Duncan comments:-
"OK,OK! Maybe this is not the most dynamic sports image ever to grace a NYT front page! However, the NYT commissioned the shot and used several variations of the images on their inside pages to illustrate the points they were reporting on; they also kindly published one version on their front page. I had to shoot at very short notice and was prohibited from using a tripod because of the crowds, who jostled and photo-bombed me throughout. My NYT photo editor said "The hand-held Champions board photos were exactly what we needed".
That's good enough for me! Whilst the NYT have now published many of my images, this was the first that they published and amazingly it was on their front page. I have already dined out on this story and shall continue to do so for the rest of my life! When people ask if they can see my NYT front page image "since it must surely be a stunning shot", I simply pretend that my phone's battery has suddenly gone dead but confirm that yes I was rather pleased with it! Well, it is in focus and the keystoning is OK - what more do you want?!