Registered: Dec 2008
Location:
Posts: 10

Just watched Team Shantz and Team Craig roll over the opposition at Senior Provs (okay, Penny had to make a tough draw thru port FTW, but still), congrats to those teams and congrats to Comox Valley on a heck of an event (sure, I'm biased!).

So let's see....

Junior Girls
Junior Boys
Womens
Senior Womens
Senior Mens

... and the second-place Mens team in BC (way to f$%k it up Monty!).....

5 out of 6 ain't bad!

Can I get a "hell yeah" for Vancouver Island curlers?!!?

Come and get us bitches!

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Not Yet
Location:
Posts: N/A

Excuse me. Where did the discussion thread about BC playdowns go? You know, the one where Morris's eligibility was being discussed.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: 209.121.225.249

Registered: Apr 2007
Location:
Posts: 83

It's in the past where it belongs

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Not Yet
Location:
Posts: N/A

For the select few bitter BC curlers out there who have been beating this John Morris residency issue to death. Please allow me to shed a little insight.

I work with John and have for several years at Chestermere Fire Service. As most of his family is in Ottawa, he has made mention on several occasions on how the closest thing he has to a family in Alberta is the group of guys he works with at the firehall, as a result we are privvy to the real John Morris. Not the guy the media portrays or the guy he is made out to be in some of these forums. I can vouch that John is an extremely hard worker, a great leader, and a very humble person... he doesn't even like to ever make mention of his curling when at work... actually even quite shy when it comes to his accomplishments.

John made a very difficult decision last year when he parted ways with long-time teammates of the Kevin Martin rink. He explained losing his heart and soul for the game and decided to play with a group of guys from BC who he had been friends with on tour for many years. He knew that this was going to be a big challenge to still reach the goal of repping Canada but he knew the team would all be committed and there was no other guys out there he would want to win more with. In December they came excruciatingly close in making an improbable run to the Olympic tournament final. Determining that their team had too much potential to be done after half the season, they inquired with the BC curling powers that be what would be required of them in order to legally compete in Brier qualifying. After a little debate, they decide to do everything legally required of them and pursue this option.

JOhn inquired about part time employment with a fishing charter called Good Time Dave's out of Victoria BC and had a letter drafted by his employer and is going to be doing Charters this spring and summer, they are booked. John usually hangs out in BC for about a month every sumer and does a lot of camping in the interior and fishes for a few weeks on Vancouver Island so this seemed like a good fit. The fishing season is very slow from the months of October-April and combined with the fact that John was competing at curling during most of the time, hosting Charters during the season did not make sense.

I can tell you that John felt awkward about repping BC this year, he lives in Alberta and was really not comfortable with it. There were even calls into the fire hall here asking why John was wearing a BC jacket at the Brier and rightfully so. As i've heard this happens quite a bit all over Canada, The Canadian governing body of curling needs to step up and make a clear cut decision on this matter to help alleviate the pressure put on curlers and provincial bodies.

I can also tell you this, John has booked at least several charters already and is heading to Victoria over the next few months to fulfill these obligations. As much as you fellas like to judge Mo about not having class or integrity, he could not live with himself if he did not fulfill his work requirements of him by BC. If you are friends with John on facebook (which I sure hope you don't consider yourself a friend) or follow him on facebook, he has been promoting these fishing charters.



To see some more info of this monster of a man you are making of John, check out the following link... http://www.curling.ca/blog/2014/03/...nd-big-sisters/


All he has done is start the Big Brothers program in his hometown of Chestermere and become a Big Brother for over 2 years, volunteer at the local junior program whenever he has weekends off from this tour season/work. And raise over 13k for Big Brothers Calgary and area through the fundraising of the curling calendar. And he wouldn't ever want an ounce of credit for any of this!
I have one question for you fellas from BC who have a hate on for Mo... what have you done for the game lately? Besides come up with excuses on this website as to why you can't seem win to catch or break? Time to take a long look in the mirror.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: 184.69.218.54

Registered: Apr 2014
Location: ottawa
Posts: 14

Amen for this guy ^ John's one of the most passionate great leaders in our sport. I also love the fact that he has chosen not to respond to this utterly stupid banter. The guy did what he did WITHIN THE RULES! He's working this summer in B.C. END OF STORY. If you want to win championships like John and be as successful as John, WORK AS HARD AS JOHN.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Not Yet
Location:
Posts: N/A

If anyone is to blame for his integrity being questioned, I suggest its Morris who should look in the mirror.

Why wait forever to announce who his BC employer is? There was no need to keep it secret. And, if this indeed going to happen, why wouldn't his employer have promoted it publicly. Cmon, you have an Olympic gold medalist as a celebrity guide and there's no mention of it anywhere on your website?

And if he felt 'awkward' about repping BC then why did he? The original announcement of his play was for the Olympic trials only, not BC provincials. There's no need to lay this at the feet of the CCA either. The exemption form is very clear about the reasons which one may apply. And a part time, post season job isn't one of them. And you cant seriously tell us he had no team possibilities in Alberta.

