I’ve just returned from Turnberry, Scotland which is hosting this year’s Open Golf Championship. Sadly despite the glorious photo above the weather was mostly atrocious and the accommodation was, how can I put this diplomatically, interesting. Turnberry is a very exclusive golf resort which in turn means hotels are somewhat pricey. This year Team Getty are located in the nearby Haven Caravan and Holiday Park and I will confess this was the first time I’d stayed the night in a house that has wheels.

We all joked about the slightly bizarre nature of our sleeping arrangements and I shall put my hands up to say I was more critical than most.

Then an email came in from Jonathan Klein; one of our photographers had been arrested in Iran.

Before getting that email I had no idea who Majid Saeedi was. I’d probably seen his byline on countless photos, much in the same way I always notice a Getty Images byline, but his name was not familiar. It most certainly is now.

When I wake up (in a house on wheels) and go to work, there are numerous challenges and problems that could come my way. Broken equipment, suppliers letting us down, technical issues and so on. Getting arrested just for doing my job? Never.

Complaining about sleeping in a caravan seems so trivial now.

I, along with everyone at Getty Images, wishes a safe and speedy release of Majid.

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The Liverpool Kop End sing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ during the Hillsborough memorial at Anfield on April 15, 2009, Liverpool, England (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough football tragedy, where 96 Liverpool fans were crushed to death and many more injured during a FA Cup Semi Final.

Such is the depth of our archives, we have photos from the day itself where our photographers would have been mere feet away as disaster unfolded. Time has not been a healer and viewing those photographs, even 20 years on, still produces raw emotions in many.

Often quoted is a picture is worth a thousand words; rarely said is a picture can reduce you to tears and make you thankful for what you have.

On April 15th 1989, 96 people went to a football game and never came home. As we witness the opening of great new sports arenas, such as Wembley and the recently opened new Yankee Stadium, we should take time to reflect that going to watch sport was not always the safe and wonderful experience it is today.

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NEW YORK – APRIL 16: CC Sabathia #52 of the New York Yankees pitches against the Cleveland Indians during opening day at the new Yankee Stadium on April 16, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City.  (Photo by Michael Heiman/Getty Images)

Today the Yankees will play their first regular season MLB game in their new venue.

It seems like just yesterday, great players were enjoying the old park…

13th June 1948: Rear view of American baseball player Babe Ruth (George Herman Ruth, 1895 – 1948) standing on the baseball field, with ballplayers and photographers lined up before him and the audience standing in ovation, on the day his number was retired at Yankee Stadium, New York City. Pulitzer Prize winning photograph. (Photo by Nat Fein/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

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LAS VEGAS – DECEMBER 06: Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines celebrates after defeating Oscar De La Hoya in their welterweight fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena December 6, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

It was called the dream match up. The world’s pound-for-pound champ pitted against the Golden Boy.
In the end, the pound-for-pound champ solidified his title as the Golden Boy looked like someone who was in his golden years.

LAS VEGAS – DECEMBER 06: Oscar De La Hoya looks on from the ring against Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines during their welterweight fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena December 6, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pacquiao defeated De La Hoya by TKO between the eighth and ninth round. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines defeated Oscar De La Hoya as De La Hoya’s trainer threw in the towel before his fighter could come back into the ring for the ninth round Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Casino in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS – DECEMBER 06: (R-L) Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines connects with a right to the head of Oscar De La Hoya during their welterweight fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena December 6, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

The defeat for De La Hoya will probably follow with a retirement announcement coming this week. The retirement makes sense for someone who has given so much to the sport as a fighter but seems to have nothing left in the ring. De La Hoya has such a bright future as a promoter with his company Golden Boy Promotions and as an ambassador for the sport.

For the fight week, Getty Images had a team of six to cover all the action around Las Vegas and the main event. Staff photographer Ethan Miller covered the fighter’s arrivals to Vegas on Tuesday before staff photographer Jed Jacobsohn arrived in town early Wednesday morning. Jacobsohn covered the press conference on Wednesday.

Then on Thursday Jacobsohn met with the MGM Grand Garden Arena team that was in charge of hanging the lights above the ring. Jacobsohn wanted to put a remote camera that he would be firing from his ringside position up there. The shot that he was looking for was a picture of the whole ring and hopefully he would be able to fire the remote at the right time to capture a knockout. Unfortunately, that knockout never happened but it still made for some nice photos.

