Sabotage 5 — #theprocess Continues…

January 4th, 2018 | 5:00 am | Features & Interviews | 12 Comments

Photo via @brian_panebianco on IG

Words by Frozen in Carbonite

“The Process” refers to the Philadelphia 76ers’ management philosophy under former General Manager and President of Basketball Operations, Sam Hinkie. In a nutshell, The Process contains three guiding principles:

A. Minimize competitiveness in order to obtain high draft picks.
B. Stockpile those draft picks in order to maximize trade values.
C. Delay “trying to win” until the team drafts a transformational, once-in-a-generation player. Based on the history of the NBA, this is mainly how teams have set themselves up to win championships.

This strategy requires a shit-ton of patience. Nevertheless, over the years “Trust the Process” has become a mantra, a philosophy, and a rallying cry for 76ers fans.

+++++++

Back in the essay on the Philadelphia sports mythos, I focused on #toughness as Philadelphia sports’ guiding principle. Nothing exemplified this in 2017 more than Sabotage 5, in which Brian Panebianco and his usual suspects — plus some new additions — skated Love Park until every last slab of marble had been extracted and nothing remained but a few dirt banks into which to ollie.

On the other side of town, perhaps as a form of karmic balancing of the universe or some shit, something happened to the 76ers basketball club: They became sick-ass fun to watch.

So here we are, at a crossroad in which the Sixers are displaying flashes of basketball genius, Process believers looked ahead to a promising future, and the Sabotage crew released their final video chapter. As an homage to both #theprocess and the extensive Sabotage legacy, let’s take a deep dive into how the two crews match up.

Ghosts of Christmas Clips Past

December 26th, 2017 | 2:59 pm | Daily News | 2 Comments

Collage by Requiem For A Screen

This past year, nobody else incited as many smiles and reminders of the glorious escapism that skateboarding provides. Thank you Jamal Smith, 2017’s Q.S.S.O.T.Y., for inspiring us to enjoy the world on a skateboard. Sadly, we can’t fly you to Canary Islands like Thrasher can (…not yet), but just wanted to say thanks :)

Iron Claw’s new 11-min video, Not Not a Video, is now online. Shout out Colombia.

Even as an institution that often gets chastised for Rihanna songs in skate clips and bad filming, we gotta chime in here: wtf is with the choppy frame-rate, wtf is up with the darkass clips, and wtf is up with that Morrissey song in Antonio’s new Berrics part? The skating though…is absolutely F U C K E D.

Oddly enjoyed this way more than expected, probably because they skate a bunch of weird shit that nobody bothers with, e.g. they got two clips at the Gristedes on 96th Street — a Weed Maps “Summer Trip to New York” clip with Jaws, Tommy Sandoval and Boo Johnson. I think we ran into Jaws at a rave when he was filming this.

Rolling Stone has a great mini-doc with Josh Stewart about making independent skate videos in 2017, via the lens of Traffic’s Look Left.

Jenkem has a “Day in the Life”-ish feature with The BX’s Public Housing Skate Team.

Style god Jimmy Chung is featured in the new teaser for Chris Mulhern’s upcoming Love Park documentary, 15th & JFK. Anyone know a release date?

“Mean Streets” volume 10 from LurkNYC with more weirdness at Chase.

Boil the Ocean is on entry #6 of its annual “Top 10 Parts of the Year” wrap-up, and Slam City’s blog has some words on the year’s best videos.

…aaannndddd Village Psychic made a “Best of 2017” mix of the year’s ACTUAL S.O.T.Y., regardless of what the yellow t-shirts may have told you.

“Belgrade is the best city I’ve ever been to in my life.” The Rios Crew continues to inspire skateboard travel dreams far outside the conventional Euro destinations with each new clip. “Dunja,” their latest, hits Serbia’s capital, Montenegro and Croatia.

“Platano” is the new montage from our friends down at Andrew Skate Shop in Miami.

