Just when you thought it was safe to lift your chin up after the latest loss by
the Patriots and the silly SPY GATE II non-caper, this happens.
RED SOX Manager Alex Cora gets fired after the news of Cora getting caught cheating by stealing signs for the Houston Astros ( and possibly the Red Sox). Now I admit I know very little about baseball. I am a true "fair weather fan." I just find the season way too long. There's too many games to watch before the play-offs happen. So, I do not watch much, if any, of the regular season. I will however, tune into the play-offs.
Especially if the Sox are in it.
And I was all caught up in the 2018 World Series when Alex Cora brought the team to another WORLD SERIES Championship.
That was in a word awesome. Oh yeah, I was ALL IN during that great run.
I also kind of know that stealing signs has been going on since day one. So I was a little surprised at the severity of the punishment for those who were involved. Again, I didn't completely understand just how serious this was until the story got bigger. Now I know. It's big news.
So does this now put an asterisk next to the 2018 World Series Red Sox Championship? I hope not. Especially for the fans (and players) sake. Lord knows that Red Sox nation has had it's share of years of suffering. But with three championships under their belts, it's not like they never won one. Still, none of this can be good.
Not for Alex, the team, the fans, or the game itself. The damage is done.
But talk about the quick rise and fall of this man, Alex Cora. Two seasons?
I don't think that there's anything worse for a professional sports team. I mean to be accused of cheating? That hurts. And now of course, this current incident once again shines that shameful bright light right back onto the Patriots and their checkered past. Not that any of that matters, but in the big picture? It kind of does. I can only imagine what the rest of the country thinks about New England. Which is really a shame.
Call it what you will, but the masses will see it as "Guilt By Association."
I think Tom Brady and Bill Belichick can't be happy about it. How could they be? I mean have you seen the Memes on social media? They were out in force within the first hour of this latest shameful scandal. As a graphic designer and blogger, I was impressed with the speed and quality of these brutal memes. Hell I'm impressed with them all. Let alone this latest one.
They should almost have their own title.
MEME Designer. MEAN MEMES.
If Mort Drucker was just starting out he'd be doing Memes. MAD Magazine was way ahead of their time when it came to cartoons and caricatures.
Mark my words, there will be many more Memes in the future, and they might very well end up have them be a career choice in the future. Especially for any on-line jobs. Or social media outlets. People like them. And if there's a demand for them, there will be a demand for the best Meme Makers. I didn't post any of the Cora Memes here on this Blog because I have my own approach. As you all know I am more than capable of creating my own. In fact, I made one last week. The one about me not being a Democrat or GOP member? Yeah, that took all of 15 minutes. And if I can pump them out that fast, you know the real Mean Meme Makers can do it even faster.
"What do you want to do when you grow up little Johnny?" Johnny: "I want to make up mean and nasty Memes." "Good thinking son. There's always gonna be room for a good Mean Meme designer." Laugh, but watch it happen.
The local Hampton, NH community lost one of her long standing Icons. Walter Helfer passed away last week at the age of 88. I'll have more details on his passing, but for the time being, I'll tell you a little about Walt. I've known Walt since the 70's. He was surfer and quite the athlete. Always roller skating down the wall. And he was always surfing in the smaller summer waves. He and his wife Lorraine were always together. They were always together.
It's ironic that I heard of his passing because I had just mentioned Walt to my two friends Jack Keefe and Johnny Meehan. I asked about Walter and Lorraine. I knew he was getting on in life (as we all are) and I was concerned about his health. Not that I knew he was sick or anything, but just a general concern. Had I known he was in hospice I would have gone to see him. Now I can only help with his family and friends to plan a decent surfers paddle for them this summer..
Walt was a Korean war veteran who served in the US ARMY infantry.
Left to right: Walt, Rick Sav, Johnny Sav, Jay Hammer, and Timo.
The WAIKIKI TEAM Oahu, Hawaii.
He saw his fair share of combat over there. We talked at length about Korea and Vietnam over the years. I don't believe he spoke about Korea with many others at the wall. But we had that connection. A shared experience of war. Walter was a kind, funny, respectful, intelligent, loving husband, father, grandfather, and a friend to so many of us here on the seacoast. He was a a good man, and I'll miss seeing him at the wall this summer. I hope Lorraine is doing OK as well
as his family. Rest In Peace Walt. Keep paddling.
The TITANS dismantling of the would be KINGS The Ravens really left that stadium in shock and disbelief. Not to mention the entire NFL. Oh and this poor guy. This is what shock and numbness looks like in the NFL.
Still, as shocked as the Ravens fans were last week it can't compare to the
absolute meltdown that the TEXANS endured over being up 24-0 in KC only to lose the game 51-31! But if I were KC I'd pay very close attention to OH HENRY because that man can run. And he's running right towards you KC.
OK this Meme? Yeah, this is the truth. I have been wanting to talk about this subject for many years. And I suppose I was just looking for the right time. And wouldn't you know it, I found this Meme and thought "How perfect".
So pay attention here people. Pay very close attention.
YOU DO NOT PUT FRUIT ON A PIZZA! You getting this? DO NOT.
Are you freaking kidding me? You DO NOT put fruit on a pizza. Not pineapples. Not Blueberries. Not Strawberries. Not bananas. Not Kiwi.
