By Jonathan Brazeau
Game recognizes game: NFL legend Jared Allen will have World Curling Hall of Famer Wayne Middaugh to help "quarterback" his team for the KIOTI GSOC Tahoe event.
The three-time world champion Middaugh will skip Team Allen at the upcoming Grand Slam of Curling tournament, taking place Nov. 4-9 at the Tahoe Blue Event Center in Lake Tahoe, Nev. Team Allen will also feature two-time Olympic gold medallist John Morris and U.S. men's champion Jason Smith.
Middaugh, one of the Original 18 skips in the series, has won 15 Grand Slam titles, including eight as a skip. The Victoria Harbour, Ont., native is looking forward to making his return to the ice in this pivotal role — and the chirping has already begun.
"As a player of one of the original teams, I’m very excited (actually very nervous as I have not played any event since 2021) to be competing 25 years after the first Slam as a teammate of NFL Hall of Famer Jared Allen and the world's most decorated curler John Morris," Middaugh said Thursday. "The Slams have continually been on the leading edge of innovation for the sport of curling, and now with the addition of The Curling Group, it has been put on hyperspeed with so many great ideas to attract fans and make the game more exciting to watch and enjoyable for all players.
"I can’t wait to hit the ice and get Jared leaning on the broom and carving rocks that will make Benny Heebz jealous."
Morris, who has captured 11 Grand Slam titles, is also pumped to team up with Middaugh for the first time.
"I've always thought of Wayne as one of the fiercest competitors in the game," said Morris, who won Olympic gold for Canada in 2010 in men's play and in 2018 in mixed doubles. "We’ve had some great battles against each other over the year, so it’ll be nice to finally be on the same side.
"Obviously, where the game has evolved over the last few years, especially with the sweeping, we will be behind the eight ball. But I’ve always loved a good challenge, and this is as good as it gets."
What started as a bet turned into a passion for curling for Allen, who played 12 seasons in the NFL and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame earlier this year. Allen has competed in multiple USA Curling National Championships and has beaten top-ranked teams in the U.S., Canada, and Europe on tour.
Team Allen will tackle the top teams from around the world at the KIOTI GSOC Tahoe — the first Grand Slam of Curling event to be held outside of Canada.
Tickets are on sale. Visit ticketmaster.com to purchase yours today. Stay and save hotel deals are also available.
Can't make it to Lake Tahoe? Watch every game online at rockchannel.com.
