Raptors fade in the Heat!

Rick Madonik, Staff Photographer

The Miami Heat blew into Toronto early this morning after playing last night and still came away with a W despite a close game for the majority of the game. The Raptors began weakly giving up 8 unanswered points but then fought their way back into the game with it pretty much even by half time. But the 4th quarter is where it began to falter, and the Miami triade of LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade proved convincing.

For some reason, the Raptors play well against the better teams, but have a lousy time of it against teams much weaker than the statistical leaders. DeMar DeRozan and Andrea Bargnani lead the way, but the efforts were blocked as Miami took the lead in the 4th quarter and never looked back. As a point of order, Chris Bosh threw down a big slam at the end of the game, looked to the crowd with one of his classic looks, and the game ended 113-101.

Miam's big man, LeBron James drives to the hoop unimpeded as the Raptors stand flatfooted behind his advance during 1st half half action.

Raptors take another loss, this time to the Bucks

Rick Madonik, Staff Photographer - @RMadonik

This time, it looked like the Raptors would throw one into the win column. At least through the 1st half, it looked that way, but in the end, they would fall to the Milwaukee Bucks by a score of 105-99.

Its been a tough schedule for NBA teams this year. The season was shortened by two months following the contract dispute but once play did begin, its meant jamming a significant number of games in the shortened time frame. Last weekend the Raptors played 4 of 6 nights (3 at home over 4 days). Last night they played in New York, where Jose Calderon suffered an ankle injury on the same night Andrea Bargnani came back to the lineup after his ongoing calve injury.

As the season heads toward the end, it appears the Raptors will again end with a less than pleasing record and well out of the playoff race. Well, there's always the draft, right?

Andrea Bargnani and Drew Gooden's arms battle for the tip at the start of 1st half play during NBA action between Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, March 11, 2012, at Air Canada Centre.

Gene Simmons eyelines, um, headlines The Heart Truth

Steve Russell - Staff Photographer - @RussellPhotos

I don't remember how we did it in the days of film!

Maybe the memories are so bad that I cannot remember.

But if I sit back, hold a 16 GB memory card in each hand (well two 8 Giggers in the second hand), go to my happy place, I think I can remember how it was.

I remember shooting with unexposed film cans jammed in my right pocket with exposed film going to the left. The photo positions back then were noisier places, shutters clicking, motor drives advancing and rewinding rolls of film, photographer's praying that they can switch out rolls of film before the signature piece of the collection, swearing when didn't or when we drop an exposed roll of film on the floor.

While this was hardly a fashion week runway, it was for a good cause and they did have eyeliners....er.... headliners!

Kiss Rockgod Gene Simmons shared the catwalk with his better looking half Shannon Tweed-Simmons.

Bobbe Wood the president of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada leaves the stage after dropping off her notes prior to the Heart Truth Fashion Show 2012 where celebrities model red dresses by Canadian designers to raise awareness of heart disease in women at the Carlu in Toronto.

 

Rock slide

Rick Madonik, Staff Photographer - @RMadonik

The Toronto Rock, defending champions of the National Lacross League (2011), are having a bit of a tough time the last few games. Maybe it's the loss (through retirement) of goalkeeper Bob Watson which has hurt them most, as solid netminding seems to be elusive. Tonight's game, against the Philadelphia Wings, was always within reach. With a minute left, and the goalkeeper pulled for the extra attacker, it seemed like the game might get to overtime as the Rock pressed hard. Unfortunately, the Wings plucked the ball and added an empty net goal to give the Rock a 12-10 defeat.

One thing I must apologize for is some missing names in the caption info. For some reason, the Wings only have identifying numbers on the back of their jersey's. With no number on the front side, or on the shorts, and unreliable numbering on helmuts, it can sometimes be difficult to get a proper ID. So, a few of the pictures, from the first half are lacking. In the 2nd half, I tried to make a point of shooting who was involved in what I hoped would be a useable picture.

Wings Dan Dawson scores the 11th goal for his team despite the efforts of Jesse Gamble (4), Bruce Codd (20) and goalkeep Matt Roik.

David Beckham's anger fuels LA Galaxy draw against Toronto FC

Steve Russell - Staff Photographer - @RussellPhotos

Outside of the Toronto Rock this match was the closest thing to a play-off game that Toronto has experienced in a long time.

Close to 48,000 loud fans and one goof were treated to a fun and fast paced CONCACAF Champion's League quarter-final, the next leg will be in LA next week.

Fans are piped over to the Stadium from the Real Sports Bar by the Highland Creek Pipes and Drums as Toronto FC play Los Angeles Galaxy in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions league quarter-final at Rogers Centre in Toronto.  March 7, 2012.

Toronto Maple Leafs lose Randy Carlyle's first home game.

Steve Russell - Staff Photographer - @RussellPhotos

As a photographer covering a sporting event nothing beats covering a team the first few games after a coaching change. It seems that all the players are putting it on the line. The game seems faster and more physical. Almost a taste of play-off intensity.

The Leafs first home game with Randy Carlyle on the bench was no different.

Loads of hitting and three scraps. I think in the last 10 games I've covered there might have been three fights.

Besides a rolling out a new coach, other types of games that generate that same kind of feel are a big trade, coming off an embarassing loss and of course a team with an arch-nemisis type player (think Alfredsson)

Every pre-game, Tyler Bozak knocks over the pryamid of pucks in the warm-up as the Toronto Maple Leafs play the Boston Bruins at Air Canada Centre in Toronto. 

Raptors lose to Dwight's Magic

Rick Madonik, Staff Photographer

Truth be told, I really enjoy basketball. Its the game I was most involved with as a high school athlete and later, thru my 20s, as an official. I only stopped officiating because my work schedule makes it difficult to commit to the time requirements needed. At the same time, I now get the pleasure of sitting courtside at big league games (although I enjoy shooting high school and college ball also) for unobstructed view and within earshot of the on-court verbal exchanges.

After my two month hiatus from work, with tonight's game I feel "back" to normal. My timing was on, my focus stuck and I anticipated where the play was going. Here's some of what was filed tonight.

Magic's Dwight Howard battles with Raptors Jamaal Magloire in the Magic's offensive end during NBA action between Toronto Raptors and Orlando Magic at Air Canada Centre on Monday, March 5, 2012. Raptors lost 92-88.

Return to work

Rick Madonik, Staff Photographer

Last Friday I returned to work, after an abscence of almost two months. Maybe some of you noticed, but wouldn't be offended in the least, if you didn't. (I expect I will one day write about why I was off, but for the moment its safe to say it was work related.)

I was a bit apprehensive about returning, if only because I hadn't been in "the swing" of things for a while. It usually takes a few days, a few events, to get my head back "into it" when it comes to the daily requirements. For sports, it also takes a bit of time to regain the timing, and anticipation of play, that is needed.

Although I wanted to "ease" back into it - and working weekends and nights usually helps that equation - I found myself doing just about a bit of everything in the first week. From sports coverage (Leafs, Raptors and Rock), to breaking news (train derailment and TTC shooting), to portraiture (hero kid) to general news (Toronto Hydro demonstration, subway flood, Mayor Rob Ford talk radio show) and even a bit of a feature hunt (Icefest). It was a smorgasbord of assignments, and after a week back on the job, it kinda feels like I never left.

Via Rail train derailment in Burlington, Feb 26, 2012