373 replies to this topic

[SumnerH]

Pete Fenson (skip) and John Shuster (lead) from the 2006 medal-winning curling team have parted ways. Shuster's new team qualified for the US, so he'll be skipping the Olympic team along with John Benton, Jason Smith, and Jeff Isaacson.

Feb 16
US Men vs. Germany 9:00 AM
US Women vs. Japan 2:00 PM
US Men vs. Norway 7:00 PM
Feb 17
US Women vs. Germany 9:00AM
US Men vs. Switzerland 2:00 PM
Feb 18
US Men vs. Denmark 9:00 AM
US Women vs. Denmark 2:00 PM
Feb 19
US Women vs. Russian Federation 9:00AM
US Men vs. France 2:00 PM
Feb 20
US Men vs. Sweden 9:00 AM
US Women vs. Great Britain 2:00 PM
Feb 21
US Women vs. Canada 9:00 AM
US Men vs. Great Britain 2:00 PM
US Women vs. Sweden 7:00 PM
Feb 22
US Men vs. Canada 9:00 AM
US Men vs. China 7:00 PM
Feb 23
US Women vs. China 9:00 AM
US Women vs. Switzerland 7:00 PM

Tiebreakers on the 24th if needed, semifinals on the 25th, Women's medal matches on the 26th, men's medal matches on the 27th.

[Burt Reynoldz]

I watched every single second of women's curling back in 2006 because I really wanted to do awful, awful things to the sisters Johnson.

This year? Maybe I'll tune in for Nicole Joraanstad . . . but I don't know if it can quite compare.

[xpisblack]

I have a friend who's covering the Olympics for her newspaper, and basically the only events her pass won't get her into are the curling matches and the hockey finals.

I, for one, am excited to watch some curling, particularly since the USCA is officially being sponsored by none other than Laphroaig, which is among my absolute favourite scotches.

This year, the Chinese women's team is supposed to be dominant, aye? Anyone but Sweden or the US have a chance to compete? I admit that I haven't really been keeping up lately. I keep hearing that Great Britain's men's side is supposed to be good enough at least to medal this year, but that could well be wishful thinking. Given that I'm pretty sure that the entire British side is from Scotland, I am fairly certain that they will dominate in at least the drinking portion of the games. Consider the gauntlet flung, Canadians.

I don't mean to be overly flippant-- these matches are going to be rollicking great fun and I'm already getting into the mood.

EDIT: Come to think of it, the British curling side are pretty well always all Scotsmen...

Edited by xpisblack, 28 January 2010 - 08:16 AM.

[CSteinhardt]

[Joe D Reid]

EDIT: Come to think of it, the British curling side are pretty well always all Scotsmen...

Yet another data point in favor of letting the home countries send separate olympic teams. Unless there's a guy from Kent that I don't know about who's favored in nordic combined, Scotland could outmedal England in the winter if the Queen would just let them.

[Fred not Lynn]

Yet another data point in favor of letting the home countries send separate olympic teams. Unless there's a guy from Kent that I don't know about who's favored in nordic combined, Scotland could outmedal England in the winter if the Queen would just let them.

I'd certainly love to see Quebec have its own team too. I think the first Canada vs. Quebec hockey game would be...intense.

Better yet, 50 teams for the 50 states. And let Massachssetts and Delaware into the Commonwealth Games.

[SumnerH]

I'd certainly love to see Quebec have its own team too. I think the first Canada vs. Quebec hockey game would be...intense.

Better yet, 50 teams for the 50 states. And let Massachssetts and Delaware into the Commonwealth Games.

Pennsylvania, too.

Seriously, though, seeing state vs. state rivalries isn't nearly as fun as seeing international ones (to me, anyway). The UK and Quebec have more natural built-in rivalries than the US states do for the most part; even a regional North vs. South thing doesn't seem as gripping nowadays as the insular rivalries.

[Fred not Lynn]

Seriously, though, seeing state vs. state rivalries isn't nearly as fun as seeing international ones (to me, anyway). The UK and Quebec have more natural built-in rivalries than the US states do for the most part; even a regional North vs. South thing doesn't seem as gripping nowadays as the insular rivalries.

