Basejumper.com - archive

Well, I'm happy John is down and safe, and I wasn't saying much about him personally because I don't know him. My first thought was, okay, it could happen to any of us. But, here's a lesson in how to make things worse. Now he's doing on-camera interviews and burying us further. http://cbs13.com/...story_301210755.html and click "play" on the video.

Up until now it appeared the media thought this a fellow out on a lark for his birthday, but now they are reporting this site gets jumped all the time. Who told them that?

Also, his talking about legalizing BASE jumping right after a mishap and rescue of this nature is a bit counter productive not to mention he left the impression we are so out there we want the right to jump private property.

Gee, shut up already and use your head. What is so hard about saying it was just a wild assed idea he had and then he tried it? Why not say, "I've never even heard of BASE jumping." It's called falling on your sword to protect your brothers and sisters.

Instead he shows off his BASE tattoos (and like BASE bumper stickers on your car that'll help when explaining it wasn't you) and talks about how he accessed the site and then all about the "visuals and the rush." How is it possible for someone in the sport for eleven years to be so selfish?

Is John A. another John V. . . ?

BTW, in the accompanying copy to the video there's this concerning BASE jumping being illegal at this site . . .

"Jumping from our tower has been such a persistent problem that years ago CBS 13 spearheaded a county ordinance that specifically makes it a crime punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 dollar fine."

Oh, and as Tom mentioned, this fellow is on a roll . . . http://www.gazette.com/...=1311375&secid=1

NickD
BASE 194

edit for thread title ~TA

 Now he's doing on-camera interviews and burying us further. http://cbs13.com/...story_301210755.html and click "play" on the video.

Thanks for posting this link.
after the first 8 - 10 seconds of a seemingly rational prelude, he rapidly spiraled into a BASE PR black hole.

It's tough to seem polished on TV, but what was the point in showing off his tatoos???????????????????
and
it doesn't really take 3 hours to do that climb does it? that's a lot longer than i remember.

be safe
be smart
which is more important?
or are they one and the same?

kleggo

Painfull indeed to watch...if anyone is a true friend to Mr. Clueless please put a sock in his mouth!

^^ Wow... the media is really eating this one up. I wonder if he's going to get a tattoo of himself hanging from the wires to go along with all the other objects on his back?

Ohh, and I'm suprized that Channel 13 is still mentioning how BASE is illegal at every opportunity... I thought that Jason B. had corrected them once already.

Clearly, none of their reporters are bothering to read this website.

rl

I've split this off the "BASE Nazi Rant" as these are two separate incidents that occured more than 2 years apart.

Several people have contacted (via more direct methods than posting here) Channel 13 to try to clear that up.

One small step for a man; one giant backward leap for BASEkind.

This guy is into BASE as a way to gain status with others/attention from others.

After the amount of attention he has received, he will undoubtedly jump again.

Unless of course every day someone different emais him a MP3 file of himself sobbing on the 911 call, and vowing to never participate in BASE again.

Good thing the recuers got him down safely...imagine if him, or the rescuer, or both were to have perished in the rescue attempt.

 

where did you guys hear the 911 call?

 

What about showing the ink on his back to the camera? Who inks jumped objects on their back - where they cannot personally ever see them - unless they want to show them to others as a badge of courage or something else lame along those lines?...which is exactly what he did.

WOW! thats scary, you never know how your going to react in that situation I guess

Uh...

...he can see 'em in a mirror. The alternative is to put them on his chest, where he will have to see them upside-down...unless he looks in a mirror.

I'm just sayin'...there're people who resemble this remark who do not resemble Agnos in any other way.

I wouldn't use tattoos as a litmus test if I were you.

rl

What an idiot this guy...my mentally challenged clientelle even think so. If this guy pulled this bozo crap off around here.....he would've been taken care of by Joey the clown or good ol' Pauly ..god forbid!!!!!!

I have no problems with ink...I am not using it as a litmus test. After hearing about this individuals personality, seeing his interviews and the way he displayed his ink to the cameras to reinforce his bravado image, it's my impression he got those tattoos to show the world he base jumps. And by the world I mean whuffos and non-BASE individuals...because it appears he has no jumping buddies.

