There’s no way to do the normal WEB ROLL when such a terrible thing happened in the blade community this week.
Some Sad News
Ohio blader, motorcycle enthusiast and all-around nice guy/badass James Short was in a bad accident this week.
According to the local newspaper, a certain 48-year-old woman, Doris A. Caranda, doesn’t know when to say no to driving loaded and high. Maybe the A for her middle initial stands for Alcoholic. Or Asshole.
She hit Short on his motorcycle, who was ejected. He was flown to a hospital where he had surgery on his brain.
Yes, I agree it’s pretty fucked up how an ad for a car dealership is joined with a car accident story.
As of Friday, James was in a medically-induced coma to relieve pressure on his brain, which continued to swell. Doctors even had to remove pieces from his skull. His friends were posting updates on Be-Mag saying his recovery is expected to be a long one.
Short’s Blading
James’ skating was never skimp of critics. Tech has been his style — heavy on the cess slides and toe rolls — since back in the day. It continues today as he progresses, skating once again for Sic Apparel.
Here’s One Of His Latest Online Sections
Outpouring
Be-Mag, Amall and other message boards lit up with well wishing and prayers for Short.
Still, idiocy prevails in some situations. Not even before there was good knowledge to the extent of James’ injuries, someone’s gotta hop on the lawyer train.
Yes, we Americans are a litigious bunch. Sue. Sue. Sue. Well, sorry Blade Psycho, your screen name lives up to your logic. Unfortunately, you can’t sue on behalf of someone else. Whoever was wronged in a situation — and here there certainly was someone — has to do the suing. James and his family would have to handle that, and I’m sure they will when the time is right (a.k.a. not now).
However, the woman who did the driving-driving-crashing in this situation doesn’t look like she’s got much to offer. Do a simple court record search, and you’ll find out the woman driver has been sued a few times for not paying her bills and is already divorced. Fuck knows what she even has left.
Still, that doesn’t mean she won’t pay.
But c’mon, is there even a need to bring that shit up now? No, not at all. The focus should be kept on James and what he, his family and friends are going through.
Even sometimes when I think online commenting is the litmus test of how stupid we are as a society, there’s a glint of hope shimmering off into the horizon.
Bilbo Baggins might be on to something, even if his original logic was aligned with Blade Psycho. Dude, an hour isn’t shit. It takes your body an hour to process each drink. It’s called math. They teach it in schools.
But, hey, you’re staying put when you’re drinking now? Bravo! Good fucking move! If Caranda would’ve followed that idea instead of bringing her drunk ass and dime bag with her on the road, one less tragedy would be avoided.
There’s a time for everything, but swapping bullshit inputs on menial little details like your drunk driving strategy or how to sue someone immediately is fucking pointless. Really, is anyone who ever began a sentence with “someone should” done a damn thing? Fuck no.
If you want to do something host a blading sesh and do a fundraiser to help pay for James’ medical bills or any other expenses he and his family will have. I bet you could even get your local MADD chapter or motorcycle rights groups involved.
There will be a collection at Saturday’s Kind Grind Classic in Sunnyvale, Cali.
Comment Of The Week
James’ friend YOUNGBLOOD has been keeping Be-Mag updated on James’ condition.
The most important part: “Please, everyone, weather you believe in prayer or not – wish him the best of luck to keep fighting, and for a speedy recovery.”
Stefan Brandow was posting up some stuff on the message boards about the toughness of Ohio bladers and James. Here’s my favorite: “James recently got in a fight with a skin head nazi at some protest in his town and took the mother fucker down with one head butt. I have faith in him.”
Everyone at ONE wishes James a quick recovery.
your in my thoughts james!!! you WILL pull through, I’m sure!
fucking stupid people drinking and driving.. Good luck james get well soon
That broad is guilty and James oughta file charges. Makes me think about the time I was blading in the hov bike lane(in broad daylight) and side-swiped by an old lady who seemed a bit too old to be driving.
I filed suit and took granny to court. Considering my injuries(3 broken ribs and a fractured pelvis) I was awarded a hefty amount.
Please follow my lead and file suit, James.
RIP JAMES, YOU WILL BE MISSED BY MANY.
Rest In Peace, James. You will be missed.
RIP James, my prayers are with you and your family..
RIP James.
I love you man. You will be missed.
Words can’t even begin to describe the impact that James had on so many bladers and people alike. I can honestly say that I skate the way I do and feel the way I feel about certain aspects of life because of the presence of such an awesome individul. In every sense of the word, James was amazing. I only hope that some day I can be as positive of a role model to someone as James was to all of us growing up skating in Ohio.His kind heart, helping hand and undeniable charater will dearly missed by many people. I am happy for the memories that I have of him and wish his family and loved ones nothing but the best. You will be dearly missed James.
RIP Brotha man. You will be missed by all. Such a tragic thing to happen to such a nice dude. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.
R.I.P JAmes
PS Pretty sure james rode for INRI . did who ever wrote this really not take the time to read his recent be-mag article?
“JAMES: Well, I had just got on Sic Apparel and I also just made a trip with Mr. Schwab to LA. On one of our adventures, we hung out with Sean and just started talking. INRICLOTH is the truth. The heart and soul of why i rollerblade.
The company itself is free and open to ideas. Im helping out with trying to be a sales rep. as well as ride for the crew. We all are intricate factors in INRI’s existence. Sean Cullen is a badass and i look up to him so much… for someone like that to ask me to be a part of something as rad as INRI? How can you say no?
I parted ways with Sic Apparel and am now rocking INRI.
godspeed James. only met you a couple times, glad i got the chance.
see you on the other side.
I don’t blade. I don’t ride. I don’t play music.
But James was a really good friend, and his roommates and I are putting together a sort of fund raiser for his family.
It is at the broadway brewhouse in new philadelphia ohio on september 13th.
We are asking for donations of any sort of object that can be auctioned off.
If you come for the spaghetti dinner/fundraiser, you will receive a copy of about 20 of James’ recordings.
If you have questions, call Dave at (330) 243-0362 or Jeremy at (330) 708 – 0584
Call if you have anything you’re willing to donate, be it money or an item for the auction, or go to local businesses in your area and ask for gift cards we can auction off.
There will be a silent auction, spaghetti dinner, 50/50 drawing, and also a concert in his memory by his old bandmantes and friends in the conjoined bar to the place we are having it.
spaghetti dinner will be 5$ for kids, 10$ for adults, but it gets you food, a cd, a guitar pick with james’ name on it, and probbaly some other stuff we can get together.
All the money goes to his parents. All of it. Every dime.
We are in the first phases of putting this together, but the only sure thing is that it will be at the Broadway Brewhouse in New Philadelphia, Ohio on September 13th.
Thank you, and please call if you have questions, and donate all you can! You know James would donate his still-beating heart if someone needed it. And as he was an organ donor, he actually is donating his heart because someone does need it.
Much love to you all,
Jeremy Hurst
R.I.P james short.
you will be missed.
you were a great technical blader.
when i go out and blade i will blade for you
R.I.P
Godspeed, James. RIP to my fellow blader. Its never a good thing to hear about, Godspeed.
Happy Birthday James. Northeast Ohio misses you.
