I am Michael Stokes, the youngest of the three children of Tal Stokes, the captain of the original Jamaican Bobsled team. (The one that inspired Cool Runnings.) Ask Me Anything!

When you are feeling down, or in need of inspiration, do you chant to yourself "Feel the Rhythm, Feel the Rhyme, Get on up, It's Bobsled time... COOL RUNNINGS!" for motivation?

No, but I will certainly start to do that.

You mean to tell me that Sanka, Junior, Yule, and Derice weren't their real names?

Edit; my top rated comment is about Cool Runnings. This is a proud moment for me.

I'm terribly sorry, but no. :(

What one thing the movie got wrong that you would to set the record straight about?

My father was never a track star, he mainly played soccer, (which we call football) as it is a popular sport in Jamaica. My uncle, however, did run track.

What about the other way around? Is there something the movie got right that you are particularly proud about?

The crash scene was actual footage.

The mirror scene.

i know it is probably the biggest tourist trap out there, but i went to ocho rios, and did the "jamaican bobsled" and got drunk off that smooth smooth jamaican white rum. then i went to a non touristy area and bought what i thought were fake cuban cigars, but when i got back to the boat my chief told me that they were real(i bought 4 humidors full of them... pretty cheap too). thank you for being from an amazing little island. the jerk chicken is the best i have ever had. straight from an oil drum oven.

EDIT: for those of you that need visual reference, HERE YA GO

Hahaha this story is great. Is the the rum you're looking for? http://i.imgur.com/k56rZWe.jpg

That and Appleton's mixed with a touch of cranberry reminds me of Jamaica. My mum bought a flat in Ocho Rios so might have to head back again.

Always nice to visit, isn't it?

What do you see when you look in the mirror?

In all honesty though, I see pride, I see power, I see a bad ass mother who don't take crap from anyone.

I see a reflection of myself.

But How Can Mirrors Be Real If Our Eyes Aren't Real?

I love you for this.

Was sanka's egg a real thing?

No, I'm sorry but that was a fabrication of Disney's.

I was at the Olympic park in Calgary last weekend, saw one of the Jamaican bobsleds there. Do people make a big deal about bobsledding in Jamaica anymore?

I don't get much attention from it in Jamaica, but when I tell people who I am in most other countries, they freak out.

Does it feel "cool" knowing that the Jamaicans are going back to the Winter Olympics for bobsledding?

Yeah, I do have a sort of sense of pride, since my father did have a part in training them.

Did you have the coolest dad on Parent's Day at school?

Pretty much, yeah.

What do you think of the online support for the '14 team?

I think this whole thing is amazing and fantastic. :)

How are you today?

I'm doing quite well actually, and you?

Not too bad. What did you want to be as a child?

I'm still a child, and I hope to be an engineer or an architect. I know, its lame.

What do you think of dogecoin?

I think its hilarious.

How similar to real life in Jamaica was the movie. Also how close is your dad to the actor who portrayed him in the movie? THANKS SO MUCH FOR DOING THIS!! :)

The actor that plays my father was pretty close to the real thing, especially with how motivated he was to do the sport. The movie only portrayed the rural side of Jamaica, and in that sense it was pretty accurate, but city life in Jamaica is just as first world as anywhere else.

Have you or your siblings gone into bobsledding? Is your father involved in training the new team?

Neither my sibling nor I have any interest in bobsledding, but my cousin, daughter of Chris Stokes, (Who was also on the team) has taken the sport up. Yes, my father did help to train the current team.

Why not?

I run track, my brother plays soccer, and my sister doesn't really do sports.

Were there other winter Olympic sports you wanted to do?

No, I'm not a big fan of winter sports.

Says the son of a Winter Olympian.

I'm sorry.

What's your favorite summer olympics sport?

100m Sprints.

What do you think of Russia's anti-gay law in effect?

I think its stupid. Homophobia is rampant in Jamaica, and I just don't see the point.

You just got infinitely more rad. I'm not gay myself, but I had a couple of friends (1 male, 1 female) who came out and me and 3 others were the only ones that didn't turn our backs on them.

Great to see others spreading the love!

That's great!

Hi Michael,

Please ask your father if he still keeps in contact with Caswell Allen.

My mother and him dated for years and I got to hear many awesome stories about your dad and his teammates. :)

Thanks!

He said he hasn't spoken him in years, but thats awesome!

Do you get treated like the son of a celebrity and is your family treated like a group of celebrities? Or are you just another dude doing his thing?

Most of my life me and my family have been treated as average people, but ever since the news about the new team, we've been getting a bit of attention.

How much of the movie is true?

The movie is very loosely based on real life, but the changes they made were understandable, as they needed to make it a comedy.

Who are your least favorite military superpowers from the 20th century?

Probably Nazi Germany. Jumping on the bandwagon, I know.

How popular is the bobsledding team in Jamaica?

What do you do for fun?

It isn't as appreciated as it is in other countries. I like to party a lot and I play a lot of video games. (Huge Mortal Kombat fan)

Wanna kiss my egg?

No problem. :*

Is it true Jamaicans smoke da weed mon?

Hahaha, of course.

What was John Candy like?

My Dad probably met him, but I have never. The only actor we knew personally was Malik Yob (He played Yul Brenner)

Was "Junior" really a jerk like he was portrayed in the movie?

Edit: Sorry, I meant the big guy, my memory is failing

Junior was based on Winston Watt, I think, and no, he was actually a cool guy.

What's your favorite thing about your father?

I like how determined he is. How willing he is to overcome every and all odds.

So are you going to start a Jamaican hockey team?

Hahaha, I wish.

How many Dogecoin do you personally have? What have you heard about Dogecoin in relation to Jamaica's Olympic bobsled team this year?

+/u/dogetipbot 500 doge

If you're looking for a place to spend your newfound Dogecoins, there's a good list at http://www.dogepages.com/

How do I accept these?

Dude your dad was listed on the wall of the Kingston airport wall on a list of notable Jamaicans, right next to Bob Marley

I know, I was very proud when I first saw that!

Do you have any cool bobsledding things on display in your house? Can we see them please?

The closest thing we have is this: http://i.imgur.com/YO0ADum.jpg

How often do you say you watch the movie. Same with your dad. Do you both still feel joy after watching it or have you guys gotten sick of it?

Believe it or not, I haven't the movie very many times, so no we aren't sick of it.

I feel a connection to your father. I was trained to pilot a bobsled by the same man, Pat Brown and I've sat in the original bobsled where your father sat. Tell him "Hi".

He says, "Hey. Pat is a good guy."

Is your dad still friends or in contact with the members of his bobsled team?

One of the members was his brother, with whom he is still very close with. It varies with the other members, but they're all mostly in contact.

If they remade the movie "Cool Running", who would you want to see play John Candy's role?

My dad says Jim Carey.

Have you ever been to calgary?? Where the dream came true?

I have, but it was when I was very young, so I don't have very many memories of it.

How ya doin mon?

I'm good, and you?

Do you do any sports?

I run 100m Sprints.