Tony Hawk
He jumps, he spins, and now he's really on a roll. For nearly two decades, Tony Hawk has been the Michael Jordan of skateboarding, bringing the sport into mainstream America. He says, “I like to think that I’ve been able to show people that there are a lot of positive aspects to it."
The southern California native started skating when he was nine and turned pro at 14. Now at 34, he's a married father of three with countless trophies under his belt and an empire under his thumb. He says, “You know the stuff I’m doing, it has gone not necessarily beyond skating but the opportunities are beyond the skate industry."
From video games to toys, clothing to skating accessories, Hawk Inc. generates $250 million a year and Tony is chairman of the board. He says, “I don't like sitting in an office necessarily, but then again business is always challenging and trying to come up with creative ways to present what we do to people. That's fun too.”
And big business isn't all he's rolling in. Hawk recently hit the big screen in "The New Guy," appears in the new WB sitcom "What I Like About You" this fall, and was even voted sexiest athlete by Sports Illustrated for Women. He says, “It’s a pretty dubious honor in my circle of friends these days."
But no one can thrash Hawk too hard. This skate park prince still has a few tricks left. He says, “It's still a blast you know. I still love going out there and trying to do new stuff.”
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