European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 17, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday february 17,19bb the stars and stripes Page 23 Winter olympics a Demon on the slopes sex a far boy eyes 5 golds b Lisa Levitt Ryckman Calgary. Alberta a after streaking to a cold medal in the men s downhill monday. Pirmin Zurbriggen raised praying hands heavenward 3i if to give thanks for divine locomotion it was a gesture that might be expected from the devout former altar Hoy who has visited Lourdes twice and considers Pope John Paul ii his hero simple shy urious these Are the words friends use to describe the Golden haired Zurbriggen. A Swiss innkeeper s son who always helps his Mother do dishes and who is said to have a stubborn Streak reminiscent of the goals that live near h is Home. Raised in saas Alan gel a Remote Village nest cd in the mountains near Italy.  started skiing at age 3 under the supervision of Bis father Alois who was once a local ski racer. "1 had the fed ire he had Talent when we first put him on skis and he did t fall  the elder Zurbriggen told sports illustrated. At 2s, Zurbriggen has won 31 world cup rows in eight seasons an leads the Overall and downhill world cup standings this season. Last season he won four of five world cup titles losing Only the slalom setting the stage for him to match or surpass the three golds won by both Tom Sailer of Austria and Jean Claude Killy of prance. Olympics  wednesday an 7 . Tuesday s highlights. German first program 5jo . Women s 5-Kitoroctcr crass a flurry women s luge own 5,000-Inelcr Speed skating 9 . 90-Melm ski jumping men s  Siml staling hockey West Germany is. Austria. German second program 6  and 1 15 . Tuesday s highlights. Thursday an 2 . Hockey . Is. Soviet Union men s  spit d skating. 90 meter ski jumping men s figure skating 7 pin wed Nessy s highlights. German first program 2 of a i Lackey . To soviet Union 6 . And 5 . Cinc very s highlights. German second program 7 25 . Women s downhill 10 10 . Hockey Sweden is. Shall Carland quid France. Poland. Friday German second program 1 55  hockey Canada is. Finlan men s figure skating men s  Speed aution 6 . And 1 1s . Thursday s highlight. German first program 5 30 pm men s is old loader Cross country men s luge doubles women s downhill combined 9 . Fri Day s highlights 10 10 . Hockey West Ger irony to soviet Union Jan Cralise in a sport dominated by specialists the versatile Zurh Riggon feels equally at Laju with slalom s sudden turns Ana the downhill s Luck and Glide. The addition after the 1984 games of the two new Alpine events the combined and the super giant Sla Lom have made live Gold medals a possibility. That possibility was strengthened by monday s Deci Sive downhill Victory. For me the objective far this season is spelled with seven letters a Al a a re said Zurbriggen who finished fourth in the downhill at the Winter olympics in Sarajevo after four postponements in the race. The one Day delay on mount Allan brought on by winds that blasted the top of the course at More than 90 Mph did t even Laic him i can t believe it he crowed As he zoomed into the finish area after blasting Down the Mountain in 1 59.63. The Dutiful son then rushed off to Call his parents in Switzerland and let them know he had lived up to his name Pirrim. First in Swiss German. With Success comes Fortune 1750.000 in endorse ments and prizes last season More than enough to indulge in a 145,000 four wheel drive Mercedes and Fame which the retiring Zurbriggen finds a Little tougher to handle "1 like to be a Little bit famous he has said. But it is not always  Zurbriggen from Page 21 although i Hope ii does t occur that we won t win a Gold  Don t Tell that to the . Athletes. They re not buy ing Tillenger s Early write off. Figure skater Drian Oritano for one is ready logo for the Gold with a newfound purpose since arriving in the olympic Village. I used to feel i was skating just for myself the four time us. Champ from Sunnyvale calif., said. It was inst for Brian Boitano. But since coming Here i feel Lik. Going out there to skate for the americans. Too there Are no quitters Here. We re Gonna go out and kill them said pairs skater Todd Waggoner the Day before taking the ice with partner Gillian Wash Sian for the pairs Long program. The pair had a Chance to give the United states its first medal tuesday night. They were fourth after the Short program behind americans Jill Watson and Peter Oppegard in third and two soviet teams but Waggoner was t conceding anything