60 minutes report

Okiewan · Jun 5, 2003

Tell ya what, if they were out to slam the sport, they wouldn't have selected Kenny to do the spot. I can name off about 10 prime FMX candidates to make the sport look bad, thankfully, Deegan and the like weren't given face time.

Good job Kenny. We should make some kind of plaque to give him at DirtWeek ;)

flynbryan · Jun 5, 2003

I was impressed as well. I also think though that they made it look kind of like MX was a thing of the past. Although I did like the statistic of how many MXers' actually go to freestyle. It kind of left me hanging though. Theres not going to be a part two is there? They never talked to DB that I saw?

Dapper · Jun 5, 2003

I thought the Cowboy did a fine job. He wasn't cocky or to "cool" just answered the questions. I agree with Okie if this was a slam for MX did didn't seem it to me. Especially when they said families were trading the soccer cleats for motorcycles. I think was a pretty good report. Just my opinion I could be wrong, but I don't think so. :thumb:

MikeT · Jun 5, 2003

Originally posted by BigLou
But heavy emphasis that everyone is a FMX'er.

Although there was heavy emphasis on FMX, he did say that only a select few "elevate" to FMX.

Jon K. · Jun 5, 2003

That could have been a WHOLE lot worse. Kenny came off as a likeable guy; though maybe not the sharpest tool in the shed. McGrath obviously weighed his responses carefully. Johnson referred to "modern day gladiators"; perhaps he could have done a little better.
If they had done a 45 minute piece perhaps they could have focused on the kids a bit more, maybe find a young lady to interview, and yes, draw a more definite line between MX, SX, and Freestyle.
But overall I believe we got off light, maybe even gained a little.

FritoBandito · Jun 5, 2003

I was happy with the story. The type of people that watch 60 Minutes probably don't need to know any more details than what they got because it wouldn't mean anything to them anyway. I really liked the part where they mentioned that "families" are going to the tracks on weekends. It really showed a positive side of the sport.

CaptainObvious · Jun 5, 2003

On whole, a pretty neutral report. A couple of things got under my skin…

“FMX’s perform tricks before crashing to the ground”. Ah, we like to call it LANDING a jump.

They implied that MX has been replaced by SX

MC’s interview was obviously chopped up.

They pushed RC too far and into a corner to have him say “he’d do anything to win”. Even run someone off the track. Last time I looked, that was called racing!

In all, it was a very dull report.

rickshaw · Jun 5, 2003

I also felt this was "respectful" media coverage that could have been alot worse.

Kudos to RJ & MC & Cowboy Kenny for their poise and class.

The only thing...while interviewing MC...was the "morbid" comment from the interviewer about fans who come to see a crash. Maybe he's never been to a Nascar, Indy Car or other racing events!

rickshaw

Patman · Jun 5, 2003

My biggest fear when they showed the teaser was that it would be a FMX focused "report" and they would be talking with the extreme idiots of the sport then giving Cowboy Kenny a few moments to show "the other side" of the sport. I think RJ could have been a little more realistic than choosing "gladiators" :silly: but I guess there's still a desire to think of yourself that way. MC sure was using a very measured response to every question, can't blame him though I bet the entire time he was worried about how they would twist everythin he said.

A great follow up would be for them to come to DirtWeek, heck I bet Kenny will be there again! :thumb:

Jon K. · Jun 5, 2003

Originally posted by rickshaw

The only thing...while interviewing MC...was the "morbid" comment from the interviewer about fans who come to see a crash. Maybe he's never been to a Nascar, Indy Car or other racing events!
rickshaw

The correct response is: "No-one wants to see a crash, but if one happens, no-one wants to miss it either."

There should be a school to teach the correct responses, sort of like in "Bull Durham".

"I'm just here to help the team." "I will give it my best shot and hopefuly everything will turn out for the best." :thumb:

Danman · Jun 5, 2003

I'm glad that it turned out good. Our weatherman got excited aobut a storm 2 hours away in another state and decided that he would break in and return during the commercial after the conclusion of the story :(

smithers · Jun 5, 2003

So did anyone see this? I missed it...How was it?

smithers · Jun 5, 2003

Originally posted by smithers
So did anyone see this? I missed it...How was it?

Nevermind...Im a dork..didnt go to the end of the discussion before I asked the quesiton

Kawidude · Jun 5, 2003

I was also surprised at how positive it was...although I did cringe every time they would mention injuries. I figured they would turn it into an "injury" report on the dangers of the sport. But it didn't happen. I wasn't too happy hearing MC say that people go to see the crashes. I've been to several races and the last thing I want to see is one of those guys get hurt. Otherwise I thought it was much better than I feared it would be.

Kenny seems like a really cool, down to earth guy too. Great job cowboy!

truespode · Jun 5, 2003

I guess I'm a pessimist. To me this was just a teaser story... just to give an introduction.

I have a feeling in a year or two there will be an intro saying "a while back we brought you the world of extreme motorcycle riding... as we delved into the sport more we found the ugly truth behind this so called family sport."

I thought the story was exactly as they wanted it to be... an introduction to a bigger story later on.

