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Post by aaosmts19 on Nov 10, 2009 20:15:52 GMT -5
latimesblogs.latimes.com/olympics_blog/2009/11/stephen-colbert-endorsement-has-fast-effect-on-us-speedskating-coffers.htmlStephen Colbert endorsement has fast effect on U.S. Speedskating coffersMonday night, Colbert announced on the show that $202,000 had been raised in the first week. "We are exuberant,'' said Bob Crowley, the executive director of U.S. Speedskating. "The skaters are really pumped.'' Crowley first heard from the Colbert people Oct. 27. The next day, he was on a teleconference with Colbert. Sunday, Nov. 1, when he was at a World Series game in his native Philadelphia, Crowley got a call saying the Colbert Report wanted him on the Nov. 2 show. He was joined by 1994 Olympic speedskating champion Dan Jansen, who had run the New York Marathon the day before. "We signed the deal that night,'' Crowley said. Since then, Crowley said the link to Colbert has prompted interest from several other potential sponsors. "Most of them want something we don't own -- mentions on the show,'' Crowley said. "But we have some other leads as well because of our partnership with the Colbert Nation.'' Nearly all the athletes began wearing skin suits with the Colbert Nation logo at last weekend's short- and long-track World Cup meets. Olympic champions Shani Davis and Apolo Anton Ohno, the leading U.S. long- and short-track skaters, respectively, so far have chosen not to wear the logo. Some skaters are wearing a mix of old warmup gear with the DSB logo and new racing gear with the Colbert Nation logo. "It's not an issue for us,'' Crowley said of Davis and Ohno's non-participation. "Anyone who has not signed our athlete agreement (which provides some funding in return for endorsing federation sponsors) is under no obligation. We are talking to Shani and Apolo about it, but our main focus is supporting their efforts to do the best they can this season.''Davis, who had a personal endorsement deal with DSB end two years ago, is off to a fast start. At the U.S. trials for the World Cup team in Milwaukee two weeks ago, the Chicagoan told reporters he was faster and stronger than ever before at this point in the season. At the opening World Cup meet in Berlin last weekend, Davis set track records in winning the 1,000 and 1,500 meters. But Davis didn't get a mention in the segment on Monday's Colbert report about World Cup successes (see below) because he wasn't wearing the logo. The props went to Colbert Nation citizens Tucker Fredricks, who won a 500-meter rave in Berlin, and Katherine Reutter of Champaign (left), who won the 1,500 at the short-track meet in Montreal. Maybe that will convince Davis to buy into what could be a significant endorsement for Olympic sports. Olympic leaders lately have noted difficulty in attracting younger audiences. Comedy Central's "Colbert Report" reaches just that demographic. And it looks as if the host is going to play this for all it's worth leading up to the Vancouver Olympics. It already is worth plenty to U.S. Speedskating.
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Post by bubblebuttsbabe on Nov 10, 2009 21:06:04 GMT -5
shani not wearing a colbert nation logo makes sense. i feel weird about apolo not wearing it only because he had his left leg to use for alaska airlines. i know its all about uniformity, but why couldn't apolo just wear his colbert nation logo on his left thigh then since his sponsorship was done before uss'. is it because the right thigh has more exposure (as in because they're always turning left, you mostly see the right thigh)?!
(i'm really just thinking out loud here so i don't forget my thoughts later. lol.)
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sk8er
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Post by sk8er on Nov 11, 2009 21:51:51 GMT -5
For the 1st time in 8 years I'm saying this. Big Bad Boo on Ya Ohno  |
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Post by evie5 on Nov 11, 2009 22:25:44 GMT -5
I actually feel good about Apolo not wearing the Colbert Nation. The article said that he was not getting any funding since he was not participating. My take on it was that since he was not taking any funding then that would leave more money for the others who don't have the amount of funding that Apolo already has.
