Flavor Flav just traded in his clock necklace for a bobsled helmet — and the hip-hop legend is now officially the hype man for Team USA Bobsled and Skeletons.
The 66-year-old member of Public Enemy hit an impressive 66 mph in his second Skeleton Run while gliding for the first time this week on the Olympic track in Park City, Utah. The U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Team announced Monday that the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer has joined them as an official publicist for the upcoming Milan-Cortina Olympics in February.
“This partnership is a blessing,” Flav told The Associated Press. “It’s cooler than cool running. It’s the coolest running.”
Flav, whose legal name is William Jonathan Drayton Jr., was not happy with the beginner’s starting position on the track. Team officials wanted him to start lower for safety reasons, but Flav pushed for a start higher on the track, making it significantly more difficult.
“Oh my God, he’s one of the coolest, most adventurous men I’ve ever met,” U.S. skeleton athlete Dan Barefoot told The Associated Press. “He was frustrated that he couldn’t get higher on the track. I was a little frustrated with how good he was. It’s a sport that requires a lot of skill, but he made it look easy.”
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This isn’t Flav’s first Olympic appearance. At the Paris Olympics, he served as the official publicist for the U.S. women’s water polo team. He’s also appeared at various sporting events, including last year as the star mayonnaise pourer at Duke’s Mayo Bowl, where he helped Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck pour 5 gallons of the celebratory condiment.
“We’re all just happy to have him with us,” Barefoot said. “Putting aside the fact that Flav is one of the greatest hypemen of all time, the energy in the room… people often don’t give each other high fives and hug each other because of the experience of being with him.”
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Many team members were given Flav’s personal cell phone number and even attended Maroon 5 concerts with him over the weekend. The hip-hop icon plans to return to Park City for a skating camp after the Olympics.
“We are excited to welcome Flavor Flav as the official sponsor and hype man of USA Bobsled and Skeleton,” said Aron McGuire, CEO of USA Bobsled and Skeleton. “Flavor Flav embodies the courage, dedication and pride that characterize our athletes, and we are excited for him to bring this excitement to our team and fans across the country.”
