Monday, December 10, 2001
Players event sure to be grand, says Martin
By JIM BENDER -- Winnipeg Sun
REGINA -- Fresh off the ice from earning his second trip to the Olympics in the 2001 Canadian Curling Trials, Alberta's Kevin Martin started talking up next week's first Grand Slam event in Wainwright, Alta.
Martin, of course is the World Curling Tour Players' Association president and is still planning to play next weekend, even if the event could have been better organized.
"That's huge for us because I don't think we'd have anything else to play in (before the Olympics)," Martin said yesterday.
"And it should (be) on good ice in an arena setting.
"That event means so much to us. I'm excited about Wainwright. There's no rest for the wicked, I guess."
But that brings up an interesting question. To get national team funding, the CCA will ask both Martin and B.C.'s Kelley Law to sign an agreement to play in both of their cashspiels, plus the provincial playdowns next season.
All Slam signees signed pacts agreeing to pass on their provincial playdowns this season -- and to agree not to play in any televised events not sanctioned by the World Curling Tour/WCPA. The CCA cashspiels will be broadcast by TSN while the Grand Slam events are televised by Sportsnet.
NO COMMENT
"I haven't seen the agreement yet so I can't comment on it," Martin said.
If Martin refuses to sign, the CCA will ask the next-place team to do so and keep going until one squad agrees.
However, even if Martin refuses, he will still represent Canada in the Olympics and will likely get COA funding until at least that time.
Manitoba's Kerry Burtnyk, the runner-up and another Slam signee, is also planning to play in Wainwright.
"In the next couple of days, we'll be getting set for that and I'm looking forward to playing in the Grand Slam," he said.
Martin added that a number of trials teams are planning to go there from here.
2002 Games Curling Coverage
