X GAMES: FAN FAVORITE HAS TOUGH DAY RODRIGUEZ PLACES SEVENTH IN SKATEBOARD STREET FINAL.Byline: ROMAN VEYTSMAN Special to the Daily News Judging by the hundreds of autograph seekers, screaming fans, and overall paparazzi-style blitz surrounding Paul Rodriguez For Rodriguez's son, the professional skateboarder, see . Paul Rodriguez (born January 19, 1955 in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico) is a Mexican American comedian. , you never would have known the two-time gold medalist finished seventh in Friday's Skateboard Street final at Home Depot The Home Depot (NYSE: HD) is an American retailer of home improvement and construction products and services. Headquartered in Vinings, just outside Atlanta in unincorporated Cobb County, Georgia, Home Depot employs more than 355,000 people and operates 2,164 big-box Center. Rodriguez struggled from the start, missing a kick flip off the box in his first run for 71.50 points to stand ninth. It didn't get much better after his second run, in which he scored a 78.0, good for seventh in the round. ``I felt like I skated fine, but everyone was really on point,'' Rodriguez said. Rodriguez came in to the event as the favorite, coming off back-to-back gold medals, but it is not a sport in which you can guarantee that someone is going to win, he said. Chris Cole
``The better man won today,'' said Rodriguez, who lives in Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. . ``He has some serious talent. He can skate anywhere, anytime. He's so well-rounded.'' Rodriguez said he tried the tricks he wanted, but it just wasn't his day. He attempted a barley heel flip to a crooked grind and a 360 flip to nose slide but neither was successful. ``Sometimes you could land it in 10 minutes and sometimes it takes you an hour,'' Rodriguez said. ``I had to move on. I tried it five times and it wasn't working.'' Rodriguez also pulled out some tricks not usually in his repertoire but nothing would work for the 21-year old. ``In those situations you have to try everything,'' he said. Despite the frustration, Rodriguez was mobbed by fans on his way out the door and hundreds lined up to get his autograph. Brian Beliz of Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. was the only one on his Rooster rooster its crowing at dawn heralds each new day. [Western Folklore: Leach, 329] See : Dawn rooster symbol of maleness. [Folklore: Binder, 85] See : Virility Skating Team to snag Rodriguez's signature -- on a $1 bill. ``We like the way he skates and the way he dresses,'' Beliz said. ``He's one of the reasons I started skating,'' said Jeremy Docdocil, who stood in line as Rodriguez was whisked away on a gold cart. Docdocil, 16, of Torrance, started skating two months ago after seeing Rodriguez on television. ``It's amazing a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. just to see the love,'' Rodriguez said. ``I was thankful.'' roman.veytsman@dailynews.com (818) 713-3607 |
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