Registered: Mar 2005
Location: St. Albert
Posts: 839

Ron Northcott is on this week's Curling Legends Podcast

http://curlinglegends.ca/

Also got me thinking about a Mount Rushmore of Curling. If you were to carve the likeness of 4 Curlers onto a mountain, who would you choose?

I'm going to keep it Canadian only (since they chose US Presidents only for the original). I'm also going to suggest choosing men's and women's separately, so as not to confuse the issue. I'm also going to keep it at players who predominantly skipped. Guess you could also put up a Rushmore of Lead through Skip, if you want, but I won't.

Playing success is primary consideration, but other contribution to the sport should also be considered (revolutionary strategy, coaching, builder, commentator, character, etc).

I'm also going to suggest we begin with players after the start of the slide and, more importantly, the inverted corn broom (1958). Those days of light sweeping to keep snow off the ice don't count. Sadly, that leaves Ken Watson and Matt Baldwin off the mountain.

Womens:
Vera Pezer, Colleen Jones, Sandra Schmirler and Jennifer Jones

Any argument to make here?


Mens:
Candidates...
Ernie Richardson, Ron Northcott, Don Duguid, Al Hackner, Pat Ryan, Kevin Martin, Jeff Stoughton, Russ Howard, Glenn Howard, Ed Werenich, Wayne Middaugh, Kerry Burtnyk, Paul Gowsell, Kevin Koe, Hector Gervais, Ed Lukowich, Rick Folk, Paul Savage

Whew. Did I miss anyone?

Here are 2 different Rushmores, Cold Hearted Killers and Indelible Characters...

Cold Hearted Killers
Ernie Richardson, Pat Ryan, Kevin Martin and ....?

Ernie because he is "The King". Pat because he changed the game, and then won again (albeit as a third) after it changed. Kevin Martin because he turned the game into a profession.

For the last spot, you could make a case for Russ Howard, (or brother Glenn), Jeff Stoughton, Ron Northcott and Don Duguid. Northcott has 3 Brier wins to Russ and Duguid's 2, and you could say his aggressive style of play was revolutionary (though Alfie Phillips and Terry Braunstein can also make those claims). Glenn has 2 as a skip and 2 as a third, and 7 runner-ups (3 as a skip). Jeff has 3 as a skip and 2 runner ups. Russ and Duguid both became commentators. Jeff is just starting his post game career in the sport. Glenn may not be finished yet!

Indelible Characters
Ed Werenich, Ed Lukowich, Paul Gowsell, Al Hackner

You could make a case for Gervais and Middaugh as well. Lukowich is in because of his involvement with starting the WCT, The Olympics, The Curling Book and his great 80's instructional video . You can argue Paul's single Brier appearance and 0 wins, but his shifting of the game to push brooms and everything else still probably lands him on this Rushmore.

Thoughts?

Last edited by milobloom on 02-21-17 at 10:36PM

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Ken Watson
Ernie Richardson
Sandra Schmirler
Kevin Martin

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Registered: Jan 2006
Location: BC
Posts: 156

It makes me happy that there are other curling geeks out there that also think of this stuff. Love the podcast btw.

I feel that the Mt. Rushmore should be more than just the 4 best skips. Their contribution, or impact on the game should also be factored in. However, I believe there are no wrong answers.

MENS
Kevin Martin – obvious reasons. Any list without him would be incomplete.

Ernie Richardson – First to win 4 briers. Has become a larger than life curling figure.

R. Howard – 2 Brier wins, multiple finals, Olympic gold, helped bring in the free guard zone, announcing career. Unfortunately, I feel that you cannot have Russ and Glen, and although arguably Glen has had a greater career, I have to give it to Russ.

Randy Ferbey – More Brier wins than anyone. Played on 2 of the most dominant teams of the 80’s and 2000’s. Popularized the zone system for sweeping. One of the better porn stashes in curling.

Who I considered

Wayne Middaugh – won Briers at 2nd, 3rd, and skip.
Ken Watson – The first instructor of the game
Ed Werenich


WOMANS
Jennifer Jones
Colleen Jones
Sandra Schmirler
Vera Pezer

The woman’s seems so much easier. Buy why does Joyce McKee not get as much recognition?

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quote:

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The woman’s seems so much easier. Buy why does Joyce McKee not get as much recognition? [/B]

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Last edited by milobloom on 02-25-17 at 01:23AM

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