Friday, December 31, 2010

Say it ain't so...Chuck Liddell Retires From MMA

Chuck Liddell, retirement was officially announced Wednesday at the UFC 125 press conference in Las Vegas. You could always count on 2 things. Over friendly Hooter Girls, and Chuck Liddell kickin' some butt in the ring.

Liddell is leaving us with some of the most entertaining, bone crushing memories in UFC history  The crowning achievement for Zuffa and the UFC was TUF 1.  Liddell was a coach on the show.  The greatest trilogy the sport has ever seen went down between Liddell and Randy Couture (the other coach on TUF 1), one which Liddell kicked-dat'-azz by a score of 2-1.
 
Liddell was one of the rare UFC fighters to actually engage on a PRIDE card, one of the first to regularly use his wrestling skills in order to knock people out, and was the delivering some of the greatest knockouts in UFC history.

There was that head kick on Renato “Babalu” Sobral at UFC 40, and that flurry he delivered on Tito Ortiz at UFC 47.

“I love this sport and I’m excited going into a new stage in my life and keep promoting the best sport in the world and the sport I love. They’re giving me the opportunity again to keep promoting and keep doing stuff now that I’m retired.”says Liddell.

Liddell was a leader that people in the UFC sport always seemed to have something good to say about.  He was a big time fan favorite, and on top  for a long time.  He will be missed by many fans.  He will stay a part of the UFC, we are going to miss you Chuck but the "Iceman" memory lives on!

Thursday, December 30, 2010

DC Shoes Jumps on Board with the AMA Arenacross Series Multi-year Deal Inked as Official and Exclusive Footwear Sponsor

Feld Motor Sports® announced today that Huntington Beach, Calif., based action sports company DC Shoes inked a three year deal as the official and exclusive footwear sponsor of the AMA Arenacross Series which begins January 8, 2011 at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla.

DC Shoes has been involved with endorsement deals with some of the sport’s legends, including AMA Supercross champions Jeremy McGrath, Ricky Carmichael and Jeff Emig. The partnership between DC and the AMA Arenacross Series is the action sports apparel and footwear company’s first sponsorship of the world’s most intimate form of racing. DC will have an on-site presence at the lives events in country’s most popular arenas, enhancing brand awareness and further exposing the already popular footwear and apparel collections to an even greater audience.

“We’re proud to be supporting the Arenacross Series,” said Nate Hawley, DC’s Moto Team Manager. “This series gives riders, such as DC flow team rider Mitch Alcorn, a great platform to race before they enter Supercross and we’re looking forward watching what develops this season.”

“We are excited to bring DC on board as the official and exclusive footwear sponsor for the AMA Arenacross series,” said Jayme Dalsing, director of arenacross. “The Arenacross series is an excellent platform for DC to channel their widely-popular footwear line as well as their brand as a whole.

For more information on the AMA Arenacross Series, please log on to www.Arenacross.com. For all media requests, please contact Denny Hartwig dhartwig@feldinc.com or 630-566-6305.

Watts Skatepark Battles Opposition


The Watts Towers, is a collection of 17 steel spires hand-sculpted from pipes, rods, wire mesh, tile and glass over 34 years, represent one of the safe and neutral zones in the gang-plagued district of Watts, Calif., in southern Los Angeles county. Because of the Towers' neutrality, a city councilwoman, with help from the Tony Hawk Foundation, wants to build a skateboard park there. But several outspoken members of the community, who consider the Towers a hallowed and historic place, oppose the idea.

"We're shovel-ready and waiting on the community to make some decisions," says Miki Vuckovich, the executive director of the Tony Hawk Foundation.

Since its inception in 2002, The Tony Hawk Foundation has donated grants totaling more than $3 million toward building 444 public skateparks across the United States. Much like rec centers of old, free, public community skateparks provide a safe and legal space for youth to engage in positive physical activity and social interaction. Several famous skaters from disenfranchised communities -- including Stevie Williams, Terry Kennedy and Theotis Beasley -- have been vocal about skateboarding's positive influence in their lives, and attribute their success in great part to the sport.

Tony Hawk himself is a supporter of the project at Watts. "To provide a positive alternative to the challenges that face the community, I've joined a coalition of community and business leaders to create a landmark skatepark that will give Watts youth a place to be active, creative and enjoy their sport," Hawk said.

