Last month, I wrote a blistering editorial, taking EA Sports to task for the most tasteless commercial it has been my displeasure to see. Just in case you didn't see the commercial, or read the editorial, here's a brief over-view:

An animated figure on a dirt bike rides wildly through the forest, throwing a rooster tail on cute little animals, blasting them with rocks, mud and slime, then sets the forest on fire. The rider has no helmet or shirt on, is covered from head to waist in tattoos, has multiple piercings and looks like the worst kind of punk your imagination can picture. The commercial is for a video game called Freekstyle and it's aimed at kids.

Kids! It got my blood boiling and I fired off some brutal emails to EA Sports (by the way, the prime sponsor of AMA Supercross racing) and got jacked around by the powers that be at EA Sports.

At this point, I figured they were fair targets and asked off-roaders who thought like I did, to offer EA Sports their opinion. Many of them responded.

And, surprisingly, some people disagreed with me.

So, here for your consideration, are just some of the hundreds of emails received here at ORC. But before you read this, I recommend that you access the editorial from last month.

Leading off, are these comments from Ben Schmidt.

My comment? Perfect. In a society that overwhelmingly believes everything they see and hear, that game is a prime example of the demise of off-roading. Your words could not be more perfectly arranged to make your intentions clear, as EA sports continues to exploit the worst of the worst in our amazing sports, and the Sierra Club will eat it up like a Thanksgiving dinner.

Thanks for taking a stand, I and millions more off-roaders will be behind you and your words.

If it makes any difference, this letter is coming from a 14 year old male. Just in case someone thinks us teenagers are no good.

Ben Schmidt

Rick,

I support your article. I am a long time follower of our great sport. I have 4 children who enjoy riding and I am trying to teach them to be responsible and respectful, however I am concerned about the destructive image of dirt bikers that is being portrayed to the general public.

I see many young people at the tracks and trails who seem to imitate this careless freakstyle attitude. These are not the role models I want my children to follow. Thank you for your article. There will be no EA sports in my house.

Mont Parrish

I was extremely disappointed upon reading this Mr. Sieman. I expected you, of all people, to support motorcycle riding -- whether motocross, supercross, or freestyle. I've always believed that when called upon (just like in the days of the notorious "Phantom Duck"), we could depend on you to support us no matter what course we take in our motorcycling hobby.

I can respect someone not supporting a dangerous activity like freestyle, but, I can't respect someone that goes on record and tells a national publication such as The New York Times that kids are morons for trying freestyle. How can YOU bash any form of motorcycle riding? Hundreds of thousands of people (I think it's safe to say) recognize your name (including the same people trying to put an end to our sport) and you're just feeding the fire. How can we win if our own people will not even support us?

I understand that the media are free to publish in whole or part anything that we say, which allows them to construe the actual meaning or take our comments out of context in order to support their story. I hope this is what has happened to your comments. I hope they have taken your statements out of context and made it sound like something you didn't say.

If not, you've lost a reader and a fan. I'll burn my copy of Monkey Butt and 12 year old Dirt Bike magazines before I'll read another sentence written by an egotistical hypocrite. I can stand a big ego, but not a hypocrite.

PS I thought you broke your back at a "Press Day" Mike Goodwin put on? The way I read it, you were showing off for everyone: "I figured it was about time to dazzle everyone with a leap off that ski-jump-type ramp from the top of the peristyle."--Monkey Butt pg.374 From reading The New York Times article, you'd think that you were actually racing an event in LA when you broke your back! Gosh, memories sure do get fuzzy with time huh? Guess the wagon hauled another one of those morons away that day! -- Hey, all you kids wanting to try freestyle, DON'T!! Mr. Rick "I broke my back at a press day --cough, cough-- I mean Supercross event at the LA Coliseum --cough--showing--cough--off" Sieman says you may hurt yourself, so therefore you are a moron for trying!

Well, you'll have to excuse me RICK, I've got to take my little motorcycle, my dad, and my girlfriend and go practice my million dollar back flip now!
Josh Boomer

(Editor's response:) Josh, the Times article was 99 percent correct in quoting me. The only thing they got wrong was that I was not in the race, but did break my back at press day on a 93 foot jump. I only made it 92 feet.

I stand by everything I said and said it for a reason. I think the freestyle lunacy will hurt the sport and hurt it bad. How long before we have a death or two? We've already had plenty of people busted up bad, and some are now confined to wheelchairs.

Do you think that's good?

Now why don't you go out and practice your dumb-ass million dollar back flip. Because a million bucks will bring you about 15 years worth of nursing care when you're confined to a wheelchair and cannot even lift a finger.

If I lose a fan, that bothers me. When I lose a stupid fan, I consider it a bonus.

To EA SPORTS
Dear Sir and Madame:

As a lifelong member of the off-road community, I would like to address some concerns about the "FreekStyle" video game and it's advertising. I was prompted to write by first, seeing the advertisement; second, working at a recent supercross event; and third, Rick Sieman's article on Off-road.com.

As a member of the off-road community, I feel as though I can offer some unique perspective. After volunteering at a supercross event about two weeks ago, I noticed something very important. Most of the participants are young boys from 6 to 15 years old. For them it is a family sport that provides extreme physical and psychological challenge. There is also focus on rules, fair play and safety.

Yes, there was a freestyle exhibition and it seemed to be almost unreal, but it was made absolutely clear that these men were professionals with years of experience and safety equipment that was up to the task of protecting them.

The point here is that your audience is this same group: boys that are at a critical age in forming their opinions of good and bad, right and wrong, and safe and unsafe.

This is a large part of the ammunition that the extreme environmental groups use to pass legislation to further limit our pastime. It goes like this: "Look at this Mr. Senator . . . These kids are out there tearing up our precious natural resources and torturing wildlife with total disregard for the safety of themselves and others. We need to pass laws to make sure that this doesn't continue."

Mr. Brown, while many of the children can tell the difference between cartoon/video and reality, I assure you that the US Congress cannot.

That is the real issue. Media such as that which you have created start generalizations and beliefs that are far from the truth. These generalizations lead to harmful legislation. You have spoken for a group to which you don't even belong and done much harm. You are an outlaw biker that probably doesn't even own a bike.

With all of this in mind, realize that the irresponsible actions of your company are already far-reaching. If you are a responsible member of the community, you will proceed with damage control immediately. Mr. Sieman's requests are not unreasonable. Our community will not stand by and watch these irresponsible acts slowly destroy our pastime.

