Bobsleigh

Lake Placid, N.Y. - It took several takes for Stephen Colbert's film crew to wrap up the Comedy Central star's foray into the slippery world of skeleton and bobsleigh yesterday, so perhaps that explained why the star of The Colbert Report extended what appeared to be a maple branch of peace to all us "syrup suckers."

As part of Colbert's attempt to hitch his public-relations wagon to the aw-shucks world of U.S. Olympians, he has taken Canadian officials to task for keeping foreign competitors off the Olympic speed skating oval in Richmond, B.C., which has led to his sponsoring the U.S. speed skating team.

Colbert is to political punditry what Jon Stewart's The Daily Show is to network news, but Colbert's criticism touched a too sensitive nerve with Vancouver Olympics officials, and the City of Richmond invited him to take the job of "ice ombudsman."

Colbert, who referred to Canadians as "syrup suckers" and "ice-holes," said yesterday there was a "chance" he will travel to Richmond even before the Olympics.

"Unfortunately, we are off the air for a week, but I read that [the invitation] on our last show and we are absolutely going to take that into consideration with our legal counsel, and will be addressing that when we get back on the air," Colbert said, affecting a deadpan expression as he struggled to loosen his helmet following a skeleton run in which he carried the sled across the finish line.

Colbert began the interview in character by saying: "I'm sorry for the way that I called Canadians cheaters, and I want to apologize. I'm sorry that you're cheaters, all right? I want the whole quote in there.

"Hey, listen, some of my best friends are Canadian," he added. "And I've had a lot of help on my Canadian writing from my Canadian writers. We have one, two, three of them."

Wearing a Maple Leaf-red suit that stood out among the blackish-blue suits of Steve Holcomb's Night Train bobsled, Colbert was also in character when, after climbing out of the sled, he replied that he would "think about it" if any of the Canadian sliding teams asked him to go down the track with them.

"But," he said, "they'd have to go slow."

Colbert, who rode third in Holcomb's sled, admitted that he "peeked" during the first three or four turns before keeping his head tucked in.

"After that it was: 'Uh, see you guys at the bottom,'." he said.

Colbert was filming a segment for his show following the completion of the World Cup races on Mount van Hoevenberg.

He took a run down the track cheered on by a smallish crowd chanting "U-S-A, U-S-A."

The sled covered the course in 59.81 seconds, five seconds off Holcomb's fastest time in winning the four-man race earlier in the day.

Colbert crossed the finish line with his arms up, but the scene was repeated twice for the cameras. So much for spontaneity.

Colbert also presented silver medals to the U.S. four-man team of John Napier during the official medal ceremonies, and stood with his hand over his heart as the Star-Spangled Banner was played.

Colbert mugged for several photographs as amused and slightly confused Austrian and Dutch team members looked on.

Asked if he thought the reaction from Canada to his, um, attack was what he expected, Colbert laughed loudly and replied: "Yes, it sure has been. It sure has."

His Canadian writers seem to have their man well-prepared. Told about the cheesy "lucky loonie" tradition of Canadian icemakers and athletes, Colbert responded: "I know about that."

Stay tuned.