Any word on legal action against him?

I thought the funny thing was that he had enough room for every object he'd ever jumped. I know several guys who'd pretty much be out of skin if they tried that.

Not too much of a biggie, but . . .

Tom split this thread and as he noted he also re-named it and that's cool with me. However, this is something I want straight. I often give a lot of thought to not only what I say but where I say it and I buried my original post in another thread for a reason. I didn’t mean it to become a bash fest or even a discussion. It's was just me saying what I had to say and moving along.

When I do get on someone like a Felix or that other John it's because I know them and think they deserve it. I've never met John Agnos, don’t know how he came up the ranks, or know who did or didn’t mentor him. Right now I think of him as ignorant but not malicious like the previous two I mentioned.

I was only trying to further the lesson on damage control. We should probably be a little careful about turning our backs when someone messes up early in their BASE careers. If they stay in the sport we might loss the chance to ever reform them.

Anyway, sure, there's a good chance he's not worthy of our help, but since I've never actually talked to him, I just can’t make that decision right now.

NickD
BASE 194

I don't see anything wrong with inking yourself up with images of hobbies or sports your into. I just would have had a better artist put that ink in.

If anyone knows how to extract that (long) audio clip from that website, please PM me or send me an email to chris AT triaxproductions DOT com.
cheers,
pope

 

a workaround would to plug the audio out into a tape recorder or even the microphone in on your own computer and have the built in windows recorder save it.

I'll work on that tonight....

That's beyond funny, really.

I think someone should send this link to Quentin Tarantino.

The direct link to the audio file on that website is http://mfile.akamai.com/12876/wmv/vod.ibsys.com/2005/1028/5200423.200k.asx

That will open it up directly in Windows media player.
Its a media stream so you cant save it directly from Media player, but you can use a freeware application such as Streambox to capture it and save it as an audio file on your local PC.

Current vesion is avialable here:
http://www.afterdawn.com/software/video_software/video_capture_tools/streambox_vcr_suite.cfm

And the newer but unsupported beta version is here:
http://www.afterdawn.com/software/audio_software/audio_tools/streambox_vcr.cfm


PLease note the disclaimer on the download site that due to past legal issues, even though it is freeware, you are not allowed to use it if you are in the USA.

If there are any issues with IP filtering on the download to filter out US IP blocks, PM me.
Ill zip it up and email it to you as its only a small application.

This is not breaking any laws so long as you promise me that if I send it to you in the US you will not use it on a public network and that you just want to inspect it.

I hope that helps you my friend :)

Wouldn't a 9-1-1 audio recording be public domain?

Id like to know when John is going to post to dispell all our theories about him being a jerk

I will sell my first born to anyone who will email me that 911 call.

I wish to send it to John on his 42nd, 43rd, 44th 45th etc.....birthday.

Happy lame-ass bitch day John.

Die like a man, next time.

 

Since this is a popular request I've got it in WMV format at 9.9 megs for any one that wants it. PM me for the website address I'm saving it at.

I will make the MP3 publicly available on a website as soon as I receive the file.

Got it.

Here it is

>I will sell my first born to anyone who will email me that 911 call.
~anyone here familiar with the story "The Ransom of Red Chief?"
~J

What disgrace this guy. A co-worker asked me if "that guy" on the news was my friend or someone I knew. I couldn't believe my ears and said HELL NO forgetting I was in cubicle city trying to hold back and explain that he is not what we are and it was frustrating just needing to stand up for ourselves especially to complete nonjumpers....I don't even want to see that face. Forgettaboutit !!!!!!

Fucking oath..... I'm listening to the 911 recording as I type this and there are no words.

No words.

I think my brain might atrophy.

I tried to listen to it a few days ago when 13 first put it on their website. I got halfway through, and I had to turn it off because it was so humiliating. I've had a hard time reading the threads about him since then.

Ordinarily, I'm not that unempathic, but I can't find even a drop of feeling for this guy that isn't either revulsion or contempt.

Definitely not a guy you'd want at your back when it all goes south.

rl

I think you're all tough down here. This John guy might behave like a jerk. Obviously I wouldn't brag after such a rescue mission. But this could occur to anybody. I don't know him but the 911 phone call don't make me laugh at all. he's scared and did he do something to deserve what happends to him?

