European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 5, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday february 5, 1992 the stars and stripes b Page 25winter olympic Kennedy carries . Luge Hopes by Thomas Bonk los Angeles times the Best Luger in America has a Tattoo on his left biceps a Bart Simpson sticker on his sled and visions of a Gold medal. He first sat on a borrowed luge at 12, has survived a brain lesion worked As a go Fer for Abc during the 1980 Winter games worn his hair Long Cut it Short burned out at 22, been revived at 23 and is now so Good at the sport he is nicknamed  at 24, Duncan Kennedy seems poised for stardom of some sort. He could become the first american to win a medal in luge since the sport was added to the olympic repertoire in 1964. Or he might decide to scale the Alps in flip flops. In any event Kennedy looks like a sure thing to become the first dread Zeppelin fan snowboarding surfing skateboarding devotee from Santa Cruz calif., to make an Impact in the Winter olympics. Kennedy might not win a Gold medal even though he is one of the favourites but he is already certain to represent a fresh Breeze in the French Alps. Americans have Long been outsiders in this sport dominated by the Austri ans and germans but Kennedy acts As if he belongs. He finished the world cup circuit ranked second behind Markus Prock of Austria whose Edge Over Kennedy was Only 165-164. Kennedy a world cup finish was the highest yearlong standing Ever achieved by an american and included two golds two silvers and a Bronze medal in the first five world cup races of the season. A a we re catching up a Kennedy told olympian Magazine. A we May be there. They re looking at us  you could forgive his fellow competitors if they were looking at Kennedy a Tattoo instead. Last summer Kennedy saw a skateboarding sticker he liked so much that he adapted it for his biceps. The words . Luge Are written on a Circle of stars and stripes with a red Contrail of fire coming out the Bottom working its Way Down toward his Elbow. Born in Burlingame calif., Kennedy a family moved to Lake Placid n.y., when he was 11. A year later he ran errands and delivered newspapers for Abc to during the 1980 olympics in Lake Placid. Kennedy spent the Money he earned on his first sled. Then at 13, Kennedy won his first of three National Junior titles and a year later gained americans first International medal in menus luge with a second in the Junior grosser Preis race in ills Austria. He qualified for the . Senior National team in 1985, two weeks after his 17th birthday. Kennedy was stricken with an unexplained paralysis that affected one of is eyes in 1981. Doctors found a brain lesion his Mother was told Kennedy had Only a year or two to live. Kennedy a luge Days were Over. But four months later a cat scan disclosed the lesion in his brain Stem had disappeared. Kennedy got Back on his sled. He made the . Olympic team at Calgary a period notable Only for the controversy he created when he managed. To upset the luge teams major sponsor on the eve of the games. Kennedy objected to the use of an aerodynamic Noblet tape on the Bottoms of the sleds. For Kennedy and the . Men it was Tough sledding at Calgary. He finished 14th, and decided to try competitive snowboarding. But he returned to luge last year giving up snowboarding for one very Good reason a i was getting my butt  there is every reason to believe Kennedy can win a luge medal. At the 1991 world championships which marked his return to luge from snowboarding Kennedy finished seventh the highest level by an american male in olympic or world championship Competition. Then he finished fourth in a pre olympic test run at la Plagne France. Watch for a fast Start key to a fast run. Athletes Rock with head Between legs Knees apart. Athletes pud on Start handles swing the sled with their hip6 onto a Steep ramp then paddle hard and quickly with razor Sharp spiked gloves. Shou press i . 1 steering sliders keep their bodies straight and even and Are steering during most of the run. Sled is turned with leg pressure on the runner and shoulder pressure on the body of the sled. Olaf opens player draft in Dallas from staff and wire reports officials from the world league of american footballs three european franchises were to join league officials and representatives of the seven other franchises As the league conducted its annual player draft in Dallas late tuesday. The two Day draft will run through wednesday. All 10 teams will fill vacated roster spots. In an Odd draft Day arrangement Galaxy general manager Oliver Luck was to represent Frankfurt in Dallas while being advised of draft selections via phone with head coach Jack Elway and his defensive coordinator Claude Gilbert. Elway and Gilbert were to spend the Day in san Jose. The Ohio glory based in Columbus joins the 10-team Alliance this year it replaced the Raleigh Durham sky Hawks. The glory which had the top pick in the draft got Center Curtis Wilson and a first round pick monday from the Sacramento surge for the glory Stop Choice. With no 1991 roster to draw from the glory will draft first and last in each round. Former skyhawk players will be placed in the player Pool thus being made available to every franchise. Frankfurt which finished 7-3 last season behind world league titlist London and runner up Barcelona will be looking to fill a defensive line decimated by the loss of three starters. Mark Mraz Mike Teeter and Phoenix Cardinal Chris Williams will not play next season though Williams has told Luck he would like to return to Frankfurt if Phoenix allows him to. Galaxy quarterback Mike Perez will most Likely return the team announced. Perez signed with the new York giants and was placed on the practice roster this past nil season. Elway said his staff will be looking to revamp Frankfurt a receiving corps and will also look for someone to replace the injured 6-9, 300-Pound offensive lineman Ken Hackemack. In other news from the draft former Ohio state and nil quarterback Art Schlichter has decided to remain in the Arena football league instead of trying to join the Ohio glory. Schlichter traded last month from the Detroit drive to the Cincinnati rockers said staying with the indoor league was Best for his family. He said the rockers provide a House and car in addition to his salary. Schlichter also works in the rockers sales department and the club is trying to arrange for him to Host a radio sports talk show. A a in a planning for life after football and this is a Good Opportunity for me. I plan to play for another year or two or three a he said monday. Schlichter was suspended twice by the nil for gambling. Olaf spokesman Mike Wade said Schlichter decided not to play before the league decides on his status. Schlichter spoke with Olaf president Joe Bailey and Ohio glory general manager Peter Hadhazy before deciding. Hadhazy said the glory would have been interested in Schlichter. Schlichter said he no longer thinks about returning to the nil. A was Many times As in be been turned Down by the nil its hard to perceive that it will Ever happen a he said. A a in a going to be 32 pretty soon and i Haven to played in the nil for almost five  file Oliver Luck. In Dallas for draft