James Moss
Tri-City Peak Putters 4X4 Club

To: jgoldberg@ea.com
Cc: JBrown@ea.com
Subject: Freakstyle

After reading Mr. Sieman's editorial I decided I would like to you as well. By the way I have already forwarded my letter to J Brown, so that's less you'll have to deal with. I am only 21, but am an avid off-road enthusiast. My friends and I have been off-roading one way or another since we gained our license.

Throughout our pursuit of awesome off-roading adventures we have encountered many areas of public land that have been closed due to the kind of activity demonstrated in your advertisements for this game.

During a summer full of drought and unfortunate forest fires in some of the United States most premier forests, you have the unheartedness to develop a marketing scheme and a game (apparently) that puts the ideas of arson and destruction of land in the lime light.

The reason I say apparently is because I have not played the game, but have seen the marketing techniques that your company has mistakenly used to sell it.

In a day when more and more young children spend the day vegetating in front of a television set and play video games like zombies, they are more and more apt to do the things they see. While I am sure that you represent a bunch of techno-video gaming freaks that are out of touch with reality and have never been off-road in their life, you need to take a step back and look at what you have created.

Actually it is more like what you are destroying. The image of off-road enthusiasts are already being harmed by the minority of people that do ignorant things, our sport does not need more bad publicity and bad stereotypes. Have you ever heard the term "tread lightly?"

I am sure you haven't but it stands as a code to those in the sport to stay on the trail outlined, do not pollute and clean or fix anything on the trail that is not supposed to be there.

Not having played your game I can only speculate that it goes completely against all of these rules. This may not have been a big issue ten years ago when the graphics of video games were little more than straight lines and two dimensional, but today it is almost hard to tell games from reality.

With this it is harder for the young people that play them to decipher if the video game world is wrong or right. While I am sure that my letter is not going to make you take this game off the shelf, hopefully it will make you think about games before you develop them.

I am with Mr. Sieman and agree with his suggestion of contributing money to the Blue Ribbon Coalition so that they can try to promote a better image of off-roading and try to off-set the damage your game has done to our sport.

Thanks for your time,
Scot Price

Ms Goldberg,
While perusing a favorite Web Site of mine (Offroad.com), I came across an editorial written by Rick Sieman. I have read articles written by Rick since the first issue of Dirt Bike in the early seventies and have a great respect for him. His editorial upset me greatly.

I have been an off-road motorcycle rider and motocross racer for 36 years. I am an instructor for the state of Utah Off-Highway motorcycle licensing class and have supplied the local workers for the Salt Lake City Supercross for the last two years (a series that your company sponsors). I belong to the Blue Ribbon Coalition, USA-ALL, and actively work toward keeping our riding areas open.

Now, I will be the first to admit that I don't play video games (I work as a programmer and don't enjoy spending my nights on a computer). BUT, I have children and grandchildren that do play video games a lot.

Your video game "Freakstyle" embodies everything that I advocate against.

How can ANY responsible company (like I thought yours was) present any segment of society in such an awful light. In your game riders do not wear the correct riding gear, they roost animals, and set fires to the environment.

Your company has caused more damage to the image of dirt bikers in minutes than I can overcome in a lifetime. I don't care if you think that it is a cartoon environment or not. This game is completely unconscionable.

At the very least, your company needs to do the following:

1) Pull this game from the market immediately
2) Issue a public apology
3) Contribute generously to the Blue Ribbon Coalition

I expect an immediate response from your company proving that you are a responsible member of society.

Robert C. Davis
Brigham City, UT

EA Sports,
I am appalled by the Freekstyle video game developed by EA Sports. You have created a harmful video game that is a disgrace to the sport of motocross.

I race motocross and ride off-road a couple of times a week, year round. I am 36 years old, married, and I am a software engineer and hold a Master's degree in computer science.

Most of the people I race and ride with have similar backgrounds. Motocross attracts a wide variety of people, and for the most part it is very family-oriented. Parents and their kids work together closely in motocross - this doesn't happen in too many other sports.

You have glorified the worst aspects of motocross and riding dirt bikes. Shame on you.

You have done irreversable damage to the image of our sport. I will never buy anything from EA Sports again, and will encourage all of my riding and non-riding friends to do the same.

Sincerely,
Ben Atkinson

Hey Rick!
Hows it going man? I just read your article about Freekstyle on Off-road.com (obviously).

Anyhow, I just want to ask you a couple questions and share my opinion. I am 21, raced dirt bikes until I was 17 and was VERY into the sport. I raced all over Texas and had lots of fun with it.

The sport has changed immensely over the few short years I've been out. I don't agree with fools like Deegan and Metzger, and have met them personally. Not bragging, just saying that I've met them on a personal basis and they are indeed morons. HA! HA!

My main point in writing this was to say this: I have played Freekstyle ... a friend actually owns it because of the gameplay. The commercial is VERY misleading, to say the least. Nowhere in the game will you find bunnies, or people, or an object to destroy land.

The only place you find forest fires is some track called the Badlands or something like that. The track is on fire in places, but it looks like Hell...not Yellowstone.

I would go out on a limb and say that the game is very well built and designed. More so, than any other MX game out there today. Superfly is realistic, but the physics are all wrong.

Anyhow, I'm not saying this to poke you in the eye or anything. I totally agree with you about the advertising, and there is NO EXCUSE for them to display these 'role models' of some young kids, riding in no shirts and shorts.

I agree with your attack on the advertising, it just sucks that its really a pretty good game. The people at EA sound like some numbskulls. Good luck in getting what you want!

Marcus Rose

(Editor's notes: ) Marcus, I fully agree with you. I have not played the game and have no desire to do so. My sole argument with EA is the tasteless and harmful commercial.

Even during a very serious and hot topic as is Freekstyle, Rick Sieman makes me laugh. I ride off-road and on the street and have encountered more and more stipulations and regulations that hinder a good time.

Most of my off-road is done in Jawbone and Red Rock area. Just this last winter and summer, hundreds of acres have been taken away from us. Maybe not more Rangers, but more Rangering.

Now we're told that riders, on State Land, must have a valid driver's license. That means kids under 16 can't ride on State land. What kind of BS is that? Out there, State and BLM are so mingled that you can never know when you're violating a law or abiding by it.

