Q & A / DENNIS CONNER : ‘I Have My Work Cut Out For Me’

win’ner One who or that which wins.

--Webster’s

If that’s all you want of Dennis Conner, you will have few complaints.

If you want diplomacy, go see Henry Kissinger. Charm? Georgia Frontiere.

But if you just want to win a sailboat race, it’s Conner.

Cherish whatever you get of the other qualities, because with Conner you never know. DC may not light up a room; he just energizes it. Like a live grenade.

He told ESPN last week, “Probably ‘big, bad Dennis’ is not the way it really is in real life. I have a good sense of humor, and I really do enjoy people.

“But when you deal with the public and the media you have to learn to distance yourself somewhat and have your guard up, because someone will take advantage of you.”

Bill Koch is trying to take advantage of Dennis. If money were water, Dennis would be left high and dry as Koch sailed off to meet the America’s Cup sunrise on his own private pond.

They start their defender trials Tuesday with Conner the underdog, four boats to one.

“I’m not whining or crying,” he says. “I’m going to play the game as hard as I can. I have a few things going for myself, too.”

Sounds as if Conner has Koch right where he wants him.

Q: Considering Koch’s multi-boat advantage, how do you expect him to sail the series, strategically?

Conner: “I guess he could sink me, then he’d have the whole thing to himself.”

Q: He says you still owe him a ride on Stars & Stripes he bought for $1,000 at a fund-raising auction.

Conner: “Anytime he wants. I’ve already invited him several times. I don’t have any secrets. They watch me every day with their helicopter. There’s nothing they’re gonna learn that they don’t already know.”

Q: Apparently, lacking a trial horse, you have been trying to learn things about the other boats.

Conner: “Not really.”

Q: Then what was the Swedish masquerade with the blond wig about?

Conner: “It was a joke. Yeah, I really thought I could disguise my boat and all of my crew.”

Q: The challengers didn’t seem to appreciate your joke.

Conner: “How about the employee that’s getting paid to be the mouthpiece? (Challenger of Record Committee Chairman) Stan Reid’s just an employee. Don’t get him confused with the challengers. There’s no one upset with me.”

Q: Well . . . New Zealand skipper Rod Davis didn’t seem amused, either.

Conner: “Rod Davis used to be an American . . . couldn’t cut it in America. I don’t lose any sleep about Rod Davis. I have to beat Bill Koch before I worry about anybody else.”

Q: With the wig, I thought you looked more like Koch. It seems now that he’s going to be your trial horse, whether he wants to be or not.

Conner: “Or vice versa.”

Q: When does the Conner mystique--the Conner psyche--become a factor?

Conner: “I haven’t seen that going around this time. Bill Koch’s a mature adult. I like Bill Koch. I’m a fan of Bill Koch.”

Q: You wanted him to compete against. But did you think he would be this strong?

Conner: “Absolutely. I think he’s good for the Cup. San Diego is darn lucky to have him.”

Q: Is he too strong?

Conner: “How can he be too strong? I want the best American to win this event. If that’s Bill Koch, more power to him.”

Q: If he beats you, will you help him against the challenger?

Conner: “Absolutely. I think he’s done a darn good job. He’s certainly added more than any single individual on the American side for a long, long time.”

Q: One edge you have is your veteran crew. Why do they keep coming back?

Conner: “It’s not for the money. They must enjoy it. They must be happy.”

Q: Are you a good boss? Your crew says you never yell or scream.

Conner: “I’m not too long on the compliments, either. I guess the bottom line is that they enjoy the experience. In spite of what the media might think, I have a very wicked sense of humor, and so does (tactician) Tom (Whidden). For whatever reason, they feel they’re part of an intimate family. We really like each other. It’s a bonding.

“But the thing about our guys is that they’re winners. We’re already winners. We’re not training to be winners. Nine of these guys have won the America’s Cup. They know how to win. They’ve been through some tough times together. It’s like going to war. When you start spending 17 hours a day, 31 days a month for 17 months in a row, together, you have a very special relationship.”

Q: Are you aloof from the crew?

Conner: “I’m one of the guys.”

Q: What is the mood as the races approach?

Conner: “We’ve all been there. I’ve sailed in, what--140 trial races? After you’ve been to the starting line 140 times . . .”

Q: Do you still get fired up?

Conner: “It’ll probably be there come next Tuesday, but right now I don’t have too many butterflies.”

Q: Are you confident?

Conner: “I know I have my work cut out for me.”

Q: Less confident than in other campaigns when your resources were more evenly matched?

Conner: “Not necessarily. I certainly knew I was in trouble in 1983 racing against Australia (II). She’d won 48 races out of 49.”

Q: Koch says the boats are too expensive and advocates using smaller ones next time.

Conner: “It’s definitely not gonna happen.”

Q: Do you like what the America’s Cup has become?

Conner: “I like the game. You can either deal with it or get out. The people running this and in control are the owners of the boats. Do you think they’re gonna scrap 40 boats and $200 million in assets? Be serious. You can either like it and learn to deal with it or you can get out. Those are your options.”

Q: Are we going to see real match racing with the new, larger boats?

Conner: “No, you’re not. The boats are fast, so they aren’t gonna be right next to each other. If you want boats close to each other, you race Sabots. (Otherwise,) if you go 10 knots in (opposite) directions you’re a long way away.

“I don’t see the racing as being very close. But that doesn’t mean it won’t be interesting or exciting. You’re gonna have a lot of action on the boats, and there’ll be more breakdowns and more problems than there were in Perth, even though the winds aren’t as strong. Look at the masts that are broken, the equipment that’s broken. There are gonna be sails in the water, people in the water, injuries--carnage. It’ll be interesting for the same reasons people go to automobile races.”

Q: Are you disappointed that corporate America has not gotten behind the defense?

Conner: “They are behind me. It’s like saying, are you disappointed there was a (Persian Gulf) war? Are you disappointed there’s an economic downturn? This is life. I’ve done fantastically well in the economy--more sponsors and more total support than ever before. I’m thrilled.”

Q: It’s just that this campaign costs more than before?

Conner: “Boats cost 10 times as much.”

Q: You’re 48, the oldest skipper here. Is this your last campaign?

Conner: “Absolutely not. I still love it. As long as I enjoy it I’m gonna keep doing it.”

Q: Your world championship last year in the Etchells class--a very competitive, very physical boat--impressed people.

Conner: “I’m sure it did. And don’t forget I got second the year before.”

Q: Why did you do it?

Conner: “I like to race sailboats.”

Q: Not to prove a point?

Conner: “No. (But) I’m sure it surprised a few people (for me) to step into a boat I’d never sailed before and come second and first in two years, without ever practicing.”

Q: How about an Olympic campaign?

Conner: “I’m going to go to the Olympics to help raise some money for the Olympic team. As a former Olympian (bronze medal, ‘76), I do what I can to help. But four years from now is hard to focus. I can’t see beyond the next America’s Cup--’95-- at this point.”

Q: Where will it be in ‘95?

Conner: “It’s pretty obvious it’s gonna be one of three or four places. Don’t bet against New Zealand. Based upon the last few days I’d say New Zealand has taken over the favorite’s role. Italy is still going to be very strong. You can rank ‘em in the order of the money.”

Q: Speaking of money, does your skill and experience balance Koch’s bankroll?

Conner: “If Bill Koch can come up with a boat that’s a lot faster than mine and he can sail it well enough, he’s gonna win.”

Q: Do you have a scenario?

Conner: “It’s all over right now. We just don’t know the results.”