Sports
Bam Margera Talks Surprise Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 Return, How Skating Saved His Life
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 fans were delighted when it was announced that Bam Margera was one of the game’s unlockable characters. ComingSoon spoke to the Jackass and Viva La Bam star to learn how his last-minute appearance in the skateboarding game came to be. Check out our 9/10 review to learn more […]
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 fans were delighted when it was announced that Bam Margera was one of the game’s unlockable characters. ComingSoon spoke to the Jackass and Viva La Bam star to learn how his last-minute appearance in the skateboarding game came to be. Check out our 9/10 review to learn more about the game, which is out now on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
“Get hyped for the legendary franchise to return with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4. Everything you loved is back, but revamped with more skaters, new parks, gnarlier tricks, eardrum shattering music, plus a whole lot more,” says the official description.
Tyler Treese: Congrats on being in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4. This is kind of a mini-miracle that you got in the game. Your inclusion came in very late, and it is so special that it happened. Can you speak to when you learned that, you know, that Tony, the fans in Activision had all come together to get you in the game last minute because fans had been, you know, wanting this inclusion and, you know, everybody worked hard to make it possible.
Bam Margera: Yeah. I was in a very bad way for about 10 years. I didn’t skate too much at all. I was on like a world rock and roll tour and just drinking a lot and not just not skating at all. And then when I went to treatment, they kind of put me on more pills than what I was when I was out on the streets. So it was very confusing and frustrating figuring out what to do with me.
And you know, when I met my wife — she’s a stretch coach — so she stretched my legs back. At one point I would’ve wished, “I’ll give everything up just to have my legs back and be able to skate again.” And now that they’re back, my passion for skating is back. And I had a day off in Los Angeles.
I came to see my son Phoenix, who’s seven. And I said, “Should I give Hawk a call?” It’s been about a year. Last time he saw me, I wasn’t doing too good. She’s like, “Yeah, give him a call.” So he’s like, “We’re down at the vert ramp. I’m skating with Bucky, Christian Hosoi, and Alphonzo Rawls. Why don’t you come by and say hi?”
Well, he knows that I don’t really skate vert, and the fact that I grabbed my board and we wound up doing doubles. Ollie over each other on the big gap there. He was like, “What’s going on? You’re back.” I’m like, “Yeah, man. I married a stretch coach. I’m skating every day again.” He’s like, “Wow. Bam’s back.”
So, you know, without any intention of even thinking that I would be in the game, he made a phone call to Activision, knowing that there was a very strict deadline, and pulled a hell of a lot of strings to make it happen.
Yeah, yeah. It’s incredible. And I’ve been playing as you in the game. It’s super fun, and it’s great seeing you back on the skateboard recently. And you know, there’s the skate video inside the game, which has some recent footage of you that was really cool to see. What has it meant for you to be back skating, and especially to be embraced by that community, because that’s almost like a support system of its own?
Completely. I mean skateboarding is what got me to where I was with everything, including and going on Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon and all these talk shows and getting all these cool commercials and whatever, hosting the VH1 Rock Honors… it all stemmed from skateboarding.
And to hear from a doctor in 2013 that they declared my legs as dry-rotted rubber bands from alcohol abuse. [It] really made me lose a lot of hope on even thinking I could get them back. But now that they are back, “I’m not gonna take that for granted.”
I make it a goal to skate every single day. And I can’t come home unless I get a trick done. And you know, from that, all these cool things have been coming. So as long as I keep keep skateboarding and love what I’m doing, then all other cool things happen from there.
So you know, it’s really good to take a 10-year break when that’s all I really wanted to do was get back on the board. At one point, you might not believe me, I was over 250 pounds. I was on 18 different medications that I was forced to take under a contract that if I didn’t take, then I would be losing out on a lot of money and not being involved in a movie that I wanted to be in because I pretty much helped invent it to the fullest.
And you know, all these pills led to side effects of hair, hair loss, weight gain, stiff muscles, erectile dysfunction, and suicidal tendencies. I pretty much had all of those things happen, and I felt so hopeless and doomed that, you know, I just stopped taking all that stuff cold turkey, and I realized that skateboarding is my medication. I don’t need any of that stuff. Now my balance is back. My muscle memory’s back, and I’m just happy to be back on the board.
It’s remarkable. I love seeing you doing better, and it’s great that you’re in this game because 3 was your first Tony Hawk game that you were in, and you’ve been a staple of the series since then. What has it meant to you to be in this series? Because this really took skating to another level and fans love these games, I’m sure, like during signings and stuff, people are bringing them to you all the time.
