The 2010 X Games, the Olympics of action sports, took place this past week in Los Angeles. The event was loaded with lots of daring new tricks and, fortunately, few injuries of note. For example, skateboarder Jake Brown performed a backflip over a 70 foot gap to win the Skateboard Big Air event, Shaun White landed the first frontside heelflip 540 body varial in competition history (and still didn't win the event), and Travis Pastrana won the Moto X Freestyle and then landed a double backflip as part of his victory lap.
These competitors sure know how to push the limits and get our hearts racing with their daring tricks, but are these individuals athletes to admire or fools risking their lives for the sport?
"Outside the Lines" on ESPN recently produced a segment called "Pushing the Limits," which explores the dangers of action sports and the competitors who risk their lives every day in events. The show highlighted Jeremy Lusk, a 24-year-old who died from head injuries sustained during a motocross event, and Stephen Murray, a new quadriplegic due to a devastating crash during a BMX Dirt Finals competition in 2007.
Murray claims that he has no regrets, that he has experienced life to the fullest, and that he gave the crowd what they love - a devastatingly entertaining crash. The other athletes profiled, including dreamy Tony Hawk and tattooed sexy Carey Hart, share a similar sentiment to Murray. These athletes live for their sport. If they do not push the limits then they lose the adrenaline they crave with each new daring trick. All have suffered traumatic injuries, yet get up and push themselves further not only for the progression of action sports, but also for their need for a rush.
Although it is quite admirable for these daredevils to want to continue to develop action sports, shouldn't there be a limit? The constant life threatening injuries are not a coincidence or a fluke occurrence; action sports are dangerous and is there really enough excitement for a new trick that is worth a human life?
These athletes cannot control their adrenaline cravings and as a result another competitor will inevitably lose his life. And most shocking, is the fact that each athlete knows that with each new trick they attempt it is their own life that may be the next one lost.
The intense need for adrenaline these competitors share is too strong to quell, because landing a double backflip in motocross or a achieving new heights in Skateboard Air events will always be of more value to the athlete than the risk of injury. So, shouldn't we, the fans, bear some of the responsibility? Let's cheer our boys on for a series of lesser risk tricks rather than one life threatening one. Or how about combination routines of tricks with multiple competitors instead of one athlete aiming for one "sick" move?
Action sports are here to stay and the crowds keep getting bigger. I, along with the rest of America (who actually tune in to action sports), "ooh" and "ahh" with the best of them when I see an exciting move, or sadly, a horrifying crash. We continue to boost the adrenaline of these apparent studs with each new trick. It is only when we dig below the surface of these athletes that we see the coward or weakling within - this is a competitor who got the fame of a great move, but did so knowing that his life was less important.
Clearly, the few seconds of a high for an action sport star satisfies his urge and makes him feel like a stud. The risk is worth it for them, but for me, no matter how cute those blue eyes are, or how sexy those tattoos look, or how that performer charm shines, no action sports star is worth my heart. A real stud would be able to manage any urge and value their life above any fame or buzz from landing a new trick.
No comments:
Post a Comment