R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Jereme Rogers
Everybody already knows, and also has an opinion, about Jereme Rogers retiring from professional skateboarding. He wrote a little exit piece in the Skateboard Mag and I agree with Dave Swift that it is definitely strange and egotistical. I have never really been a fan of Rogers’ skateboarding, and could care less about his personality quirks. Still, the mushroom incident was overblown and not any weirder than some of the stuff other pros have gotten away with. You can’t argue that Greco hasn’t done similarly insane things over the course of his career, full of drugs or otherwise.
The difference between Jim Greco and Jereme Rogers is that Greco’s, um, quirks, were revealed gradually. Rogers, on the other hand, hit us hard, because not only did he have a public, mushroom-induced freakout, but that freakout involved him preaching the gospel… Jesus Christ. Follow that up with an announcement to leave the industry to pursue a budding rap “career,” and hate towards Rogers has quickly become obligatory.
I wonder if all the hate towards Rogers isn’t just the industry’s basic psychological reaction. After all, how do you feel when your bipolar girlfriend gets a neck tat, finds Jesus, and then leaves you behind forever? How dare she?!!!
As I wrote, I was never too into Rogers’ skating. Beginning with Yeah Right, it was obvious that he was one of the best young talents in the industry, but I could never get into his style. His t-shirts were too big, his back a bit too hunched. That said, I respected what he was doing because it was undeniably progressive. The more recent switch tail to back tail on the L-ledge in LA definitely was inspiring in a “what the hell?” kind of way.
As Rogers walks away from lucrative endorsements and a budding career, I only gain more respect for him. A kook he may or may not be, but he respects skateboarding. In fact, he seems to respect it more than many professionals. How many people could walk away from a career as a pro skater for the uncertain grounds of the music industry? I don’t know if this is courage or stupidity, but I respect it.
I respect it because I have seen countless pros collect paychecks when they are not skating for months at a time. I respect it because I have seen dudes keep their names on a board when their hearts are no longer in the game. I respect it because I have seen dozens of less talented dudes than Rogers release the same video part many times over, because they are scared of a future outside of the skate industry.
Jereme could have done all these things. And he didn’t.
I am not sure what Rogers motivations are, or what his future holds, but I wish him the best, because he demonstrated a respect for skateboarding that few other people have.
