Play for Canada, Brad

I just came home from the World Men's Curling Championship in Vegas.  It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.  So many "once in a lifetime" moments.  Memories that will last a lifetime.  Unfortunately, for my blog readers, it will mean I will be blogging about it for a long time.  It also gave me perspective.  It turns out the whole world is not the uberfan that I am.  I really thought that everyone was the curling fan that I am.  Apparently, it is not the case.

My first clue was the parade of nations into the Arena from the Orleans hotel.  As volunteers, my partner and I had access to the staging area in the Hotel.  No one else took advantage of this and I don't know why.  As an uber fan, it was worth the price of admission to the whole event.  All the athletes gathered a half hour before the march began.

That is where my love affair with Team Korea began.  They are the cutest nicest young men ever.  They were so personable despite struggling with the English language.  We talked to them every single day after whether between draws at the Arena or in the Hotel.  Just amazing young men and so much fun to be around.

We talked to the members of Team Canada.  Forget the "Up Close and Personal" official event, we had them to ourselves for several minutes.  I didn't take full advantage of this because frankly, I was too excited to form a sentence.  We also met and talked to the Show Girls.  These two girls had down the three Continental Cups in Vegas.  Again, we talked to them everyday as well.  It turns out that these two young ladies are also extremely nice intelligent young women and nothing what I would have expected.  We also talked to the Pipers but that was the only time we saw them.

John Shuster saw me trying to take a picture of him and came over to talk to us.  We spent about 12 minutes talking to him exclusively.  We talked about so many things and watch for future blogs where I talk about that.  In this first minute that I was talking to him, he casually asked if I would do him a favour and hold something for him as he casually handed me the Gold Medal.  Yes, I held the Gold Medal.  He gave me some inside information that I will share later.

And, then the March began.  We felt guilty for being right behind the athletes, but, nobody else was there so we took the opportunity.  We paraded through the casino.  It seemed like there were a lot of fans lining the parade route, but, there were really less than 100.  The entourages for the teams were lining the parade route and then joined the parade.  For about 50 feet, there was no one lining the route other than slot machines.  People were playing the slots and didn't even raise an eyebrow as Olympic Gold Medalists Brad Gushue and John Shuster almost brushed their shoulders going by.  No one even recognized the sexiest man alive, Dave Murdoch, as he joined the March.   I literally could not believe it.  Later, in the poker room, I talked to probably 100 poker players and only 2 had even heard of curling, let alone were planning to come watch this once in a lifetime experience.

I came to realize that curling is a marginalized sport that has very little popularity outside Canada.  (And perhaps isn't even popular in some pockets of Canada.)  This may have been one of the hardest realizations of my life.

It turns out that most curlers are not the Superstars that they are in my life.  Jeff Stoughton was next to me for a couple of hours poolside.  Despite my ability to move because I was so awestruck, no one other than curlers, recognized him.

On the first evening draw, Team Canada lost to Team Scotland.  Gushue said in his press conference that he was shocked by the loss.  I was there and I wasn't shocked.  He didn't play well.  The only reason it was close was due to Mark Nichols.  I actually thought someone should verify that he had a pulse.  He was a machine out there making impossible shot after impossible shot.  Gushue knew he wasn't playing well.  Between ends, he would walk off the ice to try and "shake it off" and not huddle with his team.  He did what I used to do when I lost, blame the ice despite no one else complaining about it.  It was a side of Gushue that I had never seen.  He was pissed.

After the game, we happened to be walking out of the Arena at the same time as the Gushue Team.  Walker, Gallant, and Nichols were changed into their shorts and t-shirts and were walking together chatting.  Gushue walked 10 feet ahead of them still wearing his uniform and had the air of "don't come within 10 feet" vibe going on.  Some fan did try to burst his bubble and asked him how he felt after losing.  Gushue didn't even make eye contact as he walked by the fan.

At the time, I thought what a stupid fan.  How do you think he felt?  I felt bad for Gushue being harassed.

After some thought, I have changed my position.  Yes, it was a damn stupid question but it was one question from one fan.  If he didn't want the attention, he should have changed out of his uniform.  I really believe he wouldn't be recognized.  After all, he is playing this week for Team Canada.  This is not just another bonspiel where you are only accountable to your sponsors.  You are representing Canada.  Your trip, etc, is being paid for by the Curling Federation of Canada which means local curlers from all over Canada are paying with their dues for you to represent our country.

