Curling Yoda: Scotties and The Choice

It was a very compelling week of curling in Mississauga. Kerri Einarson, the prohibitive favourite, pulled out an exciting victory with some late-end heroics to defeat a team that only got to the Scotties by the narrowest of margins.

A few random thoughts on the week, in no particular order:

• I felt – a lot – for Kaitlyn Lawes and team. What more do you have to do to win? They played almost 90% in the final and LOST. They will be proud, but that one must have hurt.

There will be a lot of soul-searching about her call on her first rock in the 11th end, but I think it was the right call. It just got caught in the late-game fudge and came up a few feet short.

• Recognition for curling in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA): Despite some truly awful weather early in the week, the crowds were pretty good, and the event felt well-run, and the athletes competed in great conditions.

Does this mean we might see more events coming to the most populous region in the country? It seems to me that if you want to grow the game, one might go to where all the people are!

• I was very impressed by the home team, Hailey Armstrong of Whitby (my home base for seniors). It was great learning week for them, there was an all-star nod for second Michaela Robert, and they were a heartbeat away from the playoffs.

• The Nova Scotia vs. Nova Scotia playoff game was a particularly nice story. Christina Black’s team, who are all phenomenal ambassadors of the sport, looked like big sisters during that game, and looked like they almost felt bad for beating the young Taylour Stevens foursome.

If you need an example of the support that exists withing the curling community, or an example of teaching life values through curling, look no further than the post-game hugs.

• I still feel that TSN is missing an opportunity by not providing a post-game show where pundits talk about the game. So much in sports these days is about the discussion. There is more coverage of people talking about hockey than there is hockey.

I’m not saying we need to rush all the way there, but showcasing some people talking about the game that was just aired with passion and hot takes seems like a way to further grow game interest. I can’t believe there is audience for curling but no audience for post-game thoughts.

Einarson’s shot in the 10th end of the final should make the Top 10 of the all-time list. Given the context, that was a stunner. She made it look easy, but it is not. The fact she won the game in 11 somehow makes it even more remarkable.

You can watch the shot at the top of this story.

* * * * * 

I am still becoming Yoda.

I find our national championships compelling. I went to three draws at the Scotties and swung by The Patch a few times more to soak up the atmosphere.

One thing that I realized this week – again – is I am sadly reaching the Yoda stage of my curling life, and not just because I am old and bald.

This week I found myself in many conversations with curlers talking about what it takes to play in national championships and what they need to do to get better. I find myself giving advice like: “Follow your heart, you must” or “Your skip you must ditch.”  

The most interesting theme of the conversations was “The Choice.” Increasingly, the pursuit of curling glory in Canada involves making a very conscious choice. For most of the Scotties competitors, the choice is a difficult one: how much of your life are you willing to devote to chasing the dream of the national championship?

I spoke to curlers just out of university, who are thinking of building careers and who are now learning that few employers look favorably on new employees who wants days and weeks off to chase dreams.

I spoke to slightly older curlers who recognize the strain it puts on their families and the support networks required to play at this level; the weekends away, the life events missed.

I spoke to curlers who recognize tough it is to compete on tour against international teams that are 100% dedicated to curling thanks to their Olympic/sponsor funding.

Every athlete at the Scotties this year has made the choice, in one way or another, and struggles with it.

To make that “all-in” choice, to commit to the travel, the practice, the single-mindedness while living in Canada means saying “no” to a lot of other things in life, like career and family. We will see more and more curlers have shorter windows of all-in. They might go hard go for four years, and then take a decade off. Or you go all-in and try to jump on board “Rock League” and make a living off of curling.

Sounds like fun, but it’s clearly not an easy choice for a young Canadian curler.  

But events like the Scotties, and the Brier, are why you make that choice. The rush of playing in front of a national television audience, and fans who care and recognize what it takes to win at that level is amazing. It is a fully absorbing experience. It’s like being a rock star for a week and maybe, just maybe, this makes the weekends and weekdays spent away from school/work/family all worthwhile.

I spoke to some of the rookies who admitted (over a beer) to being a bit overwhelmed by their experience. It is an emotional week, that no level of spieling can prepare you for.

One thing is clear… despite the motivation of the Scotties, THE CHOICE is likely harder today than it has ever been.