Remembering Mask: The two year anniversary of Charles Lewis' death
by Geno Mrosko on Mar 11, 2011 2:50 PM EST
in UFC News
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Charles ‘Mask’ Lewis Jr., founder of the popular multi-million dollar MMA clothing line and television show TapouT, was killed on the morning of March 11, 2009, when his Ferrari collided with a Porsche driven by Jeffrey David Kirby of Costa Mesa.
Today, March 11, 2011, marks the two-year anniversary of his tragic and unfortunate death.
Kirby was recently found guilty of vehicular manslaughter in connection with the case and was subsequently sentenced to nine years in prison.
TapouT was launched in 1997, with nothing more than a vision and a handful of merchandise — and enough gas in their van to follow fighters across the state of California to promote and sell TapouT clothing.
Now his empire, along with Dan "Punkass" Caldwell and Timothy "Skyskrape" Katz, includes a reality TV show, a line of bottled water, an impressive stable of mixed-martial-arts fighters and of course its massive clothing line, which went from a few thousand dollars in sales back in the late 90’s to over $100 million in 2008.
"Punkass" recently reminisced on his fallen friend to Jonathan Snowden:
"He always knew the right thing to say. When he told you things were going to be okay, that we'd make something happen, it was settling. You believed things really were going to be okay. He read a lot and he was able to spit a lot of knowledge. I remember being worked up about something one day and he asked me 'Dan, can you do anything to change it?' And I said 'Not really.' And he asked "Then why worry about it? Your wasting a lot of energy and that's ineffective.' Little pieces of wisdom like that. He was a natural born leader. We would look to him for answers and he could deliver. He was just very inspiring. He was my best friend for 20 years and the most inspiring person I've ever been around."
The mixed martial arts world truly lost a pioneer on that fateful day, but while he is gone, he will certainly never be forgotten.
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Very sad what happened, he was the heart and soul of that company!
Funny little aside, when I was student teaching in a 5th grade classroom last year I saw a kid with a TapouT shirt on and I always ask if the kid likes MMA or just thought the shirt was cool (even though almost always they don’t really know what MMA is). The kid told me his uncle owns TapouT, and I think to myself BS, so I asked if his uncle was Skrape or Punk(didn’t finish the name). He said Punk and I asked what his real name is Dan and I was like wow! He started bringing in some very cool stuff his uncle met him and the kid was sad because his mom won’t let him meet his uncle that he clearly has some reverence for because “hes not a good christian.” Now that is some real BS!
It happened at 1:00 AM slappy
I doubt many kids were out, maybe you let your kids run around without supervision in the middle of the night but I doubt most do…
I came here to chew bubble gum and kick ass.....and I'm all out of bubble gum!!!
by TillaDaDrilla on Mar 11, 2011 5:04 PM EST up reply actions
So by this asshole prickhead statement if you ever speed you deserve to die.
If you ever stream a PPV event you deserve to have Tito come to your house threaten to beat you up then when failing to do so he will tell excuses to why he didn’t until you off yourself.
by Edgecrusher71 on Mar 11, 2011 5:48 PM EST up reply actions
To qoute Punkass..
“This may sound stupid, but to me he was on the level of a Lincoln or a Lombardi. If you met him you were that much better because of it.”
Pfffft.
Lincoln? Do you know how ridiculous that sounds? Let’s keep things in perspective here.
I mean, what did Lincoln really accomplish? The Emancipation Proclamation? The abolition of slavery? Setting a standard for leadership seldom matched through human history? Big deal. I wasn’t alive back then so it couldn’t have been that important. I mean, the guy wore a top hat and never had skulls or dragons on his coat. No tattoos at all.
Mask, on the other hand, was part owner of a really cheesy T-shirt company and he supported MMA (for his own profit, but hey). Beat that, Weirdbeard! I would rate Mask well above Lincoln. I’d place him a notch or two above Jesus Christ and just a hair below Ronald Reagan.
"Cowards die many times before their deaths,
The valiant never taste of death but once."
Julius Caesar (II, ii, 32-37)
by Jeremyjackson on Mar 11, 2011 4:38 PM EST up reply actions
Nice post PhilQNY
Seen it before obviously but it seems we have some uneducated posters who need and education. If all they see is a top hat and face paint I feel sorry for them, I really do.
JJ, that quote was from one of his best friends so take it with a grain of salt. I’m sure you feel that way about people that are close to you, no need to dissect a quote from a grieving friend.
I came here to chew bubble gum and kick ass.....and I'm all out of bubble gum!!!
by TillaDaDrilla on Mar 11, 2011 4:51 PM EST up reply actions
No doubt TillaDaDrilla! : )
I’m aware of all who come here and share their thoughts and ideas.. for those who get it, will.. those who don’t.. won’t.. I thought at the time 2 years ago and still today that this was a well put together video in memory of Mask.. as a person.
OK, it just occured to me that Mask also wore a top hat — but Mask’s was much cooler. I doubt Lincoln would have gotten in many clubs wearing his.
"Cowards die many times before their deaths,
The valiant never taste of death but once."
Julius Caesar (II, ii, 32-37)
by Jeremyjackson on Mar 11, 2011 4:51 PM EST up reply actions
I don't understand why this guy is some sort of hero?