The Motorcycle industry is making a fortune, off me alone, as is spin-offs like EA Sports. We need all the support possible just to maintain what we have.

What kind of bike is the clown in Freestyle riding. Red maybe? This is where the Motorcycle industry should be directing some of my hard earned dollars. By keeping the sport open and safe means I'll be spending more money on stuff like, new bikes (of which I have 4) trailers, dirt tires for my truck so I can get to the dirt, ice, even "ice" can be considered part of the Motorcycle Ind., beverages that are usually only half drank, and film for my camera. The list goes on and on.

All because I like to ride in the dirt with my family and friends. Even the stick match people have made a profit because of dirt bikes. Yeah I'm pissed about Freekstyle and we won't be buying it for our Playstaion. EA Sports has supplied more ammo to the people who seem bent on ruining our good times.

The poor image most people have of us has been unduly raked deeper into the coals of misspent youth with too little responsibility.

My point? Rarely do I hear, if ever, any of the huge, beyond normal comprehension huge, manufacturers out in the desert supporting us. If a Ranger were to step out onto Honda's 2 mile oval stopping all who passed looking for a valid license then maybe you'd hear some wailing from Japan. Now, that's a bomb.

Rick, I never get tired of your tirades and quietly support all that you have done for us. Too bad we never met years ago. Just think how much desert, and changes, we could have seen. My first bike was a 305 Scrambler
Stu Wilcox

My true thoughts for you to read, and you should read them...... The game is cool. Shut up. Don't be a pussy
Robbie Kenkel

Get off your high horse! It's a freakin' video game for christs sake!! If you are to much of a moron to distinguish between fantasy and reality then you have no business at all commenting on such a thing. As far as tattoo's and piercing go, not everyone who has them are bad people or "vile" as you put it. It is narrow minded people like you who form these stupid stereotypes and start all this BS in the first place! The only thing you have accomplished with this article is promoting the sale of this game. GOOD JOB
Aaron Langhorne

Dear Super Hunky,
I practically quit buying Dirt Bike magazine when you left! I had no idea of the off-road.com site and was pleased to find that you are continuing to offer your views and opinions to the riders of our sport. I agree with you completely, concerning the disgusting ads on television, as I too was completely shocked to see such carnage.

As our sport increasingly reaches the limelight, we must strive to present it in a positive manner to ensure it continues to thrive. EA Sports has tarnished the face of the sport for as long as Freekstyle remains in television ads and on department store shelves. Many people see me as a "freak" due to my passion for dirt bikes, and games of this nature simply re-affirm their beliefs.

E Ass Sports does not care about the well being of the sport, they simply want to exploit it for every penny they can get.

I agree with your opinion of "freekstyle" completly.

Andrew Smallwood
Newfoundland Motocross Association

Congratulations Rick on your bold initiative, I am an avid motocross/dirt riding enthusiast and I will be writing a letter myself and will be following the progress of your initiative while helping in any way that I can.

Sincerely,
Anthony Palaschuk
Calgary, AB, Canada

I'm sixty three years and have been a trail rider for 40 years and I'm still going. Even if I wasn't a rider, I would still find this EA game offensive. I have bought EA games and so has my son. If EA continues to offer this game and does not apologize to the public, I will never buy their products again.

I will send this information and more to them. They must pull this stupid game off the market. Maybe a class action suit by our riders and the motorcycle industry is in order.

Last year our group saw a recent 5000 acre forest burnout here in Michigan. We feared it might have been caused by a cyclist. Instead it was a camper who didn't put out their campfire properly. This was a devastating sight.

The thought of a company making light of such a tragedy illustrates how stupid and money hungry they are. Thanks for informing us riders. You have given them fair warning and they have ignored it (word derived from ignorant?). I'll support any action we can bring against EA.

You may use this letter if you care to.

Thanks again
Jim Patterson

Rick, I am astonished at the audacity of EA to trivialize our sport in such a way. Their blatant disregard to the off-road community makes me ill.

Be sure that I will be pleased to express my thoughts in a concise and civil manner to the jerk-off ass***es at EA.

humble regards,
Mike Hartney

Dear Rick,
Your article was food for thought over at ThumperTalk.com. I posted a link to the article and I had some support as well as people saying to pretty much just let it go.

I, for one, think you nailed it good when you confronted the people at EA. I was not surprised at the response you got, since I spent about 5 years in the video game industry.

Anything is expendable to make a buck in that industry due to the volatility of the industry as a whole. That commercial and video game did much harm to the sport we love. To say the sport is now tarnished is an understatement.

I also think some of the comments made by you in your second letter may have driven them even further from wanting to communicate back to you. Calling him an "underling?" Who wouldn't be on the defensive or would just not respond? I would not have responded, either, to be honest and would have thought not-too-nice thoughts about dirt bike riders if I were him.

Thankfully, I AM a dirt bike rider. I have been for many of my 32 years and I want to for many more, so I do see your side of this battle and I do support it, as well. At any rate, they should have responded much better than they did to your first letter.

They clearly dropped the ball and flat-out didn't care. My hat is off to you for your efforts!

Todd Loenhorst

I hear you loud and clear on the mocking games of E.A. Sports that are taking our sport to a destroying level. I am a fabricator by trade and used to ride bikes. This article opens up my eyes to the people out there that make a buck by selling games that shows violent natured motocrossers.

Jesse Patton
JP Designs

You go Rick!! I was disgusted also when I saw that crap on TV. What kind of booger-eating idiot would actually give the OK for that to be aired without understanding the consequences of their actions? Do they really understand the effect that is made on today's youth?

Apparently not. Now every punk kid with a bike will think its cool to roost little animals and set a fire or two. The injustice and damage that EA Sports has done is intolerable.

On a lighter note, I've been reading your stuff since the days of Dirt Bike and have always enjoyed it. Thanks for the laughs over the years.

Shannon Duncan
Bakersfield, Ca.

Rick,
I had to take lunch and a 24 ouncer of Steel City before commenting on this.

Remember back in the 50's when William Gaines published Tales from the Crypt? It was so controversial that Sen. Whatshisface from Tennessee launched an all out Senate investigation bent on preserving the moral fiber of our youth. It went nowhere and Gaines later went on to publish Mad Magazine.