You're all tough.

Three times in a row?

Okay.

"I think you're all tough down here. This John guy might behave like a jerk. Obviously I wouldn't brag after such a rescue mission. But this could occur to anybody. I don't know him but the 911 phone call don't make me laugh at all. he's scared and did he do something to deserve what happends to him?

You're all tough."


I don't think that people were originally laughing at the 911 call, it was more the fact that he changed his tune when being interviewed by the news making himself sound like a cool death defying base jumper.

I have not listened to any of the news reports but from what I have read here they are very Jekyll and Hyde..

My Name is John Agnos
First, I would like to apologize to whom it may concern for bringing any
attention to the day I jumped the guy wire tower. It was meant to be a very
private day for me. Unfortunately due to poor judgment that day I had an
accident. I have 90 base jumps which I've done in two years, 2 of which I
displayed poor judgment and almost died. Base jumping has been the greatest
experiences of my life, ever making me humble beyond what I ever thought I
could be. As far as the interview, I am sorry I ever said anything, it
was all
said off the cuff the next morning. I've never had that happen before. As far
as my tattoos are concerned, they have deep meaning for me, that's all.
Secondly, I would like to address my 911 call. It was definitely a horrifying
experience. After I hit the guy wire, my canopy slid a long distance down it
snapping more than half my lines as I went. I did what I had to do to prepare
to die. I was hanging from less then half of my lines. I thought that was the
end for me and it was a sad moment in my life. I've learned from my mistakes.
And I hope that any and all of you will never have anybody smearing you or
laughing at you if you have a near death experience. I would never be at that
level; I would comfort any fellow human being in their moment of despair.

Some of you have wondered about my background. I am not new to parachutes.
I've been skydiving 13yrs, I've made 1,500 skydives with no injuries. I
competed at the 2000 nationals on the Perris 16 way team which we placed 3rd.
I've been on multiple Nevada records and California records. On Sept 10, 2001,
I put on fund raiser skydiving for the kids and raised 27,000 for children's
hosp in Oakland, we made 60 jumps a piece in 9 hours.

NickDG, I realize that you did not start this thread and you have the
decency to
at least say that you are not going to judge me without even knowing me. It
was an accident and I was not being malicious. I screwed up on the jump. I
did that interview just after getting out of bed the morning after the
accident
and I meant no more harm. If I had more time to think of what to say, maybe I
would have said things better or not done the interview at all. I have
learned
from that and I am sorry for making comments that were bad for public
perception.

RhondaLea, you seem very judgmental and what I heard here in nor-cal is
that you
have only made a few jumps years ago so why are you making such rude
statements
about something that you are not experienced at. I have not had 3
accidents in
a row. I made 58 jumps before the Nevada accident and then 32 after that
before I hit the guy wire on my 90th jump.

Tom Aiello, you started this discussion and you should not be talking
either. I
remember how you got banned for life from Lodi and also your Base jumping
accidents and early reputation for displaying reckless and poor judgment. I
have had 2 Base jumping accidents unfortunately, but you had 3 accidents in 3
years when you started Base jumping as a result of bad judgment. The
first one
was when you almost went in jumping the Perrine because you did not throw your
pilot chute in time, and you spent a long time in the hospital and had to walk
around with a colostomy bag for a long time. Then you jumped a cliff in
Arizona doing what the locals there told you not to do trying to out track a
talus and they told you not to try it. You sniveled into the talus and busted
yourself up real bad causing a dangerous rescue and another hospital stay.
Then you got busted up again jumping the big cliff in Italy in bad conditions.
I don't think you should be trying to smear me when you have a worse accident
record than I do.

To everybody, I apologize for screwing up on the jump, causing negative news,
and for making comments to the news that were not thought out well. I have
learned a lot from this. I know I have a lot to learn still.


BASE #1039

Welcome to the party there's always room for one more . . .

NickD
BASE 194

Did you get your gear back?(wondering about the condition it is in after a guy strike) Were you charged with anything?

Are you going to BASE jump anymore?

Isn't there someone else that posts under BASE 1039 or has it in his sig or something? Or was it 1034? I looked around but couldn't find it again.

