Info/Photo-graphics

My goal: Create a breed of topical, timely, and often critical “Infographic” unlike the typical format you see all over the web – that infographic constructed of elementary school-level shapes, a lot of numbers, dull colors, and the human figure represented by those asexual icons you see public restroom doors. I do, however, reserve the right to use faceless round-headed stick-figure people from time-to-time.

It’s A Christmas Lockout Miracle

Posted by Ralph Cipolla on November 23, 2012
Posted in: Info/Photo-graphics. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

It's A Christmas Lockout Miracle

With Thanksgiving in the rear-view mirror and Christmas only 32 days away, we have another dose of bad cheer from Gary Bettman’s #1 elf, NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly.  Not without a healthy dose of Black Friday irony, the league announced cancellation of additional regular season games, scratching the schedule through December 14.  However, in what may be interpreted by some as a sign of good faith to the player’s union, the January 26-26 NHL All-Star Weekend in Columbus has also been canceled (you were thinking it, I just said it for you).

The December 14 date marks the cancellation of 422 games, or 34.3% of the 2012-2013 regular season.  However, Mister Daly did say, “We feel badly for NHL fans and particularly those in Columbus.”  Hey, I feel better, already.

With this news, that gift on every die-hard fan’s holiday list (a meaningful NHL season) looks even less likely than it did yesterday.  So, to cheer you up as the “fiscal cliff of hockey” looms larger in the windshield, I’ve created this commemorative Christmas tree ornament.  It’s my little way of trying to “make whole” your holiday season.  Place your thoughts, comments, and orders here (20% sympathy discount for Columbus Bluejacket fans).  -RC

Periodic Table of NCAA Scandals

Posted by Ralph Cipolla on January 30, 2012
Posted in: Info/Photo-graphics, Op-Ed / Observation / Rant, Stupid People. Tagged: , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

When I created the “NCAA: From Fame to Shame” infographic, I left a lot of relevant material on the table. There simply wasn’t enough room in one graphic of that sort to cover 60 fun-filled years of NCAA misfortune, malfeasance, and mischief. Just how does one acknowledge all those incidents in an organized and chronological manner? Ah, then I brought years of university studies to bear… and all that expense finally paid off (see, Mom?) I’m sure this work will upset some of you… especially alums of those ‘heavy element’ programs – the ones that make multiple appearances in the table. Please, share your thoughts… and if a particular school, program, or scandal is conspicuously absent from the Periodic Table, let me know. This, I fear, is a work in progress. Like the Periodic Table of Natural Elements, it’s always growing – new, ‘heavier’ elements / scandals are always being discovered.

Click here to see a larger, interactive version of the Periodic Table

Fame to Shame: NCAA Coaching Scandals

Posted by Ralph Cipolla on December 17, 2011
Posted in: Info/Photo-graphics, Op-Ed / Observation / Rant, Stupid People. Tagged: , , . 7 Comments

I have long considered creating a breed of topical and timely “Infographic” that goes beyond the typical format you see all over the web – the infographic populated by elementary school-level shapes, washed-out primary colors, with humans represented by the asexual icons you see on the door of every public restroom.  

My first effort – Stairway to 40 – was done to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Stairway to Heaven release.  It landed on the websites of several Rock radio stations, was picked up by @GuyKawasaki (thanks to the awesome @AnnieColbert), and re-Tweeted/linked-to by over 50 kind folks of exceptional taste in the graphic arts (you can see it on the ‘music’ page on this site).  

Here, I decided to tackle a topic that never gets old – NCAA Div-I coaches and their uncanny ability to:

  • Make the same stupid mistakes previously perfected by countless other blind, arrogant, and blindly-arrogant big-time coaches,
  • Egregiously violate the same small set of unambiguous common-sense NCAA rules, and
  • Deny, deny, deny – in the face of rumor, on-line murmur, a growing Everest of evidence, and the inevitable Sports Illustrated Special-Collectable-School-Sanction-Securing-Double-Issue Expose´. 

Let me know what you think… unless you’re a Penn State, Ohio State, Baylor, Indiana U, or Colorado alum.  I already know what you think.  

(Note: Obviously inspired by the Penn State Sandusky-shop-of-horrors, I didn’t include the on-going & growing Syracuse University abuse scandal.  Look for that in my next, nearly complete project – The Periodic Table of NCAA Scandals.)