David: Do you play yourself?

Mike V: I've been playing on and off since I was 19 or so, ice, street, roller and even skateboard hockey. I just love to play. Of course I prefer ice and I'm playing in a men's league here in Los Angeles this year, but I'm pretty busy and I can't make all the games. I wish I had time to play more. Someday.

David: You're a fan of the fights. Who have been some of your favorites?

Mike V: All-time favorite is Bob Probert, the guy just had a presence about him. I really liked Marty McSorley, he was an emotional fighter and always willingly stood up for his teammates, he fought with purpose.

David: How'd you get hooked up with Kip Brennan?

Mike V: I met him after a Kings game. I was downstairs and started a conversation with him and one thing led to another.

David: How'd that go?

Mike V: I think it went well for what it was. In some ways I regret not just fighting him straight up, meaning trying to mount some offense of my own. This may sound silly on certain levels but I was actually concerned about him getting hurt as it was mid-season and he was up from Manchester and I didn't want to do anything that may negatively effect his career. By no means do I think I could have whipped him, but at the same time I'm certain I could have exchanged punches with him and one never knows what may happen. So, it was in some ways a one-sided fight by design. I told him he could hit me, but that I wouldn't hit him. For me it was more so about the experience of standing in there and finding out if I could take the beating. In retrospect I wish I just went for it for better or worse.

David: What was the size difference?

Mike V: He's 6'4, 230 or so. I'm 5'10, 185.

David: How was that punching power?

Mike V: Well, I don't think he hit me as hard as he could, but he definitely tagged me good. Good enough to split my lip and give me a black eye and a splitting headache. I got a pretty good idea of what he's capable of doing to someone's face and it's scary.

David: Would you do it again?

Mike V: I would for sure, I don't know about with Kip, maybe with someone closer to my size. But I bet Kip would be willing to do it again and we've joked about it a few times. You never know, I may go into training and try to redeem myself a little. I have no allusions about whipping him, but I'd at least like to keep my balance a bit better and throw one real intentioned punch at least.

David: What are you up to next?

Mike V: I'm heading out to the NHL All-Star game to play a game of skateboard hockey at the Fantasy Event in St. Paul for the NHL. After that I'm in Australia for a skateboard contest but for most of 2004 I'll be filming for a TV show I'm doing for the Rush channel on the VOOM High Definition Satellite Network called DRIVE TV.

Tons of thanks to Mike Vallely for taking the time to talk. Visit his website, http://www.mikevallely.com/. If you want to check out this footage, it's all on Mike V's Greatest Hits.

Oh, and if you have Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4: To unlock Mike Vallely simply save up $9,000.00 and buy him in the Spend Cash section. Mike has two special airs and one special grind.