New year's resolutions are for people who don't keep them. But whenever the calendar year flips, it reminds us that our time here is limited, how do you want to spend it? I'm starting my new year by focusing on this quote by Hunter S. Thompson.
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and preserved body, but rather skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, 'Wow..what a ride.'"
I found this quote in the book, Fearless, which is the biography of Adam Lee Brown, a Navy SEAL who overcame the loss of his dominant hand and eye and still made it through the selection process to DEVGRU (US Naval Special Warfare Development Group) aka, SEAL Team Six. He gave his life for this great country on March 17, 2010. No matter what you do or what your passions are, give it 100% in the new year.
After Nike's failed attempt at making inroads in the surfing industry, they have finally latched on the huge popularity of MMA. Nike's first big sponsorship deal was with current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Jon Jones. But during his first fight sponsored by Nike in September, Jones' fight shorts were also covered with other logos in typical MMA fashion. The Nike swoosh was black and not easily visible on the back of Jones' shorts. These fighters don't make that much for each fight compared to other athletes so multiple sponsors are necessary, which makes each logo less prominent on the limited space of fight shorts.
However, last night Nike was clearly the main sponsor on the shorts of Junior Dos Santos (seen above) in his fight against UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez. Either Dos Santos has a lack of sponsors (not likely), or Nike is starting to put up enough money that fighters don't need to scrounge around for smaller sponsors. Either way, it will be interesting to see if Nike sticks around or leaves the sport after a year or two like they did with surfing.
We have looked into our crystal ball, explored the Mayan tombs, rolled our chicken bones, and this is how 2013 will unfold....
5. Bob Haro will unveil his Ikonix bike, no one will be able to buy it, they will all be sold to collectors at obscene prices. Haro will use that seed money to start a retro line of Haro Master BMX bikes.
4. ZoSea Media will finally get a website, create a some sort of business plan, draft a mission statement, and basically let people know who they are and what they plan on doing with the ASP Tour in 2014.
3. Hurley will sponsor John John Florence (with Nike's money). If Nike couldn't get a world champ in 2012, they'll just sponsor as many surfers as possible behind the guise of the Hurley brand.
2. Areas devestated by Hurricane Sandy like the Rockaways, Long Beach, Coastal NJ will all rebuild and come back stronger than before.
1. Aliens will land on Earth and reclaim Kelly Slater as one of their own. Why do you think his wave pools are round? Perfect landing pads for the flying saucers. He will take surfing to new planets, thus preventing another year of him beating kids less than half his age on the ASP Tour.
Joel Parkinson is the new ASP Champion. Congratulations go out to him. Unfortunately, Kelly Slater was eliminated in the semi-finals at the Billabong Pipeline Masters. Parko will surf against Josh Kerr in the finals in about 20 minutes (its currently 3:00pm Hawaiin time as I write this), but regardless of the outcome, Parkinson is the champ. Kelly Slater will have to settle for being #1 in the Surfer Poll awards this year. Lets hope we him do 1 more year on tour.
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