LAS VEGAS – DECEMBER 06: Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines celebrates after defeating Oscar De La Hoya after De La Hoya lost by TKO between the eighth and ninth round in their welterweight fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena December 6, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

On Friday the rest of the Getty Images team arrived, including myself. I got there Friday to edit for both Miller and Jacobsohn for the much anticipated weigh-in. The weigh-in would finally show the world if De La Hoya could get down to 147 and Pacquaio would be able to beef up to 147. Pacquaio had never fought a fighter that weighed more than 135 prior to facing De La Hoya.

LAS VEGAS – DECEMBER 05: (L-R) Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines stand face-to-face during the weigh-in for their welterweight fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena December 5, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. De La Hoya fights Pacquiao December 6th. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

The best part about the weigh-in was that De La Hoya asked his close friend comedian George Lopez to host it. Lopez was hilarious as he ragged on pretty much everyone on stage.

LAS VEGAS – DECEMBER 05: Comedian George Lopez hosts the weigh-in for the Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines welterweight fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena December 5, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. De La Hoya fights Pacquiao December 6th. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

On the day of the fight our team got to the arena hours before the fighters themselves even showed. We wanted to make sure our game plan was set. We had two photographers (one ringside, one overhead), two editors and two runners. Having the two runners would be helpful as the time to get to the photographers to grab their cards is very short.

We covered four fights on the card including the main event. The thing about working a boxing match is trying to keep up the edit, watch the fight to gauge who is winning as pictures are coming to me and editor Robert Meggers practically every round.

Between the two photographers shooting the main event, nearly 4,000 pictures were taken in a span of like 30 minutes for the eight round bout. Out of those 4,000 we sent out 75 or so to www.gettyImages.com and directly to our clients.

All in all, the week went very well for team Getty Images. I have a feeling the next time I see De La Hoya back in the ring it will be in a suit as a promoter.

LAS VEGAS – DECEMBER 06: (R-L) Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines connects with a right to the head of Oscar De La Hoya during their welterweight fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena December 6, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

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Steve Bartman and Moises Alou of the Cubs battle for a foul ball in the 2003 National League Championship Series. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

The goat. The ghosts. The black cat. The meltdowns of 1969, 1984, 2003 and heaven knows how many other seasons. Bartman.

The yearly hope and the abysmal fades. The ivy covered walls and the addled brains of the fans. The legendary rave-out of a manager fed up with losing, the fans and the media. A countless parade of tired managers and players who go from great to trash as soon as they put on the uniform.

This is the 100 year legacy of the Chicago Cubs. 100 years since their last World Series win. 100 years of mostly really terrible teams and the “3000 (bleepin’) fans who come out here every (bleepin’) day, rippin’ every (bleepin’) thing you do.”

It’s been so long since the Cubs won a pennant, that this kid is an old man by now. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Allsport)

I have always enjoyed going to Wrigley Field to cover the Cubs for two main reasons. Seeing a ball game at Wrigley is a joy for a baseball fan. And there’s always the chance, almost every day, that you’ll see something during a baseball game that you’ve never seen before. And it almost always goes bad for the Cubs. A triple play. A no hitter spoiled with two outs in the top of the ninth inning on Opening Day. Two grand slams hit in the same inning against the Cubbies. You name it, I’ve seen it. Almost. (There’s always next year!)

In 2005, the Chicago White Sox earned a place in my heart forever. They won the World Series.  A Chicago team won the World Series IN MY LIFETIME. No goats, ghosts or black cats. Just solid baseball from a wonderful team with a manager who will always deserve a place in Chicago sports history along with Ditka, Payton, Jordan, Sosa and Fisk.

A White Sox fan celebrates the 2005 World Series Championship on Rush Street in Chicago. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The results of the 2005 season for the Sox put the heat on the Cubs management like never before. They began to build a team to win the World Series. And they hired a no-nonsense manager, Lou Piniella, who is so different from White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, that he might as well live on the moon. The Cubs team for 2008 was built for one thing and one thing only: to win the World Series. This year. Period.

Manager Ozzie Guillen of the Chicago White Sox enjoys teasing other players and managers as much as managing a game. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Manager Lou Piniella of the Chicago Cubs has perfected the long, slow walk from the dugout to the mound and back like no other Major League manager. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Since May, both Chicago teams have been in first place in their respective divisions and leagues, with the exception of a few days for the White Sox. The Sox have had injuries galore and a Minnesota Twins team that just wouldn’t give up, breathing down their necks for the entire season. The Cubs have had a 2-4 game lead most of the year in their division with the Milwaukee Brewers, one of the finest smoke and mirror teams in the Major Leagues, nipping at their heals until recently. The Cubs have led the League in almost every category imaginable the entire season from team batting to runs scored to ERA…you name it. And aside from a every-year stint on the DL from Kerry Wood and Alfonso Soriano, they’ve done it relatively injury free.

