Tuesday, February 29, 2000
Conner: No Kiwi defense in his future
Associated Press
AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- Dennis Conner a Kiwi?
One of the hot rumors of the America's Cup is that the U.S.
skipper will be a defense candidate for New Zealand in 2003 if
Black Magic goes on to defeat Italy's Luna Rossa.
Conner twice infuriated New Zealanders with his comments in past
America's Cups but now is popular with a large number of Kiwis.
Still, he pretty much squashed talk of being a defender.
"I do like it down here. It is a great place and the people are
lovely, especially to me," Conner said in an interview Wednesday.
"But I'm Stars & Stripes. Somehow I can't see Stars & Stripes
fitting as well with New Zealand as it does with America."
Since the 1986-87 regatta, Conner has named all of his America's
Cup yachts Stars & Stripes. He has won the America's Cup four times
and lost it twice, including to Team New Zealand off San Diego in
1995.
New Zealand is trying to become the only country other than the
United States to defend the America's Cup. Black Magic beat Luna
Rossa on Wednesday's to take a 4-0 lead in the best-of-9 series.
Stars & Stripes was eliminated in the challenger semifinals,
finishing one point short of forcing a sailoff with Luna Rossa for
a spot in the challenger finals. Stars & Stripes had been deducted
one point for using an illegal rudder earlier in the semis.
Bill Trenkle, director of operations for Team Dennis Conner and
a crewman on Stars & Stripes, said talk of Conner defending for New
Zealand is idle speculation.
"It's fun to talk about," Trenkle said. "A lot of New
Zealanders will say, 'It would be great to have you as defender,'
and Dennis says, 'Why not?' "
Conner said it is fun to talk about, and although he has a house
and two Etchells class sailboats here, "I can't see Stars &
Stripes being anything other than an American brand."
Conner has applied for permanent residency in New Zealand, which
is not the same as citizenship. Trenkle said Conner was invited to
apply for residency as a courtesy.
Even if Conner wanted to defend for New Zealand, he probably
wouldn't get the chance due to economic reality.
"It's all in Team New Zealand's hands whether they'll hold a
defender series, and they're not," Trenkle said.
Team New Zealand chose not to have a defender series, saying it
didn't think such a small country could financially support more
than one campaign.
Conner knows that it's hard enough trying to raise money in
America. He was aboard Stars & Stripes only a few times in this
America's Cup, spending most of his time trying to gain corporate
support.
Conner said he'll probably have the same role if he returns for
the next Cup.
"It depends on the money," he said. "If somebody gave me $40
million, I'd certainly be out sailing. Without money, you can't be
here, and I don't have the wherewithal to fund this privately. I
wish I did."
