X GAMES IX: NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME? BESTWICK BEST; SOME RIDERS LEFT OFF TV.Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer After nine years in the action-sports business, the X Games X Games Sports medicine The official Olympics of 'extreme sports' sponsored by ESPN, held annually during the summer. See Extreme sports. finally went prime time Sunday night Sunday Night, later named Michelob Presents Night Music, was an NBC late-night television show which aired for two seasons between 1988 and 1990 as a showcase for jazz and eclectic musical artists. , with a two-hour block on ABC ABC in full American Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. television network. It began when the expanding national radio network NBC split into the separate Red and Blue networks in 1928. and a live broadcast of the Bike Stunt Vert finals from Staples Center This article has multiple issues: * Its neutrality is disputed. * It may contain original research or unverifiable claims. * It does not cite any references or sources. , where fans waited up to an hour just to get inside the door. The winner of the event, Britain's Jamie Bestwick, called the exposure ``phenomenal'' for the sport. But not all competitors were happy when delivered the news that only six of the 10 riders who qualified for the finals actually appeared on television. ``You would expect that if you show up to the X Games and make it to a final, you will have some TV time,'' said fifth-place finisher Chad Kagy, whose second and last run took place during a commercial break. ``That's what every rider here expects: You make it into the final 10, you should be on. At least the highlights reel anyway.'' Kagy was not alone in his lack of air time. Fourth-place finisher Simon Tabron hit a 900 while a commercial for the ABC drama ``Threat Matrix'' aired. And John Parker The name John Parker may refer to any of these people:
``Making top five in our sport at the biggest event in the world, give me a damn break,'' Kagy said. ``The 100th-place (golfer) in the world gets paid more than our first-place guy and he gets on TV. TV's what a lot of sponsors are about.'' For his part, Parker called the broadcast ``great for the sport'' and said he knew a lot of friends who made a point to watch. He did not know, however, that ABC only televised select riders. ``I expected it, whatever,'' Parker said. ``It doesn't really bother me. Obviously, ESPN ESPN Entertainment and Sports Programming Network does things the way they want them done and you can either come or not come. It's no big deal. They put on a pretty good event. You can't complain.'' ABC did broadcast the final-round runs by Kevin Robinson, Jimmy Walker, Dennis McCoy, Dave Mirra Dave Mirra (born April 4, 1974 in Chittenango, New York) is an American BMX athlete and business owner. Dave Mirra is known as BMX's most dominant athlete and arguably the most dominant extreme athlete of all-time. and Bestwick, all of whom posted the top five scores in Friday's prelims. Walker ended up in eighth place; McCoy in seventh. During the two-hour block, ABC also aired taped highlights of the Moto X Freestyle The code name for the MCE version of Windows. See Media Center Edition. and Skateboard Vert Doubles finals from Saturday. An ESPN official said the network does not have enough air time to get all 300 athletes competing in the Games on television, though the network tries to do so with as many as possible. Kagy said the number of riders televised was an improvement over past X Games. ``It used to be that just three people would get on TV and they'd show some other people crashing, and that was about it,'' he said. ``At least now we've pushed it to the point where five or six of us can actually get on TV.'' Viewers were able to see a memorable run by Bestwick, who had to miss the past two Games with a broken left ankle and broken leg. Bestwick landed a backflip back·flip intr.v. back·flipped, back·flip·ping, back·flips To perform a backward somersault, especially in the air. n. A backward somersault. 360 tailwhip and received a score of 95.60 to win gold. ``I just owned that ramp like it was mine,'' Bestwick said. ``Everything went right. That's what I like "That's What I Like" was a popular single by Jive Bunny & the Mastermixers. Father and son team Andy and John Pickles repeated the formula which had took their record Swing The Mood to number one a few months previously. about riding, there are no limits. I don't like to stay in one place.'' Mirra, who painted his shoes pink for the occasion, had a chance to beat Bestwick in his final run. He landed a double tailwhip but fell trying a bar spin flair. Mirra scored a 92.60, good enough for silver, and received his 16th career X Games medal. Afterward af·ter·ward also af·ter·wards adv. At a later time; subsequently. Adv. 1. afterward - happening at a time subsequent to a reference time; "he apologized subsequently"; "he's going to the store but he'll be back here , Bestwick was beaming. Not only had he put together the run he wanted, he had done it on national television. ``It was phenomenal, to be live on ABC,'' Bestwick said. ``And I think we put on a pretty good show, for sure.'' Ross Siler, (818) 713-3610 ross.siler(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Jamie Bestwick, who missed the past two X Games with injuries, won the Bike Stunt Vert at Staples Center on Sunday. (2 -- color) Dave Mirra had a chance to win on his final run but fell, finishing with a silver for his 16th career X Games medal. John Lazar/Staff Photographer |
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