This is just another fad that will soon be over (like shaved heads, piercing and freestyle mx hopefully). Since I live in Los Angeles, I have to wade through thousands of bald headed, tattooed and pierced goofballs daily, and that's just to buy beer!

I could go into my standard diatribe about how women getting the right to vote, long travel suspension and 4 strokes started it all, but I'm too busy standing around in the garage gazing at this cherry '67 BSA 441 Victim I just purchased. A rotten bike, but what a rotten bike. Oooh, looka that tank....

Know where I can get a ziener diode?

Cheers,
Matt Cuddy

I read your article on "Freekstyle" and have to say I'm dissapointed. I myself do not own the game but I do like to ride my 400EX. I am understanding of people that don't want their riding areas restricted, having these problems of my own. I don't like the ass***es that go out and ruin it for everyone by trashing property and pissing people off.

The ATV world is looked down on by many people and it bothers me, so for this I understand your comments. But to get worked up over a fictional piece of material is bull***t. People get shot and killed everyday in games and in movies. It's expected to be viewed as entertainment and not to be emulated.

What's the big deal? On another note, I was highly offended about comments about piercings and tatoos. I myself have some very noticable piercings. 2 of them are ? inch. I plan on getting Tatoos. Big deal! I'm sick of people looking down on me because they think I'm some kind of punk because of my piercings. Some of the nicest people I know have piercings and many of the biggest assh***s don't.

You mentioned that EA might as well drag black people behind trucks in their games because they would be ones to do that. Is it much different to offend people because they have piercings or Tatoos? I think that you should not judge people by how they look but by who they are.
Mike Norton

(Editor's note:) Oddly enough, I do judge people who spend time and money making their body parts look like circus freaks. As for "tatoos" Mike, before you get one, maybe you ought to learn how to spell the word tattoo.

As usual, Rick, you hit the nail on the head. Seems no one in the corporate world today gives a darn about anything other than the bottom line, no matter what harm they do. As I'm sure you know, this isn't the only company to deal with filth for profit.

Let's get 'em.
Eric Hodel

Hi Rick,
I totally agree with you and support any actions you or anyone else can take against EA. As an avid off-roader, I sadly see areas that we use for off-roading being closed off to the public because kids are trashing the area and trying stunts they have seen on "FREEKSTYLE" or the "X Games."

Recently a young man was killed close to where I live trying some stunt on an ATV.

We are rapidly running out of places to ride because of these video games and extreme sport shows are influencing young people to spread chaos into our sport.

An ATV and nowhere to ride it. Yes, I'm pissed too.

Glen Hooper
Georgia

I fully agree with you. I just finished giving EA "Both Barrels" and I hope they get nailed big for this. I support any action you take against them. If you need anyone to sign any petitions or anything like that, I'll be the first one on the list. I sent a link to your article to all my MX friends and hopefully at the least EA will pull that game off the shelves. And buy it back from people for triple the price they paid, that'll teach them.

Thanks for writing that article,
Jeff Aspden

I am not a dirtbiker, but I do some fourwheeling with my Jeep. I have just sent a letter to EA Sports expressing my displeasure with their
Freekstyle product. Just trying to help.

Larry Finley

Thank you Rick!
I'm not sure if both barrels would do the job though... maybe the "not so politically correct" BOOT IN THE ASS might be a nice addition. Right before we put them on the receiving end of some of their "cartoon mischief" maybe a little trip to some of our favorite riding spots to see what the mindless couch potato genre is up to. Maybe they'll see what happens when they finally get off their lazy-boy flattened asses long enough to kick over their stolen bike and tear up everything in sight because the game was just entertainment.

Once the seed is planted, fertile minds, no matter how feeble, will take the cue and do whatever the boob-tube tells them to do. Whether it's a Chevy truck, Jeep, quad, or bike ad, the example starts with the T.V. or magazine ad. The people with the power of the media have a responsibility to maintain what little freedom we have left pertaining to motorized outdoor recreation.

But then again, who would better be served if all motorized recreation was banned altogether ... EA-types might just have a little more of a hidden agenda than we give their "Bin Laden" style tactics. If we all just had to stay home and stare at the tube, just think of the possibilities...BOOT IN THE ASS!!!

Sorry about the rant but this stuff gets me pissed! Maybe EA should stick to giving the taters ms. pacman and space invaders to eat their marshmallow saturated minds and leave motorized entertainment to REAL FRIGGIN MOTORS!!!!!

Well enough of this, I've got last minute Jeep stuff to do for next weekend since my non-computer generated bike has kept me busy for the last few weeks. HUH, I didn't have to use the word couch once in describing my weekends...go figure.

Tanks for the memories,
Colin Fisher
Dusty Flats, Arizona

I have to commend you for fighting back. Since that videogame came out the dirt bikers have lost the respect of the community and they've closed down the local riding spots.

I just wrote that Brown guy a lengthy letter on how he ruined our sport, and told him to make a game with walkers and mountain bikers destroying the land and killing animals, that would kind of even it out.

Later
Alex

Whew!! It's that slippery slope of heading toward low class, gutter trash that's rearing its ugly head again. There is room for action games, but none for being nasty about it.

Garbage in- garbage out. It's up to the parents to control their little precious children who can't possibly do anything wrong or offbase. We wouldn't want to damage their sensitive wittle egos, would we?

If a school counselor tells the parents Johnny is being anti-social, he might wind up in court on the wrong end of a law suit for labeling him as a misfit.

Mmm, if only they could teach self-esteem, but wait, doesn't self-esteem come from within. It seems that, what they're teaching is just window dressing.

Just the other day I was coming out of a store and overheard a father (he could have been a grandfather) complaining to his kids, which none of them were over age six, about some "f.. a.. bastard" that needed a whomping." Is there any wonder? If there is, you can be assured, there is a stupid parent behind it.

Well, I got off the subject, a bit, but thanks for listening.
Gary Brunner

Ok, so i agree with you partially, you game should have used safety gear, no arsinists, and give a thing saying " do not try anything that is displayed in this game".

But, your comment on mx free stylers being brainless is VERY offensive. Maybe you should keep your comments to yourselves. Your comment on punks with piercings and tattoos was not acceptable either.

you listen to me, just because someone has piercings or taboos doesn't mean they are brainless. i have piercings and i ride everyday. i am an A student in school and have never gotten in an ounce of trouble.

that would be like me saying," those old geezers who don't jump or wheelie and complain about video games" are you an old geezer, probably not.