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sk8er
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Post by sk8er on Nov 11, 2009 23:13:44 GMT -5
Actually this is a complicated issue with an unpleasant past. There was a big uproar at the 2006 Olympics when Davis refused to wear the logo of a USS sponsor and actually covered it up on his skinsuit. I think it was Qwest that filed a lawsuit about not getting what they had contracted for, visibility from the most prominent athletes. After that USS went back and clarified the rules. This particular debacle cost them a bundle in legal fees. If you don't sign the athlete agreement you don't have to wear a USS sponsor logo is my understanding. I'm sure an athlete could do that voluntarily. And of course anyone could decline to accept funds from USS. Refusing to sign the athlete agreement means an athlete can make money by putting their own sponsors' logo on the skinsuit. May we expect a Big Spud on Apolo's thigh, compliments of the Washington Potato Council?  |
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Post by gasp on Nov 12, 2009 23:52:27 GMT -5
Just watched Colbert. J.R. is now sporting the Colbert Nation on his skin suit.
ROTF at Colbert's comment about J.R.: ".....cuite pie J.R. Celski. I did not know they were using child labor!"
You can go to Colbert Nation now and download a letter to Canada about the lack of practice ice time. It's a red maple leaf on white paper that says: Dont' Be An Ice-Hole!
He is so tongune-in-cheek funny and tweek everybody on both sides of the border.
I think his GAMES have begun!
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Post by tdav on Nov 14, 2009 0:50:53 GMT -5
Yeah, J.R. is pretty cute. Really cute, actually.  |
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Post by aaosmts19 on Nov 14, 2009 20:47:13 GMT -5
This is pretty funny. check out this link and watch the video. The local sports commentator is challenging Colbert to a skate-off at the Richmond Oval. If Colbert wins, he can decorate the oval with anything he wants (of course, who said VANOC would approve that?). if Colbert loses, he has to essentially kiss a** on his program for a period of time. vancitybuzz.blogspot.com/2009/11/shane-foxman-challenges-stephen-colbert.htmlShane Foxman Challenges Stephen Colbert Posted by Vancity Buzz | Saturday, November 14, 2009 | Olympics, Sports, Videos | 0 comments » A challenge to Stephen Colbert. Canada wants to see Colbert put his skates where his mouth is. CBC sports anchor Shane Foxman says he will meet Colbert at the Olympic Oval to settle the score - on ice. Watch local sports reporter Shane Foxman over at the CBC challenge Stephen Colbert to a Skate-off. As you know or should if you've been reading the Buzz that Stephen Colbert and Colbert Nation are coming to the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. There is a possibility that The Colbert Report might tape here in Vancouver during the Olympics as well. I put down $50 that Shane Foxman will annihilate Stephen Colbert on the ice! |
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sk8er
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Post by sk8er on Nov 15, 2009 17:55:57 GMT -5
If you're Stephen Colbert who cares? It's all good PR for shorttrack  |
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Post by aaosmts19 on Nov 17, 2009 16:04:00 GMT -5
www.torontosun.com/sports/vancouver2010/2009/11/17/11777951.htmlRichmond, B.C. declares war on Colbert
Syrup suckers throw down the gauntletBy MATT KIELTYKA, SUN MEDIA Last Updated: 17th November 2009, 3:24pm Stephen Colbert now has to deal with the City of Richmond for his on-air comments about "cheating" Canadians last week. (FILE PHOTO) VANCOUVER - The syrup-suckers at Richmond have laid down the gauntlet to the Colbert Nation. Popular TV host and comedian Stephen Colbert recently branded Canadians as cheats for not granting American speed skaters access to the Richmond Olympic Oval and called for “Saskatchewhiners” to “unclench their frosty sphincters.” Well, the City of Richmond has officially entered the war. “Chief Syrup Sucker” Ted Townsend, otherwise known as the city’s senior manager of corporate communications, sent a letter to Colbert inviting him to be the Oval’s official Ombudsman during the Olympics to ensure a level playing field. Read the letter “We just can’t stand the thought that someone would think we aren’t playing fair,” the letter reads. “So as the Canadian Iceholes who also happen to be the proprietor of the Richmond Olympic Oval, we are inviting you to find yourself some sled dogs and venture forth to our great frozen wasteland to be our guest at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in February.” Townsend told 24 hours Colbert would have free reign over the Oval, but there is a catch. He must wear the official ombudsman headgear (a pink toque) at all times. “We suggest you start the training for your new position now,” the letter continues. “A good start would be to acclimatize yourself by drinking at least one litre (oops, sorry, make that a quart, I forgot that you Americans don’t do metric) of radiator anti-freeze fluid per day.” The city’s invitation isn’t the only challenge being thrown down at the feet of Colbert. CBC sports anchor Shane Foxman has gone on-air and challenged the comedian to a one-on-one race at the Oval. Your move, Colbert. -------------------------- The 'read the letter' above, is a link and a fun read. It's a pdf file to, no, I'm not going to retype it here! ;-)
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sk8er
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Post by sk8er on Dec 4, 2009 23:17:54 GMT -5
From Yahoo News
Dec 4, 4:25 pm ET
NEW YORK – Stephen Colbert has been called what his mock pundit character would deem a traitorous insult: Canadian.