Councilwoman Janice Hahn (L.A.'s 15th District is behind the project) has helped build several other skateparks in her district and she's vehement about the positive impact they make. "Our young people need more after-school activities that keep them off the streets," Hahn told ESPN. "Kids in Watts grow up in a gang culture. We're hoping these kids won't join a life of crime -- instead, they'll become skateboarders in their spare time."

Total funding for the skatepark has reached $355,000. The Hawk Foundation has contributed $80,000 and has received a grant from the Annenberg Foundation for $275,000. This is the first skateboard project supported by the Annenberg Foundation, which funds everything from arts and education to animal services.

Groundbreaking is expected to take place in the spring, and the first community meeting regarding the new skatepark was in July, when Hahn spoke with members of the Watts community who are opposed to the park's proposed location. "We suggested alternative locations for the skatepark -- namely Ted Watkins Park, which is a quarter-mile away" says Janine Watkins, who lives across the street from the Towers and is vice chair for the Committee for Simon Rodia Towers in Watts. "We're trying to find a win-win situation. But we're being stonewalled by the county."

Other community members agree. "These towers are sacred. They're one of the major works of architectural sculpture of the 20th century," says Edward Landler, a filmmaker who created a documentary about the Towers. "The community has no objection to a skateboard park, but it should be in the appropriate place. It's like putting a skatepark in front of the Notre Dame cathedral or the approach to the Taj Mahal."

The Towers are listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and just last week, the City of L.A. gave $150,000 to the L.A. County Museum of Art to restore the Towers.

There are a handful of skateparks in Watts, but Vuckovich says they aren't accessible to everyone. "People who didn't live in those particular projects didn't skate [at the existing parks in Watts]," he says. "We didn't see a centrally located skatepark [that was] not controlled by a particular faction. We want to build a skatepark where all skaters are welcome."


Courtesy of Tony Hawk FoundationThe design for the proposed Watts Towers skate park. "This design really takes into consideration how the community may want to utilize this space," says Tony Hawk Foundation's Miki Vuckovich.

Capt. Phillip Tingirides of the Los Angeles Police Department told the L.A. Times that the Towers is one of few safe, gang-neutral places in Watts where they could build a skatepark, adding that that nearby Ted Watkins Park sees less police patrol.

Landler says that's ridiculous. "Rather than supporting and enhancing the gang neutrality of Ted Watkins Park, a place designated for athletic recreation, Councilwoman Hahn and Captain Tingirides seem to be trying to force a skateboard park on to the Watts Towers site against community wishes," Landler wrote in a response to the Times.

This thought process isn't unusual: City planners often think that by building a skatepark in areas that report high rates of violence, it may help to curb the problem and provide kids with a more positive way to spend their time. But there's been plenty of gang violence reported within close proximity to skateparks.

On Aug. 18, three people were shot at a skatepark in Las Vegas, and the suspect was thought to be affiliated with a gang. Last January, a Long Beach skatepark was named after Vans-sponsored skater Mike Green, who was killed in a drive-by there in 2005. And in 2007, 20-year-old Derek Wilson, who was allegedly a member of Chicago-based gang called Fork, was arrested after firing a semiautomatic handgun at a downtown skatepark in Spokane, Wash.

The Watts skatepark design is essentially an urban plaza for skaters and BMX riders that can also be used for public gatherings like concerts or markets, and park builders say that kind of design can make the difference between a safe park and an unsafe one.

"We can't really say that a skate plaza equals no crime," says retired pro skater Kanten Russell, who is the principal for Action Sport Development, a San Diego-based design firm that builds skateparks. "But a properly designed and planned facility with good visibility, good lighting and no fencing will create a positive environment that's good for the community.

In the end, everyone involved in the Watts park is trying to do right by the community. Vuckovich contends, "There's a lot of space there -- the skatepark can go anywhere. It doesn't have to be right up against the Towers. We're here to support what the community wants to do."

Ryan Sheckler turns 21 and where else to celebrate but Sin City!

Ryan Sheckler officially turned 21 on Thursday, and where else does a man who has everything, choses to go to celebrate  but to Las Vegas at the Palms Resort and Casino.

