CLOSET CURLING FANS
Although they are better known for other endeavours, the three people listed below have a soft spot for the roaring game. It’s just that nobody knew!
Wayne Gretzky—hockey’s all-time scoring leader is a devoted curling fan who said he regularly follows the Brier and other events. And he admitted to another secret in a column he wrote in the National Post. “You’d be surprised how many National Hockey League players can be found sitting in their hotel rooms in the middle of winter watching [curling] somewhere.”
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper—Harper became the first prime minister to sit through an entire draw at the Brier, attending an afternoon at the 2007 event in Hamilton. Before the match, he met and had his photo taken with Kevin Martin’s Alberta team. Harper, who said he’s not a curler, still loves to watch the Canadian championship on a regular basis. “I’ve been following it for years and back about a decade ago when I was travelling a lot I happened to be in Winnipeg when they were having the Brier,” he said, “and I made a point of going. Then I decided every year to schedule a business trip to be wherever the Brier was.”
Toby Keith—the award-winning country singer said he fell in love with curling while following it at the 2006 Olympics. During a concert stop in Nashville, Tennessee, Keith decided he would take that passion one step further. He learned there was a curling facility in town and booked some ice for him and his band to play. “They’re calling themselves the redneck curlers,” commented Nashville Curling Club president Sean Gerster, who also admitted that Keith was a fast learner and showed promise. “He said he was going to try and qualify for the 2010 Olympics.”
Bruce Springsteen—the Boss reportedly rents out curling clubs when on the road. He is known as a keen watcher of curling when it’s on television, and is an improving rock tosser.
Curling Fact
The first European team to win the world championship was Kjell Oscarius of Sweden, who won in 1973.