Had he truly relocated here none of this would be discussed. He'd be welcome as a great addition not just for the sport, but too the local community he settled in.

Obviously you feel the need to defend your friend. And no one questions his efforts for charity-all of which were in Alberta. Its also worth noting that regardless of the personal feelings of the competitors, he was treated respectfully at our provincials.

However, we have every right to question what is obvious to everyone-a very questionable situation that affects our province.. We pay our dues and representing our province is our right. If we wish to make noise about it, we will, whether it upsets you or not.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: 209.121.225.220

Registered: Jun 2011
Location: Brandon, MB
Posts: 16

What does the John Morris residency have to do with the success of the curlers on the island?

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Not Yet
Location:
Posts: N/A

quote:

---

Originally posted by SendInTheClowns


Him playing in BC meant the Island Curlers couldn't go the easy way to win the BC Men's title. The whiners resort to trashing him on the Internet boards instead of practicing more to maybe beat him.

---

Report this post to a moderator | IP: 209.141.201.135

Registered: Not Yet
Location:
Posts: N/A

I've based past comments about the situation based on a hard look at available facts and constantly changing situations. I don't believe for one second that what transpired is lily white. All the evidence points, in my opinion, to something very wrong taking place in BC and that there are no innocent parties. And if Gerry wishes to continue censoring posts, well its his website.

The only thing we need to know about Dave Eves is that he is supposedly Morris's employer-a fact yet to be confirmed by anyone. (Morris has only tweeted to contact Eves for fishing tours, not that he is an actual guide. And Eves makes no mention anywhere of Morris working for him) However, dirty.com is no site worth quoting or linking. There is nothing factual about it, only the opportunity to make a nasty remark about someone you dislike.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: 209.121.225.147

Registered: Dec 2012
Location: BC, Ontario (and a few other places too...)
Posts: 268

Sheesh, has the Morris whining jumped to this thread? Maybe it's time to lock down the entire BC Forum...

Let it go. Please. The two camps are fairly evenly split, and I don't think you're going to convince anyone that your opinion is the right one unless they already agree with you.

__________________
Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us.
- Calvin (Calvin & Hobbs)

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Not Yet
Location:
Posts: N/A

quote:

---

Originally posted by hogginsheets
It's in the past where it belongs

---

Report this post to a moderator | IP: 68.151.96.229

Registered: Not Yet
Location:
Posts: N/A

Absolutely. Scott Braley sits in his office hoping that people will stop emailing him about Morris. This weekends unretirement announcement, following on the heels of John's retirement press release, doesn't help things for Curl BC' s head honcho.

In fact, Morris has now managed to make Curl BC and Braley look like curling's version of the keystone Kops. Inept, blundering and easy to deceive.

And I can't begin to wonder what Cotter thinks right now. Unless he knew John's retirement was just a smokescreen for a couple of weeks while Koe went to China.

I imagine the upcoming Curl BC AGM will be lively. If i was Scott Braley I'd be updating my résumé.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: 209.121.225.147

Registered: Apr 2007
Location:
Posts: 83

It's like Russ Howard talking about the lively striking bands all season.......this topic never ends.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Not Yet
Location:
Posts: N/A

Just wondering ....... is ths the same John Morris guy that hung out at Sherlock Holmes (Bar) all week during the 2013 Brier ? Just checking.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: 142.176.114.69

Registered: Not Yet
Location:
Posts: N/A

quote:

---

Originally posted by hogginsheets
It's like Russ Howard talking about the lively striking bands all season.......this topic never ends.

---

Report this post to a moderator | IP: 24.70.7.174

Registered: Dec 2012
Location: BC, Ontario (and a few other places too...)
Posts: 268

quote:

---

Originally posted by hogginsheets
It's like Russ Howard talking about the lively striking bands all season.......this topic never ends.

---

__________________
Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us.
- Calvin (Calvin & Hobbs)

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: May 2009
Location: Winfield and Richmond
Posts: 49

JustAnotherHack:

During our game against Wes at the BC senior men's championship, Wes and I had a brief discussion about the scheduling conflict that made it impossible to play in the BC seniors and the regional mixed playdowns.

It was later related to me that after Wes won the BC senior men's title (deservedly so as they were the best team that week) he then headed over to the Island mixed playdown event and asked to join his mixed team for the final part of the playdown. Apparently, a volunteer official of some sort made a mistake and allowed Wes to join in when he shouldn't have been allowed to do so. Yes, it did technically break the rules, but it's not something I'm going to get too worked up over myself, as Wes should have had the opportunity to curl in both events.

I think the bigger problem overall was the scheduling conflict that precluded us old guys from curling in the regional mixed playdowns, which I actually had an invitation to do. After I qualified for the seniors, the mixed team had to pick up another player. As a former Curl BC staff member with responsibility for playdowns, that date conflict is something I would have tried my best to avoid. Why it happened, I don't know.