With this e-mail i do not mean to be offensive, but if you are think about the kids you insulted in your article. not all of us are "punks" so i think you should right a letter of apology. thanks for your time.

sincerely,
john

(Editor's notes:) You are an "A" student in school? Perhaps in a shoe-shining school.

dude you are the biggest freaking retard I have ever met you are complaining to ea sports for no reason It is just a freaking video game Ill be willing to bet that before you ran your pathetic little artical no one in the world ever thought a thing of that game. has any one ever told you how much of a pussy you are dont hurt the little rabbits not like their real or anything it is a game and I dont think you can tell a video game from real life I think you need to go some help see a doctor oror grow some balls pussy.

Tony Rodriguez

I agree with your opinion whole heartedly, and will start to draft a blast of my own once I send this off. Thanks for the heads up. This is the exact type of garbage the land grabbers here in California will be showing on the 6 o'clock news to justify more land closures.

Thanks,
Charles May

Rick,
I totally agree with you!!! This rampage scenes of wildness will put a dent in the quad sport we sink our hard earned money into to experience. Some people don't even stop while riding to enjoy the natural wildlife of the animals, instead they want the sound of crushing alcohol cans and showing their buddies how much bigger their Jewels are by painting a tred strip up someones hood to windshield for that ultimate"...Don't mess with me Badass trip".

As for Ms. Goldberg.....go ahead ....piss the community off by promoting these rebel acts of either Big balls or Death!!!!! But when the gears of the atving community shift a speed you can't control,....be prepared to take a massive fall.

We are prepared to fight for the right to ride and to promote natural wildlife habitat. I have four children and they watch for things like the video you promote, and the hardcore man that can sit there and show an attitude of "RESPECT NOBODY AND WIN RESPECT".

Let's take a guess Ms. Goldberg, with all the wildness you put into video, then it becomes a game, are you trying to setup the atving community to follow these acts ( and you know some will) and get the land taken away from parks, and all riding areas because of the stupidness pounded into an already "No respect crowd" who is waiting for fuel from you.

I own a Banshee , so don't sit there and say ""Heck,...He probably don't even ride."" Think about it for a while....... How would you feel if your kids were brainwashed by wildness of Motocross put out by me , revealing skidding over an animal and then going back with intent to kill just to win victory in friends eyes.

Think about the fire of a generation watching your clips, .....it will stray from trails to your street like a disease. Are you willing to accept part of the Blame when a kid says ""I watch freakstyle and they do it?"

Sincerely,
David

Rick, I think your article was great. It seems these are the same people you see in gangs trashing every thing they can get there hand on of pickups at Comp Hill to other peoples camp sites.

Someday a kid will die and the uproar from the greens and congress will be the end to off-roading as we know it.

Keep up the good work and I'll write these idiots

Sandgrandad

Rick,
I commend you for standing up to EA. I agree that this kind of 'entertainment' hurts all facets of off-roading, not just motorcycles. I, too, will be sending my comments to EA.

Regards,
Dave Dialogue

Rick,
How can we get EA Sports removed as a corporate sponsor for supercross or anyother motorcycle related activity?

Our household will no longer allow the purchase or rental of any EA Sports video games. If only half of the off-road cycling family would boycott EA Sports, I'm sured that they, EA Sports, would feel the impact in lost profits.

Michael Davis

I agree wholeheartedly with the reaction you had to this add campaign. I sat and watched this with my two teenaged sons, in whom I have tried to instill the love of off-road motorcycle riding, completely stunned. I have spent countless hours riding and working on public lands with my sons.

I have tried to teach them how important it is that we take care of these lands and watch our every action because of fear of loosing the rights to ride in these wonderful areas. My fifteen year old, who has up to now been an EA customer, was the first to speak up about this as we watched in horror. He asked me why would a company who sponsors Super Cross racing make such an ad.

He couldn't believe that they would "diss" the off-road motorcycling community in this way. I hope all the mainstream riders out there are as outraged about this add as we are and take such action as I plan to.

I am going to write EA, AMA Pro Racing, Clear Channel as well as some of the rider friendly TV show producers such as Motorcyclist and Bike Week. This trash is an outrage that we should not let stand.

This is an opportunity for the true dirt biking community to show the public that we do not think this type of riding is acceptable. We must not let the Greens beat us to the punch on this issue. I can see them now, saying this is exactly the type of behavior they are trying to stop by closing our riding areas.

They also will take the opportunity to be outraged at EA for encouraging a new generation to treat the public lands this way even though EA is doing their work for them. They will use this to raise more money to close public lands if we do not take the issue from them!

We the riding public can take this to the public and show our TRUE OUTRAGE at this behavior and at the same time make the point to the uninformed public masses how we really feel about the land we ride on.

Your devoted reader,
Greg Avrett
Tennille, GA

Nice article Rick. I am a former off-roader who kicked your butt in a race at Valley Cycle Park back in 74 or 75. I had a yellow 400 Maico and you were riding a Suzuki TM 400. Ugg, what a bike. It must have been for a test writeup for Dirt Bike.

I have 8 grandkids that play these games and I hate to see some of the crap they sell. Keep up the good fight.

Ed Dialogue
PS remember that killer downhill they had there?

(Editor's notes: ) Ed, no wonder you beat me. That TM 400 scared me half to death! Yep, I sure do recall that downhill. It was my favorite part of the track. As long as I was on my Maico, not that stupid Suzuki!

I wanted you to see I meant what I said.

-----Original Message-----
From: Gregory Avrett
To: jgoldberg@ea.com
Cc: KathrynMaysJohnson@clearchannel.com; cfleming@amaproracing.com; gbeggrow@amaproracing.com; Motorcyclist@speedtv.co
Subject: EA Sports, Freekstyle Game Commercial

Dear Ms. Goldberg,
I am writing you because of a recent TV add for EA Sports new "Freekstyle" Game. I saw this add on ESPN2 while watching the X Games coverage with my two sons ages 15 and 17. I was appalled at what I saw! In the commercial, a vile looking punk, laced with body piercing and covered in tattoos, leapt across the screen on a dirt bike.

The animated figure proceeded to cut a swath through everything in its path, and culminated with blasting some cute little bunnies with rocks and mud, then setting the pristine forest on fire.

