11/05/24
August 04, 2006
Going down with the ship: BMX riders face a point of no return when they crash — a moment when they're simply moving too fast in too awkward a position to do anything about the fact that they've lost control. How dangerous is BMX? Dave Mirra will miss the X-games for the first time after lacerating his liver. Ouch!
Do you consider this an ESPN curse since Mirra is the guy on the commercials for this years X Games?
posted by timdawg at 02:10 PM on August 04, 2006
I wouldn't call it a curse, at least not yet, because I don't recall injuries happening to other athletes in years past. Maybe it was the shaving commercial. As far as who will take BMX park and BMX vert now that Mirra is out, I really don't have a clue. Ryan Nyquist is probably the favorite for park, and Bestwick for vert. The whole bailing issue on bikes is why I don't ride them. I know a guy who fell on the handlebars and ended up getting stitches in his scrotum. I haven't seen any video yet of what happened to Mirra, I guess the cameras were not running during practice.
posted by MrFrisby at 06:00 PM on August 04, 2006
Lacerated livers and sutured scrotums? Alliteration has never been so painful.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 06:07 PM on August 04, 2006
Well Chad Kagy got the gold in the BMX vert. and...oh...your...god! You all need to watch the highlights tonight. Travis Pastrana just pulled a double backflip on a freakin motorcycle. His poor mother was sitting there crying knowing he was going to try it. Not only did he get the 2 full rotations but he stuck a perfect landing. Of course, he wins MotoX Best trick. Now excuse me, I need to go change my shorts.
posted by MrFrisby at 10:18 PM on August 04, 2006
I've never been one to apprecite the extreme sports, or the marketing-gimmick-trying-to-pass-itself-off-as-some-sort-of-halfass-Olympics that is the X-Games, but damn, that double backflip tonight was one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. Video link is here (5th one down). Un-freaking-believable.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 07:19 AM on August 05, 2006
I just watched the video (thanks for the link) and I still don't think it is possible.
posted by seansterps at 10:27 AM on August 05, 2006
I done BMX stunts before. However, stories like losing your balls, scratching your stomach, and dissecting your liver make me think twice.
posted by Joe88 at 12:19 PM on August 05, 2006
Lacerated liver, ouch. Then again I put my liver through a rigiorious work out on near daily basis. Seriously though, this sucks. Mirra is the Hawk of BMX. Bestwick to repeat?