Vic Rauter is Canada's Mr. Curling

Reason I like curling reason #214

Vic Rauter

 

Ok, let's get one thing straight. If you don't like curling broadcaster Vic Rauter, I don't think we can be friends.

Rauter has his critics. He gets mocked for his somewhat corny melodramatic style but it just endears me more towards him.
 

I like his hackneyed phrases.
 

I get goosebumps when he does the countdown after a big shot after a big final shot of an end.

"Count'em up, one, two, three, four, five." I'm tellin' ya, goose-bump city.
 

I love his signature line at the end of broadcasts. "Make the final ____." I know all is right in my world when I hear "make the final."
 

My grandpa had Foster Hewitt, Americans have Vin Scully, curling fans have Vic Rauter.
 

I don't do drugs, but the closest thing I get to nirvana is being in the family room on a cold winter night, hearing the TSN violin intros and bumpers, and the soothing sounds of Vic on the mic, along with Russ and Linda. My curling knowledge always jumps up a bit after watching them in the booth. Overall, the whole production makes my blood pressure drop a bit. With Rauter in control, watching curling on TSN is like heaven on earth. I like his style.
 

He is so good. When he retires, whether that's in five years or 20 years, curling fans are going to miss him. That's why I appreciate him and what he brings to curling telecasts.
 

Rauter is knowledgeable about curling, probably due to his 20-years or so of calling the sport, but I remember when I first started watching and playing curling I thought Rauter did a good job of explaining what is happening for the novice viewer.
 

Of course there are die-hards that watch, but a lot of viewers have never slid out of a hack before. Rauter balances a fine line between speaking to the curling aficionados and also speaking to those who are new to the sport.
 

I also have a personal reason for liking Rauter.
 

I volunteered at the Tim Hortons Brier in London in 2011. I assumed that Rauter would be a bit of a diva, just due to his position. Part of my job was running stats and other information up to him in the broadcast booth. All week I would run it up and he would politely say thank you and I would go on my way.
About an hour before the final I ran up some information that he needed. Rauter was studying all of his notes and was all alone. I gave Rauter his information. As I was walking away all I heard was, “hey, wait a minute.” I thought he was getting ready for a rant and act like a big-shot. Maybe I didn't give him the right information or I didn't give it to him fast enough.
 

I misread him. Rauter addressed me by name (how did he know my name?) looked me in the eyes and said, “I really appreciate all the work you did for me this week. You really helped me out.”
 

Pure class. Rauter is the gold standard.