Just curious.

ive seen 1034 before post, but this is the first ive seen of 1039.

John: "Are you going to BASE jump again?" is a question you have answered in your 911 call and subsequent interview. We are curious to see if you have changed your mind.

Nic Russell

btw most people were upset at the way in which you interviewed, a "no comment" would be the best route in the future.

Yes, I'm damned judgmental when judgment is called for, and regardless of what experience I lack, I'm very experienced at judging irresponsible and self-aggrandizing behavior. It isn't rude to call something what it is.

I don't mind that you felt compelled to take the cheap, easy shot at me, because it was...a cheap, easy shot, and I understand how that would be hard for you to resist. But how do you answer all the other comments on the various threads from those you are unable to personally attack for lack of fodder? Not that my few jumps is really very good fodder under the circumstances. After all, I was never dumb enough to go so far beyond my experience level that I made the base community look like a bunch of idiots.

Anyway, if Nevada was number 59 and California was 90, what number was Colorado? Or is it just that there's another guy running around out there pretending to be you?

Finally, let me just offer you two small clues: a) "you did it too" is a logical fallacy. It is more formally known as the "tu quoque" fallacy, and b) an attack on other people couched as an apology is not an apology worth having.

rl

Thats great.

I asked for Johns Comments and there you go he arrives a little later.

The greatest challange was overcome for John when he posted on this forum apologising for his mistakes. Thats a real hard thing to do.

I do agree with Rhonda sayingFinally, let me just offer you two small clues: a) "you did it too" is a logical fallacy. It is more formally known as the "tu quoque" fallacy, and b) an attack on other people couched as an apology is not an apology worth having.

I have kept my mouth shut for awhile about this, but back up off John. I don't know the guy, but I do know that we are not all perfect.


back up off the guy.

Hey John,

kudos for commenting in this thread. I'm not going to comment on your jumping skills. I suck at BASE myself, fortunately I have a huge luck bucket.

As far as your 911 call goes, different people react in their own way in different scenarios. All the macho talk in the world won't prepare you until you face an emergency situation for the first time. While there are many people around that have faced grave danger and painful injuries as tough motherfuckers, I'm not one of them. All I did when faced with a long pilotchute hesitation was brace for impact and scream: "Oh shit!"

I'm not ready to jump with you quite yet (if only because I'd get the collective BASE community to beat the crap out of me), but I'd drink a beer with you any day. If only to hear your side of the story...

Take care and happy birthday!

Jaap

???

I most definitely did not start this discussion. Can you tell me how you formed your opinion that I had done so?

This particular thread was split off a thread I started more than two years ago, which had absolutely nothing to do with you, or this accident.

John, I've sent you a private message.

I've also just reviewed every post I've made on this topic. I am clearly missing something, because I'm not seeing where I was "trying to smear" you. Can you please point out the specific post(s) you are referring to?

Thanks!

You realize that Pete S., to whom you replied, is a longtime BASE jumper and rigger with a shop that's virtually walking distance from that tower, and that he _does_ know the guy, and in fact was on the load for the guy's first jump, right?

the post wasnt directed at pete. All I am saying is that there has to be a point to all of this. What is the end state? is it John to never base again? If so, he already said he wouldnt base again, so it is a dead issue. So at this point it would seem that the point would be for everyone else to vent on his behalf/actions?

what is the point of this thread? what are we really discussing?

Well said.
I think everyone has really personally attacked the man. This doesnt mean I support him in what he done, but I think sleeping dogs should lie.

Ask yourself the question.........If it happend to you would you of learnt from this mistake, would you of reacted the same way on the phone to 911, would you of realised what a dumbass you made of yourself by talkig to the tv station?

I hope that we all would. I learn from my mistakes, not first time but definatly the 2nd.

At the the end of the day its about respecting another human beings feelings.................
Treat people the same way as you'd expect to be treated yourself.

 
>>Way to go my friend, I've been trying to bite my tounge lately, but that was a great post. It's nice to hear all those discussions we've had come out in a statement.

He will BASE jump again. That's pretty certain.

