Thoughts on Junior Seau, Last Week's Competition

So I heard a few rumblings around the globe this week about my bold comparison of New England waves looking like Pipeline. So I took the liberty of creating a little photoshop lesson for you non-believers. Now keep in mind, there is nothing fake about these photos, except I did change the color of the water, and I did use the actual beach at Pipeline.

The [top image in the second] photo is the one I ran last week. That's Jake Davidson and Max Fatello in the photo.

This [bottom image in the second] photo is the EXACT same wave. Except I changed the color, and I airbrushed the wetsuits off of Jake and Max. I stuck the photo at the beach at Ehukai (Banzai Beach) where Pipe unloads on the reef out in front. So...does it look like Pipe now? Well? BAM! CASE CLOSED.

Like a lot of you, I was stunned and saddened when I heard the news about Junior Seau this week. May 2nd, 2012 Junior took his own life.

There were rumors about why he did it and other theories about head injuries in the NFL. For those of you who don't know who Junior Seau was, he was an incredible NFL Football player. Just a tremendous amount of talent as a Defensive Linebacker. He played for the San Diego Chargers, the Miami Dolphins, and then the New England Patriots.

The Patriots named him a captain in the 2007 season.

He was on the team of destiny. The 2007 Patriots team. You long time readers of this blog know how I feel about that year and that team. But Junior's role was huge. He was brought in as a motivator both on and off the field. He called everyone "Buddy" including owner Robert Kraft. He was loved by everyone. The fans adored him, the players all respected him. He was for all on the outside" living large." Popular, good looking, financially stable, and playing in the NFL.

But like a lot of players at the end of their career, the emptiness that follows that exciting lifestyle can bring on the darkness. And that darkness is very real. It is both physical and emotional. Depression can at times feel like a cold wet blanket, just suffocating you. Squeezing the life out of you. And unless you are a professional, or so completely tuned into a person suffering from this, it is often hard to spot.

By the time it surfaces, it's usually too late. That was Junior's case.

I can't tell you how many times I have written and said these words, but suffice it to say it has been numerous. "Surfing Heals All Wounds." And while I know that Surfing is not a cure for those who are truly sick and suffering it is a reprise from the stress and suffering that one might feel when he or she is sick.

I say all of this, because Junior Seau was one of us. A Surfer.

From what I've read and heard over the years, Junior Seau loved surfing. He loved it. In fact, he had a home directly on the beach where he surfed. But surfing was not enough to save him. The darkness came and closed out the light of the sun, and the surf, and Junior gave into it's temptation.

Suicide. A permanent solution, to a temporary condition.

If only he could see beyond the darkness, that there was hope up ahead. That there was something worth living for. If only he had a deeper love for living. Love. God. Anything but the darkness. If he could only see the pain and anguish his death has caused his parents and family. His friends and teammates. His fans from all over the world. And those who surfed with him on a regular basis.

Junior, if you could only see that there is a lull...and you can still paddle out, that you didn't have to give up. That there was just a few more yards. To keep paddling. Keep paddling Junior. Don't give up.

If any of you feel like life is not worth living. You need to stop and look around you. See the love that is there. See the pain that you would cause. Look beyond your own pain and see what you would do to those you leave behind. I know that is selfish. But it's true.

Seek help. Seek faith. There is medication. There is faith., There is hope.

There is a sea of love waiting for you...you just have to believe there is and open your eyes. There is much to live for. Don't give up. No matter how bad things seem to be. No matter how dark it seems. Never ever quit. Anyone can quit. That's the easy thing to do. It takes courage and heart to see it through. Fight it. Stand up and fight. Do not give up.

Somebody out there loves you. Believe.

Rest In Peace Junior Seau.

The ESA came to town last weekend and much to everyone's surprise
the surf lasted long enough to hold the contest. Granted it was no where the surf we had just a couple of days before the competitors arrived but,
there was big enough surf to run the Northeast Regionals.

Having been to quite a few of these contests over the years, I can tell you first hand how truly hard is it to predict when there will be surf. Around here in Northern New England that is. We are not talking about the West Coast, Hawaii, Australia, or any other wave magnet location. We are talking about New England.

Take my word for it. It's hard. It's a basic crap shoot.

This past week is proof of that. Had the swell arrived a few days later, the ESA would of had the most insane surf to showcase it's best from the Northern Districts. But as it was, they got knee to waist high at the Wall.

And I for one was happy to see that they at least had that. Waist high for Groms is a treat. The Menehunes and the Boys can make it work. The Longboard heats were styling and the Older Legends and the ladies also had enough to push them around.

But clearly, it was not quite enough for the REAL rippers.

I'm still amazed that some of those kids could do what they did in the conditions they were dealt. Like Eddie Traniello (above). They made the best of it and well, did what they had to do. Which is basically find your way to Hatteras. That's the goal.

They all want Hatteras.

And really who could blame them? That's the dream of every East Coaster who surfs in the ESA. Find your way to Hatteras and compete with all the Rippers from up and down the Entire East Coast...including the Great Lakes. That's right. The Great Lakes.

Please don't say you are not aware of the Surf in the Great Lakes region? Good, I would be surprised if some of you are still clueless about surf in the Great Lakes. That secret is no longer. There's surf there. Al beit not as consistent as what we get but there's surf.

And there's good surfers there too.

Stop and think how hard it would be for any other sport to hold games and contests if you had to wait on the playing field showing up. Can you imagine what it would be like if Football was like that.

Sorry NO game today, the filed is not here. Or worse, there's too much field. It's feast or famine when it comes to running surf contests. And it's in constant flux as well. It can change before your very eyes. For better or for worse.

Try having other athletes deal with what amateur and pro surfers have to go through. They couldn't. And I guess that's another reason why we all love it so much. It's just so dang unpredictable. From swell to swell. From coast to coast. You just never know what you're gonna get. Am I right people?

The line PRAY FOR SURF never meant more than those who compete.

Now for some of my Weekly Global Observances:

Did you stop and think about what last May 2nd was all about? No? It was the 1st anniversary of Osama Bin Laden's death. That tall gangly lunatic has been dead a whole year already. Seems like yesterday we were all watching him kneeling down in the desert firing his AK-47. Or walking down that rocky hill side with his other Terrorist buddies. Looking like the smelly goat herder he really is. Well he's been dead a year. He may be dead but his dream lives on. Or should I say nightmare?

Al Qeada has been crippled though since his demise.

The scumbag terrorists have been unable to do anything to disrupt our way of life for years now. In fact we just last week right around OBL's anniversary the FREEDOM TOWER in NYC reached the TALLEST building status in NYC. Small victories I know. But it's something. It would take something almost unimaginable to take those new buildings down. Seriously. We will never fall for that crap again.

And we are all as a nation vigilant and prepared for anything today.

The Mastermind behind 9/11 was slated to appear in court today at GITMO. Kalid Shiek Mohummed (Wait did I spell his name wrong? Who cares?) will be appearing at a Military Tribunal this week and he will no doubt be spewing all kinds of BS. He will use this trial as a way to get his twisted message out there. I would love to see him be tazed or something in the courtroom if he acts up.

Or have his beard catch on fire. You know. Something for YouTube. That'd be cool.

Congrats to Endicott College Football Defensive End Kevin Eagan for getting drafted into the NFL. My son Max's teammate from last year was drafted by the Colts. Also drafted was Endicott's TE Taylor Allen. So much for DIII school players not getting into the NFL. It's all about talent.