Colbert Supports U.S. Speedskating Sponsorship On "Late Night"

Colbert (l) Promotes U.S. Speedskating Sponsorship On Letterman's Show

Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert appeared on CBS' "Late Show" Thursday night and discussed his sponsorship of the U.S. Speedskating team. Colbert noted the deal is for $300,000, the same amount that former top team sponsor Netherlands-based DSB Bank had with the NGB. Colbert said, "In two weeks, my fans have come up with ($250,000) already." CBS' David Letterman: "$300,000 seems like a pretty good deal to sponsor an American Olympic team, really." Colbert: "I thought it was cheap at twice the price." Colbert said he is "raising awareness" for the sport through the "Colbert Nation's" sponsorship of the team. Colbert: "I love speedskating, and I'm sure you love speedskating too. It's the great American sport." He noted he became involved after U.S. Speedskating "lost their sponsor overnight." Colbert: "I called my fans -- the 'Colbert Nation' -- and I said, 'We're a nation. Why aren't we fielding a team at the Olympics? Why aren't I marching in with the flag?'" CBS' David Letterman noted, "This sounds a little self-serving now to me." Colbert: "It's not about me, it's about my fans. It's just that my name goes on everything. My fans are now the primary sponsor of U.S. Speedskating" ("Late Show," CBS, 11/19).

A WHOLE NEW BALLGAME: The GLOBE & MAIL's Grant Robertson reports the "mere addition of Colbert's name to raise money for the team has changed everything" for U.S. Speedskating. U.S. Gold Medal-winning speedskater Derek Parra said, "When DSB [went] bankrupt, we were thinking, are we going to get a paycheque? Are we going to be able to fly to world cups?" Robertson notes U.S. Speedskating "won the jackpot" from a sponsor perspective, as "luge, biathlon and any other winter sport scratching for money and attention should be so lucky." With the bump from Colbert, the team "will likely have no problem making up" for the financial shortfall from not having DSB. Parra: "It's hard for an American skater to grasp that someone outside skating would be interested in speed skating" (GLOBE & MAIL, 11/20).

Skater Kathy Reutter Wore "Colbert Nation" Cap On Medal Podium At World Cup

RESULTS ALREADY BEING SEEN: Colbert devoted a portion of “The Colbert Report” Thursday to talk about the success of the U.S. Speedskating team at the World Cup in Marquette, Michigan, including Kathy Reutter winning a Silver Medal while “proudly flying the colors of the 'Colbert Nation' on her oak-hard quadriceps." Reutter while on the medal podium wore “something even better than the medal: The 'Colbert Nation' cap." Colbert: “We are in the big-time. 'Colbert Nation' sponsorship is right up there with Nike and Dow Chemical. I might finally realize my dream of a basketball shoe with a pump that fills your arch support with deadly dioxin" ("The Colbert Report," Comedy Central, 11/19).