Here's my latest Globe story. The paper decided to move it to the news section, which is an interesting spot for it.
I've actually known about this predicament for some time but Middaugh wouldn't comment on it until he'd exhausted all his avenues of appeal. That came last Friday. Not sure what happens next but you have to wonder if the CRA will come after other curlers. I've heard through the grapevine that more than a few are a little nervous.
I'm also a little surprised the WCPA/Tour hasn't come to the financial defense of Middaugh and the boys as that would seem to be precisely the thing for which it was created.
One thing I found out that isn't in the story is that this won't affect any Sport Canada funding. The Athlete Assistance Plan doesn't stop if a player earns money or is a professional. Athletes in beach volleyball, tennis and basketball are all professional and all get AAP money (rest easy Jennifer Jones and Kevin Martin). Athletes are allowed to turn down the money, so when the NHL players make the Olympic team, they opt out as they simply don't need the money.
I think this is probably just the start of this story.
One thing the CRA has failed to realize is that curlers in essence are playing for their own money. In a typical 32 team event. Each team coughs up $1200 in entry fee. A local sponsor may kick in $5000. But all prize monies are divied out from the entry fees and the sponsor money. The only part that could be taxable is the sponsors money. For the most part, curlers are rogue gamblers anteing up their own cash.
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