I have my sketpticism of Berra as well, but I gotta say- about two years ago he sent me a hoodie for pretty much nothing, for coming in 3rd or 4th in one of his silly little trivia things when their site was just starting up. I didn't even win and he sent me some free shit.
I know it ain't much, but it was one of the coolest things I've ever had a pro do for me. Most of them are too busy talking about their jaguars, BMWs, stories of model girlfriends, bragging about buying multiple houses & property, etc. It's so far delusional from the life of the average skate rat like us that actually fuels the industry, and the majority of the new kids take so much of it for granted. I'll give him a few points for at least trying to give something back at the end of a somewhat charmed career.
If that's what you're reading, then you are into very different skaters than I am. And I wouldn't be surprised to hear Berra talk about that stuff if he actually, you know, got any skating coverage. Oh wait! Sorry, he won't talk about that stuff because he's broke for putting every dime of his personal money (as well as making several other sacrifices) into making the Berrics what it is today--a fact that he has no problem bringing up as often as possible. I'd rather hear about buying houses than listen to Berra nail himself to a cross and then ask me to be thankful for all he's done for skateboarding.
Also, if you're surprised that a skater in the industry would do something nice for another skater, then you must not have interacted with a lot of people. I've had a bunch of positive experiences with people in the industry, some of whom I've never met in person, so getting a hoodie for coming third in a contest does not seem too outrageous to me.