We follow Tony Hawk on Twitter (along with a whole bunch of others).
Now – you might ask – “Skateboarders aren’t players, so why follow him?” – and you might be right. But while we acknowledge that not everyone uses the term “best player in the world”, people certainly could use the term “best skater in the world” and they could also argue that – these days – skaters are just like athletes.
We tend to agree with such people and such arguments. In fact, it’s part of our Big Theory – our theory about what it means to be the best.
That’s right. You see, this project of ours is not so much about being a player but about being the best.
And that’s why we can dispense with semantics and include skaters in this project.
And so why are we talking about the Best Skater in the World today?
Well, like we were saying, we follow Tony Hawk on Twitter and Tony recently announced “Thank you Tweeps for skyrocketing my {pre-sale} book from an Amazon ranking of 900,000 to 42,000. Blowing up… kinda.”
So – “Big deal,” you might say, “Skater-dude’s got a book out and he’s clearly pitching it, trying to sell us some more stuff…” And you might be right. But this interests us. It interests us because not only is Tony maybe the best skater ever, he is also maybe one of the best athlete-businessmen ever. And the book is actually about how he turned his unparalleled skating talent into one of the best brands ever.
This is the book…
…and it’s not even out yet. You’ve got to pre-order it. Imagine – pre-order something from a guy who is already worth a-billion-plus! But we don’t care. We’re not jealous. We want to celebrate his success. In fact, we’re just going to re-post what Amazon.com says about his book:
“He’s the man who put skateboarding on the map. He’s the first to land a 900 (two and a half full rotations). He’s also among the richest pitchmen in any sport. And, in a sport that’s especially youth-oriented, Tony Hawk, a 40-something father of four, still connects with his audience by staying true to who he is.
Moving easily between the ramp and the boardroom, Tony currently runs one of the most acclaimed action sports companies, a clothing line, and video game series bearing his name that has sold over $1 billion worldwide, making it the biggest selling action sports game franchise in game history. He has secured endorsement deals with major brands such as McDonalds, Intel, T-Mobile and Kohl’s; started the Boom Boom HuckJam action sports tour; and achieved worldwide acclaim from the ESPN X Games.
Filled with Tony’s typical modesty and humor, How Did I Get Here? tells the amazing story behind Tony Hawk’s unprecedented success from skateboarder to CEO, and the secrets behind his lasting appeal. You’ll find out how authenticity has served him well in all his achievements. You’ll also understand how his story has shaped many of his fundamental values, including his huge desire to win and his strong sense of realism….”
While you might be sick of the commercialism that seems to invade every aspect of sport and performance these days, on the other hand you just might want to check out Tony Hawk’s book.
I know I will be. I think the blurb above is correct – Tony’s authenticity HAS been a big key in his becoming a legend both on and off his board – from the board to the boardroom. For me he is in this regard in a very select group. I think you could compare what he has done with his talent and his career to maybe what Michael Jordan did.
I think that Tony Hawk is that special…even if he’s not a “player”.