neither arc figure skater debt Thomas and Speed skaters Bonnie Blair and Nick Thometz. All of a Horn have Good shots at a Gold. But the losing is taking its toll with ill feelings that began brewing before it came Here. Dissension destroyed much of the team spirit among the men s Speed skaters and now the coach Plain Lohri in j foal is s says it s hurting performances. The death of Dan Jan sen s sister and his poignant defeat Hal cd bring the squad together arid briefly assuage some of the prob lems but they re far from Over. Coach Mike Crowe acknowledged that his team May have Josl Confidence in him Alicr bitter disputes Over selection of skaters. It seems that Way right now Crowe said. It disturbs me it definitely has Alt Clad performances of people  there arc never problems though fur winners. The turns and drops and jarring ruts of 7.447-foot mount Allan a rant in the Rockies dwarfed by Toller peaks nearby proved Loo Lough for Mensi of the cocky Dou Phil Lars but not Zurbriggen. The 25-year-old Swiss with the Ever sunny smile lamed that pernicious slope with a Lime of i minute. 59.63 seconds. Inc Only one under i minutes and listened politely As his fans talked of him winning an unprecedented five Gold medals in Alpine a Venus. Now i have won a Gold i am More  he said. The others will be a Little More nervous than  winning five golds though would be very difficult he said. The conditions would have to be just right every  and beyond conditions there stands Italy s Alberto Tomba the hard charging almost reckless favorite in the slalom giant slalom and new super giant slalom. Only two other Alpine skiers. Toni Sailer of Austria in 1956 and Jean Claude Killy of France in 1968, won even three golds the downhill slalom and giant slalom. Zurbriggen has a shot at those plus two new events the super giant slalom and the combined slalom and downhill. Bench is hard even in the olympics Tymi Venadel Calgary Alberta a if you re not in the Nel you re upset. In hockey that s the nature of the game. The goaltender who starts is Happy the second Stringer is discouraged so what of the third Stringer John Blue is no. 3 for the . Olym Pic hockey team. He May never get into a game or he May see Only mop up duty. And. Yes. His surname sometimes matches his feelings. I m disappointed said Blue a native of Eltoro. Calif., who started for three years at the University of Minnesota. But i be got to respect what the coach is doing. I know in my own mind that i can play against the top teams. I feel i m capable of being the starting goaltender instead that role goes to Mike Richt or who started the americans first two games or backup Chris Terreri both of whom have More International experience and have played More under . Coach Dave Peterson before the Selec Tion process began. Peterson has said his starter will be chosen on a game by game basis. But that decision won t include John Blue. We thrust John into the no. 3 role Early at the end of the nil part of our Lour pc econ said of the Early october decision. We did thai so he could move on if he chose to or stay with in if he chose to. He stayed and i m  so is Blue. It s been an Eicr Ienco of a lifetime he said referring 10 the pre olympic exhibition schedule that has taken the . Team All Over the world in the last six months. People ask me if i d do it again even through i Haven t played that much and 1 say in a second 11 Blue started Only eight of the 60 exhibition games including jiul three since the n1 l Lour ended. But it s not been a wasted year by any Means he said adding hat he plans to return to Minnesota in 1988-89 for his senior year rather than join inc n he s Winnin Pes jets. We be got some of the top skaters and shooters in the world and i be gotten to practice a past them every Day. I be noticed a big improvement in my game. I m being More patient with the  patience however really in i Blue s game Peterson said. If John has a weakness it s that he gets Antsy said Peterson who coaches the team s goal lenders just As he did when he was an assistant coach with the 1984 olympic teams. John should have played Forward. He likes to get into inc  Blue agreed. I think i m a goalie trapped in a for Ward s  he said. That s All i do All summer play Forward. I love to shoot pucks at the goalie s head to gel Back Al All Lii Guys to shoot at  for now. Anyway he would give by thing to have someone shoot Al dim. Til visualize the game thinking would i have made that save " Blue said. Of course in my mind i always make inc save. And i always win the Gold medal