In the late 80's skateboarding was booming and Powell Peralta and Vision skateboards seemed like they were too huge to fail. Around this time Steve Rocco was being let go from Sims skateboards (owned by Brad Dorfman) and decided to start his own board brand. In 1989, Mark Gonzales jumped ship from Vision skateboards (also owned by Dorfman) and started his own brand under the world umbrella. He decided to call his company Blind skateboards, a not so subtle dig at Brad Dorfman's Vision skateboards. 
Their first team rider was now famous actor Jason Lee (My Name Is Earl, Mall Rats, Almost Famous) who came over from the World Industries team to help launch the brand. After that, they stole Rudy Johnson and Guy Mariano from Powell Peralta. This led to Powell launching an attack add on smaller brands, which Rocco felt was aimed directly at him, seeing how he was one of the only small brands around at the time. Rocco decided to shoot back and let out this now famous "Dear George" add. The add shows Johnson, Lee & Gonz all standing holding their new Blind pro models, each ripping off a Powell Peralta graphic.