James Morgan (bobsled)
Encyclopedia
James Patrick Morgan, known as Jimmy, but nickname
d "Nitro" (December 16, 1948 - February 8, 1981) was an American
bobsledder who competed from the mid 1970s to the early 1980s. His death during the 1981 FIBT World Championships
in Cortina d'Ampezzo
, Italy
at the bobsleigh track used for the 1956 Winter Olympics
coupled with the death of a stuntman
involved in the production of the 1981 film
For Your Eyes Only
would lead to the shortening of the track to its current configuration.
A native of Saranac Lake
, New York
, Morgan competed in the 1976 Winter Olympics
in Innsbruck
, finishing 14th in the two-man event and 15th in the four-man event.
Morgan's younger brother, John
, was also a bobsledder who has served as a color commentator
for bobsled since 1981. John was in fact calling the competition with ABC Sports' Bill Flemming
at the 1981 World Championships that took James' life.
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
d "Nitro" (December 16, 1948 - February 8, 1981) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
bobsledder who competed from the mid 1970s to the early 1980s. His death during the 1981 FIBT World Championships
FIBT World Championships 1981
The FIBT World Championships 1981 took place in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy for the seventh time, having hosted the event previously in 1937 , 1939 , 1950, 1954, 1960, and 1966...
in Cortina d'Ampezzo
Cortina d'Ampezzo
Cortina d'Ampezzo is a town and comune in the southern Alps located in Veneto, a region in Northern Italy. Located in the heart of the Dolomites in an alpine valley, it is a popular winter sport resort known for its ski-ranges, scenery, accommodations, shops and après-ski scene...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
at the bobsleigh track used for the 1956 Winter Olympics
Eugenio Monti track
The Eugenio Monti track is a bobsleigh and skeleton track located in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. It is named after Eugenio Monti , who won six bobsleigh medals at the Winter Olympic Games between 1956 and 1968 and ten medals at the FIBT World Championships between 1957 and 1966...
coupled with the death of a stuntman
Stunt performer
A stuntman, or daredevil is someone who performs dangerous stunts, often as a career.These stunts are sometimes rigged so that they look dangerous while still having safety mechanisms, but often they are as dangerous as they appear to be...
involved in the production of the 1981 film
1981 in film
-Events:*January 19 - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer acquires beleaguered concurrent United Artists. UA was humiliated by the astronomical losses on the $40,000,000 movie Heaven's Gate, a major factor in the decision of owner Transamerica to sell it....
For Your Eyes Only
For Your Eyes Only (film)
For Your Eyes Only is the twelfth spy film in the James Bond series and the fifth to star Roger Moore as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. It marked the directorial debut of John Glen, who had worked as editor and second unit director in three other Bond films. The screenplay by Richard Maibaum...
would lead to the shortening of the track to its current configuration.
A native of Saranac Lake
Saranac Lake, New York
Saranac Lake is a village located in the state of New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,406. The village is named after Upper, Middle, and Lower Saranac Lakes, which are nearby....
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Morgan competed in the 1976 Winter Olympics
1976 Winter Olympics
The 1976 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XII Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated February 4–15, 1976 in Innsbruck, Austria...
in Innsbruck
Innsbruck
- Main sights :- Buildings :*Golden Roof*Kaiserliche Hofburg *Hofkirche with the cenotaph of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor*Altes Landhaus...
, finishing 14th in the two-man event and 15th in the four-man event.
Morgan's younger brother, John
John Morgan (broadcaster)
John F. Morgan is an American broadcaster and television producer from Saranac Lake, New York.- Athletic career :Before becoming involved in broadcasting, Morgan played rugby union and was a bobsled racer. He came from a family of bobsled racers; his father and brothers were all involved in...
, was also a bobsledder who has served as a color commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
for bobsled since 1981. John was in fact calling the competition with ABC Sports' Bill Flemming
Bill Flemming
William Norman "Bill" Flemming was an American television sports journalist who was one of the original announcers for the ABC Sports show Wide World of Sports.-Early life:...
at the 1981 World Championships that took James' life.