ESPN X Games Event Possible In the Cayman Islands
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
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Reader comments:
- Far be it for me to presume to know enough about
pop culture's latest fad/sport to berate the X-Games or any of their
competitions; however, it seems a bit peculiar to me that the government
would on one hand advocate safety and responsibility for our youth while at
the same time possibly allowing the X-Games to come here and promote their
"higher-risk 'extreme' stunt sports like skateboarding, motorcycle racing
and surfing."
That's precisely what this country needs. At a time when we're all trying to
find ways to stay healthy and avoid paying ever increasing medical bills and
insurance premiums, let’s endorse a sport in which competitors wear their
scars and broken bones like badges of honour.
I'm sure the myopia that is pervasive among our country's leaders forces
people to view this as an opportunity to promote Cayman as a country that
tacitly approves these "higher-risk" activities. However, this message is
less than consistent with the reality of Cayman's intolerance to new and
progressive athletic activities.
Let’s take, for instance, Tanya Streeter. Born on Cayman soil, raised on
Cayman soil, yet forced to represent the Turks and Caicos because her
professional athletic endeavours are not consistent with this country's
premise of "He Hath Founded It Upon The Seas."
If Cayman truly believed this, then Cayman would embrace activities related
to the sea; try to understand them better; ensure they are conducted safely,
responsibly and properly; and endorse those who commit themselves to
representing Cayman and its centuries-old sea-related heritage.
Tragically, such is not the case. Perhaps if Tanya conducted her free-diving
in a swimming pool, the government might change their tune. Anyway, I
digress.
Over the past few years, the kids of Cayman have really stepped up the pace
regarding seriously injuring themselves (and others) and killing themselves
(and others) by participating in "high-risk" behaviour behind the wheel of a
car. So what do we do? We deify the kids who kill themselves through their
own irresponsibility, and we invite the high-risk "athletes" (whose goal is
not to perform stunts but to avoid crashing) to the Islands to show our kids
how they can REALLY get into some serious "high-risk" behaviour.
Brilliant. While we're at it, why don't we bring in some organized crime
bosses to show the drug dealers how to be more discreet and move more
product?
Furthermore, it is a slap in the face to Tanya Streeter that her own country
has to export its true athletic talent and import fads in order to be seen
as a progressive and accepting jurisdiction when clearly it is not. Surely
Tanya's efforts in the ocean are more closely linked to Cayman than some
grunge punk doing backflips on a bicycle. Or perhaps we should change the
country's motto to "He Hath Founded It Upon the Bitchin' Skate Park
Half-Pipe."
In any regard, the hypocrisy of advocating safety and responsibility yet
allowing these "high-risk, extreme" events to come to Cayman is laughable;
and showing kids how to get involved in activities that will put them at a
higher risk of serious injury is totally inconsistent with the government's
message of responsible behaviour and child safety advocacy. Or is it?
I would be willing to bet that more people each year die or are seriously
injured on motorcycles, bicycles, skateboards and in-line skates than by
free-diving. And I think we all know that more kids die in Cayman each year
of their own doing behind the wheel of an automobile. But what are we
concerned with? X-Games and dolphins.
You wanna bring in the X-Games to Cayman? Fine. But the next time a
17-year-old drives his tricked-out car into a wall or telephone pole and
kills himself, don't ask me for sympathy.
Once the government issues a consistent message on child safety, will
someone please wake me up? - Rip Van Winkle
- I recently read a comment submitted on this topic and was very offended
by it. I am a skateboarder and do not like being compared to a criminal.
Skateboarding is dangerous, no doubt, it has many risks; but that’s life
isn't it? Everything has risks! "Some grunge punk doing backflips on a
bicycle" First of all... doing a back flip on a bicycle takes some real
talent and dedication, traits that decent people have - not "grunge punks".
People seriously don't understand extreme sports: it’s not just about
throwing yourself down a set of stairs or of a 15 ft ledge; it’s about
commitment, talent, friendship and fun. Have you ever seen the look on a
kids face watching a pro skater ride? It’s probably the most amazing thing
they have seen. Bring the X-Games to Cayman! I'm all for it! - Rob Tyler,
age 16
- Regarding Rip Van Winkle’s comment on an X-Games event
being held in Cayman: Just because these sports such as skateboarding,
inline skating, BMX, etc, are labeled as “extreme” does in no way mean they
a have a higher injury risk than other sports. Here are some interesting
statistics:
Injuries recorded in 1998 in the United Sates: Skateboarding - 54,532;
Basketball - 631,186; Soccer - 169,734; In-Line Skating -110,783; Softball -
132,625.
That is interesting to see that basketball causes 3 times more injuries in
the United States than rollerblading and skateboarding put together.
