When an athlete gets charged with fraud for using banned drugs I will agree with you.
I’m not sure if I’m quite following you. I didn’t mean to tie it into criminal charges, but rather wrongdoing.
I’m not aware of any athlete being criminally charged for taking PED’s, even if they were illegal. Yet they have cheated the public, their teammates and the league. An explanation is deserved.
Chad Kelly wasn’t criminally charged for his sexual harrassment, yet we knew all about what happened because a civil suit was filed. Unlike taking PED’s or my next example, Kelly’s behaviour was an off field workplace activity and couldn’t possibly affect the outcome of a game. Chad also delivered a public mea culpa, although notably the Argos didn’t for the attempted cover up.
My last example is the most serious one of all, namely betting on games your own team plays in. For some 100 years anyone with even a minor knowledge of sports knows this is a hanging offense and will get you banned for life. It calls into question the integrity of the game. No exceptions. Yet we know little about what occurred with Shawn Lemon and both him and the Alouette organization have been disgraceful in denying, deflecting and whatabouting in relation to his behaviour, which behaviour if I remember correctly was not endorsed by you.
My point is that all wrongdoing in sports that affects the public should not be dealt with by a Star Chamber that leaves both the public and fellow athletes guessing and often the perpetrator unaccountable. If Justice is not seen to be done it is denied.
I just found this:
“Harris and her lawyers had trouble digesting the order that she couldn’t even practice alone, by herself, during her provisional suspension”.
That is absolutely insane.
https://www.thecurlingnews.com/news/briane-harris-is-throwing-rocks
Yes, not only insane - but possibly corrupt. If an athlete in football or hockey (or even baseball) is suspended for substance violations the athlete is usually restricted from playing (obviously) but also from practicing and/or training with their current team or teammates.
Doesn’t mean the athlete can’t go to a small town hockey rink to keep their skating skills and conditioning up or the ball player can’t go to a local field to play catch with some kids or hit some balls to the outfield.
In Ms. Harris’s case they may as well have told her she couldn’t train at a gym or even in the comfort of her own home.
The ruling went far too far. I think the primary reason Harris abided in this possibly corrupt ruling was she was so terrified of being BANNED FOR LIFE, she complied with everything they said - even the insane/corrupt stuff. Her legal representatives, even Curling Canada didn’t want to intercede on her behalf for the same reasons.
Very sad. Feel incredibly bad for B. Harris.
Feel bad for Shannon Birchard, too. For over half a decade they were the gold standard for front ends, not only in Canada, but in the entire curling world.
Two tall, strapping powerful women who had skipped in prior lives, both barely into their 30s. Now, Harris is sidelined by pregnancy so I doubt she’ll be featured as Team Alternate come Scotties time. Same for Birchard as her injury (some of it coming from her famous toe/tuck delivery) would prohibit her playing if called upon.
Don’t know who Einarson will draw into their lineup but I’m sure Burgess will be advocating for Lenentine, her former lead on Team Zacharias and the short-lived Team Chelsea Carey.
A front ender with sweeping power is what that team needs. Burgess could move up to 3rd if something happened to Valerie Sweeting (current 3rd) and Sweeting could gap fill for Einarson at skip as she has a rich skipping legacy. So I’m looking for Lauren Lenentine to be catapaulted into another Scotties as Team Einarson alternate. If not Lenentine, then either Emily Zacharias or Brittany Tan.
I also think most Scotties teams are competing for silver medal. It would come as a major surprise in Canadian Curling circles if Rachel Homan is denied her 5th Scotties title. She’s been mowing over everyone - including Einarson. So play for gold Kerri Einarson but know that Silver ain’t so bad.
This also goes to my earlier point of being open. I don’t know if the restriction on practicing alone was previously made public, but it is the first I heard of it. Draconian is an understatement. I wonder if they also mandated the colour of the clothing she could wear or which fork she had to use to eat? Another reason discipline must be fully open and public. That is to subject it to public scrutiny and temper such Orwellian nonsense. .
I would think part of it is about the assumption that the athlete is taking banned substances to improve their performance. Allowing them to practice their performance kinda goes against that.
Not saying I agree, but in some sports and with some other substances I can see the logic.
Back to actual pro curling - the Canadian Mechanic, Brad Jacobs, serving out his final years in pro curling as a hired gun, was edged via a spectacular last rock angle tapback by Scottish youngster Mr. Whyte.
Also notable, the happy Swedish go-getter Anna Hasselborg managed to toppled the Runaway Train known as Team Rachel Homan, putting a sudden stop to Homan’s unprecedented tournament winning streak. . . . . via a last rock draw to the 4 foot. . . . . although the draw may not have been required as Homan may have come up a half inch short on her desperate freeze attempt to an open Swedish stone in the side 8 foot.
