So this is what one of the most recognizable, successful curlers on the planet does when he retires.
鈥淣ah, I鈥檝e been doing this for years,鈥� said 2010 Olympic, 2008 world and four-time Brier champion Kevin Martin, referring to coaching girls softball. 鈥淚 love it.鈥�
He sure was enthusiastic about it on Thursday as Martin鈥檚 Edmonton Wild Warriors lost a 6-5 squeaker to the Delta Heat 2001 team as part of the 2015 Under-14 Girls Canadian Softball Jamboree, currently being conducted at the Helmcken-Centennial diamonds in View Royal.
The Wild Warriors looked much more relaxed than their opening 0-2 day on Wednesday.
鈥淭hat was a heck of a game. They were really nervous to start,鈥� said Martin, whose daughter Mykaela is part of the team that rebounded from a 5-0 deficit Thursday to force late heroics from the 4-0 Heat.
The Warriors had a right to be jittery, considering this is the first time Softball Alberta has allowed a team to the Softball sa国际传媒 event.
Of course, Martin still handles curling colour commentary for Rogers Sportsnet and his involvement in sports remains true as he runs the Kevin Martin Summer Curling Academy at the Saville Sports Centre in Edmonton. The facility also houses his Kevin鈥檚 Rocks-n-Racquets store.
Last year was the final time he ran his prestigious annual junior bonspiel as the longer Grand Slam of Curling season has taken away his time involvement. The bonspiel was the largest event of its kind in the country and ran for 17 years.
Oh yeah, and he鈥檚 also one of 14 Canadian owners of the Desert Dunes golf course in Palm Springs where former Edmonton Oilers鈥� great Grant Fuhr is the director of golf.
鈥淚 get down there more now,鈥� he said of spending a handful of weeks south of the border, now that he is retired from competing (in which he also won a whopping 18 Grand Slam titles).
Golf remains a big part of his life, especially when he visits Victoria.
鈥淚鈥檓 too darn busy here though with all the ball,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y golf shoes are in the bag, though, so if I get a chance I might rent some clubs. Don鈥檛 tell anyone though.鈥�
