European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 31, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 22 b the stars and stripes Friday january 31, 1992 a rounding into form american stars Bonnie Blair rear and Dan Jansen work out some kinks at the Albertville track wednesday in preparation for the Winter olympics which open in by Tommy Hine the Hartford courant Larry Slone knows All about americans ski jumping frustrations and a failures of the past. That s Why the . Ski jumping team assistant coach looks ahead. Stone knows it has been 68 years since a . Ski jumper won an olympic medal. He also knows americans Only ski jumping medallist was born in Norway not the United states. A Stone knows no american ski jumper placed higher than 18th in the �?T88 Winter games in Calgary Alberta. He also knows Mike Holland this country s Premier ski jumper four years ago took a bad fall two years later and retired. And yet even As the number of ski jumpers in the United states continues to decline Stone knows americans medal chances at the Winter olympics in Albert the French City feb. 8. Blair is the defending women a Champion at 500 meters the distance at which Jansen set a world record of 36.41 seconds last weekend. Ville France probably have never been better. A the numbers Arentt there but the Quality is a Little bit higher for the jumpers with the Means and the drive to stick with it a Stone said. A there is some Light at the end of the Tunnel. A a we re poised right now. We re doing real Well. We re about ready to t Hollands younger brother Jim is expected to carry americans medal Hopes to France in february and behind this talented performer from Norwich vt., there is a Veteran supporting cast. A not since the mid-80s have we been this Strong a Stone said. A a in a be pretty Safe in saying. And . Head coach Scott Smith feels the same Way. There a a real possibility of a medal at this considering the history of american ski jumping that is a pleasant Surprise for the United s ready to go in Albertville by Alan Riding the new York times Albertville France a As costs Rose and problems multiplied there were times when even the chief organizers of the 16th Winter olympics questioned the Wisdom of holding this months Albertville games at 13 Sites sprawled Over a 600-plus-Square-mile area of the French Alps. R l everything it seemed had to go thit Little bit farther a new highways and improved Access roads telecommunications transportation Security accommodations even food supplies. And it also meant dealing with 13 municipal in the end thanks to patient planning and a Good Deal of Money from French taxpayers the last minute scramble that so often precedes such major sporting events was averted. Now with everything apparently ready for the opening ceremony a week from saturday the Only remaining worry is the weather. If a reminder were necessary the area was struck in late december by its worst snowstorm in 47 years. But it also gave the olympic organizing committee and the regional government a Chance to test their ability to prevent heavy Snow from disrupting the games feb. 823. A a we re not in Senegal you know a said Michel bar Nier the Savoy Region politician who is co president of the organizing committee. A we can to be surprised if it snows Here. It will be easier if it does no to Snow during the games. But we re now ready for perhaps As important the scattered venues of the 57 events a stadiums ski jumps and ski runs hockey rinks and bobsled runs a have All been tested in Competition or practice in recent weeks and have been declared in working order. The opening ceremony will take place before a crowd of 30,000 in Albertville itself and this Valley town with no ski slopes of its own will also be Host to the Speed skating figure skating and Short track events. In the Days that follow the inauguration of the games by French president Francois Mitterrand attention will switch to Cour Chevel Val do Sere Meribel la Plagne and other Mountain resorts that will be the venues for such popular competitions As ski jumping Alpine skiing bobsledding and hockey olympic villages at brides Les Bains and Les daisies Are already spruced up to receive 2,200 athletes in unusual Comfort new highways from Chambery to Albertville and from Albertville up the Tare Taise Valley Are open and a press Center has been built to handle 7,000 journalists and technicians. T indeed in recent Days Jean Claude Killy Frances former skiing idol who is the other co president of the organizing committee has Felt relaxed enough to Start thinking about sports. A a it a very important for the games that we have one or two International stars and one or two French stars a he said. French fans a and by his own admission Killy a Are counting on the French brother sister team of Paul and Isabelle Duchesnay to take ice dancing past . Ski jumpers entertaining Hopes for medal Safe champs sputtering As Csc women tip off by Mike Bowers staff writer Hahn could have a difficult time winning a third straight Safe women a basketball tournament. The lady Hawks played like two time defending champions the first half of the season compiling a 7-1 slate. However a 1-5 season ending skid has coach Allen Crane questioning the work ethic of his team going into the Continental sports conference women a tournament at Lindsey As today through sunday. Hahn 8-6 plays Span Dahlem 12-2 at 6 . Today followed by regular sea son Champion Sembach 12-2 against Pitburg 7-7 at 8 . On saturday the winners play at noon the losers at 2 . And the loser of the winners game Battles the Winner of the losers game. The championship game is scheduled for 1 . On sunday with the if game on tap for 4 . Sembach the regular season Winner has an automatic bid to the Safe tournament set for feb. 1912 also at Lindsey As. The other three teams Are vying to become the Csc a second seed. A your work habits have Hurt us the second half a said Crane. We were enthusiastic the first half but that enthusiasm was has been missing. Our record proves regardless Hahn a downfall Hasni to been All that bad. The biggest deficit has been three Points in overtime to Span Dahlem. Other loses were by one or two Points. Hahn a nucleus is four starters from their two year championship reign Trae King Tolbert Raville Johnson Kathy Sheppard and Netta Burbridge. King Tolbert and Burbridge Are among the leagues top scorers. A we Haven to beaten them this year a said Crane about Span Dahlem. A any time a team beats you twice As they have done to us you Are bound to have doubts. A a Good sign is that both games have been close. If we can beat them we can take the whole tournament. Its up to the team. They have to prove to themselves that they re worthy of continuing As according to Sembach a coach Roy Ruff his Csc Champion lady tigers Are the team to contend with. A this is just the beginning for us a said Ruff. A even though we have the trip to usage we re playing for Pride All air Force spots and to serve notice that Sembach is on the Way to creating a Ruff said that in the past Sembach has been the Doormat of the women a league. A a we be changed that this year Quot the first year women a coach said. A discipline and playing As a team make us Good. Probably the most important is we done to rely on any one person. A Host of players including some off the Bench can beat Ruff is not shy when talking about his teams dominance. A a we re undefeated at Home a he said. A i done to feel the team has put together a total 40-minute game this season. They done to even know How Good they can be. A it wont be easy but Well win the tournament. Everyone has to adjust to
