Photos: BASD 2008: Before the Tournament

Adam Logan and Pat Larash, Thursday evening before the event.

The Manahattan skyline as seen across the Hudson River from Weehawken, NJ.

The Manahattan skyline as seen across the Hudson River from Weehawken, NJ.

The Manahattan skyline as seen across the Hudson River from Weehawken, NJ.

The Manahattan skyline as seen across the Hudson River from Weehawken, NJ, during the day!

When the tsh laptop was having troubles hooking up to the wireless we were borrowing from the Comfort Diner's neighbors, Duggal Visual Solutions, three technicians came over, each with a different mac laptop under an arm, to help get the recalcitrant laptop to work. They won, it worked the whole weekend long. Gotta love IT guys!!

Robin Pollock Daniel (Toronto ON) and Eric Goldstein (Scarsdale, NY) enjoying dinner before round 1.

Joel Sherman (Bronx, NY) enjoys dinner while reading the recent SCRABBLE News and chatting it up with Ann Sanfedele.

Brian Cappelletto (Chicago, IL), all smiles as he visits with Rebecca Lambert.

Ira Freehof with Eric Goldstein (Scarsdale, NY).

David Johnson (Decatur, IL) preparing for his first game with milkshake in one hand and word lists in the other.

Sam Kantimathi (El Dorado Hills, CA) called Robin before round 1 to make sure she wore a shirt that matched his. Notice his understated cup.

Lynn Cushman (New York, NY) and David Johnson (Decatur, IL) are happy to be seeing each other again.

Dave Wiegand (Portland, OR) arrives just in time to start his round 1 game with Joel Sherman (Bronx, NY). Notice Dave's Oregon Tile T-shirt and Joel's Players Championship T-shirt. A bit of advertising for events that meet with their approval!

John OLaughlin (Cambridge, MA) carries his plate of meatlof upstairs, gets his scoresheet out, and then is bugged to put out his laptop to be used for word judging.

Ira Freehof lets the players know that not only are they permitted to keep a set of past event Protiles, but they can keep the ziplock bag they come in as well. :)

Ira takes a moment to laugh during his opening comments. This photo catches what Ira looks like about 99% of the time: happy and ready to tell you a joke at any moment.

Ira Freehof discusses the "Best Food Word" prize, his favorite of the event.

Ira Freehof, Big Apple SCRABBLE Showdown director.

Ira Freehof showing us the BIGG APPLE SCRABBLE SHOWDOWN WINNER check. It is a two-G BIGG prize!

Ira Freehof and the event's BIGG check.

Ira Freehof and the diner-themed Eugene Murray round board.

Ira Freehof tosses the board around like a pizza, showing off the well-designed bottom.

John OLaughlin (Cambridge, MA) has not had time to even take one bite of his meatloaf dinner yet. And, holy Batman, that is a RED SamTimer!

Ira Freehof, Rebecca Lambert, and Ann Sanfedele.