“Statistics show that between January 1992 and June 1995 there were 25
deaths due to inline skating and 100 deaths involving BMX bikes etc. 90% of
these involved collisions with motor vehicles. The numbers of fatalities on
skateboards was too small to be recorded nationally and are almost
exclusively due to collisions with motor vehicles.”
Now if I recall there are no motor vehicles driving across the skate park.
Fatalities are almost non-existent in these extreme sports if they are not
conducted near a road.
In recreational diving there are approximately 160 deaths EACH YEAR. So in
one year there are as many deaths in diving as there is in these extreme
sports for over 3 years. Are we going to not let people dive in Cayman now
because the risk is too high? I think not.
Comparing free diving to extreme sports is absurd. Although it is a
respectable sport as any, it is a one-person thing. A huge crowd is not
usually gathered to watch free diving so it does nothing to boost tourism or
generate any source of income for the Cayman Islands. The X-Games on the
other hand will attract thousands upon thousands of fans which when seeing
there is regular extreme sports events being held here are sure to return on
subsequent visits. We can also use our beautiful natural resource, the
ocean, to surf on many of the attractive shorelines we possess here in
Cayman. This being broadcasted internationally on a network such as ESPN and
people around the globe seeing our shoreline I don’t think would hurt the
economy too much either As for the issue of speeding and car crashes, that
has absolutely nothing to do with this topic.
Mr. Winkle I’m also impressed with your maturity in your comment “grunge
punk doing backflips on a bicycle”. So we’re stereotyping again now? What
was that the big event that happened in the 60’s called the Civil Rights
Movement? Whether it is your race or hobby it is still prejudice.
Mr. Winkle a little point of advice for next time – make sure you have
researched the topic and know what you’re talking about before you comment
on such issues.
Wake up, it is 2004 now - William Verhoeven
- Referring to the comment by RVW, I don't
understand how the X-Games link to driving a "tricked-out car into a wall or
telephone pole", or much less Tanya Streeter, or even Cayman Islands
swimming, if that's what you're getting at. The two scenes (those of extreme
sports and street cars) are radically different and don't relate to each
other at all. There is nothing in the X-Games as far as I know about car
modifications, even bike modifications. The motorcycles are merely used to
get air, not to street race or do anything illegal.
You say, "I would be willing to bet that more people each year die or are
seriously injured on motorcycles, bicycles, skateboards and in-line skates
than by free-diving." Well, that's a smart wager. I mean, I can't think of
anyone I know or anyone my friends know that would think of pursuing
free-diving as a hobby. Not only is it not a group activity, it is not fun.
Not to mention it's not dangerous at all. So how could you compare it to
extreme sports?! I don't mean to bash the sport, it just doesn't seem to me
like an activity the average person would pursue.
If you're trying to say why don't we all hang up our board for free diving,
good luck. How exactly is free diving FUN? Not only that, trick riding on
motorcycles, bikes, skateboards, and skates are only as dangerous as you
want to make them - you don't have to go for the 30 foot air on the
motorcycle, or attempt anything stupid on a bike, skateboard, or inline
skate. Everyone knows their limits, just stay in them. Someone dying while
skateboarding, biking, or inline skating is extremely rare.
The sad fact is, even STILL, in today's community, that is put forward so
explicitly in the response is that skateboarders have the stereotype of
being 'grunge punks', that is, skaters have the stereotype of being menaces
to society, socializing in dark corners, doing drugs, vandalizing everything
in their wake, leaving paths of discord and graffiti. This couldn't be
further from the truth. Of course there will be a few rebels who turn to
skating as a hobby to complement their rebellious behaviour, but the
majority of skaters I know and have met are the polar opposites to this
view. They are really very nice people, average human beings simply pursuing
something they love, their passion, the same as one might pursue painting,
with the same amount of dedication and hard work. The pain that these
skaters endure is all part of developing and getting better at what they
love. Everyone just sees the clothing and style and instantly discounts them
as 'hooligans', and damaging to society.
As to the X-games in Cayman, I don't know how well we would accommodate such
a large event, of course I would wish it well, I just don't know how
successful it would be judging that it is so expensive to fly down, and the
climate is not the greatest for athletic activity, especially in the summer
- Will
- The reason why Tanya Streeter does her freediving in the Turks and
Caicos has got nothing whatsoever to do with the nature of the sport but
results from the stupidity of the Immigration Board in refusing her husband
(a non-Caymanian) a work permit, thus effectively exiling Tanya, a
Caymanian, from the country of her birth by forcing her to choose between
conflicting loyalties. Those who happened to watch the National Geographic
program on Tanya may have noticed that she pointedly refused even to mention
the Cayman Islands as the place where she was born and brought up. The
closest she came to it was “a small Caribbean island.” - Anonymous
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