Word: sleds
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LaVigne was cut from his position as a pusher on the alternate sled two weeks ago and replaced by Chicago Bears wide receiver Willie Gault. Although the Olympic coaches have said that Gault made the sledding team strictly on the basis of his better push times, LaVigne has contended that he was cut unfairly and was the victim of a "political" maneuver designed to bring the sport badly-needed publicity...
However, a top official of the United States Bobsled Federation said yesterday that "it's not clear" whether LaVigne will be able to regain his position on the third sled. International Bobsled Federation rules limit participating nations to 12 athletes per team. With the IOC ruling, LaVigne became the 13th member of the U.S. team...
...Vigne, the wait finally ended yesterday. La Vigne, who thought he had made the team as a brakeman on the third U.S. sled, was removed last week in favor of professional football player Willie Gault. La Vigne was in the process of appealing his case to the United States Olympic Committee and the United States Bobsled Federation, but was reinstated yesterday as a non-competing athlete...
Other U.S. bobsledders have rallied to supportLa Vigne. According to La Vigne, Rushlaw and USAII driver Matt Roy have declared that they willnot accept Gault into their sleds even if asked todo so by the Federation. Under Federation rules,drivers make the final choice on the members oftheir sled teams...
...this point, we should perhaps head off one possible criticism of our argument: that the Olympics are technically an international event. But if the Olympics aren't wholly American, how does one explain the fact that dancing with ribbons and sled-riding are both featured sports? Only in the Land of TV could such things be possible...