Bam Margera: Oh, yeah. At the Comic-Con signings, pretty much almost every person has the Tony Hawk game that they want me to sign. And they always told me that I was the only character that they played in the game. And I heard through the grapevine that they were getting a lot of heat, saying like, “Yo, you better put Bam in this game, man, because if you don’t, then I’m gonna contemplate getting it.”
So everything worked out really well, and I’m just happy to be in it. You know, it really puts skateboarders on the map of people that don’t skate. When they find out that you’re in that game, it defines you as a legit pro skateboarder. You say the name Tony Hawk, and the 80-year-old grandma will know that name. You say the name Jamie Foy, they wouldn’t know so much. But now that he’s in the game, they might just know his name now [laughs]. You gotta be a diehard skater to pay attention to all the good skateboarders that are out right now.
It’s been really cool seeing this rollout because Activision’s been having these big events. How’s it been seeing all your old friends and these young new skaters all coming together for the game? It always feels like a celebration of skateboarding in general.
Bam Margera: Coming to the Tony Hawk opening of the game, it was kind of like a party with you know, fans coming, but it was almost like a skateboard reunion. I’m seeing all these people that I haven’t seen in the longest time. Kareem Campbell, Geoff Rowley, Dave Duncan, and Bucky, who I’ve seen from time to time.
But everybody came together, and it was like a big skateboard reunion thanks to the video game. Tony did a really good job picking out legendary skaters like Steve Caballero, Bucky, and Muska to be in a game mixed with new skaters that deserve it, such as Jamie Foy, who got skater of the year twice, who does that, and Yuto Horigome, who won the Olympics. Nyjah Huston, of course.
And I’m really stoked about this girl Chloe [Covell], who’s from Australia and is straight up 15 years old, who kills it, is in the game. I’ve been skating with her in Florida. It’s just so cool to see, who would’ve thought that she would get the opportunity to be in a video game skating that good at the age of 15, a female from Australia.
You mentioned that the fans were very passionate about this, and I feel like with Viva La Bam and all your reality shows, people really have a personal connection with you, like beyond just finding the stunts funny or enjoying your skating. When you see that support and people really still being this ride or die with you and being in your corner, what does that mean for you?
I mean, you know, with fans and followers come haters as well, and I was getting a whole ton of hate, man. It was bad, but I mean, I could see why. I’m not skating at all and I’m on these rants about all my problems, you know, and this and that and the other thing.
But, you know, it seemed that all the hating had stopped because all I do now is skate, and I was doing what I did before when you liked me from the beginning. So it’s really cool to, whenever I do get a chance to scroll through the comments, everybody just puts a fire emoji saying “Bam is back.” So it’s a really good feeling.
And I used to buy those old CKY videos and that you put out and there’s a real like DIY attitude to how you guys are just gonna make a path regardless. Can you speak to that attitude? Because you’re willing to be creative and reckless, and that really resonated with people because there was an authenticity.
And it was really one of the first videos that kids were watching that they realized that this is not a Hollywood production and it’s basically a movie with no budget. You could go out and make a really cool movie if you just have a little bit of bravery and a little bit of talent. You don’t need a big production. As long as your buddy is willing to press record on the camera, then getting into a shopping cart and getting pushed full speed into no Pricker Bush is free. So <laugh>, so you don’t need a big budget to make a hit movie.
I saw a clip of you on The Nine Club, so obviously a Jackass reunion isn’t looking likely, and that chapter seems done with your life, but what are you most proud of out of those first three movies and the show? Because Jackass really does have a legacy, and that show lives on and still makes people laugh.
Bam Margera: What I’m proud of is, you know, just putting out a movie that got so much recognition. Even people like… I went to an event and, and I would bump into like Mark Wahlberg and he would come up to me and be like, “I just wanted to say I’m a real big fan.” Like, really? That’s crazy.
Just the people that have seen, and you know, it just really had such a big following that it put a lot of us on the map. There are a lot of people who do what we do, and nobody’s ever going to hear of ’em because, you know, they’re just not followers of that. But, you’re gonna flick channels eventually and wind up seeing it, and you’re gonna tune into it eventually. So it’s, it’s rather that it got us on the map.
Thanks to Bam Margera for taking the time to talk about Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4.
Sports
Battalion Chief’s Son Helps Stop Burbank Water Polo
The Burbank High boys’ water polo team had its ups and down Thursday night when it faced visiting Camarillo High in a nonleague match at Burroughs. But if there was one weakness, the son of one of Burbank’s own was to blame. Reynold Owings scored a match-high nine times as the visiting Scorpions defeated the […]
The Burbank High boys’ water polo team had its ups and down Thursday night when it faced visiting Camarillo High in a nonleague match at Burroughs.