Personally, I have big issue with determining participation by nationality altogether. Why the fuck should Eddie the Eagle get to comepte at the highest level in 1988 over the 5,6,7 and 123rd best Finnish jumpers?

[Dick Pole Upside]

Cool little video on how curling stones are made and where stone comes from:

[InstantKarmma]

If you're interested in trying curling, Broomstones Curling Club in Wayland is having an open house on March 7.

If I was still living in the area, I'd probably give it a try.

[finnVT]

Curling about to get underway. Live matches are being broadcast here for anyone interested. You have to go through some steps to verify that you subscribe to cable/fios/something and get NBC at home or something, but it seems to work for me.

[jose melendez]

I fucking love curling. So much better than not watching curling.

[Sprowl]

Kevin Martin must be the most unlikely looking Olympic "athlete" ever: short, squat and pale. He's been the best for a long, long time.

[jose melendez]

Maybe 8 years ago the captain of the US team looked like Belichick

[mabrowndog]

John Shuster looks and talks like a 23-year-old Curt Schilling.

And Germany's Andy Kapp is the David Ortiz of curling. Clutch shot after clutch shot in the waning moments of several ends, knocking two US stones off the mark.

[Fratboy]

Where is curling broadcast? I might want to record some and watch it tomorrow night *cough* since there's no figure skating *cough*

[Sprowl]

Where is curling broadcast? I might want to record some and watch it tomorrow night *cough* since there's no figure skating *cough*

I'm seeing curling on CTV and Rogers SportsNet, not that that will be a lot of help to you south-of-the-border types.

[absintheofmalaise]

Where is curling broadcast? I might want to record some and watch it tomorrow night *cough* since there's no figure skating *cough*

Should be on USA now along with hockey. It's on CNBC tonight, but I fully expect to see your commentary on figure skating. Not on who has the best brush strokes in front of the stone

[mjm3773]

Shuster shot in the high 60's percentage-wise, but it was good percentage on all the wrong shots. He seemed to have a much higher percentage on his first shots than on his last shots.

Does anybody else here curl? If so, just club level or anybody with regional/provincial playdown experience?

[Hendu's Gait]

Curling has the best measurement tool in all of sport.

First time I've ever watched it, and I like it, even though it may require a PhD to fully understand all the strategy. It's very DVR-friendly-can just FF each inning until the last 4 throws/inning and get 95% of the drama in 20% of the the throws. Very efficient.

[Buckner's Boots]

Watching U.S. women vs. Japan...Ohmiya? Oh MY! Japan's got some cuties! But I like my ice MILFs of the US.



(Edit: Moe Meguro is even hotter!)

Edited by Buckner's Boots, 16 February 2010 - 06:05 PM.

[mabrowndog]

Shuster shot in the high 60's percentage-wise, but it was good percentage on all the wrong shots. He seemed to have a much higher percentage on his first shots than on his last shots.

Does anybody else here curl? If so, just club level or anybody with regional/provincial playdown experience?

I did it for a month or so in 2005. The offices of the paper I worked for are just down the hill from the Cape Cod Curling Club, so I got roped into joining the newspaper's team for a charity event.

Let's just say for a large guy with bad knees who can't skate, wearing Teflon-soled shoes while maneuvering around on ice isn't the most brilliant of ideas. I stuck with it for about 5 training sessions and had my share of fun, but I took a nasty spill while sweeping and only by some miracle avoided fracturing my patella. That brought my curling days to an abrupt end.

[jose melendez]

But you are watching US-Japan women's on CNBC right now I hope? It's right up your ally?

[Fratboy]

Goddammit curling is so fucking cool.

[mabrowndog]

But you are watching US-Japan women's on CNBC right now I hope? It's right up your ally?

Absolutely. Wouldn't miss it. Mari Motohashi is the shit.

[jose melendez]

I'm fucking mesmerized. With the possible exception of hockey, this is by far the best spectator sport in the winter olympics.

