“There’s opportunity here... for the sport to really figure (this) out as we go forward”
Canada’s Marc Kennedy spoke to the media after his team’s latest win, which vaulted them to second place at 5-1.
Kennedy was the main subject behind an on-ice brouhaha against Sweden on Friday night.
“I don’t know. For a long time we’ve been playing catch-up with some of the rules. The whole spirit of curling is dead, unfortunately.
“We’ve played the game at a high level long enough where we weren’t looking for infractions. We don’t look for infractions at Grand Slams. We don’t look for that kind of stuff on tour. We just trust that the people around us aren’t trying to cheat.
“There might be small infractions here and there, but most of the time you shrug it off because you got so much respect for the players you’re playing against.
Anil Mungal-The Curling News“This whole trying to catch people in the act of an infraction and (doing) anything to win a medal, it sucks.
“It’s unfortunate, but it is what it is. The sport is evolving, and the powers that be probably will have to take a real good look at this and really solidify the rules going forward.”
Kennedy was asked what he meant by the ‘spirit of curling.’
“Tough for me to use the word ‘gentleman’ this week, but kind of that ‘gentleman’ idea: I know you’re not trying to do something with the intent of getting an advantage on me, and you know I’m not trying to do the same to you.
“And if I do an infraction out there – if I’m moving around when you’re throwing, or if you go a little bit over the hogline at a tour event – it just is what it is, right? It’s always been that way.
“We love the idea of self-policing. If somebody does something out of hand, it just gets dealt with in the moment, and you move on, not needing the officials to manage our game.
“That’s where the spirit of curling is in a little bit of trouble, and, honestly, that’s probably come from the quest for medals. But it’s okay. It’s all about the evolution of the sport. There’s opportunity here, as well, for the sport to really figure it out as we go forward.”
Kennedy later spoke to Canadian media.
“I know I’m a role model for Canadian curlers, so if I apologize at all, it’s to the young curlers around the country that would've expected more from me in that moment.”
“I don’t regret defending myself or my teammates in that moment. I just probably regret the language I used.”