But if there was one weakness, the son of one of Burbank’s own was to blame.
Reynold Owings scored a match-high nine times as the visiting Scorpions defeated the Bulldogs 20-17 in a nonleague match.
Owings is the son of Burbank Battalion Fire Chief John Owings.
“The team played well. They came through from the second to fourth quarter. It was a high-scoring game, but we kept them off,” the younger Owings said of his team.
Burbank (1-2) got off to a slow start, but fought hard in the second half and nearly overcame a six-goal halftime deficit.
“We were in zone in the first half and we got scored on 13 times so at halftime we regrouped and adjusted,” Burbank coach David Arakelyan said. “We started playing more of a press. Our center defender did a really good job of fronting in the second half. We were able to get a few more steals and get some momentum going.”
Owings scored the first goal of the match less than a minute after the start and five of his team’s seven goals in the first quarter.
Jack Babelyan tied things at one with a left-handed shot into the right corner.
Avvo Ilangesyan also had a first-quarter goal and Daniel Gemdzhyan had a pair of back door goals late in the period to help keep the Bulldogs within striking distance.
Camarillo (1-0) scored twice more to start the second quarter, before Ilganesyan scored at the 5:44.01 mark to cut the lead to 9-5.
Babelyan and Michael Bakrgyan also had second-quarter goals for Burbank.
The Bulldogs began the second half on a 4-0 run as Ilangesyan scored twice and both Jack and Daniel Babelyan each had goal.
Owings scored at the 4:14.62 mark of the period to end the Bulldogs’ run.
Anthony Gemdzhyan also scored in the period for Burbank.
Trailing 15-12 going into the fourth period, Burbank hung tough but could only close the gap to within two goals.
That came when Illangesyan, who had a team-high six goals, scored on a 5-meter penalty shot with 40.77 seconds left.
Sports
Owls Drop Match to Hurricanes
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic women’s soccer team fell to Miami on Thursday evening by a score of 4-0. Five minutes into the first half, senior Morgan McDonald attempted the first shot on goal of the match. The shot from McDonald marks her first shot on goal of the season. The first […]
Five minutes into the first half, senior Morgan McDonald attempted the first shot on goal of the match. The shot from McDonald marks her first shot on goal of the season. The first 30 minutes remained scoreless until the Hurricanes scored a goal with 30:08 on the clock to take the lead. At the end of the first 45 minutes, the Owls (0-2-1) trailed 1-0.
The Hurricanes (2-1-0) scored their second goal of the match early in the second half to extend the lead to 2-0. The third goal of the night for Miami came with 62:57 on the board. At 68:09 on the clock in the second half, there was a goalkeeper change for the Owls as transfer Megan Hogate checked in for the first time in an FAU uniform.
Sophomore Ashley Small finished the night playing a total of 68 minutes, registering two saves on the night to improve her season total to 15 on the year thus far. Freshman Keira Pabalan recorded 44 minutes for her freshman debut.
UP NEXT
FAU will return down south to face the Panthers of FIU on Sunday, Aug. 24, at 4 p.m. on ESPN+.
FOLLOW THE OWLS
To stay up to date on all things Florida Atlantic women’s soccer, follow FAU on social media @FAUWSoccer.
Sports
Dos Pueblos Boys Water Polo Pulls Away for Win Over Arroyo Grande in Season Opener | Sports
A balanced offensive attack powered Dos Pueblos boys water polo to an 18-10 victory over Arroyo Grande in the season opener on Thursday at Elings Aquatic Center. The Chargers (1-0) had seven different players score goals, as every player got minutes on a roster that will feature impact players from all four grade levels this […]
A balanced offensive attack powered Dos Pueblos boys water polo to an 18-10 victory over Arroyo Grande in the season opener on Thursday at Elings Aquatic Center.
The Chargers (1-0) had seven different players score goals, as every player got minutes on a roster that will feature impact players from all four grade levels this season.
“Being able to rotate all the newer players through is really good for the team cohesiveness,” Dos Pueblos head coach Chris Parrish said. “What was great was when we had the juniors and the seniors sitting on the bench at the end of the game, they were cheering as loud as possible for the younger guys.
“We have a great blend on the team this year where we have a starting freshman goalie, we’ve got three other freshmen that are getting substantial minutes, we’ve got another three sophomores that are getting great minutes, and then we’ve got three juniors and three seniors.”
The Chargers wasted no time getting started, winning the opening sprint and immediately turning it into points as senior Eli Carnaghe found junior Lucas Neushul for the first goal of the season.
