By Andrea Myland
A dustpan, apron and wig are not part of the standard curling uniform, but this is how Ottawa Sun columnist Earl McRae showed up to play against the Ontario women’s team. He claimed to be dressed how they should be. . . like a chamber maid.
“I had brought all my own equipment and thought I would come looking like a chambermaid since curling is so close to housework,” said McRae. “But they wouldn’t let me use the broom or dustpan which handicapped me right away.”
The idea for this game occurred while the Ontario team was in Regina at last week’s Scott Tournament of Hearts. Audrey Frey, who plays lead, heard about an article McRae wrote that said curling is as much an Olympic sport as snowball fighting.
“I strongly disagreed with what he was saying and since I was writing an article for the Sun at the time I thought I would challenge him to a game,” said Frey. “Everyone can have their own opinion but it should be based on knowledge.”
Frey’s teammates agreed but they said they didn’t think it would help much.
“His comments didn’t surprise me,” said Anne Merklinger, who plays skip. “But, one experience is not going to help him understand playing a sport at an elite level.”
Merklinger lead her team to their first silver medal at this years Scott Tournament of Hearts, the national championships for women’s curling.
The team lost with extra-ends in the finals 7-6 against Alberta’s Cathy Borst. On their way to the finals Merklinger eliminated Canadian and Olympic champion Sandra Schmirler.
Before the fun game began, McRae along with Theresa Breen, who plays third, were hooked up to a heart monitor so their activity level could be monitored. Over 50 spectators came to watch the challenge as McRae played lead along with Anne Merklinger at skip, Theresa Breen at third and Patti McKnight at second. They were up against Rhonda Preston’s team.
The game featured many amusing moments. McRae took out a pillow and layed on the ice claiming to be bored while his teammates said he needed a rest. Jerry, the ice maker, also came out to “bless him” with water after McRae had spilled some on the ice.
After three ends of play the score was 7-2 for Preston’s team and McRae’s heart had averaged 162 while Breen’s didn’t pass 130 throughout the game. An average resting heart rate for a male over forty is around 75. Although his teammates and spectators commented on how much he was sweating, McRae claimed that it was from water he had dumped on his head.
“I did not think I would sweat as much as I did. However, if I shovelled my driveway I would sweat,” said McRae. “I must confess there was a method behind my madness. I poured water over my head so no one would know if it was sweat or water, it was a tactical play.”
But, after the game, McRae’s opinion had not changed.
“I had fun but I still don’t think you need to sweep. A long time ago someone decided that curling was too passive and it needed to be energized so they added sweeping. They say that it melts the ice but if no one sweeps then both teams would be even. It’s not like the rock won’t go down the ice without sweeping it.”
Spectator and five-year curler Michelle Austin says although McRae was ill-informed she thinks he had a different motive behind his comments.
“I don’t think it’s really about curling. It’s about getting readers and it’s typical McRae and as long as we remember who he is then it doesn’t take away from curling,” says Austin.
After the game, a presentation was given to the Ontario women’s team who had just returned from the Scott Tournament of Hearts. McRae was then presented a Rideau Curling Club shirt.
“Even though we may differ on what we think curling is, how many of us could say that we are number one or two in the nation or even the world at what we do? These women here can and deserve to be congratulated for it.”