I heard the other day that “Rockin Fig” would not be announcing the US Open because of a change in sponsors so yesterday I called him and talked with him for a half-hour about things. He has been doing it for the last 19 years and his commentary is better than anyones- period. And he can surf, he’s the current US 55 and over champ. Kelly praises him every year too. I have to admit he showed maturity and was quite well spoken when talking about it and never bad mouthed the current sponsors. I goaded him, baiting him trying to get him to say something off color, and he didn’t; I wish I could be so restrained.
We talked about things and of course he brought this up; like I could ever forget the time we were stuck in the tropics with a hurricane only about an hour away and his conversation with his wife; things didn’t look to good for us, but we made it out; others weren’t so lucky, or fortunate. Anyhow, I love the guy and his insights. Bring hin back…
bringing me back to being a Jr. guard , the voice of the comp was Fig . if you think Turpel’s voice is annoying on the webcast just wait till u hear it over the PA . painful
Loved his surf reports on KROQ(i think it was)…always stoked!
Always liked his KROQ(I think it was) surf reports…stoked kinda guy…these web-guys are at best are mediocre…salesman with an often lousy product
yea Rat…i vote for the Fig…
I found a rockin’ fig board on the side of the road a year ago, it was made for Rick himself! 6’4, glassed in fins, and signed “66 for Figsauris Rick 1997” haven’t ridden it much and never could figure out why it was being thrown away.
He’s the real deal 100%. They all want to be him, but he has put the time in and does it better. I have to say he was bummed out about the whole thing, he was ready to celebrate 20 years of doing it in a row. I remember how his voice would be after the event- a week of pretty much non-stop commentary, he would be exuasted, and hoarse because he gave it everything he had. Yeah he was the voice of the surf-report on KROQ, but he also along with the Poorman founded “LOVE LINE” which was essentially stolen from him by Adam Carolla and Dr. Drew, those guys should be shot for that. Figs shop also served as ground zero for traveling pro’s and it was good to see a few world champs there over the years just as normal people that surfed. I remember the reaction Kelly had years back on a board I shaped for John Parmenter, (Figs old partner, and Dave’s brother) with a naked airbrush of Pamela Anderson; Kelly was speechless, and kind of like ‘well only John could do that.’ Bring back The Fig.
I used to be Carolla’s supervisor when he was still just a carpenter. Remember Mr. Bercham? One day I said “so tell me a joke”. He said, “I don’t tell jokes, I create humor”. I disagree with that.
Carolla has a pretty “Off Kilter” side to him. I have some stories, but they would have to be left out of print. Too many lawyers.
Oh the years of 7:20 Figgy Surf reports. First board I bought with my own money was from Fig,
Im kind of bummed with the US Open this year.
The Fig thing.
Very Disorganized
Very corporate feeling yet smaller than years past.
Messing up the boardroom show.
some other background details…
@ghettorat I think you may have missed a beat, Remember Rikki Rachmann was the host for 3 years or so prior to Corolla. I think Corolla was still banging nails for EverySurfer when Jim was replaced by RR.