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What's really surprising is that his corporate sponsors didn't toss him aside as he aged and his skate productivity dipped. Cause Theotis really isn't being featured in videos like he used to be (outside of his own instagram), you gotta admit. Maybe it's just my algorithms, but I've seen noticeably less of the guy than I did 7-8 years ago.
However, the fact that he has those sponsors and has had them for this long is enough evidence for me to understand how he got his finances in order. He just used the money wisely, that's not something you really loudly promote unless you're a horse or something. Also definitely suggests the companies saw his numerous positive qualities and realized he was marketable for more than just his skating.
Look the “Theotis bought a Bentley” shit was in a bunch of skate mags, just like when P Rod bought a bunch of people Cadillacs. I don’t have this inside track to pros personal lives that everyone else seems to here.
And you’re basically getting to what I was talking about. He’s not particularly coverage heavy (Malto on Mountain Dew isn’t either anymore but used to be hot shit) so it’s surprising he has those sponsors. He’s not a Dew Tour guy or anything and they haven’t really done any commercials videos promoting him. You don’t really see that in other athletic endeavors, so I thought it was interesting to talk about.
Hell, people on these boards were bitching a week ago that 40+ year old MJ didn’t skate enough anymore to merit an Adidas sponsorship because he isn’t producing as much as he used to and he’s easily a Top 10 Skater of All Time, but I guess Theotis must be protected at all costs even from people who weren’t insulting or coming at him.
I really do agree with what you were saying, and I think what's surprising to both of us is that his sponsors still support him despite not being a footage machine, even though he is a great guy with a squeaky clean image. In an industry/culture where we do have casual fans talking shit about productivity of beloved legends, that is abnormal.
I also agree it's interesting to talk about, especially because it suggests (and I'll admit I don't know this to be fact, but it seems entirely plausible) that Theotis knew where to put/how to use the money that was coming in, as well as how to negotiate contracts and keep those sponsors for reasons other than just skating. He had to be doing things on his end to maintain those contracts, big companies aren't just gonna pay you because you're nice and support your family/community... he was bringing them money in too. Being a good role model/having a clean image is something he has on his side, though.
I think you've been misunderstood and very important points you've made have been ignored, like how you mentioned that skaters' blackness is often co-opted by companies in skateboarding for financial gain/image, and how you acknowledged that black skaters draw a special kind of criticism because of their race. These are serious problems when it comes to race and skateboarding... not wondering how Theotis Beasley financed his Bentley.
I think the way you phrased your question was asking for a little fire, talking about his skill level and wondering how
he ever managed it, rather than asking the better question which is why did his corporate sponsors not act like corporate sponsors and drop him when he fell out of the limelight in skateboarding as he aged? I really do think the answer is Theotis knows how to manage money/contracts and do what needs to he done to get paid behind the scenes.
Topic: Kader on Nike (Read 72062 times)