Our Olympic Qualifiers

Martin went to the Olympics and did not win gold. And this was at a time when we had a small right to assume Canadians would.
His reaction - build a new team that could win! And he disassembled his old team, with all the pain that entails, and assembled a new one, with similar pain.
I am a fan of Howard (Ontarian) but Martin is so great!

Roar of the Rings: Wrap-up

I don't know if everyone else saw things this way, but Martin was very impressive today. He will certainly go to the Olympics as the odds-on favourite. I often wonder about the dynamics on the team, but Martin seems to have things well under control. His own shot-making was superb throughout most of the Roar of the Rings, and his tactics/strategy were excellent. I would expect that teams from the other countries would have had scouts there, watching and charting Martin and his team. I would love to see their analyses.

On the women's side, Bernard's rink certainly deserved to win. They curled well throughout the Roar, and they dominated. Here's hoping they can continue to win in Vancouvre.

An aside: Rexall Place (formerly known as Northland Colleseum) suck big time as a venue. The seats are narrower than those on the cheapest, sleasiest airline imaginable, and the legroom is even worse. It was quite uncomfortable just being there. I'm glad I went, but given the option in the future, I would stay in a hotel and watch the curling on television.

End #8

Something happened during the sweeping of Kennedy's rock: Martin looked a bit peeved with Morris. Then on his first rock Morris ticked on the front guard.... no real damage, though. I had thought the dynamics between Martin and Morris had established Martin as the alpha male. I wonder what's going on or if maybe I'm just reading something that isn't there. Morris's second shot doubles off two Howard stones.

Battery down below 7% as Howard takes a time out. Gotta quit.

End #7

The Ride of the Valkyries again as Boston Pizza coupons come sailing down. Howard lies two, Martin nicely picks one but leaves a draw for two. Martin 5, Howard 3.

End #6

Standard opening ends with two Martin rocks in the rings, one Howard rock in the 12', and all the guards finally peeled as we go to vice rocks. Nice shot by Hart doubles off the Martin rocks and leaves the rocks at nearly equal heights. Martin removes one and is level with the Howard rock. Weak guard from Hart leaves Martin with a double attempt; makes it to lie one. Howard blanks to retain the hammer. Martin 5, Howard 1 after 6.

5th End Break

My overall reaction is that Martin is really on. His team is sharp both physically and strategically. And they are out playing Howard pretty substantially at this point. Indeed, the Martin rink is all curling in the 90s (aside from Morris at 88%, largely because of the flash in the 2nd end). But Hart is curling only 78% and Howard 70%. The Howard rink has definitely been out-curled so far.

End #5

Coming up to skip's stones, Martin has four in the rings; Howard has two long-ish guards. Howard triples off three and sits on the buttonhalf-covered behind a guard. He almost doubled but left one Martin rock barely biting the back 12. Draw for two. Martin 5, Howard 1.

End #4

A freezing game pursuing strategies which elude me. Good try by Howard at a run-back double, but he removed only one Martin rock and scored one. Martin 3, Howard 1.

End #3

Howard's team didn't really make any horrible shots; Martin's team made good shots and had the advantage until Hart doubled off two Martin rocks and rolled out his shooter. Beautiful hit and flop by Martin puts Howard in peril of yielding a steal of at least one. Howard's draw was just an inch wide of scoring. Martin 3, Howard 0.

Tim text to daughter: The score is 0-0
reply: are you watching soccer?
Tim text to daughter: Martin is ahead 2-0
reply: Steve Martin?

End #2

Morris flashed and set up Howard either to steal or force Martin to take one, but Howard's final shot missed the double-raise takeout. Martin draws for two.

End #1

Very tight quarters make blogging this very difficult. Both teams played the first end wide open. Martin made an interesting freeze to force the play, but Howard removed it; Martin threw his last rock through the rings to blank the end.

Men's Final: Martin vs. Howard

I have a less-than-desirable seat low to the ice near the home end. Not sure I'll be able to see or write much. Very crowded. No elbow room to write. Sitting next to Tim, whose son plays hockey with Martin's son. Who knows how much will get written.

