball Paradise for any visitor. |
April 14, 2010
Scoping out the suuroundings.
Nice gym, seats 5,000 and is home to only the Womens team, no
pesky men around to mess up the locker rooms. |
April 14, 2010
Did some still photo shots
because I knew when the action starts my lousy for sports camera
would fail me miserably. |
April 14, 2010
Lindsay's ritual of throuoghly stretching
before she even touches a basketball keeps her limber enough to
take the physical abuse she is about to receive. |
April 14, 2010
Lindsay about to score in the paint.
I think the photographer siiting on the edge of the basketball
court has the cameras I covet, desre, want or need, however I
justify it... |
April 14, 2010
Look how I stopped the ball
in mid-flight, you can almost recognize it as a ball through the
"blur"..... damn camera, I know what's on my wish list; a nice
Minolta Digital SLR with telephoto lens!!! |
April 14, 2010
Lindsay threading two free throws.
Teams tend to "hack a Shaq" Lindsay, but as a 85%+ free throw
shooter that is not always such a good strategy. |
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April 14, 2010
Oh, the game itself...
here is the score with 2 minutes 31 seconds left in the
game....Nantes down by one! |
April 14, 2010
I
love seeing my last name on a jersey.... |
April 13, 2010
Friends John and Shannon, fellow winetasters, who
recently got engaged at the very top of the Eiffel
Tower.......how special, so let's taste some wine!!! |
April 13, 2010
Women hard at it practicing against some of the
men who play on a Juniors team. The men are getting a lesson
playing against true professionals in the women. But I will give
them credit, unlike most men who play against women, they did
not try to show their machismo and play overtly too physical |
April 10, 2010 |
April 5, 2010 |
April 4, 2010 |
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Nantes 81 - Challes 74 |
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April 3, 2010
Big win for Nantes at home, 81-74. Lindsay had 16
points. This win sets up a regular season finale....Nantes wins
and they are in the French Championships (top four teams). |
April 3, 2010
Warms up look crisp,
Lindsay's ready to Go! |
April 3, 2010
Lindsay getting the ball down low,
no stopping her... |
April 5, 2010 |
April 5, 2010 |
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Basket Lande 64 - Nantes 69 |
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March 31, 2010
Big Game against Basket Lande in Mont-de-
Marsan; 350 miles south of Nantes. Nantes had to win to stay in
a three way tie for the fourth and final spot in the French
Womens Basketball Championship. Gym was full to capacity
(sitting in the aisles), making the game very electric. The
Nantes women came out a little tight, while Basket Landes was
shooting "lights out". Impressed with the head coach of Nantes;
Laurent Buffard. He did not seem to panic, even though I was. |
March 31, 2010
Pre-game warm-ups
and I love this picture; Lindsay looks so sleek and athletic...
almost like a gladiator going into battle! |
March 31, 2010
Team spirit;
this team really appears to have it..... "they watch each others
back". |
March 31, 2010
Introduction of the "warriors",
I mean players for tonight's contest. |
March 31, 2010
Perfect touch,
or at very least, near perfect. Lindsay was 9 for 10 in her free
throw attempts. Very impressive.... and all net. |
March 31, 2010
Nice rebound
and then outlet pass by Lindsay. This game did not start off
well for Nantes or Lindsay. Nantes was down by 12 points at half
time. However, the second half was miraculous; to come back in
such a hostile environment, |
March 31, 2010
It was very physical
and after the game Lindsay had the bruises to show for it.
Lindsay finished with 19 points and 9 rebounds. |
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March 31, 2010
These were the free throws
that clinched the game; sending the Nantes fans (your's truly
included) into a frenzied celebration. This drew boos from the
very loyal Basket Landes fans. |
March 31, 2010
Proud father
and most excellent daughter after the game. |
April 2, 2010
Lindsay's sister arrives in France. |
April 2, 2010
Roz waving, so happy to be in France with Lindsay and
Dad. |
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Nantes 74 - Arras 78...
I was so physically drained after this
game I had a really hard time speaking to anyone in english, let
alone french. The women fought hard, no question there, and I
won't Monday morning quarterback....but...
nevermind |
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March 24 2010
I was so excited for this game I forgot to take
into account how devastating it would be to me if they
should lose!!! Almost like the Phoenix Suns losing to the
hated San Antonio Spurs..... although I truly do not hate
Arras! Go to for next seven pictures
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March 24, 2010
Warm ups look crisp and efficient.... these women
are really really good!!! I just hate how physical the game
is. More often than not women end up on their backside.
