Fans have criticized the confusing formats in many of these events. To clue you guys in, here’s the rules explained over at ESPN’s live blog covering motocross at the X Games:

In case you were wondering, tonight’s qualifying is the exact same as earlier today. Two brackets of four riders. Each bracket get three 60 second runs and the judges take the best two. Then they combine the best two and the top two riders out of each bracket move onto the final, which will consist of four riders.

In what is pretty much thought of as the semifinals, both Adam Jones and Todd Potter were unable to advance to the finals. The commentators kept on saying that Jones wasn’t getting the flexibility he usually is able to pull off. I don’t know. What these guys are doing is just insane. I wouldn’t know how to judge any of these tricks. I know this is a competition, but I’m just so amazed at what each of these guys are doing that I completely forget they’re being scored.

Nevertheless, I felt Blake Williams was the most impressive throughout the day. His runs just seemed to have the most energy in them. Each trick was always somehow more confounding than the last. He definitely deserved to take the gold.

I’ve never watched this much coverage of the X Games in my life. I have to admit that I was never convinced of their appeal. Now I can say I’m a real fan. Maybe it’s because these guys are simply getting better. It’s almost like the Slam Dunk Contest in that they have a year to think of a performance that will top the greatest from last year. Also, ESPN has done a great job profiling the athletes and adding drama to the events. So far, it’s been very exciting.