[JulE6]

I'm a big fan of the blonde from the US team

[johnmd20]

I'm a big fan of the blonde from the US team

Me too. She's legit. I'm surprised Mabrowndog isn't in this thread talking about Team Japan.

[TheStoryofYourRedRightAnkle]

I'm a big fan of the blonde from the US team

Her and the whole Japanese team have an open invite to curl (their toes) at my place.

[The Four Peters]

Me too. She's legit. I'm surprised Mabrowndog isn't in this thread talking about Team Japan.

Absolutely. Wouldn't miss it. Mari Motohashi is the shit.

[TheStoryofYourRedRightAnkle]

Me too. She's legit. I'm surprised Mabrowndog isn't in this thread talking about Team Japan.

How fast can one type with one's nose, really though?

[jose melendez]

Big mistake by Japan. They should have lifted their last rock and gone for last rock in the tenth down one.

[Obscure Name]

That shot had less juice than Sunny Delight.

[jose melendez]

Tremendous win for Japan. Epic choke by the women from Wisconsin or wherever.

[Obscure Name]

I've lost all faith in the US curling program.

[johnmd20]

I've lost all faith in the US curling program.

It's been a disappointing day, to say the least. I admit that I watched both the men's and the women's today. The men got dominated by Germany and it really did feel like they never had a chance because Kapp just murdered every toss, but the women completely choked. They blew a big lead and they absolutely choked in the 10th. Very weak.

[The Napkin]

http://www.nbcolympi...ling/index.html
Nice headline NBC: "Japan nips US women"

[The Four Peters]

I've lost all faith in the US curling program.

Losers.

[The Napkin]

Losers.

It was a gutless performance

[mabrowndog]

http://www.nbcolympi...ling/index.html
Nice headline NBC: "Japan nips US women"

Yeah I saw that. How fucking thick-skulled do you have to be to qualify as an online content editor for NBC?

Anyway, they've since changed it to "US women fall short against Japan".

[The Four Peters]

Yeah I saw that. How fucking thick-skulled do you have to be to qualify as an online content editor for NBC?

As opposed to the brilliant programming executives and decision-makers NBC employs?

[johnmd20]

As opposed to the brilliant programming executives and decision-makers NBC employs?

NBC is like the Mets. Bad ownership, bad executives, bad management, and some talented players. But because the ownership, executives, and management are so stupid and incompetent, the players are rendered irrelevant. I have never been annoyed by a network in my life. Until now. NBC makes me see red.

[The Napkin]

US-Norway just under way
http://www.nbcolympi...#watch live u s
No idea if it\'s going to be on anywhere, CNBC is currently airing Finland-China women\'s hockey.

I want a pair of the Norway pants. Those are awesome.

[Sprowl]

US-Norway just under way
http://www.nbcolympi...#watch live u s
No idea if it\'s going to be on anywhere, CNBC is currently airing Finland-China women\'s hockey.

I want a pair of the Norway pants. Those are awesome.

I don't know whether they are tattersall, harlequin, or just plain ridiculous.

[The Napkin]

It'll be on at 2:30am on CNBC. Just for the record.

[UFSoxFan9]

It is unreal to me that NBC is showing women's fucking hockey, not even USA women's hockey mind you, on CNBC, and we have to watch USA curling on the internet stream.

[FarvinMoosey]

I know Im late to the party here but I am an absolute curling junkie in the Olympics, and what an atrocious game by the US Women. Im sure Im overreacting but I feel like McCormick missed 75% of the shots televised during that match, all the while with the commentators talking about how she "loves the pressure". Then fucking dont suck.

[Sprowl]

Kevin Martin blows them all away again -- Canadian stone hits another Canadian stone into the German stone, knocking the last out of the ring and scoring three for Canada. Degree of difficulty, high score, high stakes... what's not to love? Kevin Martin's got stones.

[The Napkin]

US-Norway:

What a choke by Shuster on those last two. Terrible.

[FarvinMoosey]

US-Norway:

What a choke by Shuster on those last two. Terrible.

Agreed.