So as a
former national team member and avid curler I often get comments or question
regarding my current status or why this or why did I do that. So, once and for
all, I am going to answer a few questions which have come up on the blog about
me and about the blog.
Why the sudden look at changing Anonymous
postings policy?
Well, simple. I am all for freedom of speech
and all that. No worries. Like I said we are here to tell the stories and not
the opinions. I do my very best to leave personal opinion out of it and to keep
the comments published. However, the foul language and personal attacks have to
come to an end. Personal attacks have legal ramifications and thus if you
comment does not get posted it is not because I did not want to post it. It is because
something in that posting has been check (by more than me) and the conclusion
once not to post. I apologize if you think we don’t want to or are afraid to,
that is not the case. We have to watch the libel suits which MAY occur and thus
a vote of no posting the comment has occurred.
So, I received
a rather long comment which asked a bunch of questions which I think is only
fair to comment on.
Instead of having other
people speak for you Chris, why don't you address the questions yourself and
put things to rest. I think people want to hear your view on the topic and not
just your so called supporters.
I
want to make it clear, no one speaks for me. I speak for myself when I feel the
need to comment. Also, I do not have any family comment on here. I think my brother made one comment months ago
but they are not avid blog 2 readers nor though our many years experience being
associated in sports would do that. So please leave my family out of your
comments – that is the magic line none of us should cross. Comments about me
are one thing about my family is another.
How do you feel about what
you have to do to play at a higher level?
I
think the wheelchair curling game has progressed miles since I last competed in
Sweden in 2007. This year’s Worlds and Nationals clearly showed us all that. Until such a time as I choose to compete again
in wheelchair curling I could not know where my level of understanding or play
has progressed. Over the years I have worked hard as both a player and a coach
to “stay in touch” with the game. I have had the chance to work with and play
with some great coaches and players. My work with Korea last year was a great experience
for me and I appreciated the faith the Korean program showed in letting me
coach. I play in a men’s competitive league each week and thank Ernie Comerford
for the opportunities he has shown me in joining in with his group this past
year. THANK YOU Ilderton wheelchair curling group!
Why are you not on a
wheelchair team now and playing in the provincials?
I am
not on a wheelchair team right now for a number of reasons. As most of you know
I moved back to Ontario after working in BC for the last few years. My family
moved in September which by all accounts had most provincial teams formed and
started for the year. By the time I got
settled in it was October and that would not have been appropriate for me to
even expect to play at all. I was asked to play on a team this year but due to
a number of personal reasons I was unable to accept nor at that time did I think
it appropriate for me to accept. I mean really how unfair to other players would
that have been.
…. I have not seen any foul
language, maybe some strong opinions, but that comes with the territory.
You
don’t see any foul language because I and the editors either remove the language
or the comment does not get posted. No disrespect to the contributor but I cannot
post a comment that has more F this and F that than anything else. We receive a great number of comments and unfortunately
a good percentage of those comments are not able to be posted. Thus why we are
asking the poll question.
Should amputees be allowed to wheelchair curl
when they could play stick curling.
Ok,
so how do I feel on this one? Simple, is
an amputee considered to have a disability? Yes, they should be permitted to
play wheelchair curling.
It's obvious that a guy like Larry could stick
curl, ( it sounds like he can work as a prison guard still, so I think he could
stand and stick curl) so should he be wheelchair curling?
Again
simple. YES! I know Larry and I like Larry, Great guy. Does that affect my
decision for him to be considered a player no. My take on this has changed a
bit over the years. Simple and in a cliff notes reversion of my thoughts it is
simple. Any person who is considered to have a disability by a panel of qualified
classifiers should be permitted to play at the Paralympic or international
levels. And no folks I am not saying Larry should not play at that level. If I understand it right Larry is a single leg
amputee and thus has a disability, thus he can play. As for Jim Armstrong, Jim
has been deemed classified by a panel thus he is classified – case closed! (Please
no emails)
Now
as for nationals and classification…I think we should review this and what
players can play. Maybe we should follow something similar to wheelchair
basketball and their players who can play at nationals.
Or we could see if a player who is in a
wheelchair someday play on a Brier or Scotties level team? What is everyone thoughts
on that?
Any finally I think the
national champion should represent Canada in international competitions. I
think the national winner is good enough to represent the country and could
facilitate provincial growth as well. So I hope you can clear the air around
the questions to you Chris.
So, do I think the winner of nationals should become Team
Canada? The answer at this time is NO, maybe in 4 years maybe but right now the
answer is no and for a number of reasons. We have seen how the program needs to
continue to grow and build its player pool. We have seen though other sports
how performance finish at worlds, etc. determines funding and that is no
different in WC curling. Right now we as a country are not quite ready for the
winner to become Team Canada. But if this year’s nationals indicate anything;
we are very close!
So there are a few answers to a few questions which keep
coming up. As for my future? Stay tuned because , I am still trying to figure
that one out myself and most of that has to do with work and where I will be
next year, month or week. When I know, I am sure someone on the BLOG or the
news will let you know.
Thanks for the support from all of you. We are doing our
best to tell your story, so please be a contributor in whatever way you can –
donation, results, story, link or COMMENT.
We will do our best to get the information out there.