Fourth-Place Medal, a Yahoo! Sports blog covering the Summer Olympics in Beijing

You could be the new sponsor of U.S. Speedskating (provided you like satirical, political news shows).

"The Colbert Report" has become the primary sponsor of the U.S. Speedskating team, after the previous sponsor declared bankruptcy last month. Host Stephen Colbert announced the partnership in Monday's show, alongside American speedskating legend Dan Jansen:

It's partly for show, of course, but this is still a great thing for U.S. Speedskating. The publicity, buzz and money Colbert will generate for the squad can only benefit a team that competes in anonymity for all but two weeks every four years.

The length of the partnership wasn't announced, but you definitely won't be seeing The Colbert Nation logo on uniforms at the Olympics as there are separate sponsorship deals in place for the Games. But expect to see The Colbert Nation emblazoned on the skin-tight uniforms of our nation's speedskaters through at least the first two World Cup events and, possibly, in the national championships at the end of December.

"The Colbert Report" will not be giving any money directly to U.S. Speedskating. Instead, Colbert's viewers (dubbed The Colbert Nation) will be called upon to donate to the team. This method has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Yellow Ribbon Fund, which assists injured service members.

It should be interesting to see how successful this venture is. I'm all for supporting Olympic athletes, but it's not exactly helping out wounded veterans, you know? The Dutch bank that was supposed to sponsor the team (but declared for bankruptcy last month) was slated to pay $300,000 for its sponsorship. If Colbert's viewers can get even one-third of that, it would be an admirable effort. 

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29 Comments

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  1. Caleb
    1. Posted by Caleb Tue Nov 03, 2009 9:00 pm EST

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    oh stephen colbert, you never let us down
    FIRST!
  2. Steve
    2. Posted by Steve Wed Nov 04, 2009 9:13 am EST

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    This should hace a link to Colbert Nation to donate - C'MON WHERE IS THE SUPPORT AND LOVE!!!! Yes most of us have a link to Colbert Nation in our favorites already - but for those that do not and want to help - PUT THE LINK IN!!!
  3. Tim W
    3. Posted by Tim W Wed Nov 04, 2009 9:26 am EST

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    colbert is not funny why do people watch him. btw i get the jokes too all of them are meant for white people
  4. Brian113
    4. Posted by Brian113 Wed Nov 04, 2009 9:59 am EST

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    Hey, Tim, so is speed skating.
  5. #1
    5. Posted by #1 Wed Nov 04, 2009 9:59 am EST

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    Tim W.
    Set aside your white guilt and relax. Colbert is hilarious. Maybe too smart for you?
  6. frogeater69
    6. Posted by frogeater69 Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:30 am EST

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    I've failed to see Colbert's popularity, but many celebrities mystify me. Nevertheless, I think speed skating is one of the lamest sports events ever conceived. Just my opinion. Ironic that such a lame celebrity supports such a lame sport. Now that's funny.
  7. joeya20
    7. Posted by joeya20 Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:50 am EST

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    Colbert not funny? I'm not so sure about that one. You may want to watch it again.
  8. Cedar
    8. Posted by Cedar Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:54 am EST

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    WOW!!! what a big FORKING! DEAL you have got to be kidding with this stupid fact. WHO CARES!!!!! plus the fact the guy is a real SCHMUCK! not funny at all rather Sophomoric as in childish!!!
  9. EAGLESFAN
    9. Posted by EAGLESFAN Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:54 am EST

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    Colbert rules. And Tim, Colbert's jokes are for SMART people. I am guessing the doesn't include you.
  10. EAGLESFAN
    10. Posted by EAGLESFAN Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:55 am EST

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    And I guess I should check my grammar. 'that'
  11. Y2
    11. Posted by Y2 Wed Nov 04, 2009 12:01 pm EST

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    It is not ironic
  12. john l
    12. Posted by john l Wed Nov 04, 2009 12:06 pm EST

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    Meaning of lame is someone putting a 69 next to their name. Veryyyyyy clever ;)
    Colbert Your lame ass sn.
    Now thats funny!
  13. john l
    13. Posted by john l Wed Nov 04, 2009 12:06 pm EST

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    Meaning of lame is someone putting a 69 next to their name. Veryyyyyy clever ;)
    Colbert Your lame ass sn.
    Now thats funny!
  14. MaTt
    14. Posted by MaTt Wed Nov 04, 2009 12:09 pm EST

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    my favorite show
  15. Steve
    15. Posted by Steve Wed Nov 04, 2009 12:24 pm EST

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    Listen to me, raspberry nose. Remember when I said I would eat you last? I lied. chomp. Rolled on the floor. Colbert is awesome. I may help the speed skating team through his effort.
  16. sigmachrisnu
    16. Posted by sigmachrisnu Wed Nov 04, 2009 12:29 pm EST

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    Tim, all of Tyler Perry's stuff is meant for black people, which I don't find funny. So what's you're f*ckin point?
  17. woof6712
    17. Posted by woof6712 Wed Nov 04, 2009 1:06 pm EST

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    Who's funnier, Colbert or Glenn Beck?
  18. Wu
    18. Posted by Wu Wed Nov 04, 2009 1:21 pm EST

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    yea, I love these "if you don't think colbert is funny, you're not smart"... either that, or you're not extremely liberal! I quit watching the Daily Show years ago, when I realized George Bush jokes are neither funny nor clever.
  19. Wu
    19. Posted by Wu Wed Nov 04, 2009 1:25 pm EST

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    here comes the hating...
  20. Ronnie G
    20. Posted by Ronnie G Wed Nov 04, 2009 1:28 pm EST

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    colbert sucks
  21. hailxenu
    21. Posted by hailxenu Wed Nov 04, 2009 1:32 pm EST

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    Socialism eugenics i!un#!j#k
  22. uh oh
    22. Posted by uh oh Wed Nov 04, 2009 1:40 pm EST

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    It doesn't really matter whether you are smart, dumb, left or right - Colbert is really really funny. And someone called the humor sophomoric - and I agree it is sophomoric when put up next to, say, the study of the Byzantine Empire and its effect on the western world (you would be surprised at how much of our society is borrowed from Muslim culture and society).
  23. uh oh
    23. Posted by uh oh Wed Nov 04, 2009 1:42 pm EST

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    ooops! My last sentence is redundant.
  24. Marshawn Lynch
    24. Posted by Marshawn Lynch Wed Nov 04, 2009 1:42 pm EST

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    I agree with Wu. Colbert is way too liberal and I can't stand to watch his show. That being said, i think it's good that he is helping out the US Speed Skating team. I don't love speed skating or anything, but it's an American Olympic team; and a pretty damn good one at that. If this sponsorship allows us to get the top competitors in top shape for the 2010 olympics to win a few extra golds, I'm all for it. Colbert should sponsor at least $10k of the $300k out of his own pocket. He can't preach for other people to sponsor if he's not doing so himself.

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