ESPN X Games

Hey sports fans, it's time for your yearly dose of cool in the summer heat. And with more than a decade's worth of X Games in the history books, we suggest you pay attention this time. So before you stick-and-ball purists throw up your paws and return to the usually scheduled programming, may I remind you that a little bad-assery never hurt anybody. And if you're still running for the hills, might I suggest that if it's too loud — you're too old!

Lucky for you, there's never been a better time to hop on board the X train. This month marks a special milestone, confirming the official move-in of action sports to the friendly neighborhood block o' jocks. In case you didn't hear, ESPN brass recently gave EXPN the official invitation—yes, even The Suits agree that coverage of the once eccentric, extreme niche now necessitates a seat at the adult table.

Get ready for the ESPN Action Sports Network to hit your corner of the interweb this fall, until then, get up to date on all the action just by skimming this handy Summer X Games '08 digest.

Don't be scared, even old dogs need some new tricks.

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SKATEBOARD

STREET: Ryan Sheckler 2. Paul Rodriguez 3. Greg Lutzka
A little more bling came into the life of Ryan this weekend when he skated to his first Street gold. Back in 2003, toddler Sheckler (now 18), became the youngest skateboard gold medalist the X Games had ever seen when he took the Park title back to his crib. Saturday's photos

BIG AIR: Bob Burnquist 2. Danny Way 3. Jake Brown
All eyes were on Jake Brown's triumphant return to The STAPLES Center sky a year after his infamous tumble from it, but it was Bob Burnquist who nabbed the mega ramp spoils. The Brazilian banged out a dramatic and e-bro-tional victory by clinching the title (his second-ever in Big Air) on his last run, which was also the last run of the entire competition. The walk-off win was so sweet, it reduced Bob B. to a pile of kneepads and man tears, but we don't judge here. What we will say is that if anyone should have been crying, it was Danny Way, who had two gnarly crashes in the comp, and no business dropping in after either one of them—but he did, and he proceeded to stomp a silver (some argue gold-worthy) run. Big Air ZOOM Gallery

VERT: Pierre Luc Gagnon 2. Bucky Lasek 3. Shaun White
PLG delivered one clean run after another in the new jam-format finals, besting four-time Vert gold medalist, Bucky Lasek ('99, '00, '03, '04) and the defending golden boy, Shaun White. Oh Canada, he stands on guard for thee. Shaun in the raw.

SUPERPARK: Rune Gilfberg 2. Andy Macdonald 3. Tony Trjillo
Coming in to XG14, the Great Dane, was the most medaled athlete NOT to have a gold. He came to Los Angeles with eight medals. He'll be leaving with nine. And most importantly, the new addition is finally made of gold. Guerilla Cam SuperPark

WOMEN'S STREET: Elissa Steamer 2. Marisa Dal Santo 3. Amy Caron
Elissa Steamer reclaimed her reign over the Street, picking up her fourth gold in five years ('04, '05, '0, '08). Last year, skating on her 21st birthday, Marisa Dal Santo snuck in and stole the top-billing, but this time around she settled for silver. Pics, por favor

WOMEN'S VERT: Karen Jones 2. Lyn-z Adams Hawkins 3. Mimi Knoop
Podium regulars like Lyn-z and Mimi were in the hunt, but newbie Karen Jones took the top step in 2008. Girls just wanna . . .

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MOTO X

BEST TRICK: Kyle Loza 2.Jeremey Lusk 3.Todd Potter
22-year-old Kyle Loza became the first back-to-back champ of the Moto summit. Jim DeChamp boldly attempted to land the first front flip ever to see the light of X, and Scott Murray tried to join a select few ever to land a double-backflip but in the end, it was Loza's new varial (The Electric Doom) executed to perfection that took home the hardware. These photos will make you nauseous: Moto 360 ZOOM

STEP UP: Ricky Carmichael 2.Ronnie Renner 3.Tommy Clowers
It feels unfair to call Moto legend Ricky Carmichael a rookie, but it was his first-ever Step Up X competition. The dirt bike deity destroyed the field, topping defending champ Ronnie Renner by a foot, although it felt more like a mile.