Yeah, it sucks to be representing our country and not being able to have any time of your own, but, you did choose this life.  No one forced you to be a competitive curler.  And, although you are probably the most famous and most loved curler in Canada, your fame is fleeting.  You actually need your fan base more than we need you.  You actually need to spend the extra two minutes with your fans.

Although I was one foot away from Edin, I didn't meet him.  I did meet everyone else of the Swedish team.  Edin said in his first interview that he would not be focused on his game for the whole week and was not going to partake in any of the Vegas distractions.  He said that was for his younger team-mates as he had been in Vegas three times prior.  He stayed at a different hotel so he didn't have the awkwardness of running into fans in the elevator, etc.  If Gushue didn't want to be harassed by his fans, he could have made that choice as well.

Instead, he chose to make the most of his Vegas experience by bringing his family including his two precious Princesses, age 6 and 7.  These two little girls are beautiful and I recognized them immediately from their numerous appearances in crowd shots on TSN.  They have been photographed many times.  Again, I understand that he spends a great deal of time on the road and away from his family.  Again, no one is forcing him to curl.  He is choosing to sacrifice his family time.  Like I said, on most trips, he is just Team Gushue.  On this trip, he was Team Canada.  Wearing the Maple Leaf on your back is an honour, but also a burden, but, one that you compete for and want.  With great honour, there comes great responsibility.

So, the next day, (ironically April Fool's Day) we were in the hot tub enjoying the plus 30 temperature while aware that it was -30 back home.  We were chatting to everyone in the hot tub as we usually do while on vacation.  Brad came into the hot tub with his two young daughters.  A middle aged couple tried to join them asking about the game with Scotland.  He bowed his head like he didn't hear them.  I tried to ask him if it was frustrating that he couldn't even have any private time with his daughters loud enough so the couple heard and got the hint but Brad also bowed his head and pretended he didn't hear.  I was a little offended because I was on his side, but, whatever.

Then, an old man tried to take a picture with his phone and Brad said, "no pictures" very curtly and very sharply.  At the time, I felt, oh, poor Brad, he can't even have a private moment with his daughters.  Now, I think differently.  If he actually wanted a private moment with his daughters, he should have stayed at a different hotel.

I happen to know the old man who was trying to take a picture (with his flip phone).  He is 85 years old and his whole life is curling.  He is alone and travels by himself to curling events all over the world for the last 20 years.  He happens to suck the life out of any room that he enters, but he is harmless and he is in the sunset of his life and I don't think he has many more World Championships in his future.  I doubt his flip phone even has a camera feature or that he would be able to use it.  Sadly, he is part of the dying breed known as curling fans.

You could have heard a pin drop in the hot tub from then on.  Everyone was afraid to talk, period.  My partner and I whispered to each other so that we didn't disturb the Great Gushue.  I thought they would never leave.  (His two under 12 children spent more than the recommended 10 minutes, by the way.)  My partner and I left the hot tub and returned to the lounge chairs to tan.  The Gushue family spent most of the afternoon poolside while Brad regrouped.  Everyone left him alone.

Not only did we leave him alone, but the people who actually recognized him kept silent.  We didn't talk amongst ourselves.  We wanted to give him space to regroup.  The next afternoon, Gushue made short work of Team Italy.  I was already in the hot tub when the team came in to the hot tub.  I quickly left so that I didn't intrude on their time alone.  The next afternoon while at the pool, I was going to refill our drinks when I thought I heard my partner calling to me and turned around.  I happened to literally run into Brad and his two girls.  I felt like a stalker and apologized profusely.  But, he was trailing me too closely.  It wasn't actually my fault.  It didn't matter.  I felt badly and we left the pool area.

Now, I am thinking differently.  My partner and I actually paid for our flight, we paid for our hotel, we paid for our meals, and we paid for our tickets.  Yes, it was the World Championship, but it was also our holiday and an expensive holiday for many fans, given the shape of our dollar.  Part of our experience was hanging out at the pool getting sun.  Our mojo was kind of ruined because we were Team Canada space.  Again, if he was just competing there as Team Gushue, I could respect that totally.  But, he was there as Team Canada.  He should have been prepared to talk to all fans and if he wasn't he should have stayed in his room or stayed at a different hotel.  Actually, he should have been thanking us for our support rather than rudely giving us the brush off.

Curling fans are a dying breed and Team Canada needs to understand that they need us more than we need him.  There are many teams lined up that would do anything for the chance to represent our country and interact with fans.  It is really just common sense.