A Million Dollar Sweep

As Dr. Evil liked to say “One Million Dollars!!!”

That’s the bonus money Sportsnet is putting up for any team that can sweep the four Grand Slam events.

Now that’s a pretty good payday, although it’s nothing compared to the salaries Rogers will be paying a few new Blue Jays. But for curlers, that’s the richest prize in the history of the game.

If one team fails to win the four events, the top teams will get to share $100,000 -- $50,000, $30,000 and $20,000.

The women, with only two slams, don’t get quite the bonus. If one team wins both events, it will earn $100,000.

Overall, this is a pretty solid payday but even better as a marketing tool. And in my book, it’s not out of the realm of possibilities that a team might do it. No one has managed it so far in the brief history of the Grand Slams, and it would be a remarkable feat of talent coupled with luck and breaks, but I can see it happening.

Even it someone wins the first two or even three events, the attention it would bring would be massive. I remember covering Tiger Woods when he was looking to get his fourth consecutive (although not in the same year) at The Masters. The attention was huge, almost crushing. Media from all over came out (much like his return to Augusta after his infidelities, but I digress).

For Rogers, it’s not that expensive a proposition either. This would be covered off by insurance and the cost chalked up as a marketing expense.

Certainly, no one can say that Rogers Sportsnet isn’t committed to its Grand Slam investment.