I guess dirt already happened but did you guys see how many guys got invites in each of the disciplines? Only 6 guys in park (and now with Mirra out is that 5?). 7 in vert 7 in dirt? How did they come up with this number?!? Remember when they used to have like 20 guys? They invite 6 and then they'll probably only show the runs of the top 2 or 3 guys. I get ****ed every year watching the coverage of this thing. Every rider has a different style and so much to offer and they focus on the top 2 and play up rivalries like its the Yankees vs. the Red Sox or something. It's freakin' freestyle. Show us all of it. You never get to see Aitken. They would never show the 40 foot gaps that Brian Foster would huck. I don't know why I'm posting this. This contest always ****es me off.
The talent pool is deeper now than ever and they invite 6 guys!?! Whatever!
BS - I agree, Now with only 6/7 top pros getting an invite, it's more like a big Demo than a contest. Still a good show, but gone are the days where someone like Bruce Crisman could earn his way in & win the show.
-Bill
Perfect example. Or back when they still had qualifying through the CFB and Ron Kimler made it in with his crazy run in the Enterprise at Woodward West. Sometimes it's good to see someone with a little different style.
ANT DOG 3:16
Aug 3 2006, 06:53 PM
GO SCOTTY CRAMER!!!!!!!!!!!! It is a jersey thang, ya don't understand.
NJ or not, no denying the kids good! With Mirra out, I'd say he Cranmer should take park. Heck he dang near should've last year!
-Bill
ANT DOG 3:16
Aug 3 2006, 07:21 PM
btw jersey is gonna rule vthe bmx world. just wait.
Stromania
Aug 4 2006, 08:28 AM
The last couple of years I've missed the airing. This year I set reminder on my cell to catch the dirt jumping, but I really let down. I was shocked that they only showed 3 riders last runs, ***!. On BMXonline.com is says that Allan Cooke did a superman seat grap back flip, Nyquist did a 720 bar spin, Aitken did a 180 lookback on the 3rd jump and rolled out it, etc---I sure would have like to have seen this.
buckchocolate
Aug 4 2006, 09:36 AM
BS, I agree!!! and I really want to see the BIG AIR comp...but most likely I'll be too CHEAP to buy the "Pay Preview"...oh yeah and whats with the ROAD RALLY car racing thing being in the Xgames?!
malp
Aug 4 2006, 09:56 AM
The coverage so far has been disappointing. It was sad to see the dirt comp over in what the first 5 min of the show. Just goes to show bmx is still the underdog to skating. “Here is Ryan Nyquist ready to… err this just in Shawn White just put his helmut on and its black, nice run by Nyquistâ€.
Looks like BMX is circling the X-Gaymes toilet. I really can't believe it. I would think it'd be a staple of the event.
Yes, Pay-Per-View?!? What the F is that all about?!?
quote:
they only showed 3 riders last runs, Allan Cooke did a superman seat grab back flip, Nyquist did a 720 bar spin, Aitken did a 180 lookback on the 3rd jump and rolled out it, etc---I sure would have like to have seen this.
No kidding! Can you believe this? This is BS!!!!
I sent Aitken an email last year about something and when he responded he said that the reason they didn't show him on TV was because he was wearing a "****" shirt or sticker or something. They told him to take it off and he told them to ****-off. No coverage.
[Edit] Ugh!, the shirt/sticker he was wearing was a parody of a Kiss shirt and rhymed with that. Bodily fluid, one word, begins with p and ends with s. You get the idea. [/Edit]
[ August 04, 2006, 12:38 PM: Message edited by: BS ]
Well now you guys know how all the flatlanders felt. They (we) always got shafted in terms of TV coverage. The last year (2003) it was in the games Simon O'Brien did a backwards halfpacker kickflip and they didn't show ANY flatland, at all. ESPN is only interested in high ratings, not promoting a sport.
They would show a pogo stick contest if they thought someone would watch it.
To be totally fair, there has always been more bike events than skating at X, and vert skating is one of THE highlight events of the X-Games. We still have park and vert, not to mention big air and vert best trick.