After a few minutes of back-and-forth play, Dos Pueblos tripled its lead with goals on back-to-back possessions.
On the first score, senior Aricin Marshall fed a wide-open junior Grant Nelson to make it 2-0. After a defensive stop, DP freshman goalie Koa Zertuche lobbed a pass ahead to fellow freshman Channing Wigo, who deposited the shot for his first high school goal.
“Koa has been great and he’s become a part of the team really quickly,” Parrish said of his goalie. “Channing is a wealth of talent. He’s really savvy in the water, and we know he’s going to bring a different aspect to our game.”
Arroyo Grande responded with a pair of goals of its own to cut the Charger lead to 3-2 with 2:43 left in the quarter. Dos Pueblos came back with another goal of its own as Marshall found Neushul in the middle for his second score of the day.
After the Eagles scored on a penalty shot, Marshall got into the scoring column off an assist from Carnaghe, scoring from the right side to bring the lead to 5-3.
Arroyo Grande came roaring back in the final minute of the opening quarter, scoring twice to even the game at 5-5 heading into the second.
The Chargers came out of the break on a mission, rattling off a 4-0 run in the opening three minutes of the second quarter to pull away for a 9-5 advantage.
Dos Pueblos’ offensive balance was on full display during the run as four different players scored. Neushul, Carnage, Wigo and Nelson all secured multi-goal performances with goals to begin the quarter, with assists coming from junior Adam Gelman and Neushul.
The majority of Dos Pueblos’ second-quarter goals came off strong defensive stops on the other end, allowing the offense to get out in transition.
“The important part is that these guys are playing a little bit of defense, because all of them want to go score goals, and quite frankly, a lot of the guys are really used to knowing that three quarters of the possessions another team has against them are going to end up in a steal or a bad shot,” Parrish said.
“They find themselves just kind of eager, waiting for that whistle to just get out in the transition… The problem is, we’ve got to make sure the ball doesn’t go in the goal before they decide to go into offense. That’s the next step.”
The Eagles got on the board with 3:53 left in the half, but the Chargers immediately regained control as Carnaghe beat a trio of defenders and Neushul scored on a pass from freshman Skyler Carroll to give both players a first-half hat trick.
“Eli Carnaghe is going to find some open space in the pool, especially where he ends up playing on the offensive end because Lucas, Channing, and Grant are going to occupy so much of the attention of another team’s defense, that he’s gonna be able to get their shots off,” Parrish said.
Neushul deposited one more goal before the half expired, while Arroyo Grande found the back of the cage as well to bring the DP lead to 12-7 at the half.
The third quarter was a back-and-forth affair as the two teams exchanged three goals apiece throughout the period.
The Chargers’ three goals came courtesy of Wigo, Nelson and Neushul with assists from Nelson and sophomore Ty Abel. Wigo and Nelson’s goals came in transition, while Neushul’s gave his team a 15-10 lead with one quarter to play.
Dos Pueblos took full control in the fourth quarter, shutting out the Eagles on the defensive end and adding on three goals to bring the game to its final score of 18-10.
Nelson, sophomore Tyler Racine and Abel all scored in the final quarter to put the cherry on top of the season-opening victory. Racine was the seventh and final Charger to score in the win.
“What I really want to see is some balance, and I want to see everyone comfortable and confident being able to take that shot, because it’s not always going to be Grant [Nelson] and it’s not always going to be Lucas [Neushul],” Parrish said.
“There’s only 12 field players, so if seven or eight are scoring, it’s hard to guard us.”
Sports
Northeastern volleyball hopes for comeback
Northeastern women’s volleyball is set to kick off its season with the Holly Young Invitational Aug. 29 to 30 in Durham, N.H. The Huskies are slotted against Saint Peter’s University, Holy Cross University and the University of New Hampshire. During the offseason, the Huskies announced that Brendan McGourn would be the team’s new head coach, […]
Northeastern women’s volleyball is set to kick off its season with the Holly Young Invitational Aug. 29 to 30 in Durham, N.H. The Huskies are slotted against Saint Peter’s University, Holy Cross University and the University of New Hampshire.
During the offseason, the Huskies announced that Brendan McGourn would be the team’s new head coach, and Jaime Snyder was named associate head coach for this season. The changes came after a difficult season for the Huskies, finishing with a 10-16 overall and 8-10 in the CAA and a missed CAA tournament.
In addition to new coaches, the Huskies are starting fresh with a completely different roster. Northeastern acquired seven freshmen, one redshirt freshman and one graduate student after six players from last season’s team graduated. Last season’s leaders in kills, blocks and assists are now gone, leaving senior libero Nadia Koanui as the only category leader in digs and service aces.
