Soulful Sunday- Prince Jordan Edition

This past weekend we out to visit Prince Jordan, Heir to the Empire, Protector of the Realm & Beastly Lax Goalie for the Indiana Tech Lax Weekend (3 games over 3 days).

 

We had a wonderful time with our son at his off campus pad with his roommates and a bunch of the team parents.

 

 

 

I can almost rest easy…The Prince is doing real good for himself.

 

 

   

Warrior Athlete too…with a 3.3 GPA.  WOOT WOOT! One month left and The Prince is a college SENIOR.  Where did the time go?

 

Right now, he is having to get back & forth to school and practice on what his roommate’s mother calls the likka-cycle cause his roommate got a OWI (operating while intoxicated – not sure of the difference, but ok) and can’t drive for a while. The house vehicle is out of commission.

If only I could convince him that his melon is not indestructible and to wear a helmet. I tried to use the logic that he wouldn’t play without his helmet and no pro-athlete (race car driver, cyclist, etc.) would go without. HUMPH. Like talking to a brick wall. SIGH. A mother’s nagging is NEVER done.

 

A Wonderful Weekend of Warrior Lax…The Realm is Protected & The Prince is still BEAST!

 

Randoms of a Traveling Lacrosse Mom

I got up at the crack of dawn on Friday to catch a 6am flight to Ft Wayne, IN to attend Parents Weekend at Indiana Tech and get me some WARRIOR LACROSSE in. I was worried about the whole trip as Prince Jordan has not had much luck in traveling to & fro from school in the past couple of months.

 

The trip was uneventful. I even got the opportunity to “volunteer” to give up my seat and catch the next flight out of Detroit to Ft.Wayne. Since I didn’t have to be there until 7pm for the game, I volunteered and scored a $400 travel voucher on Delta.

 

Our Memorial Day vacation is going to be that much better when our flights (The FireMarshall has a free ticket as well from another trip) are taken care of. And NO, I don’t have a problem traveling on a different airline than the FM. We will arrive at the same destination and have a rip roaring time.

 

Do I take this Warrior Lacrosse Mom business seriously? YEP. I’ve got my colors on, my bling on & even my nails are painted orange. I also go a tad overboard with capturing pictures of my Warriors.

I did some research on great sport telephoto lenses and came up with the Canon EF 400 mm/ F2.8 L IS. (“The Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens is the ultimate Canon professional field/track sports lens.”) Of course I went back to www.borrowlenses.com to rent the lens for the weekend. I rented from them before, but this time I was asked to verify my identity by sending over various scanned copies of my id & the CC I used to prove the it was IN FACT me that ordered it. Then I got an email asking all kinds of questions (was I a professional photographer, did I have a website, business EIN – if so, do I have any references, etc). I was taken aback a bit…at first…and then I went to look at how much this sucker costs.

 

$7-$8000 DOLLARS. GTFOOH. No wonder they wanted me to verify and put up a kid as collateral. I finally satisfied all their questions and they sent me the lens. It arrived in a friggin suitcase.

 

I got skerred. DA HELL DID I ORDER?

 

I am lugging all my camera equipment around in a piece of luggage on wheels.

 

NO! I am not from ESPN. Warrior Fans – stop asking me – I’m just an overzealous Warrior Lax Mom/Fan.

     

Let me tell you what I’ve learned after the first night game:

• I still suck at night photo’s even under lights & with a $8k SUPER LENS
• I have to take LOTS (like a gazillion) to get some great shots, especially at night. I SUCK.
• That lens is HEAVY even using on a monopod. Also, you just do jump up and move locations. Did I say that sucker is HEAVY!
• Have back up batteries. For some reason this lens sucked the life out of two batteries in two hours.
• Use that hood. They sent it to me for a reason…I think.

No, I am not a professional photographer. STOP ASKING. Why did I rent it? CAUSE I DO WHAT DA HELL I WANT TO DO. Yeah, sure. I’ll take your picture…IF YOU GO STAND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FIELD.

