Roar Of The Rings: Serious business since Ron Burgundy made his exit

Sunday's first draw was filled with fun and frivolity, at least on the telecast. Since then, The Canadian Olympic Curling Trials (Roar Of The Rings) has been a deadly serious endeavour, with tension so thick you could ram a broom handle through it.

The surreal appearance of Will Ferrell in the guise of alter-ego Ron Burgundy meant that the business of getting off to a good start, on Sunday, was contrasted with the hijinks in the booth. Since then, not too many smiles. Not too many casual conversations between competitors sharing the same sheet.

That is absolutely a big time difference between this Olympic qualifier and the Briers and Scotties tournaments we've seen over the years, at least in the round-robin portion.

Little doubt that once the playoffs begin in the annual Canadian Championships, the lighthearted nature of competition quite simply evaporates. Not the good sportsmanship and etiquette, but the cheery back and forth.

However, those round-robins are usually punctuated aplenty with that kind of thing. Not at The Roar Of The Rings.

"We haven’t seen a lot of humour. We just have not seen that," said Vic Rauter, during TSN's coverage on Tuesday.

Good reason for that.

The prize here is just so remarkable. To represent Canada at the largest winter sporting event the world knows. With just one opportunity coming every four years. Just getting to The Roar was some kind of accomplishment. Actually winning it will take immense concentration, skill, execution and good fortune. In a tournament that is jammed with spectacular competition, where each and every single loss can seem like a playoff defeat, no wonder the niceties have been withdrawn. Make a mistake and it may cost you four years of wondering 'what if?'

Unlike The Brier and Scotties, this tournament has no easy games, no light touches. So, no room for happy fun time.

“Every game’s a war," said commentator Russ Howard.

His brother, Glenn, is a bit of an exception. Always bright and cheery, and ready for a good laugh, he took time during the first end of his game with Brad Jacobs to alert his teammates to the fact that he thought he spied someone in the crowd wearing "those Zoomies."

Other than that, there hasn't been a whole lot of yucking it up. Now, you won't see that much of the time with competitors like Jacobs, who seems serious as a heart attack whenever he plays. Ditto for Jennifer Jones, Rachel Homan, Mike McEwen and Kevin Koe.

Still, when you see them involved in other competitions, there is generally more interplay with the opposition. Like, some.

Jeff Stoughton, who's been known to have a laugh or two (on and off the ice) seems to be keeping it low-key, too.

This ain't no celebration of the game and the good buddies who play it, like The Continental Cup (a competition that is lots of fun until the brass tacks come out on the Sunday).

Again, that's because of the "war" that Russ Howard referred to. He and the other commentators keep referring to the tension inside Winnipeg's MTS Centre. Even the crowds seem subdued, for the most part. Sure, there's the odd cowbell and a burst of applause at appropriate times, but there seems to be a lack of a party atmosphere; of a rollicking good time, the likes of which you get at a Brier or Scotties.

Looks like the fans in the stands are just as aware of what is at stake and of the pressure that's mounting.

It must be quite palpable in the arena.

Because it's certainly making it through the television screen and into my living room.

Ron Burgundy has certainly left the building.