You know those posters you see that proclaim "Everything I ever needed to know about life I learned in kindergarten" or "Everything I ever needed to know about life I learned from my Siberian Husky?"
Well, I've got another one -- Everything I ever needed to know about life I learned from watching Kerry Burtnyk curl.
The glare of the Brier media can be difficult for any skip, but Kerry Burtnyk has showed why he’s a class guy despite struggling on the ice this week.
Sounds strange, maybe, in a week where Burtnyk struggled so mightily at this 2008 Tim Hortons Brier, losing five of his last seven games to find himself eliminated at the conclusion of the round-robin last night.
But that's the whole point -- I think it's precisely the way the man conducted himself amid all the adversity this week that has made watching him so valuable.
Now, normally I hate these kinds of stories, where the sportswriter tries to draw some big life lessons out of some athlete's performance on the field of play. It's always a stretch and generally gives the athlete way too much credit. Plus, I hate the mushy stuff.
And the other thing you should probably know is that Burtnyk doesn't talk to me, at least not personally. The last time he granted me a one-on-one interview was way back in 2000. The reasons don't really matter anymore -- basically we disagreed about a couple of stories -- and we've evolved a professional relationship over the years that's allowed both of us to function as athlete and journalist.
We speak amicably in media scrums, but we'll never be close. And I don't take it personally -- hey, even I don't like talking to myself.
But the fact is that for all our difficulties over the years, I have profound respect for the man and the curler. And I was reminded why this week as Burtnyk put on a little clinic of life lessons -- if not necessarily a curling clinic -- that would look great on one of those "Everything I ever needed to know" posters.
Here goes:
"ö Keep an even keel.
Remember back when Burtnyk was 4-0? And then remember when he missed his last shot of the fifth end against Saskatchewan last night to give up a steal of four -- and all hope of a playoff spot? I defy anyone to identify one iota of difference in the man's behaviour on or off the ice. He doesn't get too high when things are going good and he doesn't get too low when things are in the crapper.
A guy could do worse than to emulate that in life.
"öBe patient with strangers.
Do you know how many times this week that Burtnyk has had to retell the story to yet another reporter about why he has that scar on his head? And yet instead of rolling his eyes or cutting the story short, Burtnyk's patiently told the tale, in its entirety, each and every time.
"ö Take responsibility for your actions.
Burtnyk was the first one this week to take the blame for his team's troubles. He lamented his problems with draw weight and openly admitted what's been obvious -- that he's been less than his best this week.
He gently pointed out yesterday that many of his shots haven't been the easiest this week, but that was as close as he came to stating something equally obvious -- that Manitoba's troubles this week were a team effort.
"ö Never give up.
It would have been easy for Burtnyk to have thrown in the towel heading into Thursday, having lost four of his last five games. And it would've been easy to have thrown in the towel against Quebec Thursday afternoon, when his team yielded a steal of two in the first end.
But instead of "woe is me," Burtnyk laughed off the steal -- literally -- and then dug deep to rescue a win and at least live to fight into last night against Saskatchewan.
"öBe grateful.
Burtnyk felt badly as the week wore on that he wasn't able to reward the hometown fans for all their dedication. He brought it up several times that he wished he could've given the fans more to cheer about -- and he seemed to genuinely mean it.
There was no need to apologize. It was a good ride, for all of us. It's just too bad it had to end so soon.
paul.wiecek.freepress.mb.ca
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