373 replies to this topic

[Greg29fan]

Do they actually have subs? Maybe not in a game, but in the tourney itself? Or is it these 4 guys, sink or swim?

Yes, there is at least one substitute, maybe two.

[dwightinright]

Actually they all haven't played fine. Benton has played the best of all of them, but it's usually easier for a lead to have a higher percentage, and Smith has played okay, but Isaacson has had a really poor tournament so far as well. Coming into the Denmark game he was dead last in percentage amongst seconds.

If the rest of the team had been playing truly well, Shuster's job at the end of ends would be throwing up guards or having draws to score a 3rd or 4th point instead of making a draw to the button for just one.

Okay, I defer to your curling knowledge. However, if he did his job on those 4 stones, it's a moot point.

[86spike]

I know the point was made upthread already, but this photo is apropos:

[johnmd20]

Actually they all haven't played fine. Benton has played the best of all of them, but it's usually easier for a lead to have a higher percentage, and Smith has played okay, but Isaacson has had a really poor tournament so far as well. Coming into the Denmark game he was dead last in percentage amongst seconds.

If the rest of the team had been playing truly well, Shuster's job at the end of ends would be throwing up guards or having draws to score a 3rd or 4th point instead of making a draw to the button for just one.

I'm not buying it. You miss 4 game winning shots(all of which were definitely hittable) and you're the skip, you take the heat for it. That's why he is the skip. That last one wasn't even that tough and he just whipped it down the ice and missed the angle completely. He is completely choking and if he can't hit draws to the button for 1 to win games, he shouldn't be in the position he is in.

The team has done enough to put Shuster in the position to win 3 of the games on the last toss. What more would you want?

[mjm3773]

Okay, I defer to your curling knowledge. However, if he did his job on those 4 stones, it's a moot point.

Agreed.

The best description of a skip's job as a shooter is "saver." Save and protect if the rest of the team has done their job and set up a steal without hammer or get the extra points with hammer or altgernatively, save the team with the pressure shots if the rest of the team has not set up the end well. And so far this week he has absolutely failed to do that.

[locknload]

If I wasn't at work I would definitely make a fail photo out the picture on the front of the nbc Olympic curling page.

[mjm3773]

I'm not buying it. You miss 4 game winning shots(all of which were definitely hittable) and you're the skip, you take the heat for it. That's why he is the skip. That last one wasn't even that tough and he just whipped it down the ice and missed the angle completely. He is completely choking and if he can't hit draws to the button for 1 to win games, he shouldn't be in the position he is in.

The team has done enough to put Shuster in the position to win 3 of the games on the last toss. What more would you want?

I'm really not arguing that he didn't miss the shots and that he shouldn't take a significant amount of heat for it. If you have hammer in an extra end, you should be able to take one. And they've failed at it - three times. And yes, all three last shots were easily makeable (as you point out, especially the last one).

My main contention was with the claim that the rest of the team has played well, which hasn't been the case. If they had, they probably would've won some of these game without going to extra ends. But nevertheless that doesn't excuse Shuster's poor shooting so far, particularly on his last stones.

[FarvinMoosey]

At least I would have sex with McCormick.

It's pretty comical at this point. I wonder if Fenson is smirking or pitying Shuster.

[JulE6]

Not to be lost in all this, the womens team sucks just as bad

[Greg29fan]

US Curling=Natstown and Netstown

[johnmd20]

US Curling=Natstown and Netstown

I'm having trouble watching this, it's too painful to see all the failure.

[Greg29fan]

Denmark blows, but at least the Dupont sisters are cute.

[hunter05]

Shuster just said he is being likened to Bill Buckner by some people. Apparently he reads this board.

[johnmd20]

Shuster just said he is being likened to Bill Buckner by some people. Apparently he reads this board.

I think he handled that ok. At least he didn't avoid the interview, but he kind of is Norwood right now. Yeah, he's been great all year, but in a big moment, at the end of games, he keeps missing.

[hunter05]

Must be sort of awkward though, because in the end, how much of this country really gives a shit about curling? It'll suck to be him right now, but it'll pass.

[hunter05]

Now the women are losing to Denmark. Are we going to get completely shut out?

[cannonball 1729]

Now the women are losing to Denmark. Are we going to get completely shut out?

Letting the other team steal three when you have the hammer is...special.

[johnmd20]

Now the women are losing to Denmark. Are we going to get completely shut out?

After that last shot of disastrous proportions, I'm switching off curling for the day. To give up three with the hammer is inexcusable. And, yes, the US has been completely shut out thus far. The men are 0-4 and unless the women can come up with a miracle, they will fall to 0-3. Tough start for the US in curling.