I'm sure dirt would've gotten some ratings, but ESPN is trying to pitch this to your average 13 year old, and they ALL know who Shaun White is, and I would guess that most would be more interested in seeing him than dirt jumping. The fact he won the Olympics this year makes him a huge draw. Only riders would really know who Aitken or Brian Foster is. No one apart from Mirra, Hoffman, and maybe Bestwick has that mainstream appeal, but normal kids who don't even skate know who Bob Burnquist and Shaun White are.
I'm not sure why, maybe its the cost involved with getting a bike, but BMX has always lagged way behind skating (and skating behind surfing) in terms of acceptance and presence in mainstream culture.
Remember all the kids in school who wore Quicksilver clothes, Powell shirts, etc. but didn't even skate or surf? (and might not have lived within 1000 miles of a beach) BMX has never really been like that, and if we want to be the premiere event at things like the X-games, it might be a good idea to ask why that is.
Yes, I totally agree on the flatland. They got the shaft.
But don't go trying to make sense of all this by talking facts and reality to us. (I'm kidding) I'm ****ed and I want my way! I'm gonna go vandalize something...(I'm not really)!
You're totally right, but how am I going to sustain my profanity laced tirade with you making all that sense!!!
[ August 04, 2006, 01:01 PM: Message edited by: BS ]
I'm with BS. The X-Games is all BS! I want it my way!!!
signed, another BS
-Bill Sympson
edit: but instead of vandalizing things, I think I'll go to the skatepark this aft!
[ August 04, 2006, 01:20 PM: Message edited by: wds ]
speed
Aug 4 2006, 01:06 PM
ESPN does not care.We all know that.WE need to take OUR Sport and promote it OUR way.Remember Mat Hoffman's CFB contests?Yes,ESPN picked it up and ran with it(correct?) But I think it's high time another rider (or riders?) come up with their own contests and try to raise interest(without losing creative control)with TV executives.maybe OLN could step in and do better than ESPN...
buckchocolate
Aug 4 2006, 02:12 PM
do you really want EVERYONE to embrace BMX anyway...isn't part of the COOLNESS of BMX that it is sorta underground and out of the mainstream...judging by these forums I've noticed that most folks here prefer the obscure, weather it be music, fashion or lifestyle...I think most BMXers would hate it if everyone jumped on the BMX thing.
quote:
do you really want EVERYONE to embrace BMX anyway
You've got a point there buckchocolate...
...and the CFB contests are actually still happening, although only one per year instead of three. It's the BS comps that ESPN took off and ran with. I miss the old BS comp days before the made-for-TV business. I am happy that some of the guys can make a good living at this thing though.
By the way, there are still a lot of really good contests going on away from the TV. The Roots Jam (although they skipped this year), The Metro Jam, The Red Bull stuff and there's always small local contests that are still goin on. Keep your eyes peeled for REAL BMX happening right under our noses.
What we are missing from BMX these days is a real, dependable, pro/am contest. There are a lot of good pro only/invite only/TV rockstar type events, and there are a few jams/local comps/am events, but there is a real absence of a good pro/am series, like the CFB or the BS comps used to be. I'm talking flat, park, and vert, with beginner, intermediate, expert, and pro classes. One of the coolest things about bike riding that ISN'T around anymore is being able to be a 14 year old beginner and practice with Dave Mirra or Jay Miron at a contest. It's a shame that it's not like that anymore. Accessiblity to the stars is something that's always been cool about BMX.
Amen! You are absolutely right. We've gone too long without developing that middle level of talent. The gap between local jams and rock-star comps is at the widest its ever been. We need a new BS series.
Metro Jam had an amateur contest a few years back but they made it known that it was an "expert" level comp.
Mike Corvin
Aug 15 2006, 07:13 AM
Screw the X-Gaymes (I like that) it's more about selling deodorant and sodas than showcasing any talent nowadays. Doing an invite-only format, then only inviting the top 6 riders just proves it. Your sponsor portfolio probably means more to the promoter than your actual skill.
There are so many kids with skills who aren't sponsored mainstream pros, Mike Aitken is a good example. I've seen him ride on several occaisons at several parks in the Salt Lake area, he has mad skills and flow.
The absence of flat coverage disapoints me as well. IMO no other bmx discipline requires more balance and technical skills. I guess the ratings don't support it, though. After all, you're supposed to be watching commercials for extreme deodorant and extreme soda, not bike riding...
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