Friday, October 1, 2021

City Daily Photo Theme Day: Winning

The first day of the month is a theme day for members of City Daily Photo, and for October, that theme is Winning. See how others are interpreting that theme right here.

I chose three subjects for this theme. One morning in the latter half of September I took a walk into Gatineau. At the main entrance of Jacques Cartier Park, along the shore of the Ottawa River, is a statue of Montreal Canadiens legend Maurice "Rocket" Richard, one of the greatest players in the history of hockey. Definitely a winner. I last photographed him back during the Tulip Festival, when the nearby flowerbeds were filled with tulips. The flowers here that morning are dug up in October and replaced by bulbs for next spring. 


After taking the above shot, there was an unpleasant moment. An individual decided to mug for the camera with the statue. I told him I was only interested in photographing the statue, not him, and he became offended, yelling as he walked away. He yelled about Richard being one of the greatest to play the game. True, but Richard would have made a point of going through life not being an asshole. This guy, however, was an asshole. And smelling of booze at ten thirty in the morning, so a falling down drunk at that. The sort of person I find obnoxious in the extreme.

There are some people in this world who deserve to get hit by a train. I'm just saying.


I took more shots. The sculpture was unveiled in 2001, the year after the Rocket's death. Au Coeur du Bronze created the sculpture, which seems to lean much of its weight on one skate and the hockey stick. I am always reminded when I see this sculpture of the late blogger Birdman of New England, a die hard Bruins fan who, like many a Bruins fan cursed the Rocket but wished he was one of theirs.


Early in September I took in a CFL football game at Lansdowne Park in the Glebe. Winning was not in the cards for the home team Ottawa RedBlacks (yes, it's still a goofy name). The Montreal Alouettes came to town and kicked their asses. This view is from the north stands. Stadium capacity is currently limited due to Covid restrictions.


And to conclude today, I was in the Byward Market a couple of weeks ago and came across this chalk painting at an intersection. Variations of Dogs Playing Poker are classic kitsch and generally a sign that your tastes in art tend to be low brow. The dog on the right might be winning, but I suspect he's cheating. The dog at centre certainly looks like he's suspecting the same. The dog at top left is about to be distracted by a squirrel. And the dog at left has a great poker face.

48 comments:

  1. William - love this post! Unfortunately, there is no shortage of people who can be obnoxious!!! The hockey statue is so realistic!

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  2. Dogs playing poker might be kitsch but they are funny too!

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  3. Nothing like a hockey champion would fit with the day theme! 👌

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  4. Leafy new banner! Here still green on trees or brown in the street. Crazy.

    Oh, sad with the drunk weirdo. Not a hero, or a winner...

    LOL! Deserve to get hit by a train!!!
    Great shot with the sun rays.

    Dogs playing poker, hm...

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  5. The statue is very well sculptured ! looks lifely ! Poor guy who wanted to be a star and have a photo taken, lol !

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  6. A great sport, icehockey especially for Swedes and Canadians. Nice one for the theme day William.

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  7. The statue is very well sculptured. O man, some people are so hard to handle.

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  8. ...first off, your new header image is fabulous, and you have some wonderful winning examples!

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  9. With all details that is a very beautiful statue. It's undeed quite unpleasant to meet this type of guy, not only in the morning, but but all day long.
    That drawing isn't higt standard art, but still I like this kind of fun.

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  10. That is a great sculpture. Looks so real and in motion. Good thing that weirdo left the scene.

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  11. Great choices. The chalk work amazes me.

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  12. Hockey and the Montreal Canadians, they're all about winning and the perfect choice for the theme.

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  13. The sculpture is perfect for the day. I miss Birdman's humorous posts.

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  14. @Angie: the statue was well done.

    @Marleen: it's very funny.

    @Italiafinlandia: he was a winner.

    @Iris: it's harsh to say, but that's how I feel about some people in life.

    @Gattina: by now his booze addled brain has forgotten he was ever there.

    @Marianne: it feels alive.

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  15. @Stefan: thank you.

    @Aritha: I have no tolerance for idiots or drunkards.

    @Tom: thank you.

    @Jan: I've seen too many unpleasant drunks.

    @Nancy: I would have had to have left the scene if he didn't.

    @Marie: I appreciated it.

    @Bill: thank you.

    @RedPat: I miss Birdman too.

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  16. Great statue, too bad he had died before being honored by it. The dogs on the sidewalk is cute, but I've never understood the dogs playing cards venue! What a hoot!

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  17. Great header!
    This is a good theme for the month. Love the pictures.

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  18. Great statue, full of strength and movemet:)

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  19. Canada has some great hockey stars great sculptures honoring them ~ love the animal card game photo at the end ~

    Living in the moment,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  20. @Barbara: I liked seeing the dogs playing poker, and it reminded me years ago of a Nuit Blanche event where the concept was played out by actors in dog masks.

    @Catarina: thank you.

    @Rosie: very much so.

    @Carol: I couldn't resist the dogs.

    @Francisco: thank you.

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  21. Todo deportista lucha por ganar y si no se consigue, lo intentará de nuevo.

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  22. Wonderful statue - You can almost see him skating!!
    Amazing chalk drawing. A shame it will be erased after it rains!

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  23. You've got a real winner here.

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  24. What a nice day to photograph that statue!

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  25. Good post. He seemed like quite a character.
    MB

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  26. Nice statue for the "winning" theme. What an idiot you found already drunk so early in the morning!
    The dogs mural is cute :)

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    1. Unfortunately some people in life are full blown alcoholics who will never admit they have a problem. That guy was one of them.

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  27. I love those sculptures. Hockey is such a great game! :-)

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  28. I am so sorry you had a crazy moment with this dude. People can be so ignorant.

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  29. Fools rush in!! The anti social guy was a contrast, what was he like? I can well imagine. Sorry!

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    1. A vile man. Had he fallen over of a heart attack while walking away, I don't think I'd have helped him.

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  30. Well, I don't know which I love most! The elegant and well crafted sculpture or the dogs playing poker. I confess, it must be the lowbrow in me, but I adore all Dogs Playing Poker art. There's always great detail and personality in the pieces, no matter which medium they use or breeds of dogs. This is the first I've ever seen with all (I think) St. Bernards. The ones we have in the back hall of the cottage and three or four breeds, including a collie that is slinking away, apparently caught cheating! Now, why they don't use cats playing poker, I don't know -- except that cats seem to sleep too much to get through a whole game! And if a mouse goes by, all bets are off!

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    1. They do all look like St. Bernards, but I think one's a pup.

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  31. Great choices for the Winning theme!!

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