Mo Goes - a level headed reminder

[feeble warhorse]

Steve-

Doesn't seem like the phone panned out too well, so I'll give it a shot here. To preface, I'm not really looking to get into a bunch of heated rhetoric about this, but I do feel like we should have some dialogue about this Mike Mo thing that's going on right now.

I'm not so na've as to think that he won't have his suitors over the course of time, nor am I going to try and deprive the guy of any opportunities he deems suitable for himself if he feels like the ones we provide aren't enough. However, I am a little taken aback about how aggressive and somewhat negative I understand the approach to have been.

On the one hand, I feel like the basic guideline for what we both do is 'for the skaters, by the skaters'. On the other, from what I've heard, some of what's being conveyed to Mike Mo is that Lakai will never be a company that can give him what's on offer outside of here. In essence, a sort of penalization for being run in a manner we both champion. A bit ironic.

I'm not saying Lakai is ever going to be a 500 million dollar company, but we've spent the better part of the last year fighting to get it somewhere it can be better than the third option, and we're finally in the closing stage of making that happen. Whereas in the past there may have been some non-skate element to help justify walking away from Lakai, that won't be the case going forward.
Even as a third option under pre-existing circumstance, Lakai has finally taken hold in the market and is showing great promise. Going forward, we're gong to bring in as many skateboarders as possible (employees and riders) to finally help us fulfill the potential we know is there. In doing so, I actually am confident we'll finally be able to grow to a level where we can give back to skateboarders and skateboarding comparably.

In closing, as I said before, I won't stand in the way of any decision Mike Mo decides to make when his contract expires at the end of the year. But I am asking that as someone who owns and runs a company under the same premise as us, that you reconsider before offering the idea that a skateboarder can't get the most out of skateboarding unless it's through a company that mostly profits outside of skateboarding.

As two people that are interested in keeping whatever commanding heights of the industry are left in the hands of skateboarders, I would like to think this is something we could both agree corresponds with our longer term ideals. If we truly want to get to a level where skate brands can provide the most for skateboarders, it seems like the overall message should be consistent no matter what the context.

[Eschaton]

I quit reading when I noticed all your apostrophes were replaced with question marks. 

[feeble warhorse]

whoops, thanks for the heads up. Give it another try.

[oyolar]

Who is "feeble warhorse?"

[feeble warhorse]

just a friend passing along a message that I agree with

[Rumpleforeskin]

Da slap boreds arent 4 friends bud, zo fuck off guy

[crailtapsill]

yur big werdz really speak 2 me

[Bertie]

From who, to who?

Lakai is long overdue some good news.

[mock nugget]

To me it seems like Mike Mo is being courted to leave Lakai for DC by Steve Berra, and Rick Howard or whoever owns/TMs Lakai is trying to tell him to reconsider.

[Benny Hanna]

Steve-

Doesn't seem like the phone panned out too well, so I'll give it a shot here. To preface, I'm not really looking to get into a bunch of heated rhetoric about this, but I do feel like we should have some dialogue about this Mike Mo thing that's going on right now.

I'm not so na've as to think that he won't have his suitors over the course of time, nor am I going to try and deprive the guy of any opportunities he deems suitable for himself if he feels like the ones we provide aren't enough. However, I am a little taken aback about how aggressive and somewhat negative I understand the approach to have been.

On the one hand, I feel like the basic guideline for what we both do is 'for the skaters, by the skaters'. On the other, from what I've heard, some of what's being conveyed to Mike Mo is that Lakai will never be a company that can give him what's on offer outside of here. In essence, a sort of penalization for being run in a manner we both champion. A bit ironic.

I'm not saying Lakai is ever going to be a 500 million dollar company, but we've spent the better part of the last year fighting to get it somewhere it can be better than the third option, and we're finally in the closing stage of making that happen. Whereas in the past there may have been some non-skate element to help justify walking away from Lakai, that won't be the case going forward.
Even as a third option under pre-existing circumstance, Lakai has finally taken hold in the market and is showing great promise. Going forward, we're gong to bring in as many skateboarders as possible (employees and riders) to finally help us fulfill the potential we know is there. In doing so, I actually am confident we'll finally be able to grow to a level where we can give back to skateboarders and skateboarding comparably.

In closing, as I said before, I won't stand in the way of any decision Mike Mo decides to make when his contract expires at the end of the year. But I am asking that as someone who owns and runs a company under the same premise as us, that you reconsider before offering the idea that a skateboarder can't get the most out of skateboarding unless it's through a company that mostly profits outside of skateboarding.

As two people that are interested in keeping whatever commanding heights of the industry are left in the hands of skateboarders, I would like to think this is something we could both agree corresponds with our longer term ideals. If we truly want to get to a level where skate brands can provide the most for skateboarders, it seems like the overall message should be consistent no matter what the context.

Whut ?

[bandini]

I'm simultaneously confused, intrigued and disgusted.
 

[Cthulhu!]

tl;dr

[Nydoggular]

I'm simultaneously confused, intrigued and disgusted.
 

[Decreed Bratton]

Steve-

Doesn't seem like the phone panned out too well, so I'll give it a shot here. To preface, I'm not really looking to get into a bunch of heated rhetoric about this, but I do feel like we should have some dialogue about this Mike Mo thing that's going on right now.

