By TIM REYNOLDS, Related Press Sports activities Author
PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — At 66 years previous, Taste Flav went 67 mph. That was all it took to get him hooked on sliding.
Meet the most recent fan of the U.S. bobsled and skeleton program: a Rock and Roll Corridor of Famer, a founding member of Public Enemy, a actuality present star and now, an aspiring slider. USA Bobsled and Skeleton introduced Flav as its new official hype man Monday, not lengthy after he spent a pair days across the crew on the 2002 Olympic monitor in Utah.
And he plans to be with the crew on the Milan-Cortina Olympics in February.
“The partnership is a blessing,” Flav mentioned. “It’s cooler than Cool Runnings. It’s Coolest Runnings.”
The 66-year-old Flav — his authorized identify is William Jonathan Drayton Jr. — frolicked with the bobsled and skeleton groups this previous week. He went down the Park Metropolis monitor in a bobsled, then additionally wished to check out skeleton, the headfirst sliding sport the place elite athletes can attain speeds exceeding 80 mph.
Group officers wished Flav to start out from a low spot on the monitor, as is the case with all first-timers for security causes. Flav didn’t essentially like that; he wished to start out from greater up, considerably elevating the extent of problem. Ultimately, he bought his likelihood and he hit 67 mph on his second run.
For an everyday particular person simply attempting the game, that’s distinctive. No phrase on whether or not he used his catch phrase, ‘Yeah, boyeeeee.’
“Oh my gosh, he’s one of many coolest, most adventurous males that I’ve ever met,” U.S. skeleton athlete Dan Barefoot informed The Related Press. “He was upset that he couldn’t go from greater up on the monitor. … I used to be form of upset at how good he was. It’s a sport that takes lots of ability, however he made it look easy.”
Flav and sports activities usually go hand-in-hand.
He was a celeb mayo-pourer — sure, there may be such a job — on the Duke’s Mayo Bowl final 12 months, serving to to douse Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck with 5 gallons of celebratory condiment after the Golden Gophers gained that sport. He might be discovered performing throughout Tremendous Bowl weeks. He was there to point out help when Billie Jean King bought her star on the Hollywood Stroll of Fame. He’s been an enormous supporter of Olympians prior to now, together with discus thrower Veronica Fraley.
And on the Paris Olympics, Flav was the official hype man for the U.S. women’s water polo crew.
“We have now all been so hyped to have him with us,” Barefoot mentioned. “Put apart the truth that Flav is without doubt one of the biggest hype males of all time, the power within the room … you had individuals who usually aren’t speaking to one another high-fiving and hugging due to the expertise of being round him. There’s lots of power and lots of confidence round us proper now.”
Many members of the crew bought Flav’s private cellular phone quantity, and a few additionally bought to hitch him at a Maroon 5 live performance over the weekend. And when the Olympics are over, Flav plans to return to Park Metropolis to participate in a camp for sliders.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Taste Flav as an official sponsor and hype man for USA Bobsled/Skeleton,” USA Bobsled and Skeleton CEO Aron McGuire mentioned. “It’s clear he has a real ardour for sports activities and an genuine love for the USA crew. Taste Flav embodies the identical grit, dedication, and satisfaction that outline our athletes, and we’re excited to have him deliver that pleasure to our crew and followers throughout the nation.”