[mabrowndog]

Jesus H. Christ.

NBC picked tonight of all nights to have a Nightly News feature on the men's team. It's pretty much been 5 minutes of non-stop fellatio, a report filmed weeks ago in Eau Claire WI -- and not a single word was said about the team's 0-4 record thus far. Just constant praise for Shuster's role on the Bronze Medal team in Torino.

You'd think they'd have had a bank of about 20 similar features to choose from, and perhaps gone with a team/athlete that actually has a chance of winning something. The comedy with this network is never-ending.

Edited by mabrowndog, 18 February 2010 - 07:01 PM.

[Jed Zeppelin]

Another setback for team throw it hard and hope it works.

[hunter05]

Combined 0-7. IF there was a gold medal for choking, we'd be the clear favorites.

[Greg29fan]

NATINALS

[cannonball 1729]

Man, what a shot by the Canadians. Draw in the 11th end, they put it just off the button, just a couple inches closer than the Germans. The Canadian women are like the exact opposite of the Americans.

[Fratboy]

Okay one of you motherfuckers needs to get me a skating feed.

NOW.

[OilCanShotTupac]

If SoSH were to send a curling team to this tournament, it would do no worse than what the USA has there.

Think about it.

[cannonball 1729]

Okay one of you motherfuckers needs to get me a skating feed.

NOW.

Have you tried From Sport dot com? They probably have one up.

[Fratboy]

OMG I LOVE YOU.

[JayMags71]

My favorite moment from yesterday:

[Jed Zeppelin]

These Russian girls must be the best looking curlers in the world.

[The Four Peters]

These Russian girls must be the best looking curlers in the world.

I had heard good things, but never saw for myself.

Well I saw, I came, and I was conquered.

[Dr. Noisewater]

These Russian girls must be the best looking curlers in the world.

I cannot stand that they don't show the first few stones each end. I need more of the Russian first.

[Buckner's Boots]

I wonder how our ice MILFs will screw this one up. I'm kind of rooting for Russia so I can watch Sidorova for another round.

(Edit: Fomina ain't half bad either...oh, hell, the whole team is pretty hot. Especially compared to Germany.)

Edited by Buckner's Boots, 19 February 2010 - 02:17 PM.

[Dr. Noisewater]

Okay, here we go. Tied with the hammer in the final end. Let's see how McCormick screws this up.

[Buckner's Boots]

Does anyone else feel like they're listening to Julia Sweeney in this color commentator?

[SoxScout]

Anna Sidorova

[Buckner's Boots]

Frozen WATAH!

[Buckner's Boots]

Anna Sidorova

Thank you. She will become the background on my desktop.

[ColoradoJack]

Let's see how McCormick screws this up.

no pressure here....and she nails it.

[Dr. Noisewater]

U.S. women finally come through when it counts. Sad to see the Russian women go though

[Buckner's Boots]

Eve Muirhead ain't bad, either.

[Dr. Noisewater]

Christ, and the German third, Robillard.


Edit: Too bad the other 3 look like men

Edited by Dr. Noisewater, 19 February 2010 - 02:52 PM.

[j44thor]

Christ, and the German third, Robillard.

I take it she must be the one that doesn't look like a man? Tough going from watching team RUS to Team GER. The GBR alternative chick was nice though.

[mabrowndog]

From the "Too Little, Too Late" dept:

John Shuster benched for match with France

[dwightinright]

From the "Too Little, Too Late" dept:

John Shuster benched for match with France

Just win tonight.

[ColoradoJack]

Just win tonight.

is this a Kevin Millar moment?

[johnmd20]

From the "Too Little, Too Late" dept:

John Shuster benched for match with France

They should have done it after the 3rd game. Damn shame, at least the women pulled off a victory.

[Buckner's Boots]

So far the change looks good. No big important shots yet, though. From what little I know, I like moving Smith to 4th. He seems capable of making a big throw when he needs to. If we're lucky, we'll find out.

[Dr. Noisewater]

Smith makes on the first try why Shuster had four tries to do. Granted it wasnt for the match, but a great shot nonetheless.

[mabrowndog]

Jason Smith with a huge shot here in the 9th, right after France knocked two US stones out with a fantastic shot of their own.

And Smith comes through. US gets 2 to tie it up 3-3, heading to #10.

[johnmd20]

Jason Smith with a huge shot here in the 9th, right after France knocked two US stones out with a fantastic shot of their own.

And Smith comes through. US gets 2 to tie it up 3-3, heading to #10.

Smith has had a good game, and that last shot was excellent, but it's weak the US only had 1 point heading to the 9th. US needs the French to miss the last toss, something the US has been very adroit at this Olympics. I should give up on this team but I can't stop watching.