 

I am having a wonderful time hanging with some of the other Warrior Lacrosse Mom’s. They now know that I only need a nudge to act out a complete LAX COUGAR MOM fool. Diana – yeah, you! And as for “Doris Day” – once she took off that apron, it was on & poppin. I’m still working on a comeback after she threw me under the bus last night over the “bathroom” incident.

I haven’t laughed so hard and cut up so much with these ladies, their husbands & our Warrior Lax Men in ages. I think I punctured my spleen.

 

Another game is up late this afternoon with a SLAMMIN’ TAILGATE! I’m Girding My Loins for when the INDIANA TECH WARRIOR LACROSSE TEAM releases THE CRACKEN!

Photo of the Week

I recently submitted these two pictures to www.laxallstars.com for their Photo of the Week Contest:

 

AND THIS HERE LACROSSE MOM WON!!!! GO ME! & GO INDIANA TECH WARRIORS!

 

This week’s Photo of the Week is another shot featuring a goalie.  What can we say?  We love those crazy keepers!

Lisa Steptoe (another great last name!), a mom of a player on the Indiana Tech team (we think it’s number 30!) sent over some pictures from their games against Liberty and Palm Beach Atlantic and for her effort, the entire Indiana Tech team has won Grow The Game Helmet Stickers!  Fantastic work, Lisa!  Good enough that you’re taking home the winning prize as well as the Honorable Mention.  Here at LAS we reward hard work, dedication and skill.  And Lisa’s got all three.

Thanks Lacrosse All Stars and a big shout out to www.BorrowLenses.com where I rented the lens that helped me to capture these awesome pictures. Friday isn’t going to get here fast enough. WOO HOO!!!

 

Yeah – this was a real, bonafide shameless plug. So.

#22 Indiana Tech Men’s LAX falls to #2 Davenport

#2 Davenport Defeats Warriors

March 12, 2011

For Immediate Release

Grand Rapids, MI – For a second straight weekend, the Indiana Tech men’s lacrosse team faced off against a Top 5 ranked team. The 22nd ranked Warriors fell to the No.2 ranked Davenport University Panthers 21-7.

 

Davenport took a 2-0 lead to start the game before sophomore Brent Nichter (Ft. Wayne, IN/Bishop Luers) scored to cut into the lead. The Panthers then scored 10 unanswered goals before halftime to take a 12-1 advantage into the break. The Panthers then outscored Tech in the second half, 9-6.

Tony Cremeens (St. Charles, MO/Hazelwood), Craig Schaepkens (Davison, MI/Davison), and Josh Puckett (Cincinnati, OH/Mason) all had two goals each and Nichter added one. Schaepkens also dished out two assists while Josh Ambrose (Brooklyn Park, MN/Armstrong), Nicholas Lichtsinn (Ft. Wayne, IN/Snider), and Nichter had one assist apiece. Nichter was big on face-offs and picked up a team-high six ground balls. Shaun Lewandowski (Tecumseh, MI/Tecumseh) played great on defense and Tony Loftus (Fishers, IN/Hamilton Southeastern) and Jordan Steptoe (Ellicott City, MD/River Hill) played well in goal.

The Warriors will be back in action on Indiana Tech’s Hall of Fame Weekend on Friday, March 25 against Purdue University at 8:30 p.m.

 

…and this Warrior Lacrosse Mom will be there!

 

This was a tough one to watch, but watch & cheer them on I did, while freezing my patootie off. I’ve got Prince Jordan and Sir Tony for a week of Spring Break – Time for KOOLAID MOMMA’S HOUSE to open. Let the mixology & shenanigans begin as the revolving door opens for all of my “kids”.

 

Enjoy another Warrior Lacrosse Mom video production.