Richard Brower

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: May 2009
Location: Winfield and Richmond
Posts: 49

While I'm on here, I'd like to offer my congratulations to the Darren Frycz team from Langley that won the Pacific International Cup, but more importantly the BC Dominion Curling Club Championship, this past weekend in Richmond. They now get to represent BC in Halifax next November at the national event, which my team attended in 2012. I can attest to this being the greatest event out there for club curlers and can't thank Dominion enough for putting it on.

Darren's squad did well in beating Sean Geall then Dave Mellof from Kelowna, two guys who've been to the Brier, in the playoffs on Sunday. Mellof also had Neil Cussons with him, who at one time curled competitively with Pat Simmons.

Darren and the guys really didn't have a stellar season in the Langley men's league. We played them once in the A block and beat them in a hurry. I think they spent most of the season in B block, but they turned it on at the end of the season to win the Langley club championship and then qualify at the Mainland Club Challenge.

Darren has won the PIC once before and has had success on the Region 11 Men's Bonspiel Tour in past seasons.

Richard

Last edited by Tour Guide on 04-22-14 at 12:28AM

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Dec 2012
Location: BC, Ontario (and a few other places too...)
Posts: 268

quote:

---

Originally posted by Tour Guide
JustAnotherHack:

During our game against Wes at the BC senior men's championship, Wes and I had a brief discussion about the scheduling conflict that made it impossible to play in the BC seniors and the regional mixed playdowns.

It was later related to me that after Wes won the BC senior men's title (deservedly so as they were the best team that week) he then headed over to the Island mixed playdown event and asked to join his mixed team for the final part of the playdown. Apparently, a volunteer official of some sort made a mistake and allowed Wes to join in when he shouldn't have been allowed to do so. Yes, it did technically break the rules, but it's not something I'm going to get too worked up over myself, as Wes should have had the opportunity to curl in both events.

I think the bigger problem overall was the scheduling conflict that precluded us old guys from curling in the regional mixed playdowns, which I actually had an invitation to do. After I qualified for the seniors, the mixed team had to pick up another player. As a former Curl BC staff member with responsibility for playdowns, that date conflict is something I would have tried my best to avoid. Why it happened, I don't know.

Richard Brower

---

__________________
Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us.
- Calvin (Calvin & Hobbs)

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: May 2009
Location: Winfield and Richmond
Posts: 49

JustAnotherHack:

Yes, it was unfortunate how things played out. Keep in mind though that Curl BC as an entity relies heavily on volunteers. Those of us who have relied heavily on volunteers in our workplace can tell you that mistakes are bound to happen. I've seen volunteers make far worse mistakes than what happened with Wes and/or make intentional bad moves during my time working in the curling world. Most volunteers though are to be thoroughly appreciated for time they donate to the sport.

Many of the folks who come on here to complain about Curl BC should think about offering a hand to help out with things in the BC curling community.

Richard

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Not Yet
Location:
Posts: N/A

The scheduling of playdowns is done by a paid employee of Curl BC, the ccompetitions director. I place no blame on a volunteer at an event for this mix up. With mixed nationals not taking place until fall, its ridiculous that there was a conflict with any other provincial final. Yet another example why its time to clean house at Curl BC-starting at the top.

While we're on the topic of scheduling, if Curl BC wants more teams on the CTRS, then move men's zones from early December into the second weekend of January so teams can enter more tour spiels. Just make the CTRS berth deadline December 23-24.

With only two events before provincials, there's no sensible reason to have zones so far ahead of provincials.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: 209.121.225.146

Registered: Not Yet
Location:
Posts: N/A

quote:

---

Originally posted by hogginsheets
Ok Mr. Cotter (I want to say it like Horseshack....for those old enough to remember that)........has just announced their new player at third, he is from Vernon, BC and lives there..

So the issue is over and done!

BC is Mo free and so should this forum.

---

Report this post to a moderator | IP: 174.4.32.97

Registered: Sep 2002
Location: London, Ontario
Posts: 4002

quote:

---

Originally posted by Unregistered


who is it?

---

__________________
CurlingZone
Everything...Curling!

Please click on our sponsors' banners periodically, as visiting their sites helps keep CurlingZone.com Free!

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Not Yet
Location:
Posts: N/A

Interesting pick up. He hasn't played competitive for years. Why not Perepolkin? Richards? Or the Kelowna guy who threw last rocks for Dezura?

Report this post to a moderator | IP: 209.121.225.146

Registered: Not Yet
Location:
Posts: N/A

quote:

---

Originally posted by Unregistered
Interesting pick up. He hasn't played competitive for years. Why not Perepolkin? Richards? Or the Kelowna guy who threw last rocks for Dezura?

---

Report this post to a moderator | IP: 174.4.32.97