Tony Hsieh, retired Zappos CEO, dies at 46 after house fire
FILE - In this June 25, 2014, file photo, former President Bill Clinton, left, speaks with Zappos.com CEO Tony Hsieh during a forum on the final day of the annual gathering of the Clinton Global Initiative America in Denver. Hsieh, retired CEO Zappos.com, has died. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley, File)LAS VEGAS โ Tony Hsieh, the retired CEO of Las Vegas-based online shoe retailer Zappos.com, who spent years working to transform the city's downtown area, has died. โTony Hsieh played a pivotal role in helping transform Downtown Las Vegas,โ Nevada Gov. He genuinely delighted in making anyone and everyone happy.โSkateboarder and entrepreneur Tony Hawk added, โTony Hsieh was a visionary.
Tony Hawk on skateboarding at Tokyo 2020
(CNN) - The Olympics needs skateboarding more than skateboarding needs the Olympics. That is the message from skateboarding legend Tony Hawk who told CNN Sport's Patrick Snell, "They need the cool factor." Soon after he launched the video game "Tony Hawk Pro Skater," which established one of the most popular franchises in the medium, generating more than $1.4 billion in sales. "Skating has really infiltrated mainstream culture," said Hawk, who is currently the live broadcast commentator for the Vans Park Series. "You go to a skate park and see a kid trying something and suddenly all the other skaters rally around him and encourage him.
This 10-Year-Old Skateboarder With No Legs Is So Good, He Caught the Eye of Tony Hawk
After losing his legs when his bed caught fire as a baby, Max found a new home with his adoptive family in St. Petersburg, Russia. Max's skating and incredible resilience even caught the eye of legend Tony Hawk, who called Max his new favorite skater. Max dreams of being a world-famous skater some day and maybe even competing in the Paralympic Games. And although skateboarding isn't currently a Paralympic event, it just might become one, thanks to Max. RELATED STORIESThis 11-Year-Old Olympic Skateboarding Hopeful Learns Her Tricks by Watching YouTubeWas a Teen Ice Skater Attacked by Her Rival?