Ryan Sheckler
Sheckler, who rose to fame winning skateboarding titles and starring in his own reality show on MTV "The Life of Ryan", is celebrating in style with his dad and friends at the Moon Nightclub in the Palms Casino.

"Technically", he celebrated at 12:01 a.m. BUT the real party will be in Sin City Tonight!

"My friends really wanted to take me out, and I could finally show my ID to get a drink," Sheckler said. "The bartender said, 'Hey, happy birthday!' That was kind sweet, dude."

Sheckler is preparing for the next season and focusing on his charity ventures (http://www.shecklerfoundation.org). But people still keep asking about when he's going to return to reality television.


Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Levi LaVellee Glad to be Home!

Levi LaVallee is back home in Minnesota after sustaining injuries in a practice jump on Dec. 14 in preparation for Red Bull's annual "New Year. No Limits." show. (Which has been canceled for this year.) LaVellee is a seven-time Winter X Games medalist in snowmobiling.

LaVallee was practicing for a world record distance jump attempt on a snowmobile, which was set to be telecast on ESPN on Dec. 31, live from San Diego, Calif.  During testing, he jumped 361 feet, smashing the existing record of 301½ feet set by Paul Thacker in March 2009. The jump will be submitted for world record certification.

In a statement to the press LaVallee confirmed, "I am out of the hospital and on my way home to Minnesota. When I jumped 361 feet during testing, I was pumped and felt I could fly even further at Red Bull: New Year. No Limits.. Unfortunately, it didn't work out that way and I will be ringing in the new year a little differently than originally planned. I'm disappointed, but the most important thing is that I'm recovering and hope to get back on my sled soon. Thanks to everyone who has wished me well. The amazing amount of support really means a lot. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!" LaVellee is 28 years old, Happy New Years L.L.!

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

All I got for Xmas was RBR2K10 and my two front Teeth 'I loved that Song!"

So like the "Sickest" mountain bike video around is the Red Bull Rampage 2010...OMG, WTF, SMH, and any other lack-of-a-better-word shortcuts you can make up. I bought this for myself on ITunes, while I spent Christmas at home by myself...(Yeah pretty sad!). But I can't even describe it you gotta see it so this is not a Blog...its a VLOG (Big GOD Voice)...Check out some of the cool footage...




OK, Right, Right, Right....I told you sick...JUS' GO BUY YOURS!

Buy the Red Bull Rampage 2010 DVD as the perfect gift for your mountain bike loving friend, spouse, kid, or boss. One of the most anticipated DVDs of the season is finally up for sale: The Red Bull Rampage 2010 DVD. Featuring Cameron ZinkGee Atherton, and the unrelenting Utah desert, the DVD also showcases the best mountain bike riders from around the world, competing in the most rugged and majestic natural terrain.

Where to Buy

•    DVD/Blu-ray combo pack at VASFilms.com for $29.99
•    iTunes download: $5.99 for Standard Definition, $7.99 for High Definition
•    Go to your local bike shop

Crowding Temporarily Halts Disneyland Admissions!

This has Nuffin' to do with Action Sports I know, I know, but it is Xtreme! Xtremely SAD! I mean Disneyland Resort temporarily halted ticket sales at both of its Anaheim theme parks Tuesday because of massive crowds, you can't shut down the "Happiest Place on Earth" I mean, shutting down Disneyland, due to overcrowding is like shutting down a Kim Kardashian Peep Show! It's "Un-American" it's horrible oh if Walt Disney was alive he'd be turning over in his grave...

Disneyland stopped selling tickets about 10 a.m., and visitors were diverted to Disney California Adventure. By 1 p.m., both parks were closed to new visitors, with Disneyland announcing via its Twitter page that access was "temporarily limited."

The above photo may or may have been altered but due to the facts of this post. I don't know
 Think of the children Mickey....Think of the children!

California Adventure was reopened later in the afternoon, spokeswoman Betsy Sanchez said. She said she was not sure whether ticket sales would resume for Disneyland for the rest of the day. It was the second straight day ticket sales for the parks were temporarily halted.

