P Rod: On Being a Father

I'm here with Paul Rodriguez P Rod. It's really cool today, they're raising money for the Watts Skate Park and I saw all the kids just like talking to, so excited to meet you. How is that feeling being able to be such a, a great role model to these kids in neighborhoods that really can't, you know, afford a skate park?

It's crazy. Just a few years ago I was the fan. You know, I was over here fan out on Tony and the rest of the gang, so like to be up here with these guys it still hasn't hit me yet. And when the kids come up to me like I'm some type of uh, I guess celebrity or something, it's, it feels weird. Cuz I, I don't remember the transition where I became from the fan to the actual guy the kids looked up to. So it's, it's kinda surreal. Sometimes it catches me off guard. I don't know how to take it because I still feel like a fan, so, it's good.

Well, you're a great role model for them. Now, do you have a new daughter?

Yes, I do. 10-month-old Haven.

I saw her and I, she was the most beautiful little baby I've seen.

Thank you very much.

So how is it being a new father?

It's awesome. She's seriously the best introductory to parenthood from what I hear, you know, she doesn't really cry a lot. She sleeps through the night. She's just always happy, always smiling, so very rarely is she like in a real bad mood except when she's like teething, since her teeth are starting to come in, so she'll get a little grumpy from that, but other than that, man, she's really great. So I'm, I'm blessed.

Well, she has your eyes, I saw that.

Thank you very much.

Not your hair yet?

Not quite. But she had my hair when I was a baby. That's the kinda hair I had. I was bald, yeah, from the first year, for sure.

Do you um, see wanting to have some more kids?

Yeah, I can see that. I'll probably another couple. Have a nice little uh, little batch of kids. I don't know how soon, but, We'll get her one day at a time. We'll get her walking and talking first, and then we'll, we'll talk about the next one.

So, would you want her on a skateboard or what would you, you foresee your little girl doing?

I want her to do whatever she's passionate about. As long as it's something, you know, constructive and healthy. You know, I, I, I'm just gonna support whatever she wants to do. Um, that's kinda how my parents were. They let me try out everything until eventually I came across my passion. So that's kinda the approach I'm gonna take with her. If she wants to skate, by all means I will support that. If she wants to do something else, I'm, I'm backing her.

Now, the last time we talked to you was the Street Dreams premiere. Can you tell us how relevant your character is to who you really are?

In school I didn't always pay attention. I was sometimes daydreaming about skating after school. So, it wasn't too far outside of my character.

What's in your future, any more movies?

Uh, hopefully, yeah. Other than that, I'm just focused on skateboarding. Trying to, you know, keep my skateboard in top notch and uh, maybe do good in a couple more contests and I don't know, that's where my heart is right now.

Cool. Now, have you been able to check out Tony's ride over there? The, the new game.

Yeah, I played it a bunch of times. I'm in the game so uh, I've been fortunate enough to play it a lot already.

And how do you look in the game?

I'm feeling good. I feel like I'm, I'm looking handsome. Nah, just kidding.

As a skateboarder playing video games, do you find yourself playing a lot of skate games or do you like to do other stuff too?

Um, I like to do other things too, but yeah, skate games are always in the rotation. Sometimes basketball games. Uh, I like Wii. Wii's fun, playing bowling and tennis and baseball. Any, a lot of games on Wii are fun.

What's going on, it's P Rod here on Young Hollywood at the Tony Hawk Foundation. Come out, support us. Trying to build some skate parks for the youth, so take care.