60 minutes report

[490Dave]

I just read on USmotocross.com that 60 minutes will be airing a report on "Extreme Motorcycling" on June 4th. It is supposed to be an honest and fair look at the sport but some believe it will focus more towards the number of injuries sustained to people involved with motorcycles, why else would they do it?

Any way, i'm pretty sure i know which way it'll go, we'll see.

Dave...

 

[JPIVEY]

Yep I agree, that loud screaming sound you'll hear will be the AMA pulling the knife out of their back.

The AMA will post their response to this on their website, they should have known not to trust the news media

 

[dklink2000]

from 60 minutes web site:

(CBS) Wednesday, June 4
Extreme motorcycle competition is taking off in popularity, and it's not a sport for the faint-hearted.

If one hasn't come to your city's local arena or stadium yet, chances are it will soon. Correspondent Jim Stewart reports on motorcycle racing, an "extreme sport" that is becoming one of the hottest sports in the land.

 

[JPIVEY]

This is from the AMA


As the AMA reported in November, a CBS News producer first contacted the AMA in
late September, claiming to be working on a "balanced, fair, and accurate"
segment about "the growth, success, and excitement" of AMA Supercross. The AMA
cooperated fully, supplying rulebooks and other background information. Tom
Lindsay, the AMA's Public Information Director, had two lengthy telephone
conversations with the producer -- who admitted to knowing little about the
sport -- to help him gain a working knowledge of AMA competition. The AMA
declined his invitation for an on-camera interview.

Since then, the AMA has learned that "60 Minutes II" has contacted numerous
others in the industry, including promoters, publishers and competitors. Sources
have told the AMA that these inquiries have focused largely on injuries. The AMA
also has become aware of reports that CBS News crews attended a number of
events, not all of which were AMA-sanctioned, solely to document accidents and
injuries, even videotaping a physician performing surgery on a motocross
competitor.

"We hope that reports of the program's singular focus on injuries turn out to be
untrue," said the AMA's Lindsay. "Because injuries are a part of any sport, at
any level, we recognize that this aspect of motorcycle competition may be
addressed in the report, but any mention of injuries would be incomplete without
acknowledging AMA Pro Racing's commitment to safety and the specific steps it
has taken in this area."

"We're confident that we've provided '60 Minutes II' with all the information
necessary to portray AMA competition accurately," Lindsay continued, "and we're
comfortable with our decision to decline the producer's request for an on-camera
interview."

 

[WideOpen]

since the AMA "declined the producer's request for an on-camera
interview", CBS will probably air that as "officals are ignoring our requests to speak about the increase of injuries"

They interviewed David Bailey and I hope they put him in a good light. I know they will bring up his injury but hopefully david will still say what a great sport this is

 

[Jon K.]

I don't see how Bailey could possibly "win" an interview with a determined reporter.

I will wait and see, but my initial impression is that he, like the AMA, should have passed.

Will any distinction be made between racing and freestyle? Again; we will see.

 

[nephron]

Nobody's said it?
OK--I will. Any publicity is good publicity.
And that's the truth. Think about an audience of 10,000,000 people Wed night seeing this, however ugly...there's only 2 possibilities tomorrow. 1) People aren't stupid. They'll form their own opinion, irregardless of the slant put on the story, and some of this 10 mil. will take a look @ Southwick, or something. 2) People will be 'typically' engrossed with the violence and horror of it all....with the same result.

It's a no lose situation for us. You can't 'legislate' MX/SX away anymore than you can 'legislate' Ultimate Fighting away---if people will pay to watch it, it will be done.

 

[WideOpen]

nephron is probably right. I fear all the parents that wont be buying a bike for their kids after they see this. There has to be another RC or MC somewhere out there and that kid really needs a motocross bike

Whatever the story is on us, everyone in the sport will be watching 60 minutes tomarrow night.

 

[490Dave]

Originally posted by nephron
Nobody's said it?
OK--I will. Any publicity is good publicity.
And that's the truth.

Only if your name is Brian Deegan is "any publicity good publicity"
I doubt that Manufacturers will see it as "good" publicity, seeing as bike sales could drop as a result of a slanted piece, you know Granpa's and Ma's will be a part of that 10 mil watching and just maybe "Junior doesn't really need that bike for Xmas" yada yada yada!
But its clear that along with the rise in popularity of anything there will be those critics that feel that the public needs to know "the real story".
I cant wait to know!

Dave...

 

[flynbryan]

What is the set time for the show? I see its the 4th. but see no time? I think I'll have my response email waiting on my screen ready to go. I also think that this will be a focus on the injuries report. They will probably leave out most positive opinions of the sport and discredit whatever they do leave. :silly: Man I hope this doesn't get bad.......

 

[Danman]

I think that Ken Fought did an on camera piece for them as well. It was in his colum a couple of months back. I will be watching as well. I hope its not slanted, but that just may be a pipe dream :( You can check the newpaper listings for the 60 minute air time in your area.

 

[kbud]

It's on 9:00 I think.

 

[flynbryan]

Yes Ken Faught did do an on camera interview w/them. Thanks Kbud.

