Wow, two skateboarding articles within just a few days found in the mainstream media.  You can’t beat that.  Tony Hawk, doing an interview with the other less significant LAT, the Los Angeles Times, talks about his upcoming video game with Activision.  Can you believe that he’s been in the video game, game, for about ten years now?  That’s crazy.  He’s released about a game a year I suspect. 

As you probably already know, video games generate billions of dollars annually and Tony’s games have definitely contributed its share.  Even shmo’s such as myself who usually could care less about video games got really into the Tony Hawk Pro Skater series.  I used to cut class to play Pro Skater at the Virgin Megastore in Hollywood for six hours straight.  I must say I got pretty good at it regularly scoring a million points.  That’s how savant I am. 

But those games didn’t just have a (positive) impact on me as a kid cutting class, but for thousands of skaters everywhere improving on their shred skillz.  You can’t deny that those games had some kind of influence on how skaters skate today with all the noseslide, to manual, to kickflip out renditions.  Sometimes when watching some of the videos today, I could swear I’ve seen runs reminiscent on Tony Hawk Pro Skater. 

Check out the article over at the LA TIMES.  If any skater were to reach a billion dollar net worth, it would have to be Tony.  He or Willy Manaloto Santos.  But not because of his skating, but for his acting chops.  That’s right, I have to give another shout out to my favorite skateboard film of all time, THE SKATEBOARD KID II. 

Given that the award was created in 1990, there are dozens, possibly hundreds of dozens of skaters who were not given the shot at one of skateboarding’s most prestigious awards. So I would like to take a look back at some of those who should get your honorable mention when voting this year. Plus it would be invaluable for you to take a history lesson down memory lane. Check out some of my honorable mentions below. Who knows, they might win!

Alan Gelfand – skateboarding might be 5 years behind without Alan’s creation of the Ollie.

Rodney Mullen – how is it possible Rodney never was this award? If you need a refresher on Rodney’s greatness, check out this VIDEO.

Timothy Busfield – who needs E.T. when you’ve got a skateboard like RIP.

visit videodetective.com for more info