Girl Skateboards x Mike Carroll x DMing Me

Picked up this Girl Skateboards deck in Toronto a week ago. It was really part of a premade complete, but the deck is the real gem. This makes three Mike Carroll decks in the collection.

Toronto Raptors x Charles Oakley [1998-99]

The 2020-21 NBA Season opened officially started on 22 December 2020, which the league also dubbed NBA Jersey Day. It also happened to be my 33rd birthday. For this special occassion, my older brother and sister-in-law blessed me with a Toronto Raptors Charles Oakley jersey.

This is the home style uniform the Toronto Raptors wore in 1998. Charles Oakley was one of my favourite players growing up and was really stoked when I first saw him in a Toronto Raptors jersey.

Born on 18 December 1963 in Cleveland OH, Charles Oakley played collegiately for Virginia Union between 1981-85. In the 1985 NBA Entry Draft, he was selected 9th overall by the Cleveland Cavs before his draft rights were traded to the Chicago Bulls. In 1988, he was traded to the New York Knicks where he'd spend the next 10 seasons.

In 1998, he was traded to the Toronto Raptors providing veteran leadership for a very young team which included Tracy McGrady [Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee Class of '17] and Vince Carter [1999 NBA Rookie of the Year]. In 2001, he was traded to Chicago and would have brief stints with the Washington Wizards and Houston Rockets before retiring as a player in 2004.

NBA Career Highlights
1, 282 games played
12, 417 total points [9.7 PPG]
12, 205 total rebounds [9.5 RPG]
3, 217 total assists [2.5 APG]
1986 NBA All-Rookie First Team
1994 NBA All-Defensive First Team
1994 NBA All-Star
1998 NBA All-Defensive Second Team

"If it ain't broke, don't break it." - Charles Oakley

Deathwish Skateboards "Uncrossed"

I know I'm a bit late catching up on this, but thought I'd share since I've been a major fan of Deathwish Skateboards since day one. Unfortunately, many pros from their inception and first video are nowhere to be seen in Uncrossed. But this new crop does not disappoint at all.

F-cking Awesome x America Please & Supreme x Independent Trucks & Spitfire Wheels

Within the past few months, I think I've supported more online classified sellers than I have skate shops. The deals just seem too good to pass up and this is definitely one of them. Recently, I acquired an FA complete skateboard a seller purchased at Supreme. I was sort of bummed to see how the store messed up so much on setting it up. The grip had bubbles and the trucks were not the right width. It was a debacle and had to be dismantled and re-gripped. Overall though, I'm very pleased to have come across this setup and can't wait until next spring to skate this.

The setup included a set of Independent Trucks featuring the classic Supreme box logo. Unfortunately, they were not wide enough for the deck. Still a great keepsake for when I feel like skating a thinner board again.

Of course the wheels need to match if you're going all out Supreme. The board rolled on a set of 51mm Spitfire Classics.

This picture will always hold a special place in my heart. Back in 2011, I met pre-FA pro Anthony Van Engelen at Supreme in Los Angeles. The figure in the background between our heads is Mos Def [who paid straight up cash for his entire purchase].

Thrasher Magazine just released FA pro's Elijah Berle's Closeout the Year video part.

Alien Workshop x Omar Salazar x Aplha Series

I was extremely surprised to find this Alien Workshop Omar Salazar skateboard deck online for a very decent price. Omar Salazar has always been one of the best out there and the few Nike SB pros to receive a pro model. Since their inception in 1989, Alien Workshop has been one of the most revered companies with legendary pros and classic videos.

The Alpha Series was Released in late 2012 just before AWS shut down before reforming again in 2015. I love how the top graphic features every pro's name including Dylan Rieder who sadly passed away in 2016.

Flip Skateboards x Arto Saari [2004]

Recently bought this deck off an online seller who clearly did not know what she had and the price was too good to pass up. Released in [my] glory days of skateboarding in 2004, this Flip Skateboards Arto Saari deck is in amazing condition. Over the years, he has always been one my favourites, and was very lucky to come across a few more things related to him.

