One of our very own will have a chance to become a contestant on this fall’s sixth season of “The Apprentice.”

NBC is making a weak cross-marketing attempt between the showing of the 2006 Olympic Winter Games and promoting the fall premiere of “The Apprentice 6” by allowing America to choose one U.S. Olympic athlete to be a contestant on the show.

The 12 potential candidates include winter Olympians from a variety of sporting events, including snowboarding, bobsled and speed skating.

Seth Wescott, a snowboarder from Farmington, is among those viewers can vote for.

The voting began after the Olympic opening ceremonies last week and isn’t scheduled to end until after the closing ceremony Sunday, Feb. 26.

“The Apprentice 5” premieres the following night at 9 p.m.

Don’t get me wrong, I admire our athletes for what they do and wish them the best of luck in their Olympic endeavors, but are they really ready to be “Apprentice” candidates?

NBC says on its Web site that they “have their own reasons why they would be the perfect Apprentice.”

Wescott certainly appears qualified. At age 29, Wescott is part-owner of the former Sugarloaf Brewing Co. and also has real estate potential – something The Donald likes.

In May 2001, he bought 21 acres in Carrabassett Valley. He has cleared the land, landscaped more than 2 acres, and plans to build a house there this summer.

It’s apparent that he’s not afraid to take risks – something else The Donald likes. Wescott’s daring trips down the slope have resulted in a number of injuries throughout his snowboarding career, yet he has persevered.

I’m slightly disappointed that NBC is using our outstanding athletes as marketing gimmicks, although I suppose milk, Nike and other industries have been doing it for years. It just shows you how reality-driven America has become.

I’m not convinced that the Olympics should be used as the place to promote reality TV, but it would be nice to show Trump just how business-savvy we hicks from Maine can be.

To cast your vote, go to www.NBColympics.com. When you scroll to the bottom, you’ll see where to click. The site offers biographies for each Olympian and potential “Apprentice” candidate.

Let’s get a Mainer in there to show ’em how it’s done.