 

[nephron]

bryan--60 minutes is a pretty good journalistic effort. Typically, they don't push their opinion, but present both sides of a controversial issue and let the public make their own mind up. That is, except Rooney. They'll certainly air Johnson and Bailey and all the positives--but they'll no doubt throw in the danger of it all as well.

 

[flynbryan]

Hope so Nephron, I will say its been yeeears since I last watched 60min. so I can't really support nor discredit their journalism. I just know how most media react and are usually only interested in shock treatment and getting "ratings". Like I said I just hope they don't stereotype our sport as a bunch o' motorcicle ridden holagan's or wreckless kids/adults.

 

[dirt bike dave]

Let's ask Audi if 'any publicity is good publicity'. The 60 Minutes story on unintended acceleration nearly put them out of business in the US about 20 years ago.

For those not familiar with the issue, there were a rash of lawsuits from Audi owners claiming their cars surged forward out of control even though the driver said he had his foot planted firmly on the brake.

60 Minutes inflamed the issue and gave credence to the plaintiffs, even though it is physically impossible for a little Audi 5 banger to overpower 4 locked up disk brakes.

Bottom line is there was operator error and a few dimbulbs slammed their foot on the gas instead of the brake, and some people got hurt. 60 Minutes treated the dimbulb drivers as vicitms of Audi's demon car, and Audi sales plummeted.

 

[Jon K.]

I had a three-wheeler once . . . a while back . . . Hmmmm . . .

 

[JPIVEY]

You know we're going to get hammered on this, I hear there's to much focus on injuries, who was injuried, how they were injuried.

I don't think we will see the possitive side of riding/competitive racing, if the media holds true to their form it will show FMX crashes , dune racing/crashing , people on quads with beer and No helmets, guys and girls all bloody with bones and vains sticking out all over, body parts over here and there, over populated riding areas, pretty much the guys and girls that may ride once or twice a year and then go out and just tear it up.

Just my opinion

Ya know people think that this is going to be fair and balanced and this will be good for the industry.


I don't , the only thing that sell for the media is controversy and this is a big one.

Everybody thinks these field reporters are going to be fair, but every field reporter has one goal and that is to not be a field flunky, they all want to be the next B. Walters or D. Rather and you do it by creating or exploting a controversy

The pen being mightier than the sword doesn't hold a candle to an over zealous reporter with a video crew any more than a politican holds a candle to the media

ok, there's another opinion

 

[nephron]

D. Rather and you do it by creating or exploting a controversy

Dan Rather screwed up the Saddam interview for the exact opposite reason--avoiding controversy.

Claiming defective vehicle design is not a controversy. If you can think of a controversy that affected an 'activity', eg sport...point it out. In my opinion, controversy attracts attention to a matter, in which case statistically it pans out reasonably well for the topic at hand.

 

[JPIVEY]

Well nephron, we are posting opinion here and my opinion has nothing to do with the saddam interview or a defective vehicle, it has everything to do with the media and how they will portray our sport.

In the past the have done little to nothing to promote our sport, but have gone the one step more to show it's negitive effect on everything from the enviroment impact to the medical and insurance institutes

Why would they are of a sudden change their format

again this is just my opinion and I hope I am way off base, but I can only go by the past.

 

[nephron]

I hear ya.

 

[Jon K.]

Originally posted by nephron

Claiming defective vehicle design is not a controversy. If you can think of a controversy that affected an 'activity', eg sport...point it out. In my opinion, controversy attracts attention to a matter, in which case statistically it pans out reasonably well for the topic at hand.

Ummm . . . biathalon has lost a bit . . . . dog fighting and **** fighting is now underground . . .when was the last time anyone saw a "coon on a log?" . . . and did I mention three-wheelers?

I must say that bull-fighting seems to be doing well amongst much critisism. But I wouldn't look for a bull-fight in the States.

Just this past weekend; a friend of mine was lamenting the fact that civil-war re-enacting has been downhill for a few years. His quote was "We might just as well put on a hood and sheet in the eyes of the public."

Who remembers Barstow to Vegas?

 

[JPIVEY]

Who remembers Barstow to Vegas?


Exactly,

however the B2V might just make a comeback............shhhhhhh

 

[jaguar]

One good thing that might eventually come from it is that the supercross tracks become less dangerous. Just look at how many riders get injured doing supercross every year. It's ridiculous. Once the supercross tracks become safer then the owners of the outdoor motocross tracks will put less emphasis on supercross like jumps.
I come from north Texas and frequented two great motocross tracks, one of which had no man made jumps and it rocked. It was designed by Gary Bailey amongst hills so there were some natural jumps if you were going fast enough but they weren't jumpable if you were just at an intermediate speed. The other track was a long course with whoop-de-dos everywhere and only 1 man-made jump. If you did well at that track then you gained peoples respect because it was so tough. Now if you do well at the modern jumping bean courses people just think you're crazy and have a death wish.
I wish motocross would return to its roots of natural terrain courses. I'm so tired of pogo-cross. It's stupid and it's dangerous.

 

[Jaybird]

Jaguar,
Is riding full-tilt amoungst ancored obstacles within inches of you and your bike both smart and safe?
I think your lack of objectiveness is what will make the 60 min report really suck if the reporter takes the same stance.