Needless to say in my day (sixties and seventies) everyone
would have fouled out.... except for Lindsay of course, she
had no fouls in this game.
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March 24, 2010
Warming for Arras contest, Super Big Game.... Go
Nantes-Reze
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March 24, 2010
Arras being introduced, woman on right is Leilani
Mitchell from U. of Idaho. She played against Lindsay and UC
Santa Barbara in the Big West Conference. A real sweetheart of a
girl, but don't let that fool you. When she revs up watch
out; ultra-quick and determined. She killed Nantes.
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March 24, 2010
Lindsay had nine points in the first quarter, here
getting a free throw after a foul. The gym was not the big
arena they usually play in, but it was packed, and loud at
times.
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March 24, 2010
My VIP seat behind the bench. With four minutes
left Nantes was up by four points. I was feeling relatively
good about the situation. Little did I know Nantes would hit
a wall and would be "out physicalled" those last minutes. A
couple of critical missed shoots and the Fat Lady lite a
cigar.....for Arras.
It's even hard to write narrative, Here is picture
of Lindsay posting up from another angle. It was so nerve
racking I had to get up and walk around. Thank god I wasn't
playing, I would have "bricked" every shot!!!
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March 24, 2010
Lindsay ended up with fourteen points
(nine in first quarter) and eleven rebounds Not bad, but
just not enough. Now it will be a scramble to make the
Championships (top four teams). If not Nantes will play
in the Challenge (consolation championhip), which they
will be the top seed most likely). All that said these
Nantes women have nothing to be shamed of, they laid it
all out; mentally qnd physically.
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Armentieres 50 - Nantes 68 |
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March 20, 2010 Game was played in a cozy little gym
that allowed for nice fan interaction. The mascot was a "Frog".
You can see it depicted on the far wall ........ the mascot is
also running around somewhere, cute. Nantes won 68-50 which
keeps them in a four way tie for fourth, with a game against the
third place team, Arras coming up next Wednesday. If Nantes
beats Arras in Nantes, it would set up a possible five way tie
for the final two playoff spots. Things will get exciting if
Nantes can win their next three games. The top four teams
qualify for the French Womens Basketball Championship series. |
March 20, 2010 I give up trying to take
action shots with this camera.... this camera does well with
portraits and landscape. The action is too quick and I have
to anticipate too far in advance, and the final dagger is
that the shutter speed is too slow for real sports action.
Blurred vision photo...
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March 20, 2010 Mia Fisher in white on the
right. Not a very good action shot, but that as good as I can do
with my equipment. |
March 20, 2010 Mia Fisher and Lindsay after the
Nantes vs. Armentieres game. Mia plays for Armentieres, so it
was a nice little reunion for the two former UCSB teammates....
they were roomates at UC Santa Barbara for two years. |
March 20, 2010 The Ladies
after the Nantes vs.Armentieres game. What to do on a Saturday
night in Lille, France ........ Maybe go clubbing in nearby
Belgium? "What happens in Belgium, stays in Belgium!!!"
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March 20, 2010 The Ladies Night Out after the
Nantes-Armenteires game. Remember Ladies you represent
France..... |
March 20, 2010 OMG.....is that my daughter!!!!! She has
been abducted by aliens??? |
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Bill arrives in France... |
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March 12, 2010 Bill has been looking forward to this trip.
He will get to see his daughter play in Nantes-Reze, France for
over a month. He did spend a few days in Paris before
arriving to see Lindsay. |
March 16, 2010 First Lindsay sighting.
Lindsay at practice, she got to sit it out
because her back was tight. But the
coach let her since she had 22
points in their last game. |
March 17, 2010
Tough practice
getting ready for this weekend's very important game. Lindsay
posting up.... |
March 17, 2010
Tasha, or as she proclaimed upon meeting her
"Lindsay's favorite friend". Certainly can understand, she is
truly a Russian sweetheart!!! |
March 18, 2010 Third day of
practice and they don't let up on the women... with an
important game coming up this weekend??? Go figure, but the
coaches are getting paid to know what"s best. |
This has
to be the most overused arena I have ever seen. They definitely
need a new basketball court. Otherwise an interestlingy designed
facility; seating. Holds about five thousand people which
Lindsay said their last big game was nearly full. |
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