BorrowLenses Review

I have found my favorite spot for renting lenses for my Canon. BorrowLenses.com is THE business. I have been a FB friend and have been watching them for a while as I have always wanted to get a super telephoto and/or something to take great pictures at Prince Jordan’s & The Indiana Tech Warriors Lacrosse games. Since it wasn’t something that I was going to do on a daily (or even weekly) basis, purchasing a lens was just out of the question.

 

Enter BorrowLenses.com. Last Sunday, I searched the website for a telephoto lens and selected the Tamron 200-500mm f/5-6.3 SP AF Di LD IF for Canon. For $100 (for a week rental) which included roundtrip FedEx shipping I received the lens, tripod mount, & hood. Ordered Sunday – arrived on Thursday (as requested) perfectly packed.

 

I am in love.

 

Friday night was a horrible night for shooting – at least for me. It was drizzling & cold and we had to take up shelter in a parking garage on the 2nd level so we could watch the game while being somewhat dry. Uggaahhh. The lighting was horrible. While the stadium lights were on and I adjusted my camera for tungsten light. I wasn’t under the lights…I was a gazillion ‘miles’ away in a dark parking garage. I keep fooling with the camera settings and then found the one florescent light in the garage to stand under; however, I just DON’T know enough about adjusting for light and movement to get really good pictures. Not the lens’ fault – user incompetence. Nevertheless, I am motivated to take a class to learn how to work with my camera to get good pics with an awesome lens in this kind of situation.

Saturday was a much better day. The sun came out every now and then. I forgot the lens hood at the hotel and after reviewing some of the pictures, I was evident that I really could have used it. Some of the pictures had a glare or haze to them from the sun. Tip…Use all the tools given to you. They have a purpose. Still – I got some GREAT shots. I love how in some of the pics you can see the water droplets splashing up from the field. Cool beans.

          

Saturday…Not a cloud in the sky. Bright! I used the lens hood this time and once again…I AM IN LOVE!. This lens was just fantastic for getting really close up shots of the action as a spectator – especially when you can’t stand on the field like the “professional” photographers can.

 

I am so pleased with my rental. I even entered a contest for a $100 gift certificate. I so want to rent another lens for Indiana Tech Warriors Parents Weekend in March – well, even if I don’t win – I’m gonna rent another lens – prolly the same one.

 

A couple of tips for a novice like me when renting a telephoto…You will need a mono-pod. Once I got the lens on my housing, that mug was heavy – too heavy to hold up for entire game and it made it so easy to turn and follow the action. You also might want to have a lens cover for such a long lens. The lens I rented did not fit in my camera bag – AT ALL – but the Queen Mum had a zippered cover for a long lens with a strap that made transport a cinch.

 

While I am not aspiring to become a professional photographer or anything, I am desiring of fantastic photos for my effort. I plan on taking a class – particularly on low lighting and sports/action to be better prepared. If you ever want to take your game up and/or experiment with different lenses (or even a camera) before you buy (or just for grins & giggle in my case cause I’m not EVER purchasing a $1700+ lens) then BorrowLenses.com is the place for you. Check them out.

Everything

This is what Momma Pride & Love looks like. I have no other words. This is Everything.

Warrior Lacrosse Parent Weekend - Part 2

Thought I was playin' round bout this stuff? NOPE! I am a Warrior Lacrosse Mom! Woo Hoo.

It was a beautiful day on Saturday. Sunny with a light breeze - about 70 degrees. Very comfortable. Did I even think that I would need sunscreen? NOT...and right now I am nursing a nasty little sunburn on my chest. That will teach me to let the girls out and be all cute and whatnot on a sunny lax day. I got me some Motrin for the inflammation & pain and some aloe vera gel to cool the heat radiating off my chest. LAWD. The things I suffer in the name of being a Warrior Lax STAN.

This game was a tough one. We got smoked by Davenport - the Divisional champs, but we played hard. I heard they were a tad irritated that IT even scored against them. How dare a team of all Freshman even get on the board. How dare we indeed. *Snorting with derision* HUMPH.