The last part of the commercial told you how to get your copy of Freekstyle and go home and enjoy it on your Playstation 2. Playstation? That meant this GARBAGE was designed for kids!

I have been riding dirt bikes the last 20 or more years and have over the last 7 years instilled the love for the sport I have in my sons. The sport is extremely Family Oriented. It gives fathers like me the opportunity to spend hours together enjoying the great outdoors and build camaraderie like no other activity I have ever found.

The people who I have met in the sport are strong family people like myself who share a love of the outdoors and nature. These are people who take several Saturdays a year to volunteer their time to the maintenance and upkeep of the public lands they love. They donate their money to non-profit organizations to maintain their rights to freely enjoy these lands in the way they love, on their motorcycle or ATV.

The last decade the right to enjoy the public lands set aside by Federal and State Governments for ORV/OHV (Off Road Vehicle/Off Highway Vehicle) use has been under assault by so called environmental groups. These groups wish to close all public lands to anyone who doesn't use them in a way they approve of, usually hiking only. They would take these beautiful lands and close them to all but a very small group of enthusiast.

Many of the people I have meet, have physical handicaps that limit their ability to access these areas except by some type of ORV/OHV. The ORV/OHV riding community has by necessity banded together to fight this assault on our rights as Americans.

We as a community have been unfairly portrayed to the public at large as individuals just like the PUNK in your add and on your game. We have worked decades to fight this unfair characterization by the enemies of our sport. EA Sports has single handedly and unwittingly (I hope) undone years of work to change this characterization with this add.

My fifteen-year-old son asked me; as we sat stunned by the EA Sports add. " Why would a company that sponsors AMA Supercross do this to the people they are using to advertise their product?" " Why would they DISS us this way?" The only reply I could think of was EA Sports wants to sell games at any cost I guess, or maybe they are just callused to our sport and the challenges we are facing. Maybe they don't even realize the damage they have done. We as a family are angry and hurt by EA Sports for the thoughtlessness of this FREEKSTYLE GAME both to the sport we love and its disregard for the environment and wildlife!

I know that your reply will more than likely be the all to often response. "ITS JUST A GAME!" "THESE ARE CARTOON CARICATURES." WELL, THE DAMAGE IS NO GAME! ITS REAL! You have HANDED THE ENEMIES OF OUR SPORT A WEAPON TO HELP THEM DESTROY IT!!!

They will point to this game and say see what those motorcycle-riding people are like. Look how they have fun on our National Forest and Public Lands. Look how they treat the little animals and the environment. I guess if we don't have a sport we can just stay home and PLAY YOUR GAME! WRONG!

We won't be purchasing any EA Sports Games until an appropriate apology is made to the riding community in a public venue and this game is removed from sale.

I would like to close with this question for you to think about. What is your passion, what do you absolutely love to do? Now what if a giant company came out with a game that attacks this passion in a way that would cause a public outcry to stop you or your children from ever doing what you love again? A game that portrays your passion as lawless, thoughtless to the environment and hateful to wildlife? Would you be outraged? What would you be willing to do to try to make this company discontinue this game? How could this company make this right?

Well Do it! End this here.

Sincerely,
Greg Avrett
Tennille, GA

(Editor's notes: ) Good job, Greg. You are, indeed, a man of your word.)

To: Jeff Brown / Jillian Goldberg
From: One Pissed off Rider/Off-Roader

Let me start off by saying I've probably been playing Electronic Arts games longer than you've worked at EA. Did you know you were originally called Amazin' Software? The first game you created in-house was Skate or Die! - an all time favorite of mine.

I remember Electronic Arts from way back in the early 1980's. I remember when EA started to get big in the late 80's and then explode in the 90's. The first EA game I bought was HARD HAT MACK back in the early 1983-4 when I was only 6 or 7.

I've been a life long gamer and have probably spent way over a thousand bucks over the last nineteen years buying EA games. I'm not a hardcore gamer anymore but I still play at least twice a week. I buy a game (not always EA) every two weeks or so and probably fall right into your target audience - Male, mid 20's, lots of disposable income, and on and on and on.

If you go back to your founding principals you'll see that one of EA's goals was to "Publish the best games from independent "software artists" - a quote from the original EA's business plan I think. Well at any rate my long history with EA has come to a sudden and saddening end with EA's release of "Freekstyle".

Here's why:

The new EA Sports "Freekstyle" videogame has got to be the worst damn thing any single (non eco-freak) company has ever done for the sport/hobby of motorcycle riding. The EA Sports game is just what the eco-freaks need to close down more land that not only the motorcycle riders use, but also the lands that other off-road enthusiasts have been fighting like hell to keep open.

I ride on both public and private land and it just pisses me off when they (the eco-freaks) close the land I've ridden on for years. I'm only 25 and can appreciate the current punk or hardcore scene that certain aspects of motorcycling have adopted in the last few years, but your depiction of the riders in this game is just stupid.

What I find unacceptable is that YOUR stupidity, or more likely Electronic Arts stupidity, might just close more land I'd like to see remain open. If the eco-freaks even hint that they are going to request more land closures due to the images displayed on TV in the EA Sports ads or games you've got one hell of a shit storm coming.

I had thought long and hard about doing something to get it taken off the market but a fellow rider beat me to it... Rick Sieman has picked up the torch and is ready to burn your ass to the ground. Take what this guy says seriously as he's well respected and read by millions each and every month.

If he says it stinks, it stinks. There are few people in the industry that have the tenacity to remain doing what he does for as long as he has... make an enemy with Sieman and he'll be barking and biting at your ass for life.

Another thought... I remember growing up as a kid always wanting a dirt bike... my parents always said they were dangerous and blah blah blah... I wonder how many parents have seen the TV spots or actual game in play that have decided that if that's dirt bike riding they don't want their kid to have anything to do with it.

If I was a kid and my parents said no dirt bike because of something they saw in a game I'd be "hella" pissed. From all angles everyone except EA Sports loses and that sucks.

I like going to MX and SX races... many of which EA Sports is a major sponsor of. How can EA Sports justify spending money to sponsor a sport that EA has (possibly unknowingly?) decided to hurt so badly? Does EA Sports want EVERY track to be closed down? Does EA Sports want ALL of the land to get closed to dirt bike riders?