Sanchez said she could not discuss attendance figures or the parks' maximum capacity ('cause how many people attend Disneyland is a threat to National Security), but one expert estimated that between 75,000 and 100,000 people went there Tuesday.

So with the bad economy, bad weather on the east coast, Oprah leaving her show, John and Kate "Divorced", the Octo-mom losing her home, Princes Amidala PREGNANT ...not with Anikans baby (Pause for those who can't keep up with the nerd Star Wars reference. Translation: Actress, Natilie Portman in real life is Pregers...) , and too many disappointments to list, (632 to be exact!) The only thing we can count on is Disneyland is still the best place to go to get away from the madness, even if they turn you away at the door....come on Mickey let me into "Small World" please, 'cause the "Real" world sucks right now!

4-time World Surfing Champion Stephanie Gilmore Assaulted

Gilmore, 22, was struck on the head with an iron bar by a man who approached her on the stairs of her Hill Street apartment. A 26-year-old man has been charged in connection with the incident.  He was later arrested, and is believed to be homeless.  Police say that some time after the bashing, the alleged attacker returned to the block of units, where he was seen by friends and neighbours of Gilmore.

Gilmore was struck twice and also suffered a broken wrist. She was later hospitalized and released.

Earlier this month Gilmore won her Third Vans Triple Crown of Surfing hampionship, (Yeah that's Three). She has won the world title every year since qualifying for the World Tour.



Gilmore released this statement via the ASP World Tour website: "There was an incident in which I was attacked at my property. It was a completely random act in which I was a victim in the wrong place at the wrong time. It is now a matter for the court. I have sought medical attention and am on my road to recovery in high spirits.

"I look forward to getting back in the water in six weeks. In the mean time, I'm staying mentally and physically fit every way I can. I have fantastic support from my family and friends and look forward to resting up for a fresh start in the New Year."



Gilmore became the first person to win 4 world titles in as many times. The 2011 World surfing tour starts on February 26th on the Gold Coast. I'm sure Stephanie will be ready by then to compete.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Andy Irons Autopsy Results Withheld

The wife of the late Andy Irons, Lyndie Irons, has filed court documents today to delay the release of Andy's autopsy results, citing "irrevocable harm" to the 'Andy Irons brand'. 

Controversy and questions have surrounded the tragic passing of world champion surfer, who was found dead in a Grapevine, Texas hotel room on Nov. 2, 2010.

There was talk of drugs and foul play, or possibly a bad case of dengue fever; speculation has run rampant in the surf and national media. Which is why the release of the autopsy report is so valuable: it could clear or do harm to the 32-year-old surf star's reputation and legacy. The injunction has been granted by a Tarrant County Judge, delaying the public release until May 20, 2011.

The injunction states: "Should the autopsy report be released now, Lyndie Irons and her newborn child would suffer immediate and irrevocable harm in that the branding value would be greatly diminished as a result of the intense news frenzy. Based upon 'leaks' that have already occurred within the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office and the press reaction to those leaks, the branding of Andy Irons' company will be immediately, irreparably and severely tarnished if the official autopsy report is released at this time,"

Levi LaVellee Canceling December 31st Record Jump

Levi LaVallee jumped an amazing 360+ feet while preparing for his Red Bull New Year No Limits world record snowmobile distance jump in San Diego.Unfortunately, Levi was injured shortly thereafter and as a result, the December 31 event has been canceled. But as the 361-foot jump eclipsed the existing record by 60 feet, it will be submitted for world record certification.

Levi LaVallee has been released from the hospital and is on his way home to Minnesota. Levi expects to make a full recovery.




Sunday, December 26, 2010

Surfers Start Fund for Andy Irons Son

Following the sudden death of pro surfer Andy Irons in November, a trust fund has been established to assist his widow, Lyndie Irons, and infant son, Andy Axel Irons, who was born December 8. The idea behind the fund, says Irons' former agent Blair Marlin, is "to provide a trust that would help in providing for the maintenance, health and education for baby Andy."

A three-time world surfing champion, Irons was found dead on November 2 in a Dallas Grand Hyatt hotel room. As has been widely reported, the 32-year-old had withdrawn from a professional surfing event in Puerto Rico, and was on a layover en route to his home in Kauai, Hawaii. There were no signs of trauma or foul play. A toxicology report has yet to be released (There were prescription drugs found in the room).

