Russ Howard
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article does not cite any references or sources. (April 2007) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. |
|
||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
Russell W. "Russ" Howard, ONL , LL.D. (hon.) (born: February 19, 1956 in Midland, Ontario) is a Canadian curler from Moncton, New Brunswick but originally from Penetanguishene, Ontario. His home club in Moncton is Curling Beausejour. Known for his gravelly voice, Howard has been to the Brier 13 times (8 as Ontario, 5 as New Brunswick), winning the title twice (both as Ontario). He is also a 2-time world champion, winning in 1987 and 1993. He has also participated in two Canadian Mixed Curling Championships.
In 2005, he called the shots for Brad Gushue's team at the Canadian Olympic Trials, while he played second. Howard, along with Gushue (who throws last rocks), lead Jamie Korab and third Mark Nichols went on to win the trials, giving them the right to represent Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympics, where they won the gold medal, defeating Finland 10-4 in the final match. The gold medal marks the first time that a Canadian team has won the gold medal for men's curling. Howard, who turned 50 during the Olympics is also the oldest Canadian to win an Olympic gold medal. The oldest person ever to win a gold medal was Robin Welsh, aged 54, who won gold at curling in the 1924 Winter Olympics.
As a skip, Howard has been in four previous trials, but never went on to the Olympics. He works as a Real Estate agent for Re/Max. His brother, Glenn Howard is also a well known curler.
Howard is also the innovator of the "Moncton Rule", which evolved into the "Free Guard Zone", part of international and Olympic rules. This makes his 2006 medal particularly significant, as it is likely that without the excitement this rule adds to the sport it would not have become an Olympic event in the 1990s.
Russ Howard has recently been referred to as "the Bad Boy of Curling" for his charismatic yelling throughout the 2006 Winter Olympics, a term coined by James Norton of XM Satellite Radio's The Opie and Anthony Show which is a public affairs program that discusses dirt from their native countries with Bob Edwards. Russ was also recently involved in the filming of the Canadian television series, Road Hockey Rumble in his hometown.
In 2006, he was inducted into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame.
Since 2001, Howard has been a part time commentator for TSN.
His autobiography is: Howard, Russ; Bob Weeks (2007). Hurry hard : the Russ Howard Story. Toronto: Wiley. ISBN 9780470839553.