You know I took a bunch more pictures and video. Check out views from the Indiana Tech vs. Davenport.

Warrior Lacrosse Parents Weekend

It was Warrior Lacrosse Parent Weekend at Indiana Tech this past weekend, so we loaded up the conversion van and hauled 10 hours out to see our young man & the Indiana Tech Warrior Lacrosse team play some LAX!

You know I take my Army Football/Basketball & Indiana Tech Lacrosse STAN (stalker-fan) seriously...like to a whole new level - coordinated outfits to the school colors & cheering like one of the crazed fans you read about and get ejected from games. That's me.

I also have more camera & video equipment than the average spectator. I'm serious about this stuff - capture the moment and whatnot. The key is to figure out how to get in a couple of the pictures yourself. It's a struggle but I manage.

Prince Jordan looked awesome and I was SO FRIGGIN PROUD walking around giving head nods all around. The Prince was giving us a tour and EVERY SINGLE PERSON (from the security guard to the cleaning lady to the staff & faculty) said Prince Jordan was a great young man. *head nod* Yep, that be my boy! Inside I was like all warm and fuzzy - I guess we raised him up okay. Now, if I could just get him to keep his room clean at home like his suite is at school. Fat chance, huh.

Anyway, here is some pics & video from Friday nights game against Ball State. Enjoy.

StoneWall Steptoe

...because "don't nuttin get past him"

Being the mother of a goalie is one of the most nerve racking, nail biting jobs out there. I manage somehow. Nevertheless, you'll know that I am a huge fan when you hear me yelling "Be Beastly!!!" during the games. Now I have a new nickname to add to "BEASTLY!".... STONEWALL - cause nuttin get's past him - after Indian Tech's win against Perdue.

GO WARRIORS!

Warrior Lacrosse Inaugural Game

The Clan (TravelDiva, FireMarshall, ChurchDiva & Princess Cara) loaded up the van and hit the highways & byways for a trek out to visit the Heir Apparent to the Empire at Indiana Tech and to watch the Warrior Lacrosse team play their first game.

It was great to see Prince Jordan and to watch the team practice & play their first college level game. I was feeling some kind of way (a bit melancholy perhaps) because after the game on Saturday, the Prince decided he wanted to go back to school and hang with the team instead of coming back to Indianapolis and hanging with is parental units for the evening.

We said, "No problem, Jordan. Have Fun." watching him ride off in the team vans. We were left standing there kicking at the grass like Napoleon Dynamite (GOSH!!!!!) wondering what we were gonna do with the rest of our evening. We ended up going back to our friends house, watching a very disappointing Army football game, eating sushi and watching a movie. Not too bad.

We miss Prince Jordan, yet we are VERY proud parents.

Goalie Action Shots

Letter of Intent Signing

As a result of the prom, we could not make it out to Indiana Tech for the first orientation and to have Jordan sign his Letter of Intent. Since I was not a recruited athlete like my husband when we went to college, I had no concept of what a big deal this was.

Well tonight, my husband made a big deal out of it for his son. The FireMarshall made a speech, congratulating his son, and then they signed Prince Jordan's Letter of Intent to play Lacrosse at Indiana Tech. I had no idea how rare Lacrosse scholarships are, but The FireMarshall did and he made a big tadoo out of it.

I took pictures, champagne was poured and toasts made to Prince Jordan & his future. It was great to see my men beaming...one a proud father, the other an excited & beaming son. Makes a momma's heart just skip a beat.

Congratulations Prince Jordan!

Prince Jordan Signs with Indiana Tech Warriors

The Indiana Tech Warrior's are excited to announce they have signed Jordan Steptoe to their men's lacrosse roster.

Steptoe is currently attending River Hill High School in Clarksville, MD. He developed his skills as a Goalie over the past 4 years with year round lacrosse camps, leagues and "Drill Thrills & Goalie Training" from University Lacrosse. He was selected to play on The Club "U" Varsity Elite Team with University Lacrosse and has participated in several tournaments including the Gait Cup, Top 16 and Elite 150.