The managers for both teams couldn’t be more different. Ozzie is a trickster, a joker, a guy with his heart on his sleeve that says anything and everything to the media. Lou is the seasoned veteran manager whose every move is calculated and who basically hates talking to the media. They both have gotten the best out of their players all season, using wildly different tactics and some surprisingly good players, especially on the south side of town where two players in particular, Carlos Quentin and Alexei Ramirez, have become full-blown stars this year. The Cubs core players have proven star ability, like Carlos Zambrano, who threw the first Cub no-hitter since 1972 a few weeks ago, and Aramis Ramirez a third baseman with a lethal swing. But players like Mark DeRosa and Ryan Theriot have proven to be special cogs in the Cubs machinery this season. And Geovany Soto, the Cubs rookie catcher, may end up being the National League Rookie of the Year when it’s all said and done.

Until his injury, Carlos Quentin of the White Sox was leading the American League in home runs with 36 and had driven in 100 RBI’s. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Alexei Ramirez, a rookie from Cuba, has shown that he belongs as a starter on the White Sox roster. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Fans cheer as Aramis Ramirez of the Cubs celebrates a walk-off home run to beat the White Sox in June. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Carlos Zambrano, shown pitching against the Brewers in Milwaukee, became the first Cub to throw a no-hitter since 1972 by shutting down the Astros during a game played in Milwaukee after being canceled in Houston because of Hurricane Ike. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Mark DeRosa of the Cubs tips hit helmet to the crowd after hitting a grand slam against the Astros in August. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The Sox, on the other hand, have swung from OK, to great to absolutely terrible all season long, with star players like Paul Konerko fighting off injuies and slumps and a bullpen that imploded following a back injury to Scott Linebrink midway through the summer.

Two first place teams from Chicago…with one improbable destiny…an all-Chicago World Series.

It would seem at this point that the White Sox have the toughest road. The Rays, Red Sox and Angels are formidable and the Sox had trouble with all three teams this season. The Cubs should slide right through their National League playoff opponents like they did all season. The team coasted to the NL Central title a couple of weeks ago, almost a foregone conclusion for many who predicated a World Series berth for the Cubs at the beginning of the season. And despite a potential Sports Illustrated cover jinx facing them, thanks to my photo last week of Aramis Ramirez raising his fist in victory after hitting a walk-off home run against the White Sox in June, they should go all the way to the big show this month. However, as many in Chicago have been constantly reminded…the Cubs are the Cubs, after all. The “Loveable Losers” with the key word being…..losers.

The White Sox could not have won their division in a more sensational manner. To win the title, the Sox managed a feat never before accomplished in Major League history. They beat three different teams in three days win the title. After a dismal last two weeks of the season, the Sox finished a 1/2 game behind the Twins. With a win over the Cleveland Indians, the Sox were forced to play a make-up game on Monday and defeated the Tigers, setting up a winner-take-all AL Central tiebreaking game against the Twins Tuesday night in Chicago. It was a nail-biter of a game; a pitchers duel between John Danks of the Sox and Nick Blackburn of the Twins. It was settled in the 7th inning when Jim Thome blasted a 461 foot solo home run off of Blackburn in the 7th inning. Thome, a 38 year old designated hitter and one of the nicest guys in all of sports, celebrated like a kid who just won the Little League World Series title.

Manager Ozzie Guillen and Jim Thome celebrate winning the AL Central title after a 1-0 win over the Minnesota Twins. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

But just the thought of an all-Chicago World Series is so tantalizing, so ridiculous, so unbelievable that it’s worth entertaining some thought. Actually, the same goes for having just the Cubs in a World Series. But it’s the first time in 102 years that both Chicago teams have been in the playoffs at the same time. If that’s not deep-dish pizza karma, I don’t know what is.

The last week of baseball season has Chicago fans on both sides of town looking forward to what could be a wild ride in the October playoffs. Can Ozzie make it through the American League with the injured players and the season-long up and down nature of their hitting and bullpen? Can Lou and his team built for a Title excise 100 years worth of Cubbie demons?

Stay tuned. This is gonna be fun.

