Page 21 - ARUBA TODAY

A21
SPORTS Friday 30 November 2018
A father now, Hirscher feeling less pressure on the slopes

By PAT GRAHAM where I can just try my
AP Sports Writer best," Hirscher said. "If it is
BEAVER CREEK, Colo. (AP) not working I can always
— There's been a moun- say to myself, 'Hey, I've
tain of pressure on Austrian done everything.' The prep-
standout Marcel Hirscher aration, the dry-land train-
for as long as he can re- ing, I've tried every day to
member: To capture that give out the maximum. The
elusive Olympic gold med- other side is, if there's some-
al. To keep his overall World one else that can do it bet-
Cup title streak going . To ter, say hello to myself and
remain so dominant. let's try it."
Heading into this season, One big burden was lifted
the weight doesn't seem so at the Olympics. For all
heavy anymore. his accomplishments —
Hirscher earned that Olym- 59 World Cup wins, four
pic gold last February — world championship titles
two, actually — and the — he hadn't won a Winter
burden to win an eighth Games gold medal. At the
straight overall title has Pyeongchang Olympics,
been mitigated by recently he followed a win in the
becoming a father. That's combined with another in
changed his entire outlook, In this Feb. 18, 2018, file photo, Austria's Marcel Hirscher competes during the men's giant slalom the giant slalom.
even to the point where the at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. "For the media stuff, it
29-year-old vows to take a Associated Press changed a lot," said
hard look at his future on on my list at the end of the I'm super happy with no in- About the seven straight Hirscher, who also took
the slopes once the season season, where I have to juries really," Hirscher said. "If title streak: Should it end home silver in the slalom
concludes. make a decision." you see other colleagues, it this season or next or farther from the 2014 Sochi Games.
Then again, he's hinted at One of Hirscher's longtime can be for the rest of your down the road, he doesn't "For me personally, it was
stepping away before. adversaries, American rac- life a tough situation." think that will be a bad more like, 'OK, I'm very
"I want to see this little guy er Ted Ligety, has a young Hirscher recently won a thing. thankful that I reached this
growing up," said Hirscher, son, too. It could set up an- World Cup slalom race in "Because if it is not possible and won this gold medal.'
who will race a World Cup other version of their rivalry Levi, Finland , showing that anymore, this crazy pres- But for me personally it was
giant slalom this weekend in, say, 2038. his training is trending in the sure of winning this big crys- more fascinating to win
in Beaver Creek , Colo- Hirscher vs. Ligety, chapter right direction. It's been a tal globe has gone away. the seven consecutive big
rado. "The hundredths of two. different sort of prep period Maybe 300 or 500 pounds crystal globes.
a second in a race? That "Hopefully not," said for him, with the arrival of off my shoulder," Hirscher "All those years I've always
is not the most important Hirscher , whose wife, Laura his son. said. "It could be amazing, said the same sentence
thing in my life. They have Moisl , gave birth in early "Now I have two business- or even a present." about the same question:
been very important and October. "Maybe golfing or es to be good in," Hirscher Still, he's expertly navigated What has more worth, the
they are still important. But something." said. the tension. His strategy is Olympic gold medal or big
that's not the most impor- So no ski racing? "This is definitely a big simple: Don't think too far crystal globe? It's the same
tant thing. "It's his choice, but ski rac- change. It's a really good ahead, just race to race. answer."q
"It's definitely a big point
ing with all those injuries ... change." "It's sort of a mind game,
Perles, citing health, resigns as Michigan State trustee

Associated Press Wednesday. "I have been nor, Democrat Gretchen
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) blessed with a wife who Whitmer, who takes office
— George Perles resigned has sacrificed much to on Jan. 1.
as a member of Michigan tend to my needs and to Indeed, Snyder spokesman
State University's govern- provide constant care. At Ari Adler said the gover-
ing board after nearly this juncture, I feel that Sal- nor's staff would make rec-
12 years, the school said ly deserves some respite. ommendations "as soon as
Thursday, ending decades We need to make our life possible."
of service as a football smaller as we age and Perles played football at
player, coach, athletic di- consider our quality of life." Michigan State in the 1950s.
rector and trustee. Perles had been a Michi- After a successful run as an
Perles, 84, noted his age gan State football coach assistant coach with the
and struggle with Parkin- and athletic director be- NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers,
son's disease, a progressive fore winning statewide he returned to East Lansing
nervous system disorder, election as a trustee in as head coach before
in a letter to Brian Breslin, 2006. A Democrat, he was the 1983 season. The 1987 In this March 16, 2016, file photo, former Michigan State head
chairman of the board of re-elected to an eight- Spartans won the Big Ten football coach George Perles watches a Pro Day college
trustees. He often partici- year term in 2014. and the Rose Bowl. Perles football workout at Michigan State in East Lansing.
pated in public meetings Breslin, a Republican, sug- was fired in 1994. Associated Press
by telephone. gested Republican Gov. A few months ago, a
"The ramifications of my Rick Snyder would name woman alleged that he Larry Nassar when Perles his father had never met
health issues continue a replacement and not covered up a rape allega- was athletic director in the woman, who was a
to grow," Perles wrote leave it to the next gover- tion against sports doctor 1992. Pat Perles called it a 17-year-old field hockey
"fabrication" and insisted player.q