1999 Brier
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SLAM! Curling
1999 BRIER
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Tough to find voice cure
But with the relative humidity hovering between nine and 12 per cent this week, a few of the skips at the Brier are having trouble making themselves heard.
It's creating havoc for skips like Nova Scotia's Paul Flemming. It's become a regular occurrence for New Brunswick skip Russ Howard.
Even Newfoundland's Glenn Goss is losing it.
Home-town hero Ken Hunka has always had a raspy voice and even though he should be used to the conditions, he too is having a hard time.
"There's not much we can do about it,'' said Canadian Curling Association director of competitions Warren Hansen.
"They may have to devise some hand signals like we did when we were curling. Or drink more water.''
That's what Howard tried to do Monday night.
He dashed off the ice before the 10th end looking for the nearest washroom. But he thought the better of it and was back within 15 seconds.
"Geez, I guess you have to wet your pants to win the Brier,'' said Howard, who then gave up a steal of two in a 7-5 loss to Gerald Shymko of Saskatchewan.
"This stuff goes through you quicker than beer,'' said Hunka earlier in the week.
Howard, of course, is no stranger to wacky voice controversies. He lost his voice at the Saskatoon Brier a decade ago.
He tried to get around his dilemma by going to a local electronics store and purchasing walkie-talkies.
That idea was quickly kiboshed by Hansen.
But it's a different experience for Flemming.
"We find it frustrating because my voice and Blayne's (third Iskiw) voice, how much of a difference it could make not being able to communicate,'' said Flemming.
"It's really, really frustrating. I think we might have missed some shots because of it because nobody knows what's going on. So, we have to figure out some kind of system that works a little better for us.''
Flemming and Howard have had to follow their sweepers down the ice just to be able to be heard. So far, nobody has lost a game on a key shot, but there's a good chance it could happen some time this week.
"Before you know it, it could be a real big shot,'' said Flemming. "If nobody knows what's going on with the sweeping and it wrecks on a guard or something ... we've got to work on that. Even when I'm right behind them, they still can't hear me.''
It's become a real balancing game. He wants to get close enough to be heard. He doesn't want to get too close.
It's funny until somebody loses an eye.
"I don't want to get too close and distract them,'' said Flemming. "As a sweeper on a hit shot, it's hard to look up, because they're waiting for the yell. That's not the way it's supposed to be.''
At least Flemming is able to keep a sense of humour about his dilemma.
"You know what it was?'' said Flemming. "We played Russ Howard the first game and I tried to yell as hard as he does. Maybe I'm more into it this year.
"It's something that you take for granted, I guess. Blayne's a catcher in baseball. Maybe he'll give some signs and then I can nod him off.''
You could tell Howard was dehydrated. His lips were white and his voice was barely audible.
"It's so dry, eh,'' saidHoward. "I lose it overnight. I wake up in the morning and it's gone. It's hard to communicate if you can't call the sweeping right. We lost about four shots.''
Not only are walkie-talkies verboten according to the CCA, but so are whistles.
This is serious business for Howard. Like hockey players who risk their knees for the love of the game, Howard is risking permanent damage to his vocal cords as he keeps losing his voice over and over again.
"I've got a speech therapist who says I can lose my voice permanently if I keep doing it,'' said Howard. "People are allowed to wear glasses because of their eyesight. If you can't communicate in the '90s ... give me a break.
"We have stopwatches to find out how fast your rocks go, people have glasses, but you can't use your voice to communicate with your team - it's ridiculous.''
You've got to love the Brier. Where else can you get wacky situations like this?