MANHATTAN, Kan. — I’m in the Bramlage Coliseum media room after the Missouri Tigers lost 63-53 to the Kansas State Wildcats.
Kansas State senior forward Luis Colon shoots against Missouri sophomore center Steve Moore during the first half at Kansas State on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010.
Two points of interest. The first: It’s unusual for a Columbia Missourian photo editor to cover a basketball game, but none of the staff photographers could or would volunteer to travel with the writers to Manhattan.
The second: I shouldn’t have worn a purple top for a game at/against Kansas State.
During the final 30 seconds of the game — which lasted about five minutes of real time — I was bored at my place at the endline. One of my camera batteries had died, so I was switching between lenses on the other camera, and I was pretty dissatisfied with my situation in general.
So I went into the stands, where I saw a young boy whose emotions were very much invested in the game: He was crying, shouting and, at some points, turning away from the court as if he didn’t want to watch the Tigers lose. I started making some pictures.
Ten-year-old Jack Kropf of St. Joseph, Mo., watches the Tigers lose to the Wildcats during the last 30 seconds of play at Kansas State.
Then I heard, nearby, voices shouting: “She’s taking pictures of their son, and they don’t want her to!”
The last thing I wanted to do was upset anyone, so I nodded quickly at the offended Missouri fans and returned to my place at the endline. After the game ended, I went back to the boys’ parents and apologized if I’d upset them in any way.
“It’s just that our son gets really emotional,” the boy’s mother said.
“I understand,” I assured her. “It’s a really good fan photo.” Then — on a hunch — I added, “I’m from The Columbia Missourian, so when I saw that he was wearing a Missouri shirt — ”
“You’re from The Missourian? Well, that’s okay then!” the mother exclaimed, laughing. “We were afraid that you were from Kansas State, because of your purple shirt!”
“Oh no,” I said, relieved and embarrassed, and showed her my credential. “It was just a really bad, bad clothing choice; I didn’t even think about it until I got here.”
Then I asked her for her son’s name, and she readily gave me all the information I wanted.
Lesson learned: When you’re covering a team, watch what you wear at sports events.
And now — the long drive back to civilization Missouri. In the meantime, check out some more photos I didn’t post here.
Words and Light 
That first photo is amazing. I love it.
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That is really cute! It remind me of my brother, except he doesn’t get so emotional. He does love the Tigers, though!
My boyfriend goes to K-State, and I think he was there. Would have been weird if you caught him on camera!
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