Ferbey weighs in on hot topics
Randy Ferbey can’t remember ever taking a hard fall on the ice in all his days curling.
Like everyone who has seen it, he cringes a bit at the three- day- old memory of Brad Gushue’s horrific fall and injury at the Grand Slam of Curling Masters in Truro, N. S.
“My wife asked me after if I had ever fallen on the ice and I don’t think I ever have,” he said.
“But, now that I’m 56 when I step on the ice I have to ( watch my step). When you’re 20, though, you go out there and it’s ‘ vroom’ ( down the ice).”
The Edmontonian, who, with his six Brier and four world titles, is a living legend if ever there was one in curling, visited The Glencoe Club on Monday to discuss his continued role in the Everest- Ferbey National Pro Am. Ferbey, Jennifer Jones and two still- to- be- named stars, will play with national contest winners in Digby, N. S., during the Everest senior championships in March. ( details: www.everestfuneral.com/Curling).
Back in Ferbey’s heyday, the appearance at The Glencoe Club would have drawn a bunch of TV cameras and sportswriters looking for something juicy. Back when the Ferbey Four was the No. 1 team in the game, Ferbey’s propensity for honesty made him the go- to quote in the game.
( Ferbey was last seen in the news when he and Gushue tried unsuccessfully to team up in 2010- 11 and some unkind comments directed toward Ferbey after their quick split were made by Gushue’s then-lead Ryan Fry in an email to the media.)
After Gushue’s fall last weekend, the idea of making helmets a part of the curling game was hatched. Ferbey’s all for it, but knows the elite curlers won’t go along with the notion.
“If you started seeing 10 or 15 across Canada in a week, maybe. But, it’s not going to happen,” he said.
Ferbey would have been the guy the media ran to first two weeks ago to discuss the ‘ broomgate’ controversy, which has swept the curling nation, pitting manufacturers Hardline against BalancePlus and putting those sponsored by Hardline on the defensive.
Ferbey made a rare appearance in a serious event two weeks ago in Red Deer — ( Calgary’s) “Terry Meek caught me at a weak moment” — and said he definitely saw so- called “directional- fabric” brooms having an effect on rock movement.
Of course he doesn’t like what it’s done to the game and hopes it gets fixed quickly.
“Curling was and still is a game of friendship and honour and whatnot, and now hypothetically we’re playing against each other and you’re using the broom and I’m not. We’re best of buddies and now I’m pissed off at you and saying you’re cheating even though you might not be,” he said.
“They’ve got to straighten this out in a hurry. Curling is going to divide itself and it’s going to affect friendships.”
For the record and surely to the surprise of no one who is involved in the game, Ferbey hasn’t been swayed by modern technology.
“I still use my Hammer. I wasn’t big on sweeping anyway. The Hammer held me up and allowed me to sweep through the house,” he said jokingly.
Ferbey continues to play in a Tuesday night men’s league and a Friday’s night mixed league in Edmonton and professes to still love the game.
“I watch it religiously,” he said. “I still follow it to see who’s doing well and who’s not doing well. I’m a fan and I always have been a fan.
“Even when we were curling and we weren’t in the final I’d watch. I’m more of a TV guy than a pub guy. If I’m at home it’s on.”
ON THE ROCKS: Shannon Kleibrink beat Casey Scheidegger of Lethbridge in the final of the Medicine Hat Curling Classic on Sunday. Shaun Meachem of Saskatoon won the men’s event ... Chelsea Carey’s team is the lone Calgary entrant at the Colonial Square Classic in Saskatoon starting Friday ... The Calgary Curling Club hosts the Original 16 WCT Bonspiel this week. Opening draw is Friday at 11 a. m. The playoffs are Sunday, concluding with the 4 p. m. final. Brock Virtue is the defending champ ... Two- time world champion Colleen Jones will sign copies of her biography Throwing Rocks at Houses at CrossIron Mills Wednesday starting at 7 p. m.