OT: ESPN's X-Games

[Fishy]

I understand why ESPN would create sports out of thin air and pretend they're actually important - cheap programming. (I actually heard an "analyst" for ESPN claim that they could 'no longer ignore the urban shredding scene' before intro'ing some new 'sport'.)

But they are flat going to kill someone with some of these things.

Some jackass just drove himself into the earth trying to do two backflips on a snowmobile. His arm will not work independently for the next six months I'd wager.

The helpful dips*** sideline chick offered "he is complaining about pain in his right arm". His right arm would be the one that is bent in a direction it didn't prior to meeting to the snow - I knew he was complaining about pain in his right arm one second after watching him crash.

It really is the single stupidest organization on the planet. This is even dumber than paying Stu Scott.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Some of the stuff is insane.

I was watching the events Friday with a couple of buddies while knocking down some beers. We were laughing how we all grew up watching ABC's "Wide World of Sports" and the "Agony of Defeat" segment with the ski jumper.

That highlight wouldn't make the nightly top 10 of crashes nowadays. You couldn't even sell a plain ole boring 70m or 90m jump.

I think it's great watching the snowboarding and the ski jumping. I think the snowmobile racing is pretty cool too. But doing stunts, flips and other aerial manuevers on them is writing someone's obituary.

 

[Fishy]

I was watching earlier and they had paralyzed guys strapped to skis going about 60 mph down a hill.

God help me, but the only thing going through my head was "I wonder if they bother with the backboard if somebody crashes."

("Oh, what a crash! He's not getting up! Ah...that's right. Forget it. He's probably fine.")

 

[huskiesNhoos]

I've been snowboarding for 15 yrs now and while I can't do the majority of things they do it's a lot to do with the fact that I'm just not crazy/dumb enough to try it. Not to say I don't do a lot of dumb things, but I have a pretty good idea of what my limits are...these guys do not, or they do and just dont give a

I personally love watching it, but if you ever want to see real boarding check out "that's it that's all". Travis Rice put together a planet earth meets backcountry boarding flick that's pretty awesome

 

[Chin Diesel]

I've been snowboarding for 15 yrs now and while I can't do the majority of things they do it's a lot to do with the fact that I'm just not crazy/dumb enough to try it. Not to say I don't do a lot of dumb things, but I have a pretty good idea of what my limits are...these guys do not, or they do and just dont give a

I personally love watching it, but if you ever want to see real boarding check out "that's it that's all". Travis Rice put together a planet earth meets backcountry boarding flick that's pretty awesome

I think it's a safe bet that a lot of weed is smoked during their younger days while they're up and comers. I'd guess most of the competitors are clean leading up to the X games, but I'd wager a few bucks that their minds' receive some assistance while they are coming up with these moves and trying them out.

 

[Prezidint]

Sure sign I'm getting old.

I find the X games to be horribly boring.

To me it's like figure skating or gymnastics - it's all just some made up crap, there is no direct competition, and it depends on what some "judge" thinks about the triple back Louey twist with a Spartan tap some kid just did.

Seriously. I'd rather watch women's basketball.

 

[kobebeanbryant]

Seriously. I'd rather watch women's basketball.

whoa there. let's slow down before we say something that we'll end up regretting.

 

[HuskyNan]

The first time I saw the snowmobile-flipping thing I thought it was insane. It's like you're waiting for someone to get hurt. I remember a few years ago some guy came back from a broken back to compete again - I guess injuries aren't uncommon. Just nuts.

Found this bit in a paper from Colorado:

• Snowmobiler Justin Hoyer suffered injuries while trying to attempt a double back flip in the snowmobile best trick competition. Hoyer had an apparent arm injury, and the event was stalled for about 20 minutes. Hoyer couldn't finish his second flip, and his sled went nose-first into the landing.​

The snowmobile contest arguably provided the weekend's scariest accidents. On Thursday, Colten Moore lost hold of his snowmobile while in midair and landed on his shoulder. He went on to win gold in the snowmobile freestyle competition.​

ESPN reported that Caleb Moore, a snowmobiler and Colten's brother, competed in Sunday night's best trick competition with a broken pelvic bone.​

 

[OkaForPrez]

A skier, Sarah Burke, just died as a result of injuries sustained practicing in the super-pipe.

http://espn.go.com/action/freeskiing/story/_/id/7466421/sarah-burke-dies-injuries-suffered-utah

I don't watch the x games any more out of fear of seeing something live. The Matt Hoffman 30 for 30 captivated and terrified me. Our viewership = Espn $ = why these people are gambling with their lives. I'm surprised there haven't been more serious injuries.