Did they never play Pro Skater 3?
We have all been in that awkward situation when you meet an old friend but can’t quite remember their name. Well, Tony Hawk has turned into that old friend.
While travelling the world as one of, if not the, greatest skateboarders to have ever lived, ‘The Birdman’ has discovered that he exists in the celebrity pergatory of being not quite instantly recognisable but also not a total unknown.
TSA agent (checking my ID): "Hawk, like that skateboarder Tony Hawk!"
Me: exactly
Her: "Cool, I wonder what he's up to these days"
Me: this— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) March 21, 2017
Most of Hawk’s aggro has arrived while passing through the Transport Security Adminsitration in the United States, making it evident that the TSA officials are more wally than ollie.
TSA agent (staring intently): I’m trying to figure out who you look like before checking your ID.
Me: ok
TSA: that cyclist Armstrong!
Nearby agent: that ain’t Lance Armstrong
Me: he’s right
TSA: oh you look like that skateboarder (checks ID). Same last name too! Crazy!
Me: crazy— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) August 21, 2018
To be fair, Hawk, now 50, has been a pro skater for over 35 years with a whole host of skateboarding firsts achieved across an illustrious career including the first-ever competition ‘900’ trick — two-and-a-half airborne rotations — at an X Games event in San Francsico in 1999.
Woman on plane: "You look like Tony Hawk!" Me: Is that good? Her: "Well… he's that skateboard guy." <== insert response here, I had none.
— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) August 7, 2010
And the American’s fanbase has grown considerably over the years thanks to the hugely successful gaming franchise under is name, most notably the critically acclaimed Pro Skater series at the turn of the century.
guy on escalator: Hey are you Tony Hawk?
me: yes
him: you still skate?
me: yes, quite often
him: but you're not that recognizable!
me: I'm not sure what that means… but you recognized me, so here we are
him: [blank stare]
– escalator ends –— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) June 12, 2018
And despite all that, there appears to be a substantial section of society who are at least aware of Tony Hawk, but cannot pick him out from a crowd. Or even while he is staring them right in the face.
Guy at grocery store:
"you ever get mistaken for Tony Hawk… or are you Tony Hawk?
Me: both!— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) July 14, 2018
So the next time you see Tony Hawk out and about, be sure to let him know that you are one of the select few who can actually realise who he is.
To clarify: my legal name is Anthony
TSA agent checks my ID, looks at me, looks at ID, looks back at me quizzically and loudly says
"Tony Hawk's my favorite skater"
Me: I’ll tell him.— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) June 21, 2018