Ivan

Smit-Dog · Jun 5, 2003

60 Minutes *could* have aired a full hour on just the injuries and deaths if they choose to - but they didn't.

I don't really follow 60 Minutes anymore, so what is the difference between the original and the "II" version? From watching it way back, I always associated 60 Minutes with "in your face" interviews and segments meant to expose or uncover something scandalous. Is "II" the softer/gentler version? The Reagan piece was light, and the firefighter/arson story was a repeat I saw a few years ago. Not the 60 Minutes I remember as a kid.

JasonJ · Jun 5, 2003

"Kenny seems like a really cool, down to earth guy too. Great job cowboy!"

Yeah I went to the FMX in Philly and he actually gets in a bobcat and preps the corse between rounds, so he is really a down to earth moving kind of guy :) sorry :).
The Philly event was my frist time at FMX and the first thing I thought when I sat down in the arena was, Wow, thease seats are small! The second thing I thought was, wow, I cant belive all the little kids here with parents! I mean the seats are not cheap and the place was packed with little kids and families!
The Eagles were playing a playoff game right across the street and a Flyers game had ended a few hours before, but all these people with their kids choose to see FMX, I was not aware how hudge X stuff is with little kids. I even felt out of place, everyone was looking at me like wheres, your kids? :) .
The little kids had like brand new Fox jersy's on and dirt bike pants, (all clean), and there I am in my whooped AXO jersy all coal dust stained and the faint smell of two stroke exhaust :) .
Some other thoughts:
Dirt bike sales are down becuase there are fewer places to ride, and Quad sales are up. Most parnets even those that have ridden bikes would rather put their kids on 4 wheels than two, some kind of crazy kid protection chemical in the heads of paraents,,, dont ask me.
Its rode bicycle riders that are at greater risk of testicular cancer, long hours in the saddel on very rough riding bikes.

nephron · Jun 5, 2003

I'm with Frito--an announcement of a trend of turning in the soccer shoes for a pair of MX boots and 'Suzuki's' was the best part. Particularly their description that it's a family activity.

RJ's self-description as an 'adrenaline junky' was humorous, and I don't think it was particularly harmful. They already know it takes someone with big ballz to do SX.

The cowboy did better than anything I could have expected--he seemed honest and straight.

JPIVEY · Jun 5, 2003

Here's the AMA take on it;

The long-anticipated segment on freestyle motocross and Supercross racing aired on CBS TV's "60 Minutes II" Wednesday night, and predictably, the report focused more on the potential risks of motorsports than on the athletic achievements of competitors.

The report did note the rapid growth of the AMA Supercross Series, stating that it now ranks second in popularity to NASCAR racing among all U.S. motorsports series, and pointing out that Supercross stars can earn several million dollars a year from contracts, endorsements and prize money. But rather than discussing the training, conditioning and mental toughness that go into making a motocross champion, the report lingered on the perception of risk in AMA Supercross and freestyle motocross, which is not sanctioned by the AMA.

"The mainstream press has a long history of portraying those involved in motorsports as daredevils, rather than the skilled athletes they are," said Tom Lindsay, AMA Public Information Director. "Unfortunately, this segment of '60 Minutes II' did little to change that approach."

Okiewan · Jun 5, 2003

Frankly, I think the AMA was/is paranoid. They expected the worst so that's what they saw. It wasn't bad. It wasn't good necessarily, but not bad.

JPIVEY · Jun 5, 2003

Yep, I agree, I know I over reacted ( maybe ) But I can understand why they may have been or are paranoid about this kind of topic.

But I agree with ya, it could have been far worst or it could have been much better.

Jaybird · Jun 6, 2003

I think Kenny continued his class act.

I think Ivan may have a point. Many times media will set us up for the kill, and they may be trying to give a bit of legitimacy to their reporting and objectivity. Knowing full well they plan on the "trash the hell out of 'em" piece down the road. (shrug)
I can't help but be leary of liberally biased news agencies objectives and motivations.

MX-727 · Jun 7, 2003

DMXS has the 60 minute piece under past shows: http://www.dmxsradio.com/media/

jeffd · Jun 10, 2003

Originally posted by Okiewan
Tell ya what, if they were out to slam the sport, they wouldn't have selected Kenny to do the spot. I can name off about 10 prime FMX candidates to make the sport look bad, thankfully, Deegan and the like weren't given face time.

Good job Kenny. We should make some kind of plaque to give him at DirtWeek ;)

Mega dittos. Kenny was great. He represents the best side of FMX because like Okie said, there are plenty of bozos that could have been in front of the camera instead of Kenny. Can you imagine if Twitch had been on there? He would have been stoned out of his mind and would have done tons of damage with his 4th grade vocabulary and stoner mentality. I guess that is why he and the rest of the ever stoned Mulisha punks aren't winning these "contests". 60 minutes II selected the guy at the top of the heap and it is Kenny. He deserved the interview time.

I liked the part when he told the reporter HE was nuts for having a day job!

-jeffd

jeffd · Jun 10, 2003

Originally posted by Truespode
I guess I'm a pessimist. To me this was just a teaser story... just to give an introduction.

I have a feeling in a year or two there will be an intro saying "a while back we brought you the world of extreme motorcycle riding... as we delved into the sport more we found the ugly truth behind this so called family sport."

I thought the story was exactly as they wanted it to be... an introduction to a bigger story later on.

Ivan

Dang it Ivan! Now you got me worried... :think:

-jeffd

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