I'm not so na've as to think that he won't have his suitors over the course of time, nor am I going to try and deprive the guy of any opportunities he deems suitable for himself if he feels like the ones we provide aren't enough. However, I am a little taken aback about how aggressive and somewhat negative I understand the approach to have been.

On the one hand, I feel like the basic guideline for what we both do is 'for the skaters, by the skaters'. On the other, from what I've heard, some of what's being conveyed to Mike Mo is that Lakai will never be a company that can give him what's on offer outside of here. In essence, a sort of penalization for being run in a manner we both champion. A bit ironic.

I'm not saying Lakai is ever going to be a 500 million dollar company, but we've spent the better part of the last year fighting to get it somewhere it can be better than the third option, and we're finally in the closing stage of making that happen. Whereas in the past there may have been some non-skate element to help justify walking away from Lakai, that won't be the case going forward.
Even as a third option under pre-existing circumstance, Lakai has finally taken hold in the market and is showing great promise. Going forward, we're gong to bring in as many skateboarders as possible (employees and riders) to finally help us fulfill the potential we know is there. In doing so, I actually am confident we'll finally be able to grow to a level where we can give back to skateboarders and skateboarding comparably.

In closing, as I said before, I won't stand in the way of any decision Mike Mo decides to make when his contract expires at the end of the year. But I am asking that as someone who owns and runs a company under the same premise as us, that you reconsider before offering the idea that a skateboarder can't get the most out of skateboarding unless it's through a company that mostly profits outside of skateboarding.

As two people that are interested in keeping whatever commanding heights of the industry are left in the hands of skateboarders, I would like to think this is something we could both agree corresponds with our longer term ideals. If we truly want to get to a level where skate brands can provide the most for skateboarders, it seems like the overall message should be consistent no matter what the context.

Whut ?

It's from Kelly Bird's Facebook.

[Dominic Hynard]

In my opinion, Mike Mo wouldn't really suit DC, he seems like a DVS sort of person. But is not really gonna change that much, it's sill the same Mike Mo we all love and the same tricks, just different shoes/shirts.

[j....soy.....]

steve...remember that time you tried to steal rick's, 'real cool black guy....' line?

[LazyEinstein]

Who cares Mike Mo is wack. I said it before and I'll say it again. 1 good video part should not equal a pro status or a career in skateboarding. He deserves no shoe sponsor

[TrainWreck]

Who cares Mike Mo is wack. I said it before and I'll say it again. 1 good video part should not equal a pro status or a career in skateboarding. He deserves no shoe sponsor

well, this vid pretty much sums up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZmdAAnAOuw&feature=related
	Small | Large

[LazyEinstein]

Who cares Mike Mo is wack. I said it before and I'll say it again. 1 good video part should not equal a pro status or a career in skateboarding. He deserves no shoe sponsor

well, this vid pretty much sums up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZmdAAnAOuw&feature=related

So he pulls all the annoying gerbs, skate trolls, and kids 6 and under with scooters away for the actually demo to the parking lot?? I guess I can see now why skate teams would bring him. He helps keep the demo under control for the real skaters to watch the real pros. Doesn't mean he needs to be sponsored or pro.

[TrainWreck]

Who cares Mike Mo is wack. I said it before and I'll say it again. 1 good video part should not equal a pro status or a career in skateboarding. He deserves no shoe sponsor

well, this vid pretty much sums up

So he pulls all the annoying gerbs, skate trolls, and kids 6 and under with scooters away for the actually demo to the parking lot?? I guess I can see now why skate teams would bring him. He helps keep the demo under control for the real skaters to watch the real pros. Doesn't mean he needs to be sponsored or pro.

yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah kinda, but one the other hand ... kids buy EVERYTHING that has mo`s name on it ... + his youtube-fame.

[alrightythen]

Whos the guy behind the camera? i reaaaally hope he knows mo

[planman]

Mike Mo is gnarly. I said it before and I'll say it again. 2 great video parts should be equal a pro status or a career in skateboarding. He deserves a great shoe sponsor

fixed

Edit:
Nike, etinies, or adidas. called it

[oyolar]

Whos the guy behind the camera? i reaaaally hope he knows mo

It was Nieratko and I assume he knows Mike Mo.

[crackrazor]

Whos the guy behind the camera? i reaaaally hope he knows mo

It was Nieratko and I assume he knows Mike Mo.

I'm liking your tumblr man. Good shit.

[johnokagain]

He deserves no shoe sponsor

i don't know about that.

[LOU.502]

this is weird

[TomTom]

wow, weird to have someone like Bird go out in the open like that,...

[augustmoon]

berra must have been ignoring his calls

i've been sick of berra for a while now, and i thought his exit from professional skateboarding would finally silence him a little bit, but it looks like his behind the scenes role is making him even more of a monster than before. 

get a grip on that ego cuz

[oyolar]

Whos the guy behind the camera? i reaaaally hope he knows mo

It was Nieratko and I assume he knows Mike Mo.

I'm liking your tumblr man. Good shit.

Thanks homie.

Here's Kelly Bird's profile where that e-mail came from: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=629372273&sk=wall . I guess he wrote that e-mail back in March and never heard back from this Steve (who I think we can assume is Berra).

[G.Lewis]

Skateboarding: come for the fun...stay for the drama.