Unbeaten Alberta Rink Tries To Stay Grounded

15/03/2009 20:05

Martin and Co. avoid news reports throughout annual tournament

For all Kevin Martin knows, the past eight days of media coverage about his team have focused on its arrogance, its maltreatment of fans, the various restraining orders that had to be lifted in order for it to attempt to defend its Tim Hortons Brier championship at the Pengrowth Saddledome.

Let the record show that none of those stories was written, nor was one true, of course, but the fact remains that the 42-year-old world champ is blissfully unaware that his team -- third John Morris, second Marc Kennedy and lead Ben Hebert -- will head into today's Brier final as favourites to put together unprecedented back-to-back unbeaten records at the world's biggest bonspiel.

"I don't watch any Canadian news during the Brier, I don't listen to any radio and I don't read any papers," said Martin, before an early-afternoon practice at the 'Dome. "So I've heard nothing. And I don't go to the Patch. Much. So I don't hear or see much of it, and I try to keep the guys away from it. And if there is any of that pressure stuff, I hope they allow it to just kind of run off of me."

So far so good, based on 12 straight victories this year and 13 in a row last year in Winnipeg to set a Brier record for consecutive wins at 25.

But it's meaningless, suggested Hebert, without No. 26.

"Well, we've won nothing yet," he said. "We don't care if we finish 11th or second. Same thing. No different. That's how we keep ourselves grounded. Either we win it, or we're not satisfied. So far, we've done what we wanted, we got into the final. And I imagine we still have another tough game ahead of us. But all that best team ever nonsense? It's just something for you guys to talk about.

"We're playing well, and if the breaks go our way like they did the last two nights, yeah, we'll be the champs. If we don't? Eleven and 0 (in the round-robin) means nothing."

That little dose of reality has played a major role in keeping the Alberta champs' heads from getting too swollen, despite attempts from the media and fans to do just that. In fact, said Kennedy, the team is remarkably grounded despite being on the verge of Brier history.

"I think we are, and the only reason is that we went through this last year," he said. "We might get our tires pumped a little more (this year), but really, it's the same thing: undefeated last year, win the one-two, get a day off. To be completely honest, I don't think it affects us very much.

More from the Edmonton Journal.

BRIER UPDATE:

In an absolute curling clinic last night, Edmonton's Kevin Martin, with St. Albert's own Marc Kennedy playing second, destroyed Manitoba's Jeff Stoughton 10-4 in eight ends to win his fourth Brier title and second in-a-row. Amazingly, the Martin rink has now gone through the last two Briers undefeated, winning 26 games in-a-row.

Good luck to Team Martin as they now represent Canada at the World Curling Championships next month in Moncton, N.B.

SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:

Don’t bet against Team Martin winning their 26th game-in-a-row and second consecutive Brier.