Waiting, watching the hardest part

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This article was published 21/12/2008 (6360 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CAMROSE, Alta. — It is quite a cast of characters perched along the players bench, biding their time, waiting to compete.

Curlers aren’t used to sitting idly by, anticipating their turn to come up. That’s unless they’re in the lounge of their local club, quaffing a pint or two, standing by for the next draw.

This wait is completely different.

In the expectancy of their name being called at the Continental Cup of Curling, curlers line the cold players benches of the Edgeworth Centre, cheering on their teammates. Some are on edge, others not so much, in the North America vs. the World challenge.

Kevin Martin’s lead, Ben Hebert, and third, John Morris — both fierce competitors — look more prepared to leap the boards to join in on a hockey brawl as they sit or stand, anxiously cheering on their North American teammates.

“Most of us play a lot of other sports like football, baseball and hockey, where there’s a lot of action going on,” Morris said. “You’re chomping at the bit, and you’d much rather be playing than watching.

“But we’re friends with all the European teams, so you won’t see any line brawls, here,” chuckled Morris, who adds wonderful colour to a made-for-TV event like this.

Hebert’s another.

“It’s a totally different aspect. That’s why the players like it. It’s not the norm. Just to go to a normal bonspiel, you’re not going to see me coming out and watching any other games. I’m in bed sleeping,” laughed Hebert.

“Or you’d be up having a few beers, but we have to play tonight, so we have to keep it sober.”

The role of a non-player is that of a cheerleader Hebert noted, while sitting out a draw and rooting on his mates.

“Team camaraderie, trying to cheer the girls to victories, they’re in some battles out there,” he said.

“I’ve never played in an event like this, where you’re left to cheer on other competitors. Obviously, you want to do well so they cheer for you and, obviously, you want them to do well so you can get a little rowdy.”

And it didn’t take long as Morris, Hebert and teammates made a quick trip to a Dollarama store between draws and turned up with hand-clackers and old-fashioned blow horns on Day 1.

“We went out and got some noisemakers, because the hand starts to hurt when you bang them on the boards,” smiled Hebert, who attended the 2002 Continental Cup back home in Regina when he was still a junior.

Yes, the roaring game isn’t the boring game as the North Americans are livening it up.

Marc Kennedy — Morris and Hebert’s other rinkmate — and Kevin Koe’s last-rock thrower Blake MacDonald are more the patient types, awaiting their turn, politely clapping and urging their North American mates on. But whatever your role or personality, it’s all turned into well-intended fun.

“Kennedy is definitely the guy on our team, like the team manager, where he keeps us all in order. Bennie and I are more extroverted, I guess,” smiled Morris. “Marc keeps us all together, the level-headed one, but you’ll still get a rise out of him, too.

“Same with that Koe team; we’re all here to have a good time. Blake might be a little more low key, but you get a rye or two in him and he’ll be firing it up, too,” Morris laughed.

And the fans certainly appreciated the emotions being poured out along the players benches. The roaring game is not the boring game, but it is the waiting game in this unique format that pits the World against North America in a Ryder Cup format.

It’s just what you make of your time off.

“Oh yeah, we livened it up a bit,” said Morris. “It’s a little different, like (Day 1) we didn’t play till 7 p.m. and we were up at 8 a.m. watching.

“But it’s unique and it’s all positive. It’s new for us, you get a little chilly actually, but we brought hand warmers, foot warmers and toques. But at an event like this, it’s pretty helpful to have some support on the sidelines.”

— Canwest News Service