Jason Lee’s Video Days part was a starting point for a $3.6 billion crossroad.

Vol. 4 of Elkin raw files. You think Thrasher is gonna give us a Louie “West End” one?

QS Sports Desk Play of the Week: It’ll never not be funny that Kyrie was just like “nah, I don’t wanna play with this dude anymore.” He lost yesterday, but this was sick.

Quote of the Week: “You should just make Q.S.S.O.T.Y. ‘The Max Palmer Award.'” — John Choi

Official 2017 end credits song ♥

For Those About To Be On A Hype, We Salute You

December 18th, 2017 | 4:57 am | Daily News | No Comments

Photo via Colin Sussingham

Perfect video to begin your day — three-minute Jamal Smith IG compilation.

One of my life partners, Josh Velez, has an interview over on Skateboard Story. “It makes it even better to get a couple pats on the back from the fellas.”

You already know that new “Busshead” video from Gang Corp is essential viewing.

TWS posted the transcript and photos from Cyrus’ interview on their site.

Copies of Matt Velez’s new video, Calzone, are on sale. Another teaser here.

“This urgent, shouty Mannie Fresh anthem, a sort of primal materialistic scream from within a sumptuously appointed mansion, stands as the best song in any Ty Evans-helmed Film to date; paired off Lucas Puig’s luxury-brand tech, it makes a strong argument for the greatest song in any video ever.” Boil the Ocean offers up eight of Ty Evans’ best #musicsupervision victories, the man who introduced skaters to electro.

Nik Stain London footage. Everyone in it rips though.

A most unexpected “Welcome to the Team” video for an expected acquisition.

The Bunt’s new one is with that dude who shared the part with Vince in the 917 vid.

^^^2017 Best of Dustin Henry, reigning titleholder for QS’ “Skater You’d Be Most O.K. With Your Daughter Dating” Award. Edited by Tyler Warren.

This one was pretty heartwarming: Monster Children has a mini doc on Josh Kalis’ relationship and history with the city of Chicago. I’ve seen that street gap kickflip a hundred times before and still said “oh my God” on this go-around. (Maybe Ride will finally stop asking us why Chicago isn’t a bigger deal in skateboarding with this one?)

~ Quick fun one from Frog Skateboards baby ~

Yeah, I know, l*ngb**rds… but this is a fucking amazing program.

Jahmal Williams reflects on getting back into filming in the Static III years.

Some more Elkin raw files from the days when you first started seeing Aaron Herrington out and about, and Kevin Tierney was still drippy ♥

A joint remix video for Tom Penny and Bryan Herman, two icons of “G” style.

QS Sports Desk Play of the Week: 76ers-OKC was game of the year so far, yes? Gonna give it to Embiid’s block on Russy in OT1, but only because Russy ended up winning anyway :)

Quote of the Week: “I fucking hate getting phone calls.” — Andrew Wilson

Late on this one, but it’s cool the boys got a shout out ;)

Father’s Day Links

October 2nd, 2017 | 10:40 am | Daily News | No Comments

Happy birthday Dre! Thanks for feeding every person we know for 10+ years.

Was wrong about the Muska Epicly Later’d airing last week, but it’s definitely airing this week, and the Tom Cruise coke movie is sick.

Free has a new part from 2013 Q.S.S.O.T.Y, Leo Gutman. The guy’s eye for spots remains unparalleled after all these years.

“Chewy threw an ironing board at Lucien over this shit. The skate house, the skate house, the skate house—we’ve all been there.” TWS put their Palace in New York article online, which includes an interview with Jamal Smith, who doesn’t have any photos in it, but is the star of a pretty sick faux 411 “Wheels of Fortune” section.

“I think the reason nobody wanted to show us around was he fact we might have been a bit of an embarassment. Actually, that’s certainly the reason.” And even though it’s from last year, The Skateboarder’s Journal posted their Passport in New York article, with words from Callum Paul.