Women's Finals! Roar of the Rings, Conclusion

Maybe if I write and post less, my batteries will last longer.
Anyway, as most of you know, Bernard won with a draw to 4' on her last shot. Kleibrink was forced to take one in the 9th end, tying the game but handing the hammer over to Bernard. Kleibrink drew behind a guard to bite the back 4' rings with her last shot. Bernard's final stone looked as if it might have been a tad heavy, but as it approached the rings, her sweepers started celebrating. Kleibrink swept it for all she was worth once it crossed the t-line, but it stopped about 6" from being too heavy.

Overall, there were some excellent shots, but there were also some pretty ugly shots. The curling percentages were lower than one might hope for Canada's representative to the Olympics, with both Bernard and O'Connor shooting in the 70s, and Kleibrink in the 60s.

I'll be cheering madly for Bernard at the Olympics, but I expect she and her team will need much more consistently good shooting to win gold.

Women's Finals! Roar of the Rings, End #8

The battery on the laptop is getting very low. This may have to be it. Bell into the top 12 for Kleibrink. Tight corner guard by Bartel for Bernard. Now a 2nd guard by Bartel in the top 12 for Kleibrink. Bartel hits and sticks on one. Hit and flop by Webster for Kleibrink. Set up a double for Darbyshire; nose hit and got only one. Hit and roll away by Webster. Hit and stick, exposed by Darbyshire. Hit and stick outside the rings by Nixon. The double is still there for O'Connor. She hit and stuck on the rock in the rings, but didn't roll behind the guard. Nixon made a beauty hit-and-roll behind the guard, but it leaves a short double for O'Connor. Instead, Bernard has her draw around the nearly forgotten corner guard. Nice shot.

Only 10% of the battery power left....

Nice draw through the hole by Kleibrink to tap the B rock away and sit in the 4'. It is exposed, though and the hole is not particularly small. Kleibrink's % has risen; O'connor's has slipped.

Bernard tries to hit and roll on the Kleibrink shot rock. Hits and rolls almost covered on the button. There's a thick double for Kleibrink, but if they keep discussing the shot, I won't be able to post about it.
....
7% of the power left....

Women's Finals! Roar of the Rings, End #7

Well, after having to correct my goof on the last end, I missed a couple of shots this end. Bernard put one in the top 4. K put up a corner guard. Centre guard from Bernard. Top 12 by K. Remove the corner guard by Bernard. Tap up by K, but Bernard controls the centre. Darbyshire removed the two centre guards (one of each) and rolled over as a corner guard. Webster removed B shot rock and rolled to side 12'.

I missed a couple more shots. K has one at the back 4, and B has a biter on the side 12. Nixon threw a light one, but the sweepers got it into the rings, top 12 and covered. Bernard has a shot at a run-back double, but it'd be a miracle shot. She got the front one at the 12. K freezes to her own to lie two. Bernard will have to make a good shot to keep K from scoring two or three. She tries a corner freeze, but is heavy and bounces to the button. K has a hit and stick for three. The game is afoot. Kleibrink 5, Bernard 4.

Women's Finals! Roar of the Rings, End #6

Oops. Lost the internet connection for a bit. After five ends, Kleibrink was curling only 53%, uncharacteristically low for her, and probably the major difference so far.

Lots of rocks lined up along the centre line, but the Bernard stone on the button is mostly exposed. As we move to skips stones, Kleibrink has a pretty open hit, and rolls over just a bit.
Bernard made a double run-back to remove shot rock but rolled over more than she wanted. With her last rock, Kleibrink does a hit and slight roll to lie three. The path to the button is not fully blocked, Bernard decides to try an in-off for her single. A risky choice and she missed, but managed to score one anyway. I goofed and thought she'd given up a steal. Bernard 4, Kleibrink 2.

Women's Finals! Roar of the Rings, End #5

What a sense of humour: Playing the Ride of the Valkyries as coupons for Boston Pizza are dropped to the crowd.

Top of the 12 by Bartel. Corner guard by Bell. Bartel taps hers up to the top 8', with the shooter staying as a centre guard. Tight, very tight draw by Bell barely avoiding the B rocks, but to the back 8. Another top 12 draw by Bernard's Darbyshire this time. Kleibrink asks Webster to remove a couple; she moves one and removes another, but rolls open. Hit and stick by Darbyshire. Webster's second shot is light, short of the rings on the centre line. O'Connor tried a raise takeout, but only removedher own rock. Nixon tried to draw around into the house, but wrecked in front.