The first time in a very long while I’ve witnessed Homan drop under 80% in a curling match. Hasselborg played the killer role usually reserved for Homan, curling in the high 80s
FINAL NOTE ON THE BRIANE HARRIS SUSPENSION: We the People would like to know the names of everyone on that international suspension in sports committee. These people almost destroyed the career of a reputable canadian curling star, let alone her mental health and life. Wonder if that Manitoba deadbeat Resby K. Coutts was on that committee. Wouldn’t surprise if he was.
Here is the TSN write up on this weekend’s action you described:
Random Weekend Curling News:
- Hammerin’ Kate Cameron wins Manitoba ladies championship with a last rock victory over perennial pest, the hyperactive Beth Peterson. Peterson had control of the game until she flubbed a simple hit facing two in the 8th. . . . allowing Cameron to take control.
- Glen Howard’s son “Opie” was upset in the Ontario men’s final
- Krista McCarville, Canada’s defensive curling specialist won North Ontario for the umpteenth time.
- Expect the mercurial Manitoba skip Kerri Einarson to name former Chelsea Carey/Mackenzie Zacharias/Jennifer Jones front-ender Lauren Lenentine as her alternate player at next month’s Scotties. Lenentine comes in as she’s well known to Karlee Burgess, the current Einarson 2nd. Lenentine and Burgess manned the front end for Chelsea Carey, sweep-wise but Burgess threw 3rd stones. Should be a good team if Einarson doesn’t blow up emotionally and go into a week long severe funk. Pretty much the only team in the field who could give Rachel Homan and her mean girls a run for their money.
The Brier field has now been set:
This is a great field. One of the best in years - especially from a Manitoba perspective with Carruthers, Dunstone & McEwen (repping Sask’n). No more Howard Family Collective as both elderly legends have gracefully bowed out.
Koe & Gushue are still mega-threats as both skips can make a wide variety of intricate shots seemingly on command.
Where is Brad Jacobs situated in this great field. Also nice to see Reid Carruthers didn’t waste any time picking up top free agent BJ Neufeld after he was shockingly cut loose.
Should be about 7 teams competing for the 3 medals with Gushue, Koe & Jacobs the favorites for GOLD.
I would say that this isn’t even fair.
Its fair. Jones is now part of the Sportsnet broadcast team, so she needed an official capacity other than “former 6-time champion” to show up under.
Homan has had over a dozen coaches during her illustrious career. Most of them are big names, but most act as sock puppets as Homan is pretty obstinate about her team’s direction. Former 3rd Emma Miskew always waits 8 seconds to see what Homan and current 3rd Tracy Fleury are up to - then Miskew skates into the house and doles out her vast wisdom.
Jones might actually work against Homan - as Jones is pretty obstinate and self-assured herself. Could be a bit of a clash but I think Homan is still the overwhelming favorite to win.
Wild Thing, aka Kerri Einarson has re-built a remarkable team after losing her twin towers (one to injury, one to drugs) so she’s a distant second but as her monicker goes, Einarson can be on a different planet some games. Homan is the most intense and ultra-focused woman curler I’ve ever seen in 55+ yrs watching the game.
do curlers get paid just to compete???
Professional curlers have various forms of income:
- Before any prize monies are won, the better curling teams are usually able to convince local or regional companies with a TV curling demographic to sponsor their teams - ie. with patches on sweaters, pants, curling shoes, other apparel, etc.
- Once sponsorship is secured - teams go after the prize jackpot in various local, regional, national and international curling events. The better teams (men + womens) can yield upwards of $500,000 in prize awards during a wealthy season
- Curlers and/or their teams can earn extra income in various other ways: writing books, TV or Radio commercials, podcasts. special appearances at curling shows or hi-attendance events, etc.
However, don’t think this is a get rich quick scheme. Remember, its only the top 10 to 15 teams in the mens and women’s games that get to confirm hi-paying sponsors, a lesser percentage take home the bulk of the prize monies. So, for example a curling team finds a couple sponsors for $80,000 a year, rake in $150,000 in prize money and get another $25,000 for appearances, autographs, special events, etc. Sounds like a fortune - but its adds up to just over $250,000/yr. Remember, too the teams divvy up that number with 5 players, 1 coach, others.
With 6 on the payroll, each player takes home $40,000, and thats before income taxes, CPP, club fees and travel/hotel factors in. That could easily be $10,000 to $20,000 per anum. Lots of coin - but divided so many ways makes the money kinda paltry.