MovieChat Forums > Life of Ryan (2007) Discussion > ESPN article...

ESPN article...

posted 16 years ago by xMags
10 replies | jump to latest

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3492225

For some reason, it made me really sad to read this. Back in the day where he won the 2003 X Games, you would have never thought he'd end up here. You could tell the person who wrote the article about him wasn't exactly thrilled.

I feel like he's slowly forgetting what even got him there in the first place; his skateboarding. If anything, he should just focus on that. Suddenly he's all about the stuff, all about the wins.

But for some stupid reason, I can't help but want to cheer the stupid kid on, I just hope he can get his head back to earth someday.

[–] xonikkiox 16 years ago

That was a great article. Long, but great.
"To the real world, Sheckler is a hot guy who happens to skate. But to the skate world, he's Paris Hilton on wheels."
Hahahah! So true!

What they were saying about the Ryan Sheckler fans at competitions is something that bothers me so much. I'm 16 years old & my friend & I went to the Dew Tour in June & I hated the fact that most people looked at us & thought "Hm, two 16 year old girls alone at a skateboarding competition? Definitely only here for Sheckler." My friend & I are both huge P-Rod & Lutzka fans & we knew every skateboarder who competed that day. The Sheckler fans that were there were SO ANNOYING! I was sitting behind a whole group of them & every time the announcer said Ryan's name they would start screaming & squealing. I swear I was about to knock them out. But at least we went in DC & Volcom shirts, instead of those "RYAN SHECKLER'S FUTURE GIRLFRIEND!" shirts that Ryan has on his little clothing line. Disgusting.

[–] DE4Life 16 years ago

He's not one of my favorite skaters out there, but I recognize his incredible talent and the good things he's done for the sport. And frankly, the Sheckler haters are a bunch of jealous hypocrites. He doesn't conform to how they think skaters should act so they call him a "sellout" and hate on him. It's actually kind of pathetic.

[–] MJ8069 16 years ago

The thing is anybody would do what he does. He's just taking the talent god gave him and making money off it. Who doesn't wish they could make as much money as him? People love Rob Dyrdek and to me they're the same when it comes to business. It all seems hypocritical to me

[–] Jordanxx3 16 years ago

I don't hate him, I just don't like what he has become. He's a great skateboarder, but now thats really all he has going for him. I was a fan of him years before the show, and I can tell you he has changed. I think I have the right to not like him anymore without being a hypocrite. He is a wonderful skateboarder, but I remember when he was a great skateboarder and a decent kid.

Rob Dyrdek didn't make a show where all he does is whine and complain. Rob Dyrdek doesn't treat his best friends like crap. That is why I like Rob Dyrdek better.

[–] xMags 16 years ago

Definitely, I can still appreciate that he's an awesome skateboarder. Duh. And, I realize capitalizing on business opportunities can be another important source of income for athletes, I mean, look at Tony Hawk and BMX'er Dave Mirra. But seriously, chapstick? It reaches a point where it's just about how much you can make yourself into a product. That, to me, is a sellout. It reminds me of the whole Hannah Montana franchise. Disney gripped onto a sellable product and are marketing it until all of us get completely sick of it. And that Cyrus girl isn't even half as talented as Ryan Sheckler, but he's putting himself on the same level.

People say that people who call Ryan Sheckler a sellout are just jealous, but I'm not. I would never be able to handle the responsibilities put on his shoulders, I couldn't wing it. But there's just others in his position, and they handle it with more class. I guess I can't judge, because I don't know what I would do if I was in his situation, but some things aren't as complicated as people make them out to be.

[–] Jordanxx3 16 years ago

I agree with everything you said, eMGeeKay. Just because we don't agree with everything he does, doesn't make us jealous or a hypocrite. Right after the show came out, I used to defend him because I was still a hardcore fan. Then it got to the point where I really didn't care to defend him anymore. Most of the people that were here before the show started don't even come on here anymore or when they do come on here they don't do it to say good things about him, and that says a lot.

I'm sure if you guys were big fans of him before the show came out then you would see where I'm coming from.

[–] xMags 16 years ago

Yeah, it kinda sucks when I was watching the X Games at twelve and thought he was THE coolest thing around. I couldn't believe that a guy only a year older than me could be traveling the world doing skateboarding. It's just that now instead of being a fan of his, I'm just a fan of his skateboarding.

[–] socalhunniie 16 years ago

Agreed.
He used to not only be a really good skateboarder, but a decent person. Normal.

But now, I think, Hes proof of what happened when noone says no to you.

Your head inflates and you change.

[–] vertigo_14 16 years ago

rogers and his mom are among the ones in the article who say that people unjustifiably hate on sheckler. i think some of that criticism isn't so much about sheckler himself, but the fact that pro skating is basically all about pushing products. and it's been going on long before sheckler even went pro. and probably the most guilty among them is tony hawk. it's just sad to see that this is what skateboarding is publically represented as. and for that, the criticism is well justified.

Shoot me, Dragon!

[–] oh_thats_hot_xoxo 15 years ago

I also used to be a fan of Sheckler way before the show started.. most girls who are fans of him only heard of him because of the show and they like him for his looks not his talent.
I agree that Sheckler has changed SO much. He used to be so modest, but now its like the fame got to his head. He's turned into a famewhore almost.. I mean, did anyone see that Proactive commercial WTF?? Its like he's milking his fame for all its worth. It seems like he's skating for the money--not because he truly loves the sport..I saw this new episode today where he basically admitted that he wanted to win the Xgames so he can silence the haters.
That article makes Ryan seem like he's turned into this cold person, its sad really.. I hope he snaps out of it.