A mess of wrecks in front. Amazing shot through a small port by O'Connor to remove the K rock and lie 3. Followed by Nixon and missed the guard by about an eighth of an inch. Bernard followed her but was even better, rolling behind the centre guards. Nice very soft draw by Kleibrink to tap the Bernard rock off the button and lie one. Some mighty fine shots here. With her last stone, Bernard tries to go through the same hole but wrecks on the guards. With the hammer, Kleibrink tries a tap-tap, hoping to move the Bernard rock back and score two. Way wide and scored only one. Bernard 3, Kleibrink 2 after 5.

Women's Finals! Roar of the Rings, End #4

Kleibrink has Bell put up a tight centre guard. Bernard draws around it to the button. Bell taps it back a bit, but it still bites the button. Bartel pushes the Bell rock to the back 12 with a superb shot!. Webster runs the guard back but just jostles the B rocks. Darbyshire draws to the t line, but sets up a double for Webster. She missed it, rolling over to the top 4, leaving the B rock on the button. Open and peeled by Darbyshire. Nixon doubles and there are just three K rocks left in play.
Hit and stick by O'Connor. Hit and roll a bit by Nixon. Hit and stick by O'Connor, just missing the double. Hit and stick by K, but the double is still there.Hit and flop by Bernard. Hit and stick by K, leaving a hit and stick for one by Bernard. Bernard 3, Kleibrink 1.

Women's Finals! Roar of the Rings, End #3

Top 12 by Bernard. Corner guard by Kleibrink. Second in the rings by B. Doubled out by K with a roll almost behind the guard, but not far enough. Peeled by Bernard and roll to the side opposite the guard. K ignores the B rock in the rings and has Webster draw around the guard beautifully. Darbyshire draws up a foot from the K rock in the rings. K hits and sticks and lies two. She's in good position to score two at this point.

Hit and stick exchange. Hit and roll over by O'connor and both K and B try to sweep it out; always amusing. Draw to the rings by Nixon. Hit and stick by Bernard. Hit by K but she rolled over to the edge of the 12' and is only 1st and 3rd shot. Barnard has a tough decision. Hit and stick and leaves an easy draw for two for Kleibrink. Odd decision by Bernard. I'd have frozen; others here in section 114 would have tried to roll over. No matter, K was heavy with the draw and scored only 1. Bernard 2, Kleibrink 1.

Women's Finals! Roar of the Rings, End #2

I think I'd rather watch slap-chop ads than listen to the nonsense that goes on between ends live.

Bernard goes into the rings. Peel by Kleibrink. Bartel to the button again, but this time Bell puts up a corner guard. Got some action now! Centre guard tight to the rings from Darbyshire (Bernard's 2nd). Webster tried to double off the B stones but got only the guard, leaving hers near the centre line. Advantage Bernard. Another, longer centre guard by Darbyshire). Through the port by Webster and a tap-back of the B stone.

O'Connor followed her down, removed the K stone and B lies two. Nixon (K;s vice) did the same thing and is shot. O'Connor's 2nd shot is through the hole, but light and on the centre line in the rings. Nixon's second shot came up very short, near the centre line. On to skip's rocks.

Bernard goes way to the left and draws beautifully around the Kliebrink shot rock right to the button. Wow! Kleibrink seemed pretty disgusted as she came down to the hack for her first shot. Her pick attempt we either a shade heavy or a shade wide: she just nudged the B stone further behind cover. B sets a guard on the left side, and K needs a magic shot to avoid giving up a steal. No magic with an intended double angle raise take out. Bernard 2, Kleibrink 0.

Women's Finals! Roar of the Rings: Intro

End #1. The temps outside are -27C. The putz who introduced the teams got all the names wrong for the Bernard rink and at least one position wrong for the Kleibrink team. First Kleibrink stone on the centre line biting the 12'. Peeled by Bernard. Odd, cautious beginning. Second rock top 8. Hit and stick by Bernard. and by Kleibrink.

Someone in the crowd already shouted "booorrrring".

After all the hitting, Nixon's rock is now a guard in front, but Bernard has O'Connor hit and roll into the rings. More hit and stick. I guess they're just trying get a feel for the ice and save time, too. Otherwise they'd have gone around the guard when it was available. In the end, Bernard didn't roll out after her hit. Bernard 1, Kleibrink 0. An odd end as it unfolded.