"A lot of surfers came to me asking how they could help," says Marlin. Those closest to Lyndie Irons brought the idea to Andy's financial advisor, who was in the process of transferring titles and organizing the family's finances. "There have been people from all over who've contributed," says Marlin, "from surf shop owners, to families close to Andy, as well as a few tour surfers who have been so generous as to give their prize money from the remaining events on tour after Puerto Rico." The Irons family has kept the fund relatively quiet.

The website of pro surfer Mick Fanning, who is helping spread the word, released this statement on December 14: "We all know how much of a special person Andy Irons was and how he touched our lives. He was a leader in our sport but most of all was a great friend that had a huge heart ... I know everyone is keen to help out so I wanted to let you all know that there has been a trust fund set up to help out Lyndie and the baby." Details on how to donate to the fund appear on Fanning's site.

X Games BMX Street Gold Medalist Garrett Reynolds Leaves Premium BMX

X Games BMX Street Gold Medalist Garrett Reynolds has parted ways with longtime bike sponsor Premium BMX. Although this news has been on the "DL" for a few months, Garrett made it official this week.

Reynolds has been a part of the Premium team for four years, wich he won three X Games Gold Medals in BMX street, filmed several progressive video parts (including a Props bio and a section in Nike 6.0's "Writing on the Wall) and won two NORA Cup Street Rider of the Year awards. Garrett also had a signature frame and bars with Premium.

Reynolds' current sponsors include Nike 6.0, Cinema Wheel Co., Staff BMX and Deadline Crew. Garrett has made no statement about what he plans to do next, but did say that he would have more to say about it later! Hmmmm....

News of Reynolds leaving Premium comes on day after Rob Darden announced that he was dropped from Premium because of budget cutbacks. Man everyone is feeling the economic "Crunch"!


Pro Skier Mike Wilson Creates New Reality Show


Warning - the word Gnarly will be used excessively in this blog segment: Mike Wilson creates a new reality show coming to a station near you! Squaw Valley, Calif.-based pro skier Mike Wilson, with the help of sponsors and partners, has raised and spent an estimated $1 million filming six episodes of what the 24-year-old calls an "action-sports-based-adventure-travel show." The pilot, now complete, will be shopped around major networks next week.

"I basically dreamed up a bunch of the gnarliest things in some of the most dangerous sports I could come up with," says Wilson, from his parents home in Squaw Valley, "and my friends and I set out to do them all." So far he and a revolving crew of action sports accomplices -- including Byron Wells and Jesse Hall -- have been heli-skiing, BASE-jumping, wing-suiting, snowmobiling, sky diving, snowboarding, rope swinging and zip-lining around the world.

Wilson's full-time partners on the project are Patrick Rivelli, owner of the website unofficialsquaw.com, and Johnny DeCesare, filmmaker and founder of action film company Poor Boyz Productions. Rivelli, who had the original idea for the show, has contributed capital -- as have a few of Wilson's skiing sponsors -- while DeCesare has contributed filmmaking know-how and equipment. Wilson, who is an executive producer and the show's de facto star, has been responsible for rounding up the talent, and creating the game plan, which amounts to "going to some of the most beautiful places in the world with incredible backdrops and stuff to do something crazy or gnarly."

"It's kind of like 'Nitro Circus'-style stunts," says Wilson, "but with a little less of the 'Jackass' pranks, a little more serious, a little more dangerous, a little gnarlier. Everything that we're doing can kill you in a hurry, if anything goes wrong." WOW...Sounds exciting!

Screengrab: courtesy Hula Networks Wilson hopes his footage will land him a spot on a network show.

The inaugural episode was shot early last January in Venezuela. Wilson and a few buddies BASE-jumped Angel Falls, which has the biggest vertical plunge of any waterfall on Earth. "Everything was super mellow until the day before we went down there," says Wilson, "and we realized how dangerous this trip could really be." Caracas, Venezuela, has some of the highest murder and kidnapping rates in the world. "They're not exactly fond of Americans, either, and we're flying down there to do something super, super illegal. It went really smoothly, except for the drive-by shooting." No one, Wilson says, was hurt.