Is EA Sports just a front for an eco-freak / eco-Nazi land liberation group? I'm hoping it's not deliberate and that EA Sports is just too dumb to realize what they've done has seriously pissed off thousands of people that buy your products, including myself (I actually own and play the PS2 and have 3 EA Sports titles on the shelf right now). I can assure you until this gets taken care of I won't be buying anymore EA games and will insist those I'm in contact with do the same.

The geniuses at EA Sports that came up and released this game, not to mention the marketing wizards that sat down and decided the target audience would love a game that abused rabbits and started fires, need a swift kick in the ass.

Hopefully you'll realize it's better to just make it go away before the monthly magazines or press pick up on it. The problem we off-roaders face is by publicizing your stupidity it makes us look bad. The more people that know about "Freekstyle" the worse off we are.

In closing I'd like to say I'll be awaiting the same lame and canned reply that you've been sending others - if all you (Jeff & Jillian) can come up with is a ready made response don't bother. If you've got a meaningful response I'd love to hear it. Until then it's no more EA games for me.

Sincerely,
Jeff Polley

(Editor's note: Wow!)

While Rick's comments were possibly excessive concerning personal appearance, I am not so concerned. I am surprised when folks who dress in a way that says "F... Y..! to the establishment and all you stand for" expect to be treated with respect by everyone. Where appearance is concerned, there is a significant portion of society which equates perception as reality. Whether this appearance is simply style or an act of rebellion is not generally considered, the easiest answer is assumed.

The same can be said of the sport of dirtbiking, especially within circles that oppose OHV use on public lands. Time after time I meet folks on the trail who shoot nasty looks, or flip me the birdie for my choice of recreation. I consider myself an ambassador to my hobby - and usually stop and talk. Sometimes it pans out and they go on with a different perception than before, sometimes not. Sometimes they have a negative image so firmly entrenched, that no evidence to the contrary will ever change their mind. Perception = Reality.

I think that supplying a negative and destructive image is dangerous as it can establish the preconception, or reinforce one already established. Rick has spent many years fighting a losing battle over OHV land use - so have I but my contribution is 7 years - his is closer to 30. He knows at a gut level the amount of damage this kind of image (whether in words, photos, video, or cartoon) can do.

To have a major supporter of AMA events present such an image is nearly inexcusable in his eyes, far more effective coming from a company that "supports" the sport than it would be from the Sierra Club. I think it was stupid! It was unnecessary to sell the product - does not accurately represent the product - and may have set OHV interests back years.

I read some of the propaganda written by a grass roots radical environmentalist org in an effort to have a National Hare & Hound cancelled - stating that the bikes would do irreparable harm to the sand washes within this western Colorado area. OK - sand washes... flash floods tear down these channels several times a year. Just about any moron should realize that a flash flood is going to completely reorganize anything in it's path far more efficiently than 100 Caterpillar D8s... A race with several hundred bikes is nothing to this area.

They also claimed that "cute widdle bunnies" would be maimed and killed. I don't know about you - but I have never seen roadkill in a race, dead cattle carcasses yes... In any case - John Doe in Vermont probably has not logically explored the issue. He is happy to let others paint a picture of destruction, get worked up into a righteous fury over "the widdle bunnies," and vote his conscious - or send in public comments from across the country. Environmentalists do not have a negative stigma to overcome - we do. It's not a fair fight, they can play dirty - we can't - we cannot afford to.

"Well I don't care! I never ride trails - I think it's a stupid waste of time..." Something else to consider. If environmentalists succeed in pushing trail riders off public lands, where to you suppose these people will go to ride? Think about it a sec... Tracks, right? How many people can a track support safely? What would happen under the theory of supply and demand? I can assure you that the cost to ride would be one hell of a lot higher before there were more tracks...

I will not be buying the video game, not because they have offended me, not because it looks like a stupid game, but because they have harmed me, breached my trust, and stabbed me in the back.

William Perry

Your response says it all. There's no la de da or bragging here, I've also worked as a stock boy for kmart. You're just going to come back with some kind of attack no matter what. That's why I said that because if I didn't you would say I'm some snot, nose punk with no respect.

I think people who have so little self worth and confidence that they feel the need to mutilate their bodies with tattoos, piercings are sad in the fact they feel they need to do that to stand out, draw attention, make a statement or whatever that compels them to do it.

It appalls me and I hate for the young impressionable minds out there to have to see people like you. Now instead of sending me an apology for your appearance and promising to clean up your body, if you're honest I bet your first thought is F U. I'll do whatever I want, it's a free country and I'm not bothering anyone. (That's harsh and I'm not attacking you but more so to try and open your mind to the fact that all types of things bother all types of people.)

Kind of the same here. They did research and came up with an ad which they thought would be taken in fun and sell a product. You took it in a different context than what they intended which is understandable but taking this holier than thou attitude to start bashing them and putting them down and making way off the mark comparisons. Not justified here.

Even if I do have those feelings about persons with tattoos, I don't walk up to you or anybody like you and start telling you are thoughtless or unnecessarily provocative. You have your reasons for what you do and it's none of my business unless it effects me or my family.

Anyway, I got a feeling this mute point. The letters on your site regarding this were way off base. You don't agree with the commercial, don't buy the product period! If others feel the same then they'll do the same. The company will change or go out of business. That's the beauty of living in free enterprise. It's not like they specifically went after you. Live and let live and speak out when you are directly violated or there is a just while cause.

I don't like to make enemies and if nothing else I hope we can agree to disagree on this. I just hate seeing people getting so worked up over cartoons or a game and trying to lay blame. If somebody does abuse an animal or start a fire a game or cartoon didn't make them do it.

Kris Frost

Mr Sieman,
I have read your articles for well over 20 years, and you are always concise and attack the issues. This thread was posted on www.pitracer.com, an Ohio Dirt Riders forum to discuss the sport we all love.

Not only was I angered by the irresponsible shameless marketing efforts of EA, but disgusted by the lack of professionalism to acknowledge your concern. Considering your position in the industry, I would have expected a better response from them.

To make matters worse, I have been trying to convince my young nephew (5), that not all dirt bike riders do back flips, in sleeveless shirts, with green hair, spikes on their fenders, tattoos on their necks, and starting fights with Police Officers (Brian Deegan in the flats in Cleveland). He loves PlayStation and all the games. In fact, we just padded the EA pocket with buying the newest football game.

