Stephen Colbert endorsement has fast effect on U.S. Speedskating coffers

The deal all but fell into U.S. Speedskating's lap.

And it quickly has made the sport's athletes feel more confident they won't be lapped by the competition in this Olympic year for financial reasons.

I'm talking about the fundraising arrangement between the Colbert Report and the speedskating federation, making the Colbert Nation the official sponsor of U.S. Speedskating.

It was announced Nov. 2 on the show, barely a week after the U.S. media -- me among them -- reported that the collapse of Dutch bank DSB had left a $300,000 hole in the federation's budget with the 2010 Winter Olympics on the horizon.  (The deficit actually was bigger, as DSB's contract gave U.S. Speedskating $350,000 in cash, of which $50,000 went directly to athletes and $300,000 to federation programs.)

Host Stephen Colbert told viewers to send donations to U.S. Speedskating through www.colbertnation.com. He promoted the effort again last Thursday with an appearance by 2006 Olympic speedskating champion Joey Cheek, who played along with a Colbert riff about lambasting Canada for its decision to limit U.S. athletes' training time on the 2010 Vancouver oval.  The segment (below) ended with cheers of "U-Ice-A!''

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U.S. Speedskating feels the pinch of Dutch bank's bankruptcy [updated]

U.S. Speedskating, the sport's governing body in this country, is looking for new backing less than four months away from the Vancouver Olympics after a Dutch court declared one of the U.S. team's prime sponsors bankrupt earlier this week.

DSB Bank, based in the Netherlands, was thrown into bankruptcy on Monday, ending its financial support of U.S. speedskaters. In an unusual step, U.S. Speedskating issued a news release today announcing it would have a budget shortfall of more than $300,000 because DSB Bank is no longer able to provide funding. As a result, U.S. Speedskating Executive Director Bob Crowley and the organization's board are working on a new financial plan for the remainder of the 2009-10 season.

"DSB Bank has been an excellent partner for US Speedskating and has allowed us to provide excellent service for our athletes,” Brad Goskowicz, U.S. Speedskating's president, said in a statement. "It is our mission to ensure our U.S. Speedskating Olympic Team has everything they need to be successful and we will continue toward that end. The impact will be seriously felt and we will be seeking additional sponsor opportunities."

The organization also said that sponsorship money had dropped significantly during the last two years of economic uncertainty. But Crowley is hopeful about attracting new financial partners.

"There are very attractive sponsorship opportunities now available,” Crowley said, “and this is a great opportunity for a company to attach themselves, at a very low cost, to the sport that is projected to win a record number of Olympic medals.”

U.S. Speedskating is proceeding with its scheduled events, including the national championships, American Cup series and the U.S. World Cup/Olympic-qualifying event that began today in Milwaukee. 

Updated:

The U.S. Olympic Committee has been in contact with U.S. Speedskating officials about the budget shortfall caused by DSB Bank's bankruptcy, according to USOC spokesman Bob Condron.

"Mike English, our Chief of Sport Performance, and Alan Ashley, our Team Leader for Winter Olympic Sports, spoke to Bob Crowley about the situation, and Alan is going to meet with Bob this weekend at the Trials to try and understand the impact on U.S. Speedskating," Condron said in an e-mail.

"We'll make some decisions after that."

-- Helene Elliott

Speedskater Garcia OK after nasty fall at Olympic trials

Short track speedskater Maria Garcia of Carson was released from a hospital in Marquette, Mich., and flew home Sunday after suffering a bruised sternum and other bruises when she fell during the semifinals of the women's 500-meter race at the Olympic trials Saturday.

Garcia, a member of the 2006 Turin Olympics team, had crashed into the boards and was carried off on a stretcher. Robert Ahlke of the Southern California Speed Skating Assn. said by phone Sunday that Garcia was going to let her sore back heal before she flew home but decided she didn't want to be left behind alone.

"She's OK, just really, really sore," Ahlke said.

Unfortunately, the crash wiped out Garcia's chances of making the U.S. team for the Vancouver Games.

Earlier in the evening, skater J.R. Celski crashed in his 500-meter semifinal heat and cut his left leg with his right skate blade. He needed surgery, but U.S. Speedskating officials said Celski is expected to make a full recovery in time to compete in Vancouver.

-- Helene Elliott

Photo: Maria Garcia is tended to by the Team USA medical staff after crashing during the Olympic short track speedskating trials on Saturday. Credit: Carlos Osorio / Associated Press

Skater Shani Davis wins another Oscar

Chicago's Shani Davis has won speedskating's Oscar for his performances at the Utah Olympic Oval in March.

Davis was given the sport's Oscar Mathiesen award for setting world records in the 1,000- and 1,500-meter long-track races on successive days.  The award, which Davis first won in 2005, honors the late Norwegian skater who won five world all-around titles and set multiple world records.

Three other U.S. skaters -- Chad Hedrick (2004), Bonnie Blair (1992) and Eric Heiden (1977-1980) have won the Oscar, which celebrated its 50th anniversary presentation this year.

Davis' 2009 season also included the overall title at the World Sprint Championships, allowing him to join Heiden as the only man to have won sprint and all-around titles; gold and bronze medals at the World Single Distance Championships; and World Cup season titles in two events.

He won gold and silver medals at the 2006 Winter Olympics.

-- Philip Hersh

Photo: Shani Davis in one of his Oscar efforts, setting a world record in the 1,000 meters March 7 in Kearns, Utah. Credit: Associated Press / Charlie Neibergall