Damn, I feel a little disappointed that everyone is willing to trounce all over TK for departing. I don't really care if he comes across as ungrateful or something, because business usually sours relationships in the real world. Who knows what led to it all? Pretty sure reynolds said in a video interview once that Dollin once had a combative stance over pay at bakerboys, with reynolds ultimately concluding, "everyone gets paid the same." Maybe it was that?
He's definitely a weird personality, and people always say we need more of it in skating, but when ever we get one, or someone veers into that territory, people are always averse to it. I mean, Terry's gotten weirder, but I think the hate's unnecessary. I don't recall him ever hurting or decieving others. He's never pummled a young james hardy, called his sponsorships "vomit", or stole hundreds of dollars worth or warehouse merch. I think he's had a respectable career for the most part. & I don't think anyone should really use the "milking-it" argument against him, either, given that many longtime pros do the exact same thing.
As much as we all revere Reynolds, you have to remember: he didn't build his empire all on his own. He may own the keys to the house, but Reynolds built his brand predicated on someone else's creative blueprint (J strickland), and ran with it. & the cast of characters he had with him animated it. One has to look no further than Supreme/Fa, to understand that "how" you present your branding/image to the masses is arguably the most important factor when pushing a brand. And Tk had a large part in influencing that spirit. Reynolds, Ellington, and greco have even gone on record acknowledging this, from baker to shake junt, etc.
It's an inevitability that all pro skaters will eventually get pushed out from skating. Due either to audience disconnect, generational turnover, decline in skill... whatever. Don't know if this is it for Terry, but why not say congratulations on a skate career, instead? Like it or not, TK has his place in skating lore: he's a trailblazer in being one of the few recognizable black pro skaters (in cross-over culture), he's supplied creative genius to the baker-boy umbrella, influenced others to skate. This is a decent career, IMO. I just don't see the need to shit on him when he's possibly in his twilight. He's given his gratitude to baker countless times in interviews.
Reynolds houses, to me, what feels like a largely inactive roster of skaters. I swear, I feel like I always see bakerboys stuff on sale, don't really feel the presence of their roster in skating (apart from Funk/Kader). How much longer can bakerboys go?