Maloof Money Cup Press Conference
adamsullivan
- June 06 2008
- 2,067 views
- 10 comments
Alternate Title: Beer And Loathing In Las Vegas
This July, the Maloof family will host the richest skateboarding contest ever held—the Maloof Money Cup. The Maloofs flew me and my friends the crème de la crème of the skateboarding world out to Las Vegas for a press conference at their casino, The Palms. Brothers Joe and Gavin Maloof wanted to tell us about their contest, and they wanted us to hear it from them.
Joe was very up front about the fact that skating wasn’t his background. He told a story, which I can’t remember enough to quote, so I’ll paraphrase: Joe and Gavin have been running youth basketball camps for seven years. They like doing nice things for the kids. Joe recalls how he’d occasionally look outside and see what kids were doing, and how over the past few years it changed from basketball to skateboarding. Seems simple enough.
So in addition to basketball camps, they decided to host a skateboarding event. And they wanted it to be legit. So they put up the cash, and talked to as many people as they could, and the contest is going to happen at the Orange County Fairgrounds July 11-13.
In addition to the contest, the Maloofs are organizing a catastrophic health insurance organization for skaters that get catastrophically hurt. They were surprised we didn’t have anything like that already.
Okay, on to the photos:
This is Transworld Skateboarding’s Bender Kelley and Eric Stricker, and Matt. I met Matt in the San Diego airport, and over the course of a couple drinks he decided to get off of his Providence-bound plane and hang with us. We made him our “intern.” He’s from Boston.
We rolled in a limo that made beer runs.
VIP check in was in its own lounge, and the check-in girl was named “Say.” That warrants a photo.
Skatepark Of Tampa’s Ryan Clements had cornrows and etnies’ Ashton Maxfield had knee surgery, so they could both probably use your well-wishes.
Skateboarder’s Billy Deans and Jake Brown chilling poolside.
We introduced our “intern” to Biebel. Matt thought he was “Wiked Awesome.”
Billy Deans with Skatedaily’s Bryce Kanights.
Here’s the design for the street plaza. They are going to build it for the contest, and then demolish it immediately, because the Lucha Libre Mexican Wrestlers are coming to the Orange County Fairground the next day.
Clements took one for himself. I wonder what the SPOT street course will look like next year?
Ashton introduced me to his homey Joe. He owns the place.
Slap’s Eric Olson was there.
Sorry Clements. I had to.
At the press conference, everyone who was a part of the planning said a few words, Mark Waters, Rob Dyrdek, the Carl’s Jr. guy, it was cool. Robin Leach was there but he bolted before I got a photo.
Don Brown was there despite getting kicked out of the Palms the night before.
Zumiez’ Karyn Lewandowski and Coolio’s grandfather Ryan Clements
Oh, sick. Hot chicks. They were hanging out with us because we were suave and sexy paid to be there. Eerrwwww.
See?
Billy Deans can get girls to pose with him even if they’re not getting paid.
I told you they were paid to hang out with us. But they didn’t really want to hang out with us. I don’t think we’re a “good investment” kind of crowd. Leslie Kelley offered me $40 to do the worm. So I did.
Duffman was there. He brought Panda Express.
The waitress said. “There’s prime rib inside.”
The Duffman said: “I like Panda Express.”
The waitress said: “There’s jumbo shrimp, too.”
The Duffman said: “That’s cool. I like Panda Express.”
Then she brought me a free Coors, and him a 3-dollar Coke.
No, it’s cool. We’ve all been there. Sometimes, there’s three dudes in the entire club, and nobody’s paying attention to you. Sometimes, you gotta get up and dance.
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June 6th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Ah, paying girls to han gout with you. Reminds me of my highscho…
Cant wait for this im going to be there!
June 8th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
This whole thing is about as un-skateboarding as un-skateboarding can get.
June 9th, 2008 at 7:50 am
Looks like somebody is gonna get paid! Who cares why they are putting the contest on,it will be another great venue. The cat is out of the bag kiddies, skateboarding isn’t core anymore it’s the “”new soccer (only more successful).
June 9th, 2008 at 7:54 am
Hey fool, skateboarding hasn’t been skateboarding for about 5 years. But that’s cool ’cause now a lot of us bought houses and can afford to have families. Progression is good , don’t live in fear. Besides you and your friends can still tell each other how “core” you are (not that anyone else cares).
Peas!!
June 9th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
hopefully future events will spread the wealth sort of speak and support up and coming
skaters, kids, parks, etc — skateboarding is getting a little too snobby these days —
June 30th, 2008 at 10:09 am
THE MALOOF ARE A GREAT GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS AND ARE ALWAYS HELPIN OUT DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF OUR DAILY LIFES. A BUY THE WAY MOON NIGHTCLUB AT THE PALMS IS THE GREATEST PLACE TO COME AND VISIT AND WORK IN. A BIG THANKS GOES OUT TO ALL THE MALOOF FAMILY FROM ME A FELLOW CO-WORKERS AT MOON NIGHTCLUB.
July 12th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
hey, love the photos! only, there’s one thing missing… me! hehe If you paid for me to come it would have been more worth the money then those chicks! I’m hott, love skateboarding and adore suave guys such as you guys above. I’m trying to find out where the maloof is taking place. I’ve been searching and nothing yet. Email me please and let me know. Let me know if you guys would like to spend some time with sweet tina! It’ll be worth every minute! Promise!
Later skaters…
-Cristina Maria Costa
July 31st, 2009 at 7:03 am
Contests suck. Next step the Olympics or the high school skateboard leagues Contest suck, pure and simple. Skateboarding isn’t about being judged, proving your better than someone else, or skating the “right” way, its about doing whatever the hell you want, doing something creative, and having fun.
Joe and Gavin Magool should stick to basketball, owning hotels and banks, and making bad tv shows/movies.
Its nice that skateboarders are able to make some money but its sad to see how easily we are bought out. Also why is it that it takes these businessmen for skaters to finally start making some big money?. No one else in this 5.2 billion dollar industry can afford to offer big prize money? Zumiez you did 401 Million in sales last year and you can’t do anything other than a coach tour? Shoe companies you can’t chip in? No, all the shoe sales at Zumiez, Zappos.com, Journey’s, and Dillard’s aren’t making you enough money? We need to partner up with these businessmen?
After consulting and hiring all the right people to make a nice looking park, it is just demolished afterwards. Lots of cities don’t have skateparks and could sure use one. Its ridiculous and wasteful just to demolish the park after the contest. Why not do this in a city that could use a park? (The skater’s of Philadelphia are still trying to raise money for their park why not help them out?) At least this way the Magools would be contributing to skateboarding as a whole, instead of only lining a few skaters’ pockets.
The Magools aren’t skateboarders they are “bro's" and businessmen, and don’t have any right to do anything in skateboarding. Don’t fool yourself by thinking that they enjoy skating, want to help us out, etc. they saw a business opportunity, a way to make money off of us, and went for it.
A few skaters and industry guys getting some money doesn't bring all of skateboarders up, it brings a few skaters up and adds more wealth to large corporations…. just think how much money the local skate scene would have if half the shoes bought at Zumiez, PacSun, Journey's, Zappos, etc. went into the pockets of specialty retailers. That would have really brought skateboarding up, that would have spread the wealth, and made the skateboard scene as a whole better.