Steptoe was the starting goalie for River Hills JV team and, as a senior, for the River Hill Varsity Hawks. In addition to his skill on the lacrosse field, he has been a People to People Student Ambassador, participated in the Lead America Criminal Justice program at Johns Hopkins, and holds the rank of black belt in Tai Kwon Do.

The commitment and passion Jordan shows for lacrosse and being a goalie has extended to his life in school. He has applied the same discipline and focus to his academics to secure his academic future. Once at Indiana Tech, Jordan plans on pursing a major in Criminal Justice.

For more information on Steptoe, contact Men's Lacrosse Head Coach Terry Nichter at TRNichter@indianatech.edu.

Senior Lacrosse Day

Shout outs to GMa Sandy, GPa Joe, GreatGMa Willie, Sister Erin, Charlee & Cara as well as all of Jordan's friends that stood in the gap while The FireMarshall and I were out of town in NYC to attend the Baptism of "My Baby Maia". There are times when I want to trade up families... but this was not one of them.

Senior Lacrosse Day.

Thanks Ma!

On The Ponderosa

Today was a busy day. We did a fundraiser for the Lacrosse Team where we paid a couple of c-notes to have about 10 Lax players come over and do all of your yard work for their service project. We powerwashed the deck, got all the furniture ready for spring/summer, the boys weeded, planted, mulched, cleared and pruned their little hearts away. They did a great job.

I was talking to CreoleInDC this afternoon and she had me hollerin as usual. She said, "Giiiiirllll, you be doing big things out there on the ponderosa."...and I could not help myself, but break out in the theme song. Didn't know that I was a big fan of Bonanza, didja?

I've been humming the theme song since I got off the phone with her. I think we are going to have to change the estate sign to read "Ponderosa" instead of "True Blessings Estate" LOL.

Here are some pictures of the handiwork these young men did:

Prince Jordan - Who's Ya Goalie?

Prince Jordan's NCSA Scouting Report has been updated with Highlight Video from one of his tournaments this summer. So, Who's Ya Goalie?

Check out his scouting report in its entirety at: http://recruit-match.ncsasports.org/fasttrack/profile/profile.jsp?clientID=18507

Or just check out his video here.

Lacrosse Scouting Report

Prince Jordan's Lacrosse Scouting Report is complete. It will be updated periodically as Jordan continues to excel and grow in his chosen sport....

Jordan's Lacrosse Scouting Report can be viewed by clicking the following URL: http://www.ncsasports.org/pr.htm?clientID=18507

Whoops! There it Is!

The River Hill Hawks Boys JV Lacrosse Team finished the season last week with a winning record of 7 win - 3 losses. Awesome. As the unofficial team photographer and MOM EXTRODINAIRE of the teams goalie, I put together a video slide show of the season. Check out my handiwork at...

HAWKS BOYS JV LACROSSE 2007 SEASON VIDEO SLIDE SHOW.

If you'd like to see some of my other video slide shows - go to http://salesdiva.neptune.com

River Hill vs Reservior High - We win Again!

River Hill wins again but it was a close one. We were up 6 to 1 and then we got a little cocky and the score was 6 to 5 at half time. OOOOH, the sweat was dripping. The team rallied to a victory 9 to 5. Whew.

I'm have also been asked to be the Team photographer. The Lacrosse Mom at work.

River Hill vs. Mt Hebron

Today was Jordan's first lacrosse game as the starting goalie on the River Hill JV Lacrosse Team. River Hill wins-HOORAH- 10-6.I'm officially a Lacrosse Mom now. I have to man the concession stand at one of the games and I purchased my car magnet, sweatshirt (I'm wearing it now), and polo shir today. Jordan thinks I'm cool and that is ALL that matters now.