Summer’s over ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

YoooOOOooos Antonio’s Numbers part is insane, but you knew that already.

It’s amazing that people need to point out that they dislike front feeble laser flip outs in 2017 like it’s a kickflip backside tailslide or some shit. The Bunt’s new season kicked off last week, with what’s probably the most Canadian episode they’ve ever had.

F.A. uploaded a 46-minute compilation of B-sides and raw footage — some of which is unseen, some of which you’ll definitely recognize from past edits. Someone also turned all the episodes of “Atlantic Drift” into one single-stream 34-minute reel.

Theories posted Luke Malaney’s Traffic Look Left part, along with a quick interview. Can you believe Keith came through with a guest trick?!

“We’re utilitarian people. That’s what the fuck we do.” Village Psychic has an interview with Jake Phelps about the cost of living in the only place with higher rent than New York: San Francisco. (Free idea: You guys should do a story about skateboarders living with random Chinese families in New York.)

Boil the Ocean with an early weigh-in on 2017’s S.O.T.Y. race, but is there 1) a single person who follows skating that doesn’t think it should unequivocally be Tiago, and 2) if not, what possible reason could you have?

Some Minnesotans (?) enjoy some warm sun rays in New York with a vintage camera.

Quote of the Week
*Puts Mötley Crüe, “Kickstart My Heart” on*
Hjalte Halberg: “This song is so iconic.”

QS Link, Ice Blue Mink

August 21st, 2017 | 8:42 am | Daily News | 3 Comments

Via Charles Rivard Ph.D

Check out the new commercial Genesis Evans and Conor Prunty’s brand, Humble! Then show some support for friends doing cool stuff!

Best video of 2017? Scumco and Sons has a new one featuring Kyle fucking Nicholson and Philly Santosuosso. The overall spirit of the Pittsburgh skate scene is one of the most admirable, inspiring and make-you-feel-stupid-for-complaining-about-literally-anything forces in skateboarding. God bless everyone involved. Really predictable #1 for this week’s QS Top 10 as well.

C H A D M U S K A E P I C L Y L A T E R ‘ D H O L Y S H I T. Our prayers have been answered! The upcoming season also includes episodes for Andrew Reynolds, Bam (!!!), Heath Kirchart, Jason Dill, Andy Roy and Spike Jonze.

#TF[west]Report, August 19, 2017, but I’d teleport to Republiqué if given the chance :)

Another week, another iconic Nik Stain backside smith grind line ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The last #fit anyone expected to see in a 2017 skate clip (a Jeremy Lin jersey), and some subversive line choreography at the Pratt brick bank ledge. Drew Connors uploaded his longest promo yet for Bailar II, which has apparently been completed.

Boil the Ocean has suggestions for Wenning, Lakai and Clint “Worst Style” Walker.

Bronze affiliates and QS office favorites, Mark Humienik and Josh Wilson, visited the under-explored city of Istanbul and came back with this edit.

Steve Mastorelli uploaded his Jersey (duh) based Meadowlands video in full.

Here’s “Mean Streets” volume 9 via LurkNYC, but you gotta #respect Paul Tucci.

A ten-minute remix of Andrew Allen footage + some cameos from Vans guys.

Stuff you’ve seen already — 1) Palace dropped a new, 14-minute video that includes a small intro part for Lucas at the end. Dej is sick but he should’ve skated to Cardi B. 2) The boys behind Hjalte Halberg’s favorite non-Swedish skateboard company went to Brazil and came back with the feel-good motion picture of the summer. My new favorite skateboard-writer, Jesse Alba, also wrote the article about their trip to Russia with accompanying photos by Colin Sussingham.

“Your Honor, totally he is guilty and in no way can I let him slide out of anything because — it’s my attitude toward his entire demeanor, what he has done to people. And he disrespected the Wu-Tang Clan.”

Quote of the Week:

Not a late one today!

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