Article Photos

LAKE PLACID - With a swarm of cameramen, producers, assistants, fans, athletes, event staff and curiosity-seekers in tow, comedian Stephen Colbert held forth at Mount Van Hoevenberg Sunday afternoon, filming a segment in which Colbert tried in vain to make the Olympic bobsled team.

The host of Comedy Central's "Colbert Report" seemed to enjoy his trips down both the bobsled and skeleton courses.

"That was unbelievable," Colbert said after getting out of the sled. "That's so fun. Oh my God. Forty-five's not too old to start.

"Having won today's competition, you are today the fastest in the world at this," Colbert said to Night Train bobsled driver Steven Holcomb and his team. "I had to pick the fastest team. Thank you. It felt like I was being beaten with ice hammers. It was like losing the worst snowball fight of your life."

Colbert arrived at Mount Van Hoevenberg early in the afternoon and continued filming until nearly dusk. His crew filmed numerous takes while Colbert and the athletes went through scripted lines and ad-libbed off of them. (Colbert to Holcomb: "So basically, you're my chauffeur for the next 60 seconds. Please keep the privacy window up. Things might get a little wild with my date in the back. I brought a mix CD. A little Bjork. Wait: You mean you paid $60,000 for this sled and it doesn't have a CD player?")

At one point Colbert initiated a high-five with a Night Train team member before abruptly pulling his hand away. "Too slow," Colbert admonished. "Gotta do better than that out there."

The cable television star was friendly and accommodating to the many fans who sought his attention throughout the afternoon, posing for photographs and stopping to chat briefly, but his entourage kept him moving. Colbert was driven by athletes and state Olympic Regional Development Authority staff from one end of the track to the other throughout the day. His crew filmed "the beginning" of his run at the end of the afternoon.

Colbert told the Enterprise that it was his first time in Lake Placid and that he had yet to see Conservative Party standard bearer Doug Hoffman while in town.

At the day's end, Colbert relaxed with the Olympic athletes inside the start house, daintily sipping a Budweiser. He didn't finish his beer, though. An assistant threw the rest in the garbage can.

Colbert doesn't expect this to be his last brush with Winter Olympic glory. After being rejected by the bobsled team ("Stupid toboggan!" he screamed in response), he plans to head to Salt Lake City in December to try out for the long-track speed-skating team.

---

Contact Tim Follos at 891-2600 ext. 23 or sports@adirondackdailyenterprise.com.