// TALES FROM SHEET NINE


Flashback to the '80s O


By David Garber, Emeritus Editor, dj.garber@tds.net


n his variety show many years ago, Jackie Gleason asked Sam- my Spear for “a little traveling music.” A little traveling reading exposes curling history. Back issues of the United States and


North American Curling News can provide a snapshot of U.S. curling cul- ture in the past. What did curlers do, wear and think “back then?” Try the November 1985 issue: Summer activities and winners were noted. T e Grand National’s an-


nual Iceless Bonspiel at Chatham Bars on Cape Cod, featured golf (Steve Currier, Terry Hardy, Bev Sponaugle and Sally Chandler); lawn bowling (Dave and Bunny Porter); and quoits (with Wes Millington). T e Green Bay Summerspiel winners were Mitch Mertens, Lisa Schoeneberg, Cal Tillisch and Linda Peterson. USCA treasurer Ken Sherwood’s budget report showed $138,000 in in-


come and $126,000 in expenses. T ese fi gures are, adjusted for infl ation, about one-sixth of today’s USCA budget. Dick Maurer, chairman of the Mayfi eld Curling Club, wrote to the Curl-


ing News to report that his club had completely re-excavated its sub-surface to remove clay and to create a proper drainage fi eld, to cure the serious heaving problem the club had experienced for a decade. Advertisers included suppliers of curling equipment, clothing, awards,


pins and giſt s: B&B Curling Specialty; Erff meyer & Son; Ailsa Craig Curl- ing Stone Co.; Laurie Carlson & Assoc.; Hoover Manufacturing Co.; 4’s co.; Gardner Associates; and Steve’s Curling Supplies. Curl Canada, the Ameri- can Curling Foundation, Sheriff David Smith and Ruth Howe ran ads for curling educational materials or new books. A readers’ survey had measured the top 10 content preferences: Tops


2014 Olympic Winter Games pin design contest announced


Are you creative? Do you have an artistic fl air? How would you like to


have your design chosen as USA Curling’s logo pin for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games being held in Sochi, Russia? Contest is open to any USCA individual member. All ideas must be received at the USA Curling offi ce by no later than July 1, 2013. Design requirements include: •


Limited to 4 colors


• Must have the words “2014 US Olympic Team-Curling” • Must have USA Curling Logo and Olympic rings • Optional word “Sochi” • Must be no larger than 1.5” in scale • Must be submitted as a PDF, JPEG or EPS fi le • Must include a short narrative explaining what is symbolized in the design


T e selected winner will receive a framed color drawing of fi nal design along with fi ve pins. T e selected design may be modifi ed for production purposes and for approval from U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC). T is contest is not endorsed by the USOC Entries should be e-mailed to christy.hering@usacurl.org. Please in-


clude your name, club affi liation, address, phone number, and e-mail ad- dress. ■


USA Curling (( 5


was strategy, then delivery, then “Rhyme- stones,” (notes and comments from editor/ publishers Frank and China Rhyme). Four and fi ve were national and world competi- tion results (bonspiel results were ninth, but likely fi rst for folks whose names and photos were printed!). T e bottom two items, numbers 11 and 12, were US- CA-USWCA reports and the Pin Program Donor list. USCA minutes refl ected early activity regarding joining the United


States Olympic Committee, and the chance of participating in the Calgary Olympic Winter Games. Plans were being laid for the USCA and USWCA to host the 1987 Ladies World Curling Championship in Wilmette, Ill. (lat- er changed to Lake Forest College). Overall, curling was headed for major changes, including the USCA’s hiring of its fi rst Executive Director, part time, in September. Jackie Gleason died in 1987, Sammy Spear in 1975. Many curlers today


have little memory of either the funnyman or his band leader. But the Roar- ing Game and its afi cionados travel on with vigor, as they have for more than 180 years in the USA. ■


// DIGITAL BONUS


Outdoor Fun in Boise T e Boise Curling Club recently hosted its fi rst outdoor bonspiel in


Stanley, Idaho, with the beautiful Sawtooth Mountains as a backdrop. T e 'spiel also featured glow-in-the-dark curling. Find out more about this fun event in the digital edition of the Curling News with 15 BONUS pages of content.


Mountain Glory


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