Fri 25 Jan 2008
Life’s many choices can be represented as forks and intersections in a long and winding road. Where you are on that road is always known by simply looking around. Where you’ll end up is as difficult to tell as the effect each turn will have on getting you to a desirable destination. People have many different and pointed opinions regarding Steve Rocco’s influence on the skateboarding industry. One thing is certain and undeniable. Rocco introduced myriad turns, branches, loops, and possible destinations for those trying to make a career of skateboarding. Before Rocco, a skateboarder’s future was dictated by George Powell, Brad Dorfman, Larry Balma, and Fausto V. After Rocco, it was a whole different ballgame.
Those were my thoughts before watching the new documentary about the infamous pioneer in the skateboarding industry. The documentary unearthed many stories and details about Rocco’s empire through entertaining anecdotes provided by the top pros from that era. Vallely, Rocco, Martinez, Lee, Wee Man, Lotti, Klein, and of course, Mullen are the lead story-tellers, but there are plenty of cameos by the likes of Ron Chapman, Natas, Knoxville, and Larry Flynt.
It’s a throughly enjoyable trip back to a not-too-distant time when pants got baggy and wheels shrank to nothing. Vert giants were crushed and contests were dismissed by video pros. The main drawback to the film is the level of Rocco’s cooperation with the project and the unwillingness of Rodney Mullen and Jesse Martinez to speak candidly about their previous business partner. Notably absent are any lengthy discussions with the Gonz, which could mean that his comments were unacceptably critical of the subject. While the film is eager to highlight Rocco’s egomania, it refuses to answer the fundamental question of this type of project: “Where is he now?” They interview Rocco with tight shots on his back patio, but they never give any indication of how well off he walked away from World Industries. And that’s what I really wanted to know.
Steve Rocco: The Man Who Souled the World is available for rental from I Luv Video on Airport Blvd for a couple of dollars.
January 25th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Seth, you’re famous now, look at that link.
January 28th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
He sold World for $46 million. Now you know!
January 30th, 2008 at 12:25 am
George Powell asked the same question (however, in a rhetorical-type manner) in a Concrete Wave interview last year.
Powell also provided the answer– Rocco’s now retired in Austrailia, while World Industry skateboards are sold in big box retailers.
January 30th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
the movie said $20 mil….
January 31st, 2008 at 5:10 am
The movie says the (public) company sold to the buyer for $20 million. Rocco wasn’t the sole owner, so he’d have to split that with Mullen, Jessie Martinez, and perhaps other stockholders. I’m wondering what his take-home was on that transaction.
Seth
January 31st, 2008 at 10:59 am
The dvd is going back today…..really worth the watch…..
January 31st, 2008 at 9:27 pm
thank you for turning me on to ILV…..for off the wall stuff usually hit vulcan…..when doing the return today ran across a copy of “kiss meets the phantom of the park”….dude I have not seem that since it aired…..thanks…em to sk8 RR fri,sat or sun…..DL is trying to get berkman and rogers at the park to try to get WILCO moving on sat……