We cannot protect our youth from everything that is wrong in this world. But, to blatantly and irresponsibly profit of something that is completely detrimental and crippling to an entire industry, that is inexcusable.

Not only will I send e-mails to Ms. Goldberg and Mr. Brown, but I will never purchase an EA Sports game again!! Consumers ultimately have the power!!!.

Thank you for your time.
John J. Evola

Well, there's one viewpoint, one that's clearly informed by long association with the forces of Good in Our Sport.

I read Rick's words, I support the same causes, I spend my time and money supporting people like Rick who support these causes.

But where does the money come from that I use to support people like Rick? From software development actually. More specifically, Internet application development - big corporate B-to-B sites.

That's not really a conflict, between providing natural gas liftings reports and responsible motorcycle citizenship. But I've been knocking around the Internet as long as Rick's been knocking around the MX political scene, and what is clear is that there is a type of person who sees something on a computer screen, or hears the word computer or Internet, and decides forthwith to blame the device, or blame the messenger, or blame the medium.

I will grant you that there may be one or two pornographic images on the Internet. Well, I know for a fact that the Internet can be used as a medium for accessing child pornography, for accessing actual rape and snuff films, as a medium for accessing stores that sell narcotics illegally, as a means for accessing "data havens" where people trade stolen credit card numbers, as a means for hacking into governments and corporations and space agencies, and more. The Internet can be used as a tool to amplify the most offensive, illegal, morally outrageous traits of human existence.

But despite what the Baptist church thinks, and despite what Strom Thurmond and the Republican Party think, the Internet is not the agent of this offensive, illegal, morally reprehensible behavior. Bad people are just bad people. A far greater number of people do amazingly constructive things with the Internet than do bad things with it.

The true Internet revolution has only fairly begun, but the fact is that a few right-wingers did get out in front before people had a chance to become educated about the fact that the messenger wasn't the problem, and could have done great harm to a tool of tremendous social and economic growth. Here's what you do when someone messes with child porno or snuff or whatever whacked-out crap people mess with: arrest them. Rehabilitate them. Elect them mayor of Washington or governor of Louisiana.

Last weekend at the track, some little punk threw roost in my face, but I don't blame Freekstyle or Electronic Arts. He just has ineffective parenting. I have no doubt he saw one of us adults roost each other and mimicked what we'd done, because we do in fact roost each other - call it male bonding.

Did the kid knock there's a difference between doing it on the trail, like he'd seen us do, and brodying on pit row and spraying a bunch of wives and pets? No, but his parents should take the time to teach him these things if they're going to let him hang around an MX riding area.

I will grant that the content of video games, since it is CONTENT, needs a more strict examination than the MEDIUM of the Internet. But only so that we'll know if it has blood, gore, simulated crime such as Grand Theft Auto, overly realistic death or such.

There is a ratings system for these things and stickers that go on the box saying "this one has blood and gore and women in g-strings, be forewarned." Then parents do what they do, either keeping it out of the hands of their kids if they are very young, or having an educational session to the tune of "you are old enough to know the difference between make believe and real life, and this is what our family's and your beliefs are on X and Y and Z topics."

If you don't have time to do this, it means you are a bad parent. If parents just don't do this cause they can't be bothered, it means they're bad parents. If people grow into young adults with an inability to tell right from wrong, it means that they had bad parents.

If somebody gets to be Rick's age and still can't tell a videogame from reality, I have to think they're marginally clued old codgers who can barely fire up Microsoft Outlook to get onto the American Onlines to bitch about pornography on the Internet, only even they've figured out that nobody is listening to them bitch about porno on the Internet any longer so they're gonna go after video games.

Good timing ya know, all the consoles are getting Internet connectivity now, and they're quite realistic these games. Maybe there'll be some cheap thrills along the way while they investigate what it is they should be offended by.

Let me help, here's a quickie tour of current and upcoming things for you to be offended by:

* Grand Theft Auto: You're in the Mafia, and you regain health points by screwing hookers, but you can beat up the hookers after you use them and take your money back.

* Blood Omen 2: You're a vampire named Kain, and when you kill a man and suck his blood it's just gory. When you kill a woman and drain her body, your victim very clearly has a dying orgasm as you swallow her lifeforce. Mmm look at her shudder.

* Aggressive Inline: You are an inline skater, one of 10 or so "well known" skaters, or one fictional skater, Chrissie. She has pony tails and a Catholic schoolgirl outfit, and when she gets upside down breaking sick air you can check out her whitey tighties.

* Dead or Alive 3: You're a ninja see, only you can play as one of these chick ninjas and show serious nipp and ass.

* Dead or Alive Beach Volleyball: Coming Soon, the girls from DOA3 return in a volleyball game for Xbox Only! Featuring special nude mode.

* Medal of Honor: Remember that movie with the opening half hour so bloody that you could barely sit through it? Now you can Be There! That's right, Stephen Spielberg does games and you can go soak yourself in the blood and gore of Omaha Beach and go hand-to-hand through Europe, blowing heads off, you name it. Among the bloodiest games ever, certainly among the best games ever.

All of these are in fact wonderful games. Appropriate for small children and marginally clued old people? Definitely not. Will small children and the marginally clued come into inappropriate contact with some of them? Unfortunately, probably yes. Even worse, some of them may write columns with an audience of 5.7 million readers.

Electronic Arts? Ahh, I actually thought the commercials were a bit much too. There's a limited number of MX titles that come out, and we're gonna buy pretty much every title that comes out anyway. It would have been enough to say "better trick system than Ricky Carmichael with some cool level innovations."

If EA's going to continue as a primary sponsor of the sport of MX riding though, I agree with Rick that it is incumbent that they immediately become visible as Good Citizens in Our Sport. Support with their time and money and name the fight to keep riding areas open. Support with their time and money and name educational programs that communicate to a wider audience what our issues are.

See, that's the thing, I think the average citizen has no real opinion about OHV's or 2-stroke pollution or land use issues or the things that we live and breathe. I think that if they did though, they would be much more likely to support our freedoms than to want to limit them.

Oh and Freekstyle? Wicked fun game, but somewhat derivative of Sled Storm and that other EA Big title. Wish it had a nude mode like DOA3 Volleyball so we could get really freaky with Jill.
Joe Abernathy

Well, there you have it. A cross -section of opinions. So what's yours? Drop us a line!