1999 Brier
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1999 BRIER
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East vs. West would suit Brier fans best
How else does one explain the fervent wish many at the Labatt Brier have to see a final between bed-head Quebec skip Guy Hemmings and aw-shucks flatlander Gerald Shymko?
Sports poet Frank Pavlick has a theory.
"People here obviously have a western flavour, so that explains Saskatchewan," Pavlick said from his Skyreach Centre table decorated with his 14th book, Curling On The Rocks.
"Hemmings' appeal? His haircut, sure. But suddenly, this guy shows up and shows everyone what this country could be like because people don't care that he's French."
This duo is curling's equivalent to Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Saskatchewan Premier Roy Romanow - the Toque and the Uke, longstanding chums of different political stripes who don't let ideological and linguistic differences mess up a good thing.
Yesterday's early exodus of nine-time Brier skip Russ Howard - courtesy of a certain Yorkton-area farmer - has folks licking their chops.
Wouldn't a 1999 Brier championship against charismatic Hemmings, runner-up last time around, versus a province every second Albertan seems to come from be a hoot?
Hemmings versus Shymko is the ultimate underdog dream.
"Quebec has won just one Canadian men's curling crown, way back in 1977," noted Alain Simoneau, a Calgarian who hails from Trois-Rivieres, Que.
"It's our turn. And Saskatchewan only has the 'Riders (of football fame). They don't win much, either. Perfect."
Edmonton realtor Corey Christenson - sporting a plaid tam accessorized with fake highland orange locks - likes Hemmings simply because "you just can help but like the guy."
The exodus of Edmonton's Ken Hunka sent 'em scrambling to jump on the Quebec bandwagon because this was an easterner who didn't breath a peep about sovereignty, language rights and other hot-button issues.
Even New Brunswick-born Halga Phillips, who now calls Red Deer home and hoped to see scream-happy Howard win it all, likes a Saskatchewan-Quebec final.
"Guy is a terrific curler and very, very approachable. People love that," Phillips said from her Skyreach perch.
"Too bad he's not as cute as Jeff," the Wal-Mart cashier gushed, referring to hunky Manitoba skip Stoughton.
It's a given that hairdo horror Hemmings and super-stocky Shymko would never win a beauty contest.
"Who here would?" St. Albert's Arlene Wilmerston noted, waving one arm at the mostly 50-plus curling crowd.
"Those two are just like us. That's why picking one or the other is impossible."