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| Don Duguid with his partner Don Wittman covering curling. Source: https://randomisland.ca/2013/03/01/the-three-dons/ (May be subject to copyright) |
Recently, I read he was invested in the Order of Canada and, not only did I think that was an inspired choice representing a big part of our nation’s culture, but it brought back some interesting memories.
CBC Curling Classic
It was on CBC Channel 9 every Saturday. I was so young, I was not really sure what was going on, but I knew I liked it, and I really liked one of the teams.
It was on CBC Channel 9 every Saturday. I was so young, I was not really sure what was going on, but I knew I liked it, and I really liked one of the teams.
I remember we just got a new TV one Saturday morning. The first thing appearing on the screen when we got it home, plugged it in, and turned it on was this show.
It was called "CBC Curling Classic", and I think it was essentially a national curling bonspiel. It was on weekly, on the country’s national broadcaster.
I recall really liking one of the teams, led by Jimmy Ursel. I think I just liked the name, because he won the game I watched, so I saw him play again.
The show was also hosted by a unique trio dubbed the “Three Dons” – Don Wittman, Don Chevrier, and Don Duguid.
Colour commentator
My introduction to the terminology of curling – draw, take out, guard, freeze, raise, hit and roll, hit and stick, nose hit, in turn, out turn and much more – came from Don Duguid.
My introduction to the terminology of curling – draw, take out, guard, freeze, raise, hit and roll, hit and stick, nose hit, in turn, out turn and much more – came from Don Duguid.
Back in the 1980s, the only curling we really saw was on the weekends of major events – meaning the men’s and women’s Canadian championships and the men’s world championship. Even then, it was only on weekends, specifically CBC Sportsweekend, and only the semi-finals and final.
Those games were called by Don Wittman, who essentially did the play-by-play, and Don Duguid, who did the colour commentary. He really explained the game, and in a way even a nine-year-old could understand.
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| Don Duguid in his playing days, leading his team to the 1970 and 1971 Canadian and world championships. Source: https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/ sports/2021/03/08/duguid-done-darned-good-in-1970-and-71 (May be subject to copyright) |
Looking back, something really stands out about Don Duguid. He never really talked about his own curling career. He was always looking ahead to the game he was covering, never back to his own glory. When his curling success was mentioned it was by someone else, usually in the course of introducing Duguid and Wittman.
I knew he was a Canadian and world champion, but it was only recently I discovered his actual credentials.
For the record, Don Duguid and his team won the Brier, that is the Canadian men’s curling championship, in 1965, 1970 and 1971. He was only the second skip to win back-to-back Briers. He also won the Silver Broom, that is the world championship, in 1970 and 1971. His team was the only one to go undefeated in consecutive years. His team also took silver in 1965.
Interestingly, he had pretty much retired from curling. Then in 1970, a Manitoba threesome looking for a skip, got him to come out of retirement, and the rest is history.
Duguid started covering curling in 1971, and was firmly established when I started watching at the end of the 1970s.
The years after
Don Duguid would continue to cover curling into the 21st Century. Although he was unceremoniously dumped by the CBC in 2000, he would move over to NBC to cover Olympic curling. He reunited with Don Chevrier to cover the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and the 2006 Olympics in Turino, Italy. He then worked with Colleen Jones and Andrew Catalon to cover the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.
Don Duguid would continue to cover curling into the 21st Century. Although he was unceremoniously dumped by the CBC in 2000, he would move over to NBC to cover Olympic curling. He reunited with Don Chevrier to cover the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and the 2006 Olympics in Turino, Italy. He then worked with Colleen Jones and Andrew Catalon to cover the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.
He would be inducted into the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame in 1974; Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1991; and the World Curling Federation Hall of Fame in 2013.
He was inducted into the Order of Canada in 2020, but the pandemic delayed that until 2022.
Parting thoughts
Recently, I was watching the Scott Tournament of Hearts. As I watched, and thought about strategy, I could hear Don Duguid’s voice in my head, talking about the game. He was the one who introduced me to curling and the one who took me through all those games on CBC in the 1980s.
Recently, I was watching the Scott Tournament of Hearts. As I watched, and thought about strategy, I could hear Don Duguid’s voice in my head, talking about the game. He was the one who introduced me to curling and the one who took me through all those games on CBC in the 1980s.
It was fitting that Russ Howard was now sitting in the chair in the broadcast booth once occupied by Don Duguid. After all, it was Duguid who introduced the nation to Russ Howard and his rink when they won the Brier and the World Championship in 1987.
As I watched, I thought about how much I loved curling and the strategy involved.
For that, I have Don Duguid to thank.
Great article. He was a great teacher of the game.
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