MILWAUKEE - Stephen Colbert, host of Comedy Central's Colbert Report and head of the "Colbert Nation," has signed on as a sponsor for USA Speedskating. The show's name will now grace team uniforms.
 
"Maybe he's touching a whole different link of people that maybe our sport wouldn't have touched," said five time gold medalist Bonnie Blair as she reflected on the news Wednesday night in her Delafield home.
 
Colbert signed on the dotted line during Monday night's show with 1998 gold medalist Dan Jansen and Bob Crowley, the federation's executive director. The show's Web site, www.colbertnation.com, now includes a link where fans can pledge donations to help support the team.
 
USA Speedskating was left with a budget shortfall of more than $300,000 when the Dutch bank DSB, which has sponsored the U.S. skaters since 2006, declared bankruptcy.
 
At the Pettit Center where the world's top skaters train, not everyone is as enthusiastic about Colbert's sponsorship as is Blair.
 
"To have Colbert Nation on that skin suit when those athletes are competing?" questioned speedskater Bill Armstrong. "People are going to look at that and they're going to make those associations. Are those healthy associations? I would say no."
 
But Charles Mahoney, who works full time as an RN at Froedtert Hospital to support his Olympic dream, loves Colbert.
 
"If the man can make money that is going to bring our athletes to the Olympics, I'm all for him," Mahoney said.