You gotta admit, the thought has crossed the mind of every American skater who has raced in Heerenveen:

"I wonder what it would be like to get that kind of crowd back home?"

Heerenveen is in the Netherlands, but I mentioned Norway because I think it would be really cool to be a part of the great comeback that team is having right now. Speedskating was developed in the Scandinavian countries. This sport is a huge part of their heritage.

The Norwegians have historically had a great deal of respect for individual endurance sports, such as skating, cross-country skiing, and distance running. I remember reading an article in Sports Illustrated about the famous Bislett Stadium, in Oslo, where huge crowds would gather in the summer to support the track runners, and in the winter to cheer for Eric Heiden and others who would compete there on the ice. So many world records were set in that stadium- it is said- due to the tremendous support of the crowd.

At the US long track pack-style Nationals, somebody had posted an interesting flyer up on the back of the bleachers. It was an advertisement for a speedskating race taking place at Madison Square Garden, I think some time in the 1920's. Back in those days, thousands of people would come to watch speedskating races. And now, here's the kicker: In between some of the races, the organizers decided to fit in an exhibition of a new sport. This sport was basketball! Few of us in the speedskating community remember those days.