Eddie the Eagle

[Willie Bee]

I'm too lazy --- Not to mention Dozer is driving me like a good plow horse this morning with actual work --- to look this up. But for some reason the memory of Eddie the Eagle, the British ski jumper, just popped in my noggin. Think he was in the Winter Olympics in Calgary in the late 80s. Anyone recall what his last name was or know of what happened to him? Would be cool to find an old video clip of his jumps.

[tacomax]

Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards.

[Mudcat]

He was the William Hung of the Winter Olympics.

[tacomax]

He was a good looking lad:



And you can find his life story here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_%27the_Eagle%27_Edwards

He was a minor celebrity for a few years but is always remembered in the UK as being the personification of the British athlete - tries hard, but essentially crap.

[bigboydan]

the only Eddie "The Eagle" i remembered off the top of my head is Eddie "The Eagle" Belfour.

[natrass]

Actually, it was quite sad because he was not exactly a hero but people were found of him and viewing figures for skiing shot up, etc. However, the stuffy British Olympic Committee were fuming and found a technicality to bar him. (Actually, the 'technicality' was setting minimum ability levels so I might be being a bit harsh).

This is the same committee that let Princess Anne into the British olympic horse team ... no suprise there ... but not as one of the horses but as a rider. Stupid bitch.

[Willie Bee]

He was the William Hung of the Winter Olympics.

Good analogy, Mud. And thanks for the Edwards part of his name, Taco.

I just remember his arms flailing around and skis all over the place when he jumped. Couldn't help but root for the guy.