"Curling Babe" Eve Muirhead poses for golf magazine

Eve Muirhead isn't waiting for any calendar to start posing. The skip recently did a photo shoot for Golf Punk magazine where she appears in some provocative clothes and shows off her fitness.

Here's a sample from the mag:

You can see a few more here. 

TCA to OCA: I'm watching you

The Toronto Curling Association released a statement on the recent OCA Special General Meeting and it can be summed up in a Fockerish way: "I'm watching you."

The TCA, which was outspoken against the Ontario board after a few months of disaster for the latter, found a few positives from the meeting. First, it found promise in the new OCA Executive Director, Stephen Chenier. It also was pleased to see that the TCA, OVCA and HACA have all been invited to sit as voting members on the OCA board.

But it also pointed out some continuing problems, listing three examples:

However, during the meeting, numerous members of the OCA Board demonstrated a substantial lack of understanding of some core issues at hand. Three examples:

1. When asked if Board meetings were open, it was clear there was disagreement and contradictory responses among Board members as to who was eligible to attend board meetings. Ultimately, no clear answer was offered.

1. The Board identified several new committees, but one Board member appeared confused and unable to name any of members of his committee when asked.

1. Many in attendance were of the opinion that Board members should have recused themselves from voting on a motion of non-confidence in the Board due to a conflict of interest. One Board member explained that she felt no conflict of interest in voting to effectively retain her own position, demonstrating the lack of understanding and arrogance among board members that has frustrated the Ontario curling community.

The TCA also pointed out that while the CCA's Hugh Avery spoke and admitted to friction between the OCA and CCA, that the provincial bodies problems will need to be handled from within.

While it was good of Mr. Avery to attend and to offer a degree of assurance that the CCA and the OCA are on their way to mending fences, the TCA believes the root of the OCA’s problems have been internal for many years, and that it will require strong guidance from within to extricate the OCA from its current situation. The recent debacle with the CCA has only been a symptom of the provincial association’s internal issues.

You can read the full statement here. Ultimately, it appears those on the TCA board, which seem to have a good understanding of just what exactly such a body is supposed to do, will be keeping a close eye on the OCA. Just like the rest of us.

Muirhead on why she chose curling instead of golf

Eve Muirhead is playing golf with the big boys this week, teeing off at the European Tour's biggest event of the year, the BMW PGA Championship. She's playing in the celebrity pro-am ahead of the tournament. That means she'll be playing alongside the likes of Ernie Els, Graeme McDowell and Sergio Garcia.

Muirhead, for those who don't know, is a scratch golfer who had scholarship offers from U.S. schools. But she elected to pursue curling instead of golf. 

Why?

"I knew I had the potential in curling to be at the top of the game. I knew a handful of golfers who made it to the top, to professional level, and that would have meant I'd have to move away and not curl at all," she said. 

"I can be the best in the world, I know that if I put in the work I'm hopefully going to get the rewards at the end of it," she added, when asked what the one main attraction to curling was.

Coach Earle leaving Team Homan

In a post on Team Homan's web site, Earle Morris announced that he's stepping away from his coaching duties with the Canadian champs. The coach said that the time commitment to continue with the gals was a a factor in his decision. 

To be a part of their amazing success has been very satisfying and I want to thank the team for this tremendous opportunity. While it has been a privilege and an honour to have coached Team Homan for the past two seasons, regrettably, the time away from family has been difficult.  Regardless, I will always be the team’s No. 1 fan, or at least tied for first place with many others!

Morris, who is 68, added that while he's leaving Team Homan, he's going to stay involved in high performance coaching but not with any team. Rather he'll contribute through clinics and research.

He coached Homan's team to a Canadian junior title in 2010 and also helped out Jennifer Jones' rink in 2012. He was also the coach for his son, John's rink in junior while also helping out the Australian national team program from 2006-08.

Homan lends a hand in Ethiopia

Rachel Homan is not just a great curler but also a great person as evidenced here by her work with the Canadian Hunger Foundation. Homan went to Ethiopia to help the non-profit raise its profile and in return got a glimpse of how another part of the world lives. 

Here's the touching story from CTV Ottawa:

Team change flu spreading across the pond with Hamilton exit

With all the changes going on with Canadian teams, it seemed only a matter of time before there were changes elsewhere in the world. And the latest comes from Eve Muirhead's bronze-medal winning rink, where Claire Hamilton has announced she's parting ways.

"I would like to thank the girls for the fantastic opportunities and experiences that being part of the team has brought me," she explained. "I'm excited about what the future might hold and will take this summer to investigate what I might do."

Hamilton's departure leaves Muirhead with Anna Sloan and Vicki Adams. The rink has already declared its intent to gear up to the 2018 Olympics.

Gold medals stolen out of Scottish museum

I'm not really sure why Rhona Martin's gold medal from the 2002 Olympics was in a museum, but it's not there any more. That item along with a another Olympic gold from the 1924 Olympics were lifted on Wednesday night. 

This from the web site Fansided.com 

“A number of very rare artifacts have been stolen,” said David Lockwood, manager of Dumfries Museum, in a press release via NBC Sports. “This includes a silver casket, local curling club medals and Olympic gold medals from the 1924 Winter Games and the 2002 Winter Games. The Provost of Maxwelltown chain has also been stolen in the break in.”

Scottish police are still investigating the situation and the museum currently remains closed.

The article didn't mention the fact that one of the medals stolen belonged to Martin, but that was sent out in a tweet later. 

RHONA MARTIN GOLD MEDAL STOLEN! 10pm last night in Dumfries ! Any info contact police! Please retweet #findthemedal pic.twitter.com/k9IWNvqpvl
— Jennifer Martin (@jennymx) May 1, 2014

Police are interested in three people seen running from the museum Wednesday evening.