I don't care what anyone says.............the guy is still a fucking idiot!! Just because he posts an apology on the internet, does not excuse him from what he did (or has done on previous jumps). If he were standing in front of me right now I would say everything that I'm saying on here to his face. Yes, it does take balls to admit on a public forum that your a jackass and a whining cry baby, but to do it behind a computer screen is WEAK! Why not say exactly what he said in his post, for the interview on TV?
Come on.......three major incidences in less than a year. The guy is a walking (or jumping) disaster waiting to happen. Obviously he has very little logical thought process going on in that wasted head of his. Meeting and talking with him, I could tell right off the bat, he was someone I did not want to assoiate myself with. In fact, he called me shortly after we met to jump this very site and I never returned his call. Gee I wonder why?? Would any of you feel comfortable jumping with him now that you know what kind of a person he is?

My point is, people need to stop feeling sorry for him just because he posted his "true after thoughts". The fact of the matter is he has burned this site (and possibly many others near by) to the ground and he will probably do it again (as DexterBase has said). I just hope it's not in any of your local areas.

John, quit while you're ahead JACKASS and leave the mess for the rest of us to clean up!!

This is a personal attack. Please review the Forum Rules.

I've banned you from this forum for 14 days.

~Bummer dude, you missed this post :
~Insults are only personal attacks if the subject is a poster. If JA signs up to the forums it'd all have to stop... till then anyone can call him a tard.
C-ya in 2 weeks
~J

i think he did. but it could be an idiot troll. but i dont know and i am cetainly not attacking anyone.

(jaime sucks!!!) oops.

Jaap while I respect and think highly of you I have to disagree with your statement at least in part.

It's not about the "macho" by any means, it's the attitude. Dude, I've screamed like a baby when I broke myself in half!

John buddy, it's not really the jump itself or what you have done in the past. Your phone call and the TV interview really told me a lot about your character even if I have never met you. I already said you come across as not a very smart individual but not malicious, maybe I am wrong about that. However, I for one would never be on the same load with you. If I decide to jump with someone I have to trust the person to keep his/her cool under ANY circumstance, and that's what separates the men from the boys.

The way I see it, going on a BASE jump is like going in the tranches, you really have to trust your buddies especially when the shit hits the fan. As you already know, in BASE the shit hits the fan so hard it splashes miles away. I already said that I would not trust you with a potato gun in your hands and I mean it.

About all those skydiving accomplishments of yours, good for you, really, but the contest here is BASE not skydiving; do you see the difference?

I do not judge you, I am in no position to judge anyone but I do judge your actions/reactions.

FIGJAM

man, where have you been hiding? long time no see.

Amen!

I'll say this once here, and I'll be brief.

When you see the "tribute to Jon Agnos" in my video which will be ready to ship hopefully earlier but no later than Dec. 5, just know that it's meant in fun. I have no hard fealings toward Jon. I like the "guy." If it were me, or any one of us, which it easily could have been, I would have made the same segment. It's funny.

Jon, I got your phone mesage, and let me say here; Your post was well said and enough. I'll jump with you on your hundredth, just like we talked about.

Those who post here represent a small fraction of our sport and even if they represented 99.99% of it I'd still make a jump with you on your 100th jump.

That was pretty funny dude. Way funnier than getting hurt. And guess what, when I was talking to the sherrifs while they were getting you down, they said that they DID NOT CARE that we jump it. Which means they have known for a long time that we are jumping it but have chosen not to do anything about it...big shock. You did not burn the sight. They have known that we have been jumping it ever since Carl Boenish and his crew made broad daylight jumps off it "back in the day."

Like you said, we might try to find a different place to park for a while...

I'll stop now cuz I promised to be brief.

But let me say one more thing specificaly to those who are reading this and are not base jumpers and are therefore probably not posting here...not all base jumpers are...(you fill in the blank).


By the way, I have 65 jumps off this particular object. Can any of those who have posted here match that? just curious

And there ’s a lust in man no charm can tame
Of loudly publishing our neighbour’s shame;
On eagles’ wings immortal scandals fly,
While virtuous actions are but born and die.
-Stephen Harvey

But let me say one more thing specifically to those who are reading this and are not base jumpers and are therefore probably not posting here...not all base jumpers are...(you fill in the blank).