From Blue Ribbon, perhaps each club president should modify Clark's letter and send it along, individual members can also express their views on the game. Fix Clark's spelling though first.


Background - This refers to a video game that is currently being advertised widely on TV and print which is very unflattering to, primarily, dirt bikers. I've not played or seen the actual game but the adds definitely perpetuate the stereotype that OHVs are for raising hell and tearing things up and that those who enjoy them are "freeks" and miscreants.


tr



Here is the contact information in case you would like to contact EA Sports
about the offending advertising campaign.



Ms. Jillian Goldberg, Director of Marketing, EA Sports
Electronic Arts Inc.
209 Redwood Shores Parkway
Redwood City, CA 94065
jgoldberg@ea.com
650-628-1500


Clark Collins
Executive Director
BlueRibbon Coalition
4555 Burley Drive, Suite A
Pocatello, ID 83202
ph. 208-237-1008 ext. 101 fax 237-9424
brclark@sharetrails.org www.sharetrails.org


-----Original Message-----
From: Clark Collins [mailto:clark@sharetrails.org]
Sent: Monday, July 01, 2002 3:46 PM
To: Jillian Goldberg



Ms. Goldberg: I also left a message on your voicemail.


We've gotten phone calls and e-mails from members who've seen your TV ads
for the "Freekstyle" computer game. I also have a copy of an ad for this
product that ran in the July issue of Racer X magazine and we've heard from
members about that ad as well. While I don't have a copy of the "Freekstyle"
game, I did check out the information on your website promoting it. There
appears to be no connection between the game itself and the questionable
advertising being shown on TV and in print.


Our organization is a coalition of over 600 member organizations, and nearly
500 member businesses, many of whom are off-highway motorcycle related. We
work hard to promote responsible use of off-highway-vehicles (OHVs)and to
protect our access to public lands for their enjoyment. The attitude
depicted in those ads "a happy little place with happy little creatures -
Until, one day a bunch of freekstylers found it and it wasn't happy anymore"
gives the impression that motorcycle riders are out to destroy the world.
Those ads are just the kind of amunition that OHV opponents love to use to
portray all OHV recreationists as irresponsible destroyers of the
environement.


I urge you to stop the advertising campaign that so grossly misrepresents
the off-highway motorcycle community. I hope you act quickly so the damage
to OHV recreation's image can be minimized. Please give me a call on this or
reply to this message via e-mail. If you would like additional information
about our organization I urge you to check our website at
www.sharetrails.org Thank you!


Clark Collins
Executive Director
BlueRibbon Coalition
4555 Burley Drive, Suite A
Pocatello, ID 83202
ph. 208-237-1008 ext. 101 fax 237-9424
brclark@sharetrails.org www.sharetrails.org
---

Another point to tell the advertisers is that there are no helments or safty equipment on the riders in the ads. As an MXer myself, this was one of the first things I noticed. Do they really want the young kids to see this and head out in the backyard doing tricks on minibikes with no shirts or helments on??? A very irresponsable ad campaign!!!!