Another's Speedskating Idea

[Benny B]

I don't take credit for the initial idea, and I'm not going to necro the old thread (http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=32233.0); however, I came across this article this morning:

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/olympics-fourth-place-medal/westminster-college-produces-most-winter-olympians-192445769.html

It will be interesting to see if Westminster College gets any airtime over the next few weeks. 

Regardless, I anticipate that we're going to see more than our fair share of "Shani vs. Hansen" coverage, soft-stories, profiles, etc., especially leading up to the Men's 1000m.... and that's going to be good pub for Milwaukee and MU.  I don't think anyone can reasonably expect speedskating to ever become an NCAA sport, but I'm starting to get more on-board with the idea of MU exploring non-academic scholarships for Olympic athletes who train in Milwaukee.  Obviously, MU is never going to attract anyone on the US Ski/Snowboard Team, but why not leverage the world-class speedskating and curling facilities* in our own backyard?  Heck, it doesn't even have to be for US athletes.

I mean seriously, who wouldn't want to see Anna and Liudmila walking around (in an MU hoodie) on campus.







* "World-class curling facilities" includes any club that brings your beer right to the sheet.

[We R Final Four]

You might want to inform Keefe that you have some hot curling photos......he would certainly want to add to the collection I am sure.

[Eldon]

ZFB - 7
Keefe - 5
Benny - 2

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I was reading the latest MU alumni magazine yesterday and they were profiling a kid from Alaska who attended MU so he would be close to Petit Ice Center.  He missed the 2010 Olympics due to a concussion and I have no idea if he qualified this year?