Golden memories for Russ Howard
!Story - SIMCOE.COM v3 - Golden memories for Russ Howard
Mike Dodd
Published: Wed, Mar 1st, 2006
Midland’s native son, Russ Howard, was a key component to Brad Gushue’s gold-medal winning team at the 2006 Winter Olympics. - Toronto Star photo
Russ Howard. … Olympic gold medalist. The partying still hasn’t stopped since Midland’s native son won gold on Friday in Torino, Italy, as a member of Canada’s men’s Olympic curling team.
The second with the Brad Gushue rink from Newfoundland, the 50-year-old Howard helped lead the Canadian men’s curling team to a 10-4 victory over Finland in Friday’s gold medal final.
“I’m totally exhausted,” said Barb Howard, Russ’s mother, speaking with The Mirror after watching the final in her Midland home.
A graduate of Midland Secondary School, Russ Howard began sharpening his curling skills at the Midland Curling Club.
Watching the gold medal final with Barb Howard was Paul MacDonald, the man credited with mentoring Russ through his early years in the sport.
Television and newspaper reporters were on hand at the Howard home to record the historic win by Howard and the Canadian team.
“I’m still trying to take it all in. It’s so overwhelming. It’s hard to believe this little country bumpkin has gone that far (in curling),” said Mrs. Howard.
Following the win, Barb Howard was in tears while talking with Russ’s wife Wendy, who was in Italy to watch the historic win, along with their children Stephen and Ashley.
“She (Wendy) hasn’t been able to get near Russ. They are whisking Russ and the team off to do interviews,” said Mrs. Howard.
Ironically, Glenn Howard was in St. John’s, Newfoundland competing in a Grand Slam of Curling event when old brother Russ claimed Olympic gold.
“I’m so happy for Russ. He deserves it,” said Glenn, speaking by phone with The Advance.
Glenn Howard was doing his share of media interviews, as the Newfoundland media was mobbing him to get his reaction to Canada’s first Olympic gold medal win in curling.
“I’ve been doing a whole bunch of media interviews. It’s been a total zoo in St. John’s. It’s turned into one big party town,” said Howard.
Even thousands of miles away in Italy, Russ Howard didn’t forget about his mother.
“Hi mom,” he mouthed into the CBC camera and offered his traditional eye wink and gunslinger hand gesture.
“That (the gun move) is just something he has always done. Early on, when someone made a good shot, he would point the finger and the thumb up. Now it’s caught on with the Newfoundland kids. When he does the wink and the gun, that’s for me,” she said.
Russ dropped in to see his mother two weeks ago, when he made a two-day stopover in Midland-Penetanguishene.
Barb Howard visited Russ in New Brunswick in July, when Howard was asked if he would be interested in joining the Newfoundland team.
“Toby (Olympic curling coach Toby McDonald) asked Russ if he would be interested in mentoring Brad and the rest of the Newfoundland team.”
While nothing is planned yet, Barb Howard hopes her oldest son will come back to Midland and give her a closeup look at his Olympic gold medal.
“What a game,” said Kent Carstairs, who curled with Howard in 1987, when the Penetanguishene Curling Club foursome won the world men’s curling title.
Carstairs teamed with Howard, his brother Glenn and Tim Belcourt in the mid-1980s when the foursome won in Germany.
“The six-ender they had was the difference,” said Carstairs.
Midland Curling Club ice technician Bryan Wilson was over the moon after the last rock was thrown in the eighth end Friday.
“What a great result. I’m so happy for Russ,” said Wilson, speaking via his cellphone.
Wilson first hooked up with Howard in 1984 after first moving to the region. He and Paul MacDonald curled in the same Monday night league with Howard in the years leading up to his 1987 and 1993 world championship wins.
“Those were the days before Russ became the celebrity and curling legend he is now. He was so approachable in those days and is just as approachable now.
“Russ has had such a major impact on the game of curling. He was the architect of so many different rules now being used in curling,” said Wilson.
Howard’s knowledge and skill made him a major asset to any team.
“Russ could go out with anyone on his team and win. Anyone who played with him became a better player,” said Wilson.
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