Graduate student outside hitter Svenja Rodenbüsch and redshirt freshman outside hitter Valentina Meirelles are the Huskies’ only additions with previous experience on a college court. Meirelles appeared in five matches for the University of California San Diego before missing the rest of the season due to injury. However, she showed promise, tallying six kills in each of her first two games. Rodenbüsch won two national championships in Germany and was an NJCAA All-American in 2022 before ending her undergraduate career at Fairfield University. At Fairfield, Rodenbüsch averaged 1.78 kills and 1.27 digs per set, as well as 53 blocks last season. In the first round of the NCAA playoffs for the last two years, Rodenbüsch led her team in kills.
Koanui, incoming sophomore setter Gabby Reeves and incoming sophomore outside hitter Brynn Smith are going to be key parts of the team’s success, carrying on their legacy from last season. Koanui was first on the team in digs with 459, first in service aces with 23 and third in assists with 96. Reeves ranked fifth in digs, fourth in assists with 72 and third in service aces with 18. Smith was fourth on the team in kills and fifth on the team in aces, with 168 and 13, respectively.
The Huskies begin conference play Sept. 19 at Stony Brook University and have their first home game Sept. 26 against Towson University at Cabot Center.
Sports
About Town Redondo: Home invasion, arrests; ocean water polo, Post Office upgrade
About Town Redondo: Home invasion, arrests; ocean water polo, Post Office upgrade – Easy Reader & Peninsula Magazine Skip to content Police catch, arrest home invasion suspects Responding to a pre-6 a.m. disconnected 911 call about someone pointing a gun at another inside a car Aug. 17, Redondo […]
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Police catch, arrest home invasion suspects
Responding to a pre-6 a.m. disconnected 911 call about someone pointing a gun at another inside a car Aug. 17, Redondo Beach Police officers tracked the report to the 1900 block of Matthews Avenue.
Officers canvassed the area, learning that two residents had been victims of a home invasion, and the suspects fled on foot just before police arrived. Officers gave chase and took the two men into custody without incident.
Jesus Velez, 31, from Rochester, New York and Draven Luna, 21, Queens, New York, were arrested and charged with robbery, burglary and kidnapping. Bail for each was set at $100,000.
RBPD detectives now prepare to present the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
The two victims were treated at the scene by the Redondo Beach Fire Department and taken to a hospital, listed in stable condition. Their identities were withheld as the RBPD investigates the specific circumstances and motives of the incident.
Detectives believe there are no outstanding suspects, and no further threat to the community.
Anyone with information regarding the alleged crime is asked to contact RBPD Detective Coates at (310) 379-2477, ext. 3506.
King Harbor ocean water polo tournament coming; boat parade route expands
Ocean water polo in King Harbor will debut Sept. 20. A tournament with up to 10 teams, including at least two women’s, is set for a demonstration which may become an annual event.
Earlier this year, a water polo club approached Redondo Beach Mayor Jim Light about the idea, following a previous attempt at such an event by Redondo Beach Firefighter Grant Currie.
The Sept. 20 tournament is meant as a proof-of concept, said the mayor, the idea being to approve a long-term event. Currie and Vedran Kaluderovic – City Councilmember Paige Kaluderovic’s husband, a longtime water polo player – are working together to organize the brackets.
Courts will be set up in the water between Riviera Mexican Grill and California Surf Club, a short-term location to take advantage of better spectator vantage points, before the proposed boat ramp goes in at the spot. Courts in the future are slated to be near the Joe’s Crab Shack site.
Ocean water polo is established in Europe but rare in the United States.
“We’re trying to activate the waterfront,” said City Councilman Chadwick Castle. “We want to draw more people down so we can all use and enjoy it.”
In addition, King Harbor Yacht Club’s “Holiday Boat Parade” will have a new route in December, to go closer to the Pier and the corner by Riviera Mexican Cantina, to make it more spectator-friendly.
“This is the only parade we have in Redondo Beach,” Castle said.
Post Office upgrades sorting and delivery center
The U.S. Postal Service has announced an update to the Redondo Beach Sorting and Delivery Center, to aid in operational precision and improve service performance.
“These new, state-of-the-art facilities will help make the Postal Service more efficient, more capable and more competitive for the future,” said Brian Cuellar, Redondo Beach Postmaster. “The investments we’ve made here represent more than just an upgrade; they represent a commitment to our employees, our customers and the future of the Postal Service.”
The modernized, local sorting and delivery center is one of 111 recently launched across the country, as part of a $19 billion investment to revitalize USPS processing, transportation and delivery networks. ER