This past spring/summer, I took an hour drive out west to pick up a lot of skateboard DVDs. Not sure what the seller's history was, but he had some major gems. One was this Quiksilver promo signed by Arto Saari himself.

Take away the board, take away the signature, nothing will live up to when I met the 2001 Thrasher Skater of the Year on my way to work in Toronto about five years ago.

The video part that started it all; éS Footwear: Menikmati from 2000.

Fucking Awesome x Tyshawn Jones x TJ Racer

About a year ago, a skate shop owner and I put a trade together and was sent this FA Tyshawn Jones deck. The 2018 Thrasher SOTY deserves a lot of props.

Toy Machine x Know Pleasure

When it comes to buying legit skateboard decks, online ads never seem to fail. This 8.5" Toy Machine deck caught my eye and the seller was willing to let it go for dirt freaking cheap. I've been a major fan of theirs since I've started skating and they never fail to deliver.

Of all the pros to have skated for Toy Machine, Brian Anderson is my favourite. I could watch his Jump Off A Building part on loop for an entire day.

OJ Wheels x Jake Johnson x Dream Girl

Haven't had a set of OJ Wheels in a long time. Decided to grab a set of Jake Johnson pro models at a bargain price. Definitely going to set these up once my current wheels are out of commission.

DGK Deck & 411VM Issue 67

Not exactly sure what the name of this DGK deck is called, but it has a model drinking a 40oz. I no longer have this having sold it after skating it for a bit. I highly recommend DGK decks if you're looking to try them out.

I think I purchased this off eBay, or most likely found it at the thrift store. But this is the last official 411VM before they revamped their image in the mid-2000s. It was a pretty sad feeling when I picked up a new 411VM and it just wasn't the same. This issue also has one of my favourite Day in the Life segments featuring Rob Dyrdek. RIP 411VM.

Girl x Mike Carroll x Shutter OG

This past March before the quarantine/lockdown thing, I headed up to Thornhill to take advantage of Sanction Skate & Snow's deck sale. I came across one of my favourite Girl Skateboards pros, Mike Carroll, in the discount box in a size I'm willing to try in the near future.

Heroin Skateboards x Lee Yankou x Imp

Over this past summer, I purchased a Heroin Skateboards Lee Yankou deck from a friend in Alberta (I think?). Lee Yankou has been one of my favourite skaters and being Canadian adds a lot more. He's once graced the cover of Transworld and featured on The Berrics. I've met him a handful of times at Blue Tile Lounge skateboard shop and you can't ask for anyone nicer. What's rad about this deck in particular are the Canadian/Greater Toronto Area landmarks printed into the graphic such as "BTL," "Dunbat," "Ted's Collision," and "CBMK."

Edmonton Oilers x Wayne Gretzky [1981-1988]

Today's jersey post is Wayne Gretzky of the Edmonton Oilers, only this time, it's the road colours with the dark blue body with the orange and white trim. I absolutely love the dark coloured versions of these jerseys. It was the style the team wore in the glory years when they won 4 Stanley Cup Championships in the 1980s.

I posted an earlier entry of my custom version of this jersey, but this is an official CCM Vintage product. Originally purchased as a blank, the name and numbers were added on later. I can never get over how triple layered tackle twill looks on a road uniform.

RIP Joey Moss
In 1985, the organizations mentioned in the video were renamed to The Canadian Association for Community Living. On 14 September 2014, they rebranded to Inclusion Canada.

Newly Acquired Decks

Primitive x Franky Villani x This Very Moment, 9.125" x 32.18"

 

Fancy Lad x Cops, 8.38" x 31.75"

 

Girl x MikeMo Capaldi x Oil Slick, 8.125" x 31.625"

 

Converse Cons x Louie Lopez Pro

One of my favourite shoe pickups this year at a crazy bargain price. These Cons Louie Lopez Pro have one of the best fits and colour looks so much nicer in person. I highly recommend you to pick up a pair as well.

Girl Skateboards x Mike Carroll & Rick Howard x Golden Girls

A very kind seller from Quebec blessed me with two amazing Girl Skateboard decks. Being a fan of Crailtap and The Golden Girls TV show, these were a must-have. Mike Carroll has always been one of my favourites since I started skating and BC native Rick Howard is a Canadian national treasure.