The host of "The Colbert Report" is — gasp! — a Canuck, or at least has a Canadian heritage, says the genealogy Web site Ancestry.com. Colbert's great-great-grandfather and his great-great-grandmother immigrated from Ireland to Canada, according to the site.
On his Comedy Central show, Colbert's "U-S-A!"-chanting character has disparaged the Great White North.
Colbert's publicist didn't respond to requests for comment.
Recently, the Colbert Nation became the official sponsor of the U.S. speedskating team. On the show, he has joined complaints that Vancouver Olympic officials have been limiting international athletes' access to facilities for the 2010 Winter Games.
He's called Canadians "syrup-suckers" and has a petition on his show's Web site urging the Vancouver Organizing Committee not to be "an ice-hole."
Though many on the speedskating team have laughed at Colbert's routine and been thankful for his sponsorship, one star, Shani Davis, on Thursday called him "a jerk." Davis declined to elaborate, making the comment while vetting potential questions from The Canadian Press before rejecting an interview request and walking away.
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Post by mtnme on Dec 5, 2009 0:54:54 GMT -5
well, I was gonna respond to your comment Susan G, only to have you remove it. Now what I was gonna say has no context.
But whatever...
Shani seems to have more bad press in the ill behaved department than Colbert. And at least Colbert is joking.
Sorry AAO, he may be your bud, but he could take a lesson from you in that arena as to when it's best to 'Engage brain before putting mouth in gear'...especially where the press or fans are concerned.
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sk8er
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Post by sk8er on Dec 5, 2009 1:08:00 GMT -5
mtme Sorry to delete my opionion there. An unfortunate attack of conscience. I don't need to "out" Shani actions and bring down negative feelings about him. That goes beyond news and discussion and into the realm of snarky gossip. It's sad really. I believe DSB bank was his main sponsor.
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Post by mtnme on Dec 5, 2009 13:11:06 GMT -5
I didn't mean to sound like I was chastising sk8r. And as for the info, it's nothing that we hadn't heard before about Shani. You did add some interesting info for those of us who didn't know about the lawsuit (well, actually, I knew about the lawsuit, but not the particulars that brought it on) I welcome the discussion. GA has turned into more of an 'info only' site. It would be nice if GA got a little more back to its roots with more lively discussion. One of the great things about this site is that it has always been open minded enough to allow for differing opinions (usually, I'm well aware of 'board meltdowns' through the years) We are all capable of getting - and posting - google alerts. What makes for more interesting reading on GA is what everyone thinks about them. Hey, just sayin'....  |
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Post by Apolo_USA on Dec 5, 2009 21:02:37 GMT -5
Ugh, the whole Apolo+Shani (seemingly) vs. US Speedskating thing is REALLY getting old. To be honest I've never liked Shani...he got it wrong when he said Colbert was the jerk..it's the other way around. He's all about "me, me, me" and spends most of his time whining about SOMETHING or other,whether it be "civil rights" or other stuff. Maybe I'm partial to Chad Hedrick because I go to school in Texas, but either way I've always felt that Shani needs to shut up most of the time.
As for Apolo, I feel that he's getting better at being part of the team, but he's not all the way there yet. I've never liked hearing reports that he stays at a different hotel than team USA, or the fact that he's always going off on endorsement endeavors while the team trains. I love Apolo, but sometimes I feel like he has some special priveledges and distances himself from the team. It is TEAM USA, after all, right?
Get it together boys!
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