Back again this year to the Jamesville Balloon Fest, and this time the weather cooperated beautifully. Nothing quite like the quiet, unobstructed view from above. Many thanks to the friendly group of hot air ballooners from Gatineau, Quebec for taking me up!

Not a humongous baseball fan – although I do pride myself on having attended game 5 of the World Series back in 1995. (The Cleveland Indians beat the Atlanta Braves 5-4 and the city went WILD!!!) I have however been paying some attention to all the hype over pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg, especially after his major league debut with the Washington Nationals yesterday. Just a week or so ago he was pitching his final few games as a minor leaguer with the Syracuse Chiefs. I’ve never seen that stadium packed so tight! Thought I’d post a few so I can say “I knew him” when.

More photos here from the 5/29 game. And photos from Strasburg’s major league debut here.

A photo of mine recently won the Distinguished Sports Photography category for the New York News Publishers Association in the 50,000-175,000 circulation class. Awards are presented for 15 traditional print categories (including sports, feature and news photography) in addition to several online/multimedia categories in five circulation classes. P-S reporter John O’Brien was also honored for Distinguished Investigative Reporting as well as Dave Tobin for his blog “Following Orion.”

McLain Ward’s horse, Phillipa, refuses a jump in the Pasmore Stables Horseman’s Cup during the Syracuse Sporthorse Invitational October 30, 2008 at the Onondaga County War Memorial. Lauren Long / The Post-Standard

By far my most entertaining assignment last week. Meet American Champion English Bulldog, C.H. Bullrush’s Tug McGraw of Blarney Bulldogs, and his owner, Dan Cunningham of Minoa.

Ode to our company band, Media Mayhem! They gave a great show at the Landmark Theatre the other night for the annual Rockin’ the Red Cross Battle of the Bands.