Ohio Student Dies During Truck Stunt TIFFIN, Ohio (AP) - A college freshman died after falling from a moving pickup truck in a stunt possibly inspired by the television show "Jackass," authorities said. Adam Ports, 18, and three fellow students at Tiffin University set a chair on fire and threw it from the back of a moving truck Tuesday night while friends photographed the stunt. Ports then jumped or fell from the truck as it sped away on a country road, officials said. He died Wednesday from head injuries. "They were trying to create some type of stunt like they have on the TV show 'Jackass,'" Seneca County sheriff's Sgt. Brian Hescht wrote in a report. The now-defunct MTV show of crude stunts was made into a movie that debuted last month. MTV/Paramount spokeswoman Marnie Malter denied that the show was to blame. "The police report that was filed makes it clear that this incident has no connection to any stunts performed on the 'Jackass' television show or film," Malter said. "Jackass" has drawn criticism in the past for allegedly encouraging dangerous behavior. After one show showed a man in a fireproof suit being set ablaze on a grill, a few imitators were burned trying to perform their own variations. A New Hampshire boy said he was inspired by "Jackass" to ignite lamp oil on a 12-year-old friend, who suffered burns over 30 percent of his body last year. Last week, a 15-year-boy in Seattle suffered severe burns after he and his friends soaked his T-shirt in alcohol and lit it on fire. Officers said they were attempting a "Jackass" stunt.
ummmm... <i>duh</i>, people. There's a <b>reason</b> it's called "Jackass". The show has been telling people since day one to not be an idiot and try this stuff at home. It shouldn't be held responsible for someone else's stupidity.
Jackass will be a tremendous help to the "Darwin Awards" website. Natural selection is a marvel to behold.
heh heh, I like how people try to blame Jackass for these people's stupidity. If Jackass weren't around, I'm sure these guys would choke to death trying to eat a cat so they can be just like Alf.
They need a show called Smartass. Kids could be inspired to read, study, and debate. It would be revolutionary.
they did... i remember watching a panel based academic trivia competition between high schools when i was younger... called the "Texaco Challenge" or something like that? it was on PBS and I watched it religiously every week, hoping I could be on the show when I got to high school. Unfortunately my school didn't field a team.
You can't blame somebody's behavior on a TV show, movie or a video game. We are too quick to look for scapegoats when bad things happen. RIP for this poor student.
Are you kidding? What parent wants their kid to move from extraneous and non-structured argumentation to full blown logical rejoinder? **** that! drapg, you are a true geek if you watched the texaco challenge religiously.
i love jeopardy too. i'd rather be a geek than a fan of "jackass." imagine people who watched that show as adults now and people who watch this show as adults in 10 years. its terrifying, isn't it?
Maybe if it was held at Ozzy's house and there was a lot of cussing involved. Okay kids, where the **** is Iraq on this map? It's ****in right next to Iran!
I'd like to second this sentiment. I try to make myself really remember that this is a real person who died and that any death is sad. But, I'm finding it so hard knowing he died due to his own idiocy. If he has so little regard for his life, what regard should I have for it? Still, I'm trying as hard as I can.
I was on my school's squad although I never competed during the TV matches. I thought it was pretty weak (I was in the audience) although I got to meet Doug Johnson (host). Texaco Star Challenge moved from PBS to the Tube in 1998. I don't know if the TV matches exist anymore.
I don't think Jackass would do anything so stupid. Anyways these guys are paid stuntmen. If the kids are stupid enough to copy their stunts then they deserve the consequences.
I remember when the cameras panned the audience me and my teammates not playing made gang signs behind our coaches High school memories
hey my team was in a match that was gonna be on the Tube and doug johnson hosted it and after i missed a question (like the 3rd math thing i had missed that day) i said f*ck and the camera man said you could hear it on the air. luckily i don't think the thing ever aired (why the hell they made us go film it and everything is beyond me if they weren't going to eventually air, it was a pain in the ass to go to the place and the format was different which sucked too) so my parents didn't get to see my moment of glory. i did get to write two apology notes though for cussing on the air. high quality. still can't believe we lost to huntsville, we were so much better than them.