The decks were part of series which made up one complete picture. Apparently, very few are presently in existence due to a cease and desist order from The Golden Girls copyright holders.

Atlanta Hawks x Shareef Abdur-Rahim [2003-04]

A little throwback post for a throwback post. It's been a while since posting a jersey on a Sunday. Before going in-depth, I realize the format of this blog is looking a lot different. I went with new technology and now using a new desktop PC and for some reason, Blogger has done this to me. I'll figure it out eventually. Nevertheless, it won't stop me from posting content from time to time. This post will focus on the Atlanta Hawks Shareef Abdur-Rahim Hardwood Classics jersey from the 2003-04 season.

Paying homage to the team of the 1970s, this jersey features a vibrant green body with blue letters and numbers. The blue and white stripes add a nice touch. While players back in the day sported nicknames, this particular jersey sports the player's first.

The Atlanta Hawks first reintroduced this jersey for four games in the 2003-04 season. Sadly, they were 0-4.

Born on 11 December 1976, Shareef Adbur-Rahim was drafted 3rd overall by the Vancouver Grizzlies in the 1996 NBA Entry Draft. Averaging 18.7 PPG and 6.9 RPG, he received All-Rookie First Team honours. In 2001, he was traded to the Atlanta Hawks where he'd spend the next three seasons. He was traded again to the Portland Trailblazers in 2003 and signed a 3-year deal with the Sacramento Kings in 2005. He would retire as a player at the end of the 2007-08 season.

NBA Highlights & Awards 

1997 All-Rookie First Team 

2002 NBA All-Star 

15, 028 total points [18.1 PPG]

6, 239 total rebounds [7.5 RPG]

2, 109 total assists [2.5 APG]

"Sport has the power to change the world." - Shareef Abdur-Rahim

Newly Acquired Decks

Philadelphia Flyers x Eric Lindros [1992 - 2000]

It's been a crazy long while since I've posted, but thought my "comeback" blog should centre around something very sentimental. Today's jersey post Eric Lindros of the Philadelphia Flyers. This was a custom made item, the shirt was from a thrift store and the patches were from eBay. It was all pieced together professionally from Game Day Sports.


This was the road style jersey worn during the 1990s. The letters are stitched along with the double layered numbers on the sleeves and Captain's patch. For this post, I'm choosing to mainly cover his career with the Flyers.


Born on 28 February 1973 in London, ON Canada, Eric Lindros played junior hockey for the Oshawa Generals [1989 - 1992]. In the 1991 NHL Entry Draft, he was selected no. 1 overall by the Quebec City Nordiques before being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers about one year later while he remained in Oshawa. For the next 8 seasons, Lindros would collect several awards in the NHL including both a Hart Memorial Trophy and a Lester B. Pearson Award in 1995. His only Stanley Cups Finals appearance was in 1997 in a losing effort.


In the summer 2001, after eight seasons with the Flyers, Eric Lindros was traded to the New York Rangers, making one All-Star Game appearance in 2002. He would then sign as a free agent with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2005. In 2006, he signed a one-year contract with the Dallas Stars playing 49 games before retiring in the offseason.


Eric Lindros has represented Team Canada nine times. Three appearances in the World Juniors [1990 (gold medal), 1991 (gold medal), 1992], once for the Canada Cup [1991 (Champion)], three times in the Olympics [1992 (silver medal), 1998, 2002 (gold medal)] and once for the World Cup of Hockey [1996].


NHL Career Highlights and Achievements
1993 All-Rookie Team
1995 Hart Memorial Trophy
1995 Lester B. Pearson Award
1995 First All-Star Team
1996 Second All-Star Team
7x All-Star [1994, 1996-00, 2002]
760 GP, 372 G, 493 A, no. 88 retired by the Philadelphia Flyers in his honour
2016 Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee as a player


What makes this jersey sentimental is the personally in-scripted autograph on the number. My mom worked for a client who knew Eric Lindros and gave it to me as a birthday gift.