Dave Mirra

Pro BMX bike rider Dave Mirra has filed suit against Acclaim Entertainment Inc. and is seeking more than $20 million in damages, claiming that a racy video game it publishes has hurt his image. The lawsuit, filed last week in federal court in New York, contends that Acclaim continued to use Mirra's name and likeness to promote the game "BMX XXX" even after the two sides signed an agreement to disassociate the bike rider from the title.

Imagine eight 550-horsepower noisy breadboxes that in one instant can be still but two seconds later can reach 60 miles an hour. Imagine them side-by-side, blitzing down Figueroa Street outside L.A. Live, topping 100 mph while the Los Angeles Police Department sits idly by, radar guns holstered. That's the image that danced in X Games officials' heads when they introduced rally car racing to the action sports event in 2006. And it's finally coming true this year. The Rally Car Racing event Saturday marked the first such race on downtown Los Angeles streets — three streets, to be exact.

BMX rider Dave Mirra was seriously injured in X Games practice Wednesday and the event's most decorated athlete will not compete for the first time in the games' 12-year history. Mirra, 32, suffered a lacerated liver during a crash at Home Depot Center and remained hospitalized in stable condition Thursday night at UCLA Harbor Medical Center. "Considering the circumstances, he's in great spirits," said Scott Novak, Mirra's agent, adding that Mirra is expected to be released today.

X Games 17 fans, prepare to open your wallets. JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live is offering a weekend pass for a close-up of skateboarding, BMX, motocross and other adrenaline-packed competitions that run July 28 to July 31 in downtown Los Angeles. The package comes with three nights at the hotel, tickets to events, breakfast with X Games medalist Dave Mirra and more for a cool $3,000. See what I mean about the open-wallet policy? --The details: X Games 17 events will be held at L.A. Live, the Nokia Theatre, Staples Center -- all within walking distance of the hotel.

X Games 17 fans, prepare to open your wallets. JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live is offering a weekend pass for a close-up of skateboarding, BMX, motocross and other adrenaline-packed competitions that run July 28 to July 31 in downtown Los Angeles. The package comes with three nights at the hotel, tickets to events, breakfast with X Games medalist Dave Mirra and more for a cool $3,000. See what I mean about the open-wallet policy? --The details: X Games 17 events will be held at L.A. Live, the Nokia Theatre, Staples Center -- all within walking distance of the hotel.

With a series of aerial maneuvers that included handlebar spins, a back flip and numerous tailwhips, or bike twirls, Dave Mirra soared into X Games history on Friday night, becoming its most decorated athlete with 17 medals, 12 of them gold. His gold-medal performance in the bike stunt vert competition broke a tie he had held with skateboarder Tony Hawk, who is not competing this year.

Imagine eight 550-horsepower noisy breadboxes that in one instant can be still but two seconds later can reach 60 miles an hour. Imagine them side-by-side, blitzing down Figueroa Street outside L.A. Live, topping 100 mph while the Los Angeles Police Department sits idly by, radar guns holstered. That's the image that danced in X Games officials' heads when they introduced rally car racing to the action sports event in 2006. And it's finally coming true this year. The Rally Car Racing event Saturday marked the first such race on downtown Los Angeles streets — three streets, to be exact.

On Thursday, Dave Mirra collapsed in pain on the floor of Staples Center after suffering injuries to his hip and head following a crash in the BMX vert competition. Two days later, Mirra stood on the medal stand after winning the BMX freestyle park finals, his record 14th X Games gold. Mirra, whose 24-karat gold-plated bike shimmered in the afternoon sunlight, debated whether to compete in the bike competition at the Home Depot Center.

Dave Mirra draws attention just about any time he arrives at the scene of an action sports competition, and this year's X Games was no exception. This time, however, the attention centered on his bike. More specifically, the 24-karat gold-plated frame on his bike. Mirra crashed during his first run of the BMX vert competition Thursday night at Staples Center and was unable to make his second run because of minor injuries to his head and right hip.

Video game publisher Acclaim Entertainment Inc. said it had settled a dispute with professional BMX rider Dave Mirra, who had filed suit claiming that a "pornographic" stunt bike game had damaged his reputation. Acclaim said no monetary damages were paid under the settlement and Mirra would remain under contract to the game publisher until 2011. Mirra filed suit in February, seeking more than $20 million in damages and claiming that Glen Cove, N.Y.

BMX rider Dave Mirra was seriously injured in X Games practice Wednesday and the event's most decorated athlete will not compete for the first time in the games' 12-year history. Mirra, 32, suffered a lacerated liver during a crash at Home Depot Center and remained hospitalized in stable condition Thursday night at UCLA Harbor Medical Center. "Considering the circumstances, he's in great spirits," said Scott Novak, Mirra's agent, adding that Mirra is expected to be released today.

On Thursday, Dave Mirra collapsed in pain on the floor of Staples Center after suffering injuries to his hip and head following a crash in the BMX vert competition. Two days later, Mirra stood on the medal stand after winning the BMX freestyle park finals, his record 14th X Games gold. Mirra, whose 24-karat gold-plated bike shimmered in the afternoon sunlight, debated whether to compete in the bike competition at the Home Depot Center.

Dave Mirra draws attention just about any time he arrives at the scene of an action sports competition, and this year's X Games was no exception. This time, however, the attention centered on his bike. More specifically, the 24-karat gold-plated frame on his bike. Mirra crashed during his first run of the BMX vert competition Thursday night at Staples Center and was unable to make his second run because of minor injuries to his head and right hip.

With a series of aerial maneuvers that included handlebar spins, a back flip and numerous tailwhips, or bike twirls, Dave Mirra soared into X Games history on Friday night, becoming its most decorated athlete with 17 medals, 12 of them gold. His gold-medal performance in the bike stunt vert competition broke a tie he had held with skateboarder Tony Hawk, who is not competing this year.

Pro BMX bike rider Dave Mirra has filed suit against Acclaim Entertainment Inc. and is seeking more than $20 million in damages, claiming that a racy video game it publishes has hurt his image. The lawsuit, filed last week in federal court in New York, contends that Acclaim continued to use Mirra's name and likeness to promote the game "BMX XXX" even after the two sides signed an agreement to disassociate the bike rider from the title.

Jamie Bestwick is one of the most well-known athletes living in State College, Pa., though you'll never see him in a Penn State uniform. Bestwick, 34, is a two-time X Games gold medalist in the BMX freestyle vert competition. Raised in Riddings, England, he moved to State College in 1998 to pursue a career as a BMX rider. State College is home to Woodward Camp, a state-of-the-art BMX training facility that features 17 parks.

The idea for the X Games, the latest edition of which begins Thursday in downtown Los Angeles, was hatched in a Connecticut bookstore by an ESPN employee in 1993. Two years later, the first X Games were held in Rhode Island and, looking back, the action sports event was rather whack. X Games officials looked upon the athletes they corralled, a so-called rebellious lot of adrenaline junkies, and remarked how crazy most of them looked. The athletes, in turn, glared at the "suits" embodying the so-called establishment and wondered if their talents were being appreciated or their image was only being exploited.