FREESTYLE: Jeremy Lusk
2. Mat Rebeaud 3. Mike Mason
Jeremy Lusk cruised to victory over Swiss sensation, Mat Rebeaud, adding another gold to the Metal Mulisha family mantle. Lusk's Metal Mulisha bro, Jeremy Stenberg had a mid-run motorcycle malfunction and proceeded to twitch into a tantrum cone-kicking proportions. Watch: Jeremy Lusk Riding Sesh

SPEED & STYLE: Kevin Johnson 2. Ronnie Renner 3. Jeremy Stenberg
Kevin Johnson, the pride of Albuquerque, N.M., defeated freestyle vet Ronnie Renner at the Home Depot Center to take home the first-ever Speed & Style title on the history books. Xtra Chee$e Moto Blog

SUPERMOTO: Jeff Ward 2. Robbie Horton 3. Brandon Currie
The event that rewards super speed on dirt and asphalt went to the wise Jeff Ward. At the ripe age of 47, Ward becomes one of the oldest competitors in the X Games ever to win a gold medal (second only to unknown Angelika Casteneda, who competed and won the Xventure Race (XG2) at 53-years-old!). ZOOM into the pics

RACING (Men): Josh Hansen 2. Jeremy McGrath 3. Josh Grant
SoCal boy Josh Hansen may have been fired by Joe Gibbs Racing, but the Metal Mulisha has never been afraid of the stone that the builders refused. That's why they picked him up a few weeks ago, just in time for him to bring them Moto X Racing gold. It should be noted that defending champ Ricky Carmichael did not enter the event this year. Guerilla Cam: State of the Mulisha

RACING (Women): Tarah Gieger
2. Sherri Cruse 3. Tatum Sik
X Games 14 played host to the Moto X debut of the fairer sex. The event—a five lap race to the finish line, as opposed to the gentlemen's 10-lap circuit—opened up when Sherri Cruse went down and Tarah Geiger capitalized.

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BMX

BIG AIR: Chad Kagy 2. Dave Mirra 3. Kevin Robinson
Neither defending champ Kevin Robinson, nor Mr. Dave Mirra, the most decorated athlete in X Games history (22 total medals), could top Chad Kagy and his new collarbone on the mega ramp. After crashing in last year's competition, Kagy came back in '08 with a repaired wing and a mission to add a few more medals to his stash. Mission accomplished. Recap Video

VERT: Jamie Bestwick 2. Chad Kagy 3. Steve McCann
It was more glory for Australia and Jamie Bestwick. The 36-year-old veteran of Vert picked up another gold, his fifth XG Vert title and sixth gold medal overall (he won Best Trick gold in '05). While he's no stranger to 24-karats, this Vert victory is special as it marks the first time Jamie has ever won back-to-back top-billing. He now has eight total XG medals. The BMX Blog

SUPERPARK: Daniel Dhers 2. Diogo Canina 3. Rob Darden
The Venezuelan vet Daniel Dhers continued down the BMX golden brick road winning his second XG gold, and third medal overall. After winning BMX Park last year, he nabbed the first BMX SuperPark gold medal ever given away at an X Games. Smells like a dynasty is brewin'. Watch D.D.'s golden run

STREET: Garrett Reynolds 2. Van Homan 3. Sean Sexton
In his sophomore year at Summer X, 17-year-old Garrett Reynolds earned his first medal on the eve of his 18th year. Saturday's Birthday Boy earned gold on Friday, while maintaining the distinction of the youngest rider in the final. Congratulations, kiddo. You have arrived. Medal Videos

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RALLY CAR

RACING: Travis Pastrana 2. Tanner Foust 3. Dave Mirra
Travis Pastrana and last-minute stand-in co-driver, Carolyn Bosley took gold with authority, while Tanner Faust and Ms. Chrissie Beavis nabbed silver, but the fun part of this one was all the peripheral carnage on the course. Andrew Comrie-Picard rolled his Subaru tail-over-tea kettle and Dave Mirra competed on a front axel so bent out of shape he needed five-point-turns to negotiate the courses curvature. Bill Knows Rally

Mary Buckheit is a Page 2 Columnist and regular ESPN Action Sports contributor. Check her out here.