They've filmed six episodes so far "I've got the next 18 episodes rigged out on my computer," says Wilson. "Where we want to go, what we want to do, who's gonna be involved, how much it'll cost. But first we need to sell the show." DeCesare, who's based in Los Angeles, plans to shop it around to networks imminently. Wilson is confident it will sell. "We think we're doing something that hasn't been done before on T.V., and people will want to see it."

Wilson has certainly found an audience for his rope-swinging videos seen on YouTube -- one of which involves a 115-foot multi-flip into Lake Tahoe --which he says are "pretty mellow and minimal" compared to what they've shot for the show. "It's the kind of stuff that you'd literally dream up and say, 'Wouldn't this be cool if...'"

"Getting Away With It" is a working title for the show. "That's kind of what my life has always been about," says Wilson, who survived a 600-foot fall when his parachute malfunctioned during a BASE jump this past year, and is currently working on perfecting the ski triple cork to reveal at a competition in 2011. "I push the limits in everything I do -- on a pair skis, on a snowboard, with a parachute. And I've been pretty lucky because I've gotten away with it all."

Happy Birthday Collin Provost

Happy Birthday to Collin Provost Provost has been on the scene for quite some time but you might not have really noticed him until just recently. In the past year and a half, Provost has gone from the little super grom that we first took notice of in the Element Twigs video, "Tricks." For those that missed it, the video featured tiny groms with video parts that made full grown pros nervous. Nyjah Huston, Tyler Bledsoe and Provost had standout parts. After the Twigs team was dissolved, Huston, Bledsoe and Provost slid into am spots on the regular Element team where Provost stayed for several years. In that time, Provost grew about two feet and his skills on board went from grom good with kid style to just plain really good with straight up awesome style. Provost garnered recent attention with his switch from Element to Toy Machine. Provost was officially put on the Emerica shoe team as well (he'd been on the flow team for many years already). Welcoming Provost to the team, Emerica put out this two minutes of Collin's "throwaway" footage that won't be in his highly anticipated full part in the upcoming "Stay Gold" video..



EA Announces Development of SSX: Deadly Descents

Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) announced today the return of SSX™, one of the most critically-acclaimed videogame properties of all-time. A stunning reinvention of the classic action snowboarding franchise, SSX™: Deadly Descents packs adrenaline into every run with compelling characters and heart-pumping adventures as riders battle the most treacherous and diverse mountain ranges on Earth.

“An entire genre was born from the original SSX a decade ago, and it’s time to reboot one of the most popular franchises of all-time in an unpredictable and unexpected way,” said Peter Moore, President, EA SPORTS. “Fans have been begging for this since the launch of this generation of consoles, and we have an experience that will be worth the wait. This franchise has always been about racing, tricks, characters and fun – SSX: Deadly Descents will deliver all of that, and more, on a global scale, with rich online experiences, and with the sense of adventure never before imagined on a snowboard.”

Redefining the SSX franchise, SSX: Deadly Descents will pit riders versus both mountain and man. Players will explore the story of a team who seek to be the first to descend the faces of the most treacherous mountain ranges on the planet. The team will travel the world to face the worst that Mother Nature can throw at them. From the peaks of the Himalayas, where the air is so thin that riders have to descend through the death zone at breakneck speeds to keep from blacking out, to the solid ice ranges of Antarctica, where a sunlit line is the only survival option when temperatures drop 50 degrees centigrade in the shade. And the mountain isn’t the only danger players will face. In SSX: Deadly Descents the first goal is to survive. The second, in true SSX fashion, is to look good doing it.

SSX: Deadly Descents is in development at EA Canada under the EA SPORTS™ brand, and it will be available for the Xbox 360™ system and the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. The game has not yet been rated by the ESRB or PEGI.

EA SPORTS™ is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the world, with top-selling videogame franchises, award-winning interactive technology, global videogame competitions and breakthrough digital experiences. EA SPORTS delivers experiences that ignite the emotions of sport through industry-leading sports simulation videogames, including Madden NFL football, FIFA Soccer, NHL® hockey, NCAA® Football, Fight Night boxing, EA SPORTS MMA and Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® golf, and EA SPORTS Active.

Source: www.businesswire.com