1999 Brier
SLAM! Sports
SLAM! Curling
1999 BRIER
ON THE ROCKS
INTERACTIVE
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Cashspiel hoopla misses the button
Rudy Ramcharan revealed the "details'' of his half-million-dollar World Open with a press conference during the final day of round-robin play at the Brier. And the details were so sketchy it almost looked like something still at the notes-on-a-bar-napkin stage of development.
Ramcharan announced his retirement as second on Kevin Martin's rink to organize what would be - if it actually comes to be - by far the biggest money event in curling history.
If the idea was to attract the national media covering the Brier, it failed. There were three. One was retired. Another semi-retired.
The event, scheduled for Dec. 9-19 at the AgriCom, dared to try to steal the thunder from the Brier. It backfired.
Hold the press conference on Tuesday, after the Brier, and it would have been a far bigger story. Hold it two months from Tuesday with an actual financial backer there to pose for pictures with the brief case allegedly containing a half-million dollars and maybe there wouldn't have been so much skepticism.
Don't call the next press conference, Rudy, until you can present the man and a television contract, minimum.
This is Edmonton. We went down the "Mystery Money Man'' road once before, remember? The Cold War. Mike Tyson. Don King. Edmington. The Northfields Coliseum. Remember?
When asked to name the money man, for credibility's sake, Ramcharan wouldn't.
"He doesn't want to be known yet. If he doesn't want to be known, he doesn't want to be known. We've got a quarter-million dollars out of him. It doesn't matter who he is. This is happening. We've got half the money. The teams will get paid.''
Don't show me the money. Show me the money man.
The next question was about the TV network that would buy the rights.
"We don't have TV yet. We're gonna need that, boys, give me a call'' said Ramcharan.
Whoa.
"It's going to be big,'' he said. "Can you imagine how exciting it will be to see somebody hit the can for a quarter-million dollars?''
The idea is interesting enough. And if properly re-launched with a much more "it's real'' feel, it may have a chance.
The idea is for 24 teams to play in four pools of six teams. There would be one draw per day for each pool with games at 9 a.m., noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. with a 9 p.m. cabaret.
Ramcharan produced a list of invited teams. Canadian Olympic team skip Mike Harris and two-time Brier winner Martin were on hand. Ed Werenich, Wayne Middaugh, Vic Peters, Kerry Burtnyk and the winner of this Brier would be among other Canadian rinks.
Partick Huerliman of Switzerland, the Nagano Olympic gold medallist, and Eigel Ramsfjell of Norway, the Nagano, Japan bronze medallist, are invited, though this apparently is news to Ramsfjell who has retired.
Peter Lindholm of Sweden, the 1997 world champion, is also on Ramcharan's list. He also says he'd invite the 1999 European, American and Japanese champions, the 1999 World and European curling tour winners.
The first qualifier would come out of a Leduc spiel later this month and a fall event at the AgriCom. The other rinks would come from fall spiels in Kelowna, London, Saskatoon, Toronto, Winnipeg, Charlottetown, North Bay, Ont., and Halifax.
The event would include best-of-three semi-finals and finals.
Ramcharan is looking to sell $50,000 diamond, $25,000 platinum, $15,000 gold, $12,500 silver and $10,000 bronze sponsorships. The tournament would feature a four-rock rule and eight-end games if the International Curling Federation passes the proposed rule change.
The winning rink would take home $250,000, with $50,000 to second, $25,000 to third and fourth and $15,000 to the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth-place rinks. Other rinks would receive $5,000 appearance money.
Interesting concept. But why announce this until you have an up-front money man, a TV deal, some sponsorship in place and are able to answer some basic questions?
"Rudy has always been the king of vague, no question,'' said Martin. "But I know how much he's put into this and I know he has that money raised. It's going to be interesting. It's big. Really big.''
In concept it could be. But it's never going to be bigger than the Brier. And Ramcharan should never have had the audacity to try to upstage the final day of the regular round with his press conference like he did yesterday.
The bottom line is that he definitely didn't.