NO FRUIT Shall touch the sauce on a pizza. It's against the law! Please in the name of my late Noni "MARIA" you do NOT put fruit on a pizza. Ever. The thought of it not only turns my stomach but it makes me weepy. It is sacrilegious to put any kind of fruit on any pizza for any reason. And I don't care what you call it. Just DON'T CALL IT A PIZZA!
This shall be the last time I will speak of this heinous crime. *Unless there's some kind of compensation involved. Again class, "NO FRUIT ON PIZZA."
Very good, class dismissed.
Get out of here and take your fruit with you.
I meant to Blog about the fires in Australia the last couple of Blogs but it kept getting moved ahead because of other stories and highlights. But then I saw this photo today and my heart practically melted. It's two Kangaroos standing up and taking the rain in like it was something from heaven.
And it may very well have been. The photo was taken by Charles H. Davis.
On the one hand it is heart breaking to look at, while on the other hand, it is a photo of hope and survival. These two Roos have suffered greatly but they still have the strength to stand up and drink in this rain. I just thought it was so incredibly touching.
Please help the animals of Australia if you can by contacting
Humane Society International Australia
Pray for Rain...
"Surfing, Football, Love, and the TRUTH Heals All Wounds."
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This is another perfect empty winter wave that Ed was so known for capturing. He had an eye for perfection when it came to these waves. January 4th, 2010. Click on this image to see the larger version. Photo by Ed O'Connell
*Click the photo above to see a larger version of Ed's Pic.
Now for Some Local, National and International News
I'm guessing that these six candidates for president are the final six. I don't see Andrew Yang or Tulsi Gabbard here. Same with Bloomberg. So I guess you can color their asses gone. This is your choice. Steyer is starting to get on my nerves. Warren and Bernie are like an old married couple bickering at each other. Klobuchar is not for me. So I'm thinking it's between Biden and Buttigieg. I like the young Mayor Pete. But I sure wished he had an easier last name to remember and pronounce.
But he's a veteran. He served his country. He's smart. I like him.
Speaking of veterans. This man Don Gavin is the GODFATHER of Boston Comedy. I've seen him a few times and I really like him. He's funny and he's a good friend of Jimmy Dunn. What else do you need to know?
Click on this ad image and buy DON GAVIN'S new album.
Hey we all need to laugh.
ESM (Eastern Surf Magazine) using a READY MAG format did the Best of Ralph's Pic. And while they couldn't possibly use everything thing I've ever done, they did manage to put up some 50 pics of mine, plus two videos. And I was truly humbled by their intro. Mez said some nice things about me. CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE TO SEE THE WHOLE Spread.
COMING FATHER'S DAY 2020.
Before the Fathers and Sons movie I'm planning on another release. This too will be unique.
I'm calling it "FOR LOVE AND WAVES."
The story of couples who surf. Married couples. Single couples. Gay couples.
Lovers who surf together. From SURF FREE OR DIE and RALPH'S PIC OF THE WEEK.
Posting on Valentines Day February 14th, 2020.
The DVD's are available at all the local surf shops. Or by
sending me an email. ralph@adlantic.com or send a check for $20.00 made out to ADLANTIC and send it here:
ADLANTIC
c/o OC Studio Suites
703 Ocean Blvd Suite C-4
Hampton, NH 03842
Or RENT or BUY it Online. You have spoken and I have listened. You don't have a DVD player so I made it available Online. Watch it on your Smart TV, your computer, or your cellphone! I can't make this any easier my friends.
GRANITE GIRLS and The RIVER WOMEN from Ralph's Pic Of The Week on Vimeo.
NOW AVAILABLE on VIMEO ON DEMAND.
KSM Photoshop of the Week
This? I'm not sure if what we're seeing here is real. Was Khaliddy the guy who was banging on the trash can when the signals came in? I mean, I wouldn't be surprised. Wait, yes I would. He's a POW at GITMO. This is just my silly weekly KSM fantasy. Sorry my bad. As you were. Just messing with y'all again. Ha ha.
And so my friends, please take advantage of this weekly photo shop of the mastermind who planned 9-11 and resulted in the deaths of 3,000 innocent civilians by KSM (Khalid Sheik Mohammed).
*Note to self -must pick up a case of Chewing tobacco
at Home Depot this week.
Each winter I run these promos form our friends in the mountains. LOON, CRANMORE, and PAT'S PEAK. Just click on these logos below to see what's happening up north.
New England's Most Accessible Resort
EXIT 32 off of 1-93
North Conway's Family Mountain
Located in North Conway, NH
Voted # 1 Ski Town in the country by USA Today
Southern New Hampshire's Family Friendly Mountain
Close To Home!
HAPPY Martin Luther King Day January 20th, 2020
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Kody Grondin January 25th, 2020!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Kelly Ciarmataro January 28th, 2020!
REST IN PEACE Walter Helfer January 14th, 2020!
REST IN PEACE Neil Peart RUSH Drummer.
PLEASE Keep longtime NH Surfer Greg Smith in your Prayers.
Lenny Nichols & Colin Madden
Co-Directors, NNE District
Eastern Surfing Association
www.esa-nne.org
@esa.nne.surf
Please
Support ALL The photographers who contribute to
Ralph's Pic Of The Week every week for the last 13 years.
** BUY a HIGH RES Photo
from any of the weeks on RPOTW.
Remember
my friends... Surfing Heals All Wounds.
Pray for Surf. Pray for Peace. Surf For Fun.
Ralph
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