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10-11-2017, 04:45 AM | #1 |
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CALGARY -- Canadas luge team is for sale again. Jerick McKinnon Jersey . The sliders slapped "For Sale" stickers on their helmets to attract a corporate sponsor just a few months before the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. The strategy worked, but that sponsorship money has run out with the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, on the horizon. Alex Gough, Sam Edney and the rest of the luge team got out their "For Sale" decals and signs again. They invited the media Tuesday for their first training runs of the season at Canada Olympic Park. "Countries like Germany have such a huge pool of athletes and the corporate backing we havent been able to secure," Gough said. "Our previous sponsor gave us that and gave us that edge. Now that partnership has ended, we really need someone else to step up. "It worked last time so we figured wed give the "For Sale" thing another try." The difference between Canadas luge team pre-2010 and pre-2014 is that it is capable of winning the countrys first Olympic medal in the sport in Sochi. Prior to 2010, luge was the weakest of Canadian sliding sports behind bobsled and skeleton. Gough, a 26-year-old Calgarian, has broken up German domination of womens singles with a pair of World Cup victories, nine other World Cup medals and two world championship bronze medals over the last four years. The team relay -- which will makes its Olympic debut in February -- is also fertile ground to produce a Canadian medal. Gough, Edney and the mens doubles team of Tristan Walker and Justin Snith, all from Calgary, won silver at this years world championship and bronze in 2012. "For the first time ever, were going to be poised to win a medal," said Tim Farstad, executive director of the Canadian Luge Association. "I think it would be great for a sponsor to come along for the ride." The luge team raced toboggans down a snowy Calgary hill wearing their "For Sale" stickers in February 2009. Gough now called that a "creative stunt." Within a day, the team was contacted by the investment company Fast Track Capital and a five-year deal worth just over $1 million was reached. However, the company was unable to fulfil the final year of its commitment. A former luger and president of an oil and gas company awarded cash bonuses to athletes for podium and top-10 finishes for two years after the 2010 Games, but those incentives no longer exist. The luge team will get $973,000 in funding in 2013-14 from Own The Podium, the organization that directs taxpayer dollars to national sports federations. In the four years between 2010 and 2014, OTP will have directed $3.2 million to the luge team. OTP money goes to athletes who have demonstrated Olympic and world championship medal potential. Top sliders like Gough and Edney have personal sponsorships, but the CLA needs a team sponsor to fund the next generation of sliders. "Sponsorship money filled the gaps and voids between the national team, junior national team and all the way down to grassroots programs," Edney explained. "We need that money to bring those athletes up and get them to the world level and get them to the podium." The lugers arent the only Canadian team to lose a title sponsor post-2010. Canada Post ended its relationship with the freestyle team this year. The bobsled and skeleton teams have been without a title sponsor since 2011 when its contract with credit card company Visa expired. General Motors left Alpine Canada, but the organization brought Audi on board in 2011. "I know its tough out there," Farstad said. "We dont expect to be treated any different than anybody else. I know the big sports have lost sponsors. For us, it was just bad luck, Id say. "Its not demoralizing. Were in the best situation weve ever been as a sport, so Im hopeful well find a partner out there." Canadas luge team is currently training in Calgary before heading to a training camp in Whistler. The World Cup season opens Nov. 16-17 in Lillehammer, Norway. The Canadian stop on the circuit is Dec. 6-7 in Whistler. The luge competition at the 2014 Games starts Feb. 8 with mens singles and concludes Feb. 13 with the team relay. Tom Johnson Jersey . The game was the first of two international friendlies that Canada is playing during the international break, with the second game against Slovenia set for Tuesday in Celje. Canada looked uncomfortable defensively throughout the game, and every free kick that came into Canadas penalty box looked like ending up in the back of the net. Laquon Treadwell Jersey . Spieth again showed game well beyond his 20 years with a 9-under 63 on the North Course, giving him a one-shot lead over Stewart Cink going into the weekend at the Farmers Insurance Open. Authentic Xavier Rhodes Jersey - Minnesota Vikings Xavier Rhodes Men's Womens Youth Jerseys Online . With his father watching from the stands, Harrison homered, doubled, single and drove in a career-high five runs to lead the Pirates to a 8-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday.TORONTO - Queens Park Rangers have confirmed their interest in Toronto FC striker Jermain Defoe but denied reports that a deal is in place already.“No, I dont think anything is anywhere near being concluded with Jermain, QPR manager Harry Redknapp told a news conference in London on Thursday when asked about Defoe. Tony (Fernandes), the chairman, hes away.We tried to get Jermain before the (summer) deadline, so I dont think there is any movement on that one at the moment. I am a big fan of Jermains. Ive signed him enough times. Hes a goalscorer and hes obviously a player that you would like at your club, if possible. But the figures would have to be right and everything. I havent spoken to Tony about that yet.Redknapp returned to the same theme when asked if he would like to get the deal done in the January transfer window.He is a player that I am sure we would be interested in, in January. But it depends on the expense of it all and everything else and what the deal is really. Only Tony would deal with that, the chairman, so its up to him.Redknapp said he had not talked to Defoe. The 32-year-olld England striker played for Redknapp previously at Tottenham and Portsmouth. Brett Favre Jersey. Toronto turned down a club record transfer bid, believed to be from QPR, at the end of the summer transfer window. The club said at the end of the MLS season that it planned to talk to Defoe about his future, saying it only wants players who wants to be here.And MLSE boss Tim Leiweke sounded a warning this week, saying any deal involving Defoe will have to be worth it for the MLS club and that any move will be at the behest of the team and not the player.Leiweke also said if the team loses one of its designated players, we already know who were going after.Defoe led Toronto with 11 goals this season despite missing 15 games through injury or suspension.Toronto (11-15-8) failed to make the playoffs for an eighth straight year, despite setting club single-season records for wins (11) and points (41).For his part, Defoe has said he likes Toronto and never asked publicly to leave. 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