Maloof Money Cup Press Conference

Bookmark and Share

adamsullivan

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:

img_35802.JPG

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.

img_3581.JPG

We rolled in a limo that made beer runs.

img_3583.JPG

img_3585.JPG

img_3588.JPG

VIP check in was in its own lounge, and the check-in girl was named “Say.” That warrants a photo.

img_3589.JPG

Skatepark Of Tampa’s Ryan Clements had cornrows and etnies’ Ashton Maxfield had knee surgery, so they could both probably use your well-wishes.

img_3591.JPG

Skateboarder’s Billy Deans and Jake Brown chilling poolside.

img_3592.JPG

We introduced our “intern” to Biebel. Matt thought he was “Wiked Awesome.”

img_3593.JPG

Billy Deans with Skatedaily’s Bryce Kanights.

img_3596.JPG

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.

img_3597.JPG

Clements took one for himself. I wonder what the SPOT street course will look like next year?

img_3598.JPG

Ashton introduced me to his homey Joe. He owns the place.

img_3601.JPG

Slap’s Eric Olson was there.

img_3602.JPG

Sorry Clements. I had to.

img_3604.JPG

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.

img_3618.JPG

Don Brown was there despite getting kicked out of the Palms the night before.

img_3620.JPG

Zumiez’ Karyn Lewandowski and Coolio’s grandfather Ryan Clements

img_3621.JPG

Oh, sick. Hot chicks. They were hanging out with us because we were suave and sexy paid to be there. Eerrwwww.

img_3630.JPG

See?

img_3632.JPG

Billy Deans can get girls to pose with him even if they’re not getting paid.

img_3636.JPG

img_3637.JPG

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.

img_3640.JPG

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.

img_3643.JPG

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.

2,067 views | Categorized: Features | Tags: Coolio, maloof money cup, Robin Leach

This website uses IntenseDebate comments, but they are not currently loaded because either your browser doesn't support JavaScript, or they didn't load fast enough.

8 Comments For This Post

  • Gary Says:

    Ah, paying girls to han gout with you. Reminds me of my highscho…

    Cant wait for this im going to be there!

  • ha ha Says:

    This whole thing is about as un-skateboarding as un-skateboarding can get.

  • so.cal Says:

    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).

  • so.cal Says:

    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!!

  • mark Says:

    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 —

  • GERALD Says:

    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.

  • Cristina Maria Says:

    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

  • Tom Templeton Says:

    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.

2 Trackbacks For This Post

  1. Maloof Money Cup News « Grimy Goods Says:

    [...] bad the goods are gettin tore down ASAP for Nacho Libre and his friends. Check out what the boys at Transworld Business covered at the Maloof Money Cup press [...]

  2. Buy Tamiflu Says:

    Buy Tamiflu…

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Related Articles