11/05/24
July 10, 2005
Great Leap Forward: With the Chinese minister of extreme sports in attendance, American skateboarder Danny Way cleared a 61-foot gap at nearly 50 mph, crossing the Great Wall of China. "I'm not a fan of heights," said Way, 31, who made five successive jumps. "The sooner I can get down from the top in one piece, the better." Daredevil sports have taken off in China, where Flying Over the Wall events began 10 years ago, but this was the first skateboarder to make an attempt. In 2002, a Chinese bicyclist died attempting to jump the wall when he landed outside the safety area.
Why doesn't the US have a cabinet-level Secretary of Extreme Sports? We're backwards, that's why!
posted by lil_brown_bat at 10:09 AM on July 10, 2005
deja vu all over again.
posted by scully at 10:38 AM on July 10, 2005
We don't have a Secetary for Extreme Sports because our Government is too worried about Howard Stern on the radio and naked women on our computer screens. These are two main reasons why we are so backwards. The thing is, it will get worse before it ever gets better. Worry about $2.25 a gallon gas.
posted by dbt302 at 11:32 AM on July 10, 2005
I also posted this on MetaFilter as an homage to the Internet's minister of extreme sports, Mathowie.
posted by rcade at 11:38 AM on July 10, 2005
Worry about $2.25 a gallon gas. $2.25 a gallon gas? Where?!? It's $2.38 down the street...
posted by lil_brown_bat at 01:02 PM on July 10, 2005
That's what it was when I typed the earlier message. I'm sure it has gone up by now.
posted by dbt302 at 01:44 PM on July 10, 2005
What is it that makes this even remotely a sport? Just because there a wall, a bridge or a hole somewhere, why does jumping over it get any coverage at all? Just call it what it really is and get it over with -- Extreme Attention-Whoring. /Simpsons did it!
posted by wfrazerjr at 02:37 PM on July 10, 2005
$2.49 down my street! un-fu--ing real!
posted by Tigersfan at 07:56 AM on July 11, 2005
I think there is room for the different sports. Im 32 and when i was a kid it was baseball, football, basketball and that was it. My kids are now into boarding and biking and I think its cool. As far as a secretary of any sports at cabinet level I think is as dumb as voting a half retarded texan as our leader!!
posted by Tigersfan at 08:00 AM on July 11, 2005
Dude, I paid 2.59 this weekend. For regular.
posted by worldcup2002 at 06:59 PM on July 11, 2005
you know, for all the shit that's said about jersey, we have some of the lowest prices in the country. i paid $2.17 today. and we don't have to pump it ourselves.
posted by goddam at 07:43 PM on July 11, 2005
I agree there's plenty of room for other sporting events, TF ... I even like the BMX stuff. I just don't get what the sport is about jumping the Great Wall. And who says bad stuff about Jersey? /Quik Stop, represent!
posted by wfrazerjr at 07:55 PM on July 11, 2005
(There is nothing more boring than gas price discussions.) Wouldn't it REALLY hurt to go that high up over the ramp and then not land the trick?
posted by Smackfu at 12:51 PM on July 12, 2005
(There is nothing more boring than gas price discussions.) I wasn't discussing, I was trying to derail a silly rant.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 03:26 PM on July 13, 2005
Videos [Windows Media]: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.