He made a clothing line. And then decided to race a porsche?
To top it off the clown was probably drunk during the race.
“Believe”. Believe what? what kind of marketing strategy is that? only thing I believe is that mask was some weirdo that wore face paint and top hats and cut his Ferrari in half with a light post.
-You don't have to like me, but you will respect me.
--Canada is the king of MMA.
Except he wasnt drunk dipshit, the other guy was.
"Fundamentals are a crutch for the talentless" - Kenny Powers
But he was in a high speed street race against the other car, drunk or not, and was breaking the law
D-Mob, I had never heard of him before his death as well, so I understand where you are coming from.
But Tapout has helped MMA grow with sponsorships etc., so if he had a hand in that I thank him for it.
Fedor.
I said "probably", dishit.
I know you are too fucking stupid to know what “probably” means so I will tell you.
in all likelihood; very likely.
It doesn’t mean he was, it was nothing more then an assumption. But it is likely.
Eat shit.
-You don't have to like me, but you will respect me.
--Canada is the king of MMA.
Wow that was really fucking educated! way to break it down...haha
what’s a “dishit”?
"Fundamentals are a crutch for the talentless" - Kenny Powers
Hey Newb
Maybe you should keep your uneducated comments to yourself, you look really ignorant with those comments. He was around for a decade building the sport before gashes like you watched TUF and became “fans”.
He made a terrible choice and paid the consequences, I’m sure you’ve never made a mistake…
The guy helped build the sport and supported fighters when no one else would piss on them if they were on fire, and he was always there for them and the fans even after he got rich, if it wasn’t for guys like him paving the way you’d be posting on American Idol or DWTS forums, you should be thankful guys like him paved the way for the sport you supposedly love.
I came here to chew bubble gum and kick ass.....and I'm all out of bubble gum!!!
by TillaDaDrilla on Mar 11, 2011 4:22 PM EST up reply actions
tilla
You’re getting to worked up over this. So what if he thought Mask was a fag. Why does that cause your vagina to flow so heavy?
Unless this is Tilla, the slutty little Asian chic from that reality show?
Current MMA Record: 1-40-0
by CenturyCity90067 on Mar 11, 2011 7:52 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
*too
Current MMA Record: 1-40-0
by CenturyCity90067 on Mar 11, 2011 8:03 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
uneducated comments? I look ignorant? Do you have sand in your vagina?
Micheal Jackson died, he was like the pioneer of rock and this and that.. He died a bad man because he touched some kids. BUT HE MAKES MISTAKES. and just purely judging you’ve probably made the same mistake.
Mask helped MMA, ya. But does he deserve some sort of prayer and beautiful sendoff? No.
He had a street race with another passenger in the car. He injured a women. BUT HE MAKES MISTAKES! his terrible mistake has put a girl in the hospital and another man in prison.
I’m not going to fall to my knees and cry because some guy made shirts and “paved the way” for MMA.
And it’s fucking sick that Tapout is now making money off his death.
And I don’t even know what DWTS stands for, so it really says a lot about you. ass hat.
-You don't have to like me, but you will respect me.
--Canada is the king of MMA.
Cmon tell the truth
You’ll never buy anything Tapout because it would take at least 2 weeks for you to collect enough pop cans to turn in to afford one
I came here to chew bubble gum and kick ass.....and I'm all out of bubble gum!!!
by TillaDaDrilla on Mar 11, 2011 5:01 PM EST up reply actions
pop cans arent worth money here. I wouldnt buy it also because Im not a try hard 15 year old who wears Tapout to let everyone know IU like fighting and am tough.
Some of us have to dress like professionals. Nice try though son
by snipersniper on Mar 11, 2011 6:07 PM EST up reply actions
+1
I wouldn’t buy one as I am straight and too old to experiment
Current MMA Record: 1-40-0
by CenturyCity90067 on Mar 11, 2011 7:54 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
i wont buy them either
but only because i refuse to also wear white sunglasses, i dont have any tribal or chain link tattoos, i’m too cheap to buy $100 tees and i have a decent sense of style
The one thing I will never understand
The ability to sell a $100 T-shirt. The thought baffles me completely, from both sides o fhte transaction.
That being said, Tapout was the first major player in sponsoring fighters and should lauded for staying true to the sport.
RIP
Are we going to have a memorial for this clown every year?
“Believe” ….Oh trust me. I BELIEVE. I believe that Mr. Facepaint was speeding around in lightweight exotic sportscar and got cut in half by a lamppost. Physics won. Get over it.
He’s being made out to be some sort of martyr when he clearly wasn’t.
In fact, I feel worse about the Modena that was cut down in her prime.
wanderlei ::: shogun ::: bj penn ::: fedor
by cauliflower_ears on Mar 11, 2011 9:53 PM EST reply actions
+1
Current MMA Record: 1-40-0
by CenturyCity90067 on Mar 11, 2011 10:01 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Ya definitely gotta have respect for this guy
He really helped bring this sport to the mainstream. And one of the first fans of the sport.
GOD REST HIS SOUL
He was no more and no less then an average man and I would wish anybody that passes for his family to heal fast and for GOD to rest his soul.
As far as him being Lincoln or comparing him to any great man in history because he had a Tshirt company that became successful. I think is a stretch…FAR FAR stretch at that.
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