8801090269 DETROIT FREE PRESS 880223 Tuesday, February 23, 1988 METRO FINAL CHASER

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1D MITCH ALBOM Copyright (c) 1988, Detroit Free Press GAMES DELAYS MAKE EVERYBODY JUMPY CALGARY, Alberta -- February 22, 1992 -- News Item: The 90- meter Olympic ski jump was postponed yet again yesterday due to high winds. ABC-TV, which has remained in Calgary since February 1988, said it was "optimistic" the winds would die soon, so the event could be held and they could all go home. JIM McKAY: Welcome back everybody, glad you could join us as the Olympic Games continue. Today we have an exciting lineup of men's 90-meter ski jumping, unless, of course, it is canceled, in which case we have an exciting show on pin trading.KEITH JACKSON: As you know, Jim, ski jumping is one humdinger of an event. McKAY: It sure is. JACKSON: Yee-hah! McKAY: We'll be right back. (COMMERCIAL) McKAY: Welcome back again. Still waiting for the green light in the men's 90-meter ski jump. The winds here in Calgary may have died down. Pay no attention to that house blowing across your screen. JACKSON: Let's go to Chris Schenkel, who's been at the jump site since we began four years ago. Chris, you old hoss, how's it looking? CHRIS: Keit . . . (whhsssstt) . . . ellr . . . (whirrrzlp) . . . on m . . . (zzzzzzt). . . . JACKSON: There now. That doesn't seem so bad. McKAY: We'll be right back. (COMMERCIAL) McKAY: Welcome back once again. Still waiting for that big go-ahead on the men's 90-meter ski jump. You know, this delay hasn't been easy on the Olympic athletes. Al Trautwig has this report. . . . TRAUTWIG: Thanks, Jim. I'm here with Matti Nykanen, the Finnish ski jumper who was favored to win the gold medal when we began in 1988. Matti--NYKANEN: You again? I talk to you last month. TRAUTWIG: Just one question, Matti. When you began this event, you were 5-feet-11, 130 pounds. Now, with all the sitting around, you weigh close to 240 pounds. Can you still lift off the runway? NYKANEN: Give me mike. I have announcement to make. MOTHER! COME GET ME! I WANT TO GO HOME! I WANT-- TRAUTWIG: Back to you, Jim. McKAY: We'll be right back. (COMMERCIAL) McKAY: Hello again. Still waiting for some word on today's ski jumping. Meanwhile, we're joined by a special guest. Brian Boitano, the gold medalist in men's figure skating. Brian, congratulations.BOITANO: Jim, I won that medal four years ago.McKAY: And what a medal it was. Brian, what next? BOITANO: I'd like to resume my skating career at a major amusement park. McKAY: Wonderful. When would that be? BOITANO: As soon as you let me out of here. I haven't showered in four years. McKAY: We'll be right back. (COMMERCIAL) McKAY: Hello again. We should get the word any minute now on the men's 90-meter ski jump. You know, when we began these Olympics here at ABC, we had no idea these Chinook winds would last so long. Our American team, however, has kept a stiff upper lip. Let's go live to our top medal hope, Mike Holland, in the start hut. Mike, how you holding up? HOLLAND: Not too bad, Jim. Last week the cereal ran out. We're on Ritz crackers now. McKAY: Gee, that sounds tough. HOLLAND: You should see what the Russians eat.McKAY: All of us back home admire the sacrifices you've made for your sport. Tell us about them. HOLLAND: Well, my rent is a tad overdue. Also, my ex-girlfriend is now married to the insurance agent. But I've always dreamed about an Olympic medal. And now that the Swiss, Austrians, French, Swedes, Norwegians, Italians and West Germans have gone home, I'd say my chances are a lot better. McKAY: Great. Anything you need in that start hut? HOLLAND: Some peanut butter? McKAY: We'll be right back. (COMMERCIAL) McKAY: Ladies and gentlemen, bad news. We just received word the men's 90-meter jump has been postponed until tomorrow. JACKSON: Doggone it. McKAY: You know, there's been talk about the ski jump site perhaps being in the wrong place. With us on the monitor now, is Canadian Doug Smutz, who built the facility. Doug, what's the story? SMUTZ: Well, Jim, I must admit, when I first began building the ski jump, I was a freshman in college. I now have a master's degree in aerodynamic physics. McKAY: And? SMUTZ: And I realize the thing is built on a highly irregular spot. The winds there will never die. On a good day, you'll be lucky to keep your toupee on. You could air-dry your laundry in three minutes. Kids there don't fly kites, they fly cows. It's the most-- McKAY: Sorry, Doug, we're out of time. We've got to go to a special profile on "Howdy and Hidy, Mascots in Love." And don't forget, the men's 90-meter ski jump, tomorrow. Won't that be exciting? JACKSON: It'll give our jumpers a real boost for the Winter Games in Albertville, France. McKAY: We'll be there, folks, the 1992 Olympics! JACKSON: Next week.