Highlights and Lowlights

Happy New Year

As we say good-bye to 2007 tonight, I’m taking a look back at the highlights and the lowlights of the year:

HIGHLIGHT – Dave Parkes resigns. He may have been good early in his career, but he was, in my opinion, a cancer for all of curling in the latter years.

LOWLIGHT -- He leaves the CCA almost $1.5 million in debt.

HIGHLIGHT – The Brier comes to Southern Ontario to Copps Coliseum to receive the Golden Touch.

LOWLIGHT – The crowds at the Brier in Hamilton were dismal, administering another body blow to championship curling in Southwestern Ontario.

HIGHLIGHT – Prime Minister Stephen Harper shows up to watch a draw in Hamilton, which is one more draw than Parkes did.

LOWLIGHT – Harper is one of the most uncomfortable, awkward human beings I’ve ever met (I went to high school with him and he was the same back then).

HIGHLIGHT – Casino Rama steps in to revive the TSN Skins Game in Orillia, Ont.

LOWLIGHT – The Continental Cup is held in Medicine Hat.

HIGHLIGHT – I co-authored a curling book with Russ Howard.

LOWLIGHT – The same year, books on or by the Ferbey Four, Colleen Jones, Brad Gushue and Vera Pezer are released, making for a crowded curling shelf at the local Chapters.

HIGHLIGHT – Capital One steps up to sponsor the Grand Slam of Curling, signing on for $5.2 million over five years.

LOWLIGHT – The purses for the Grand Slam stay at $100,000.

HIGHLIGHT – Dallas Bittle and Gerry Geurts release another edition of the Black Book of Curling.

LOWLIGHT – I’m not ranked anywhere.

HIGHLIGHT – Kelly Scott wins the Scott Tournament of Hearts.

LOWLIGHT – Reporters everywhere wince.

HIGHLIGHT – The Strauss Canada Cup of Curling is Held.

LOWLIGHT – Strauss hasn’t increased its budget for television ads.


All the best for 2008.