Toy Machine's Tom And Jerry - news about skateboarders

Thrasher Magazine, Dec, 2001 by Bob Burnquist

Tony Alva, the miscreant marketing genius is again confusing everyone. First Alva wore a particular brand shoe for years. Then that company is said to have offered TA a signature shoe deal. Then Tony appeared on the cover of the LA Weekly newspaper wearing another company's shoes. So company A is alleged to hove bettered company B's offer of 100 grand a year. Contracts are rumored to be done with A Corp and all of that. Now what is the latest rumor which supersedes all of the preceding? Alva has been given a five-year contract at 100 G per to start. This latest purported arrangement is described as being offered by both companies. Which will Alva sign? Or will he do something else entirely different? This morning Tony Alva was viewed driving a new BMW.

Jay Wilson is currently the most discussed mogul in skating as his company Vans has scored what is widely regarded as the biggest-selling signature shoe of all time. The Geoff Rowley has moved over a half million units so far. The Rowley NY Times Square billboard, the coast-to-coast bus shelter displays, and the widely-disseminated TV commercials are all evidence of the shoe's primacy. Other rumors have Vans taking control of both CCS and World Industries as well as having several television shows in the works. Even further afield is that JW has been observed plotting with a certain Von Dutch driver. Is this about movies, clothing or ? For the record, Mr. Wilson denies all of the above.

New York's Pat Smith will have plenty more to complain about now that he's become the first Black Label rider to ever get kicked off the team. The news is better for the Label's Patrick Melcher, who will have Destroyer trucks added to his boxes.

Osiris has added French Canadian vert warrior Pierre Luc to the team as well as Brazilian hair hider/contest winner Rodil de Araujo Jr. In related news, Osiris art director Ray Gauthier Cabbed the Carlsbad High gap. Photoshop that!

Med Choice's recently erected fence got tom down by some renegades, but it doesn't matter because there's always a truck parked in the landing anyway. Will Jon Alile's nollie Cab be the spot's last trick?

If recent World ads are correct, Swedish dish Mathias Ringstrom no longer skates for the Devil. No news on a new ride for Mathias.

Out in Fresno, the heavily sessioned Vagabond pool got iced while Ryan "RJ" Johnson moved into a new pad with a fully-skateable bowl in the back. In news dealing with other New Deal riders, cosmopolitan sophisticate Kenny "Ken" Reed is moving to Barcelona for a while with the UK's Paul Shier and is bound to get into all sorts of romantic entanglement... with sexy results. Steve Bailey is also rumored to be soon making the move to Spain.

151 team manager Darren Navarrette made some cuts, including Pigpen and his hair, the latter of which has given him a decidedly more Lugosi-esque appearance. Vamp-pal Peter Hewitt has moved to Portland along with Midwest beard-farming photog Joe Hammeke.

New Zero recruit John Rattray has swapped his Krux trucks for Thunders and will be forced to open all bottles with his teeth from now on.