Will Lou Piniella of the Cubs and Ozzie Guillen of the White Sox meet again in the World Series? Maybe hell could freeze over indeed. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

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Ricky Berens of the United States poses with his gold medal in the NBC Today Show Studio after winning the Mens 4×200 Swimming Relay event at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 13, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Kristian Dowling/Getty Images)

The other day I had one of my better days at work so I thought I would share it with you. I went down to the NBC studio with Kristian, a Getty Images photographer, as the US women’s gymnastics team was coming in. They came in all glum and miserable as they got silver, but as soon as he said smile they became pageant girls!! Hysterical!!

BEIJING – AUGUST 13: (L-R) Alicia Sacramone, Nastia Liukin, Shawn Johnson, Samantha Peszek, Chellsie Memmel and Bridget Sloan of the United States pose together with their silver medals in the NBC Today Show Studio after placing second in the Women’s Gymnastics team event at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 13, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Kristian Dowling/Getty Images)

And then we had a swimmer: I didn’t know who it was (I only know Phelps from the US team, sorry!) and this guy comes in, wearing a sports shirt, so we’re like “hi, come in.” Kristian sets up the shot and then says “Can you take your shirt off?” and he says “What?!” and Kristian says “You’re a swimmer, right? Can you take it off?” So we start laughing and he takes it off, hands it to me – and his medal – and then I give him his medal back to wear.

Then Kristian asks me to hold the reflector so I’m on my knees in front of his hips, holding this rectangular reflector board, trying SO hard not to smile!!!!! Then the door goes open and his manager/trainer whatever says “oh my god!” when she sees that his shirt is off. I told her not to worry and that all the shots will be “above board” and Ricky couldn’t stop smiling – hence the pics below.

Ricky Berens of the United States poses with his gold medal in the NBC Today Show Studio after winning the Mens 4×200 Swimming Relay event at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 13, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Kristian Dowling/Getty Images)

He was lovely. A tough day at the office.

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Here I am at the most thrilling basketball game ever played.

It’s day three in Beijing and last night’s basketball game, (America — known as the “Redeem Team” — vs. China) has electrified the air. It was China’s biggest basketball match imaginable!

Before the game, LeBron James said “I expect it to be electrified. It’s probably going to be the most watched game in the history of the world. It’s going to send a lot of chills through my body just to be there and to be part of it.”

SHANGHAI, CHINA – AUGUST 05: LeBron James #6 of the USA Basketball Men’s Senior National Team dunks during the USA Basketball International Challenge exhibition game against the Australia National Team at the Qizhong Arena on August 5, 2008 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by MN Chan/Getty Images)

I was very lucky to go to the game and experience it with the rest of the 18,000 basketball fans. It’s worth noting here that most of the fans were cheering for the underdog – China.

Photographers Gareth Cattermole and Chris Hyde at the basketball game.

I went to the game with a few of our photographers and we all struggled to find a spot to stand in, let alone sit. We were constantly moved about and our all-access pass didn’t find any of us a seat. So we wandered around the media circle and found a space by the barrier, halfway up the stadium.

Former president George W. Bush was in town, along with Bill Gates. I would have never been able to spot them but the photographers I was with (Gareth Cattermole and Chris Hyde) clearly see the world differently. They have this amazing ability to pick people out of the crowd. This is why they are the photographers – amazing ones at that – and I stick to the desk job.

The game was cited as drawing the biggest global television audience in basketball history – an estimated one billion viewers tuned in.

HANGZHOU, CHINA – JULY 17: (CHINA OUT) Yao Ming of China shoots during a match between China and Serbia at the 2008 Stankovic Continental Champions Cup on July 17, 2008 in Hangzhou of Zhejiang Province, China. Ming plays also for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the U.S. (Photo by China Photos/Getty Images)

China got off to a great start and proved that they were definitely going to be contenders for a medal. The Chinese crowd would frequently shout out the well-known Chinese sporting chant, “Jiayou” or “add oil” to their team, encouraging them to keep the momentum going. But the experience of the US team paid off in the end and the US won 107-70 – a respectable score for the host nation against the world’s best.

SHANGHAI, CHINA – AUGUST 03: Kobe Bryant #10 of the USA Basketball Men’s Senior National Team dribbles against the Russian National Team during the USA Basketball International Challenge exhibition game at the Qizhong Arena on August 3, 2008 in Shanghai, China.

It took us an hour to get out of the stadium and it was a long journey back to the media village in torrential rain (that didn’t stop until early this morning). But it was worth the walk in the rain – it was an incredible evening and a privilege to see live!

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