Women's Finals! Roar of the Rings

Well, I made it to Rexall Palace with my neice to watch the final between Kleibrink and Bernard. Both teams are good, as we saw through the week (and man did I ever call the Scott rink wrong this week!).

Anyway, I'm using my iPhone to tether from the laptop, and who knows how long the two batteries will last. Anyway, I'll try to post end-by-end for two reasons:

1. If a battery goes, I won't lose everything.
2. If anyone is following this on |RSS feed, they will get a new notice after each end.

To save the batteries, I'll probably try to post short summaries after each end.

Semi - Kleibrink - McCarville

Sorry - got caught up in Law and Order episodes.
Three ends in and Kleibrink is where form would say should be - 3-1 up after three ends.
END #4: Saskatchewan rules, it seems. George tosses up a good guard. Nixon peels the guard. Amy wants to peel, Shannon is less sure. Peeling happens. McCarville guards again and Kleibrink tucks in and freezes to a McCarville rock behind guards. Perfect freeze by McCarville! Kleibrink does not get on top of it - 3-2 Kleibrink now!
END #5: McCarville, delightfully crazy, comes into the house early. A truly brilliant shot clears the house. McCarville is back in, but Kleibrink clears. Now they are back - Amy makes a good throw but things remain a bit messy. Nixon does not clean up as hoped. Kleibrink makes a brilliant shot clearing out McCarville rocks. McCarville can still force a single from Kleibrink; that is what happens.
END #6: Lang starts off with a great guard and a great freeze to a Kleibrink rock in the house. A Kleibrink error leaves Lang's freeze untouched and MacLean comes and sits on top of it. A few rocks later Kleibrink has the shot rocks but it is all McCarville in front of her. George finally manages a hit and roll behind cover. Kleibrink knocks it out. McCarville tucks herself in behind a guard. Kleibrink follows her in with a gorgeous freeze. McCarville comes up short and Kleibrink takes one more.
END #7: Lang makes a perfect tap on a Kleibrink rock on the button. MacLean adds to crowding there, and in the end McCarville takes one,
Sorry - Had to go to bed at that point.
Not a surprise but Kleibrink won 10-5. She goes up against Berhard Saturday.

Roar of the Rings - Women's Semi - McCarville- Kleibrink

OK I have no dog in this game. Through the day I was certainly a McCarville fan. but now I am neutral. Ray and Linda are in place and this should be major fun!
I think the great battle is Nixon versus George and I sure hope George can play, as she really has not, to the high levels of such requirements.
END #1: Simple exchange of rocks in the house. Nobody trying for much.

My Own Deeply Belated Reflections

You could not ask for a greater contrast than between the women's draw and the men's. The men's draw is now down to the usual suspects - Howard, Martin, and Stoughton, and there was never a real threat that it would be otherwise (maybe Ferbey could have got through).
On the women's side, the usual suspects were cruelly and clearly eliminated as Jennifer Jones and Kelly Scott saw their rinks pretty much humiliated.
One could call Kleibrink, as the previous Olympic qualifier, a suspect, but that was really her unique great performance over the last few years. We are now down to Kleibrink and McCarville, and then Bernard. I would never have predicted this, and I doubt many others did.
The McCarville rink are actually my fondest memory of the Scott Tournament that Doc and I covered in London, and that likely shows through in my coverage. The effect should be smaller tonight, as I am also a great fan of the Kleibrink rink. The PI factor will be high again tonight, and, I am pretty sure, for the final.

Great Coverage Today by Alan

After having spent $4 on the iPhone application yesterday so I could follow today's action, I realized that mostly all the app does is send people to various websites that didn't provide any scoring updates for the tie-breakers today --- terribly disappointing.

However, following Alan's detailed descriptions on this blog was a treat, even on Safari on the iPhone. Who needs an app that provides no useful updates with a blog and a co-blogger like this?!!!

Roar of the Rings - Women's Tiebreaker 2 - McCarville-Holland

McCarville must be getting used to all these Saskatchewan teams. On the men's side it's Alberta. So nice to escape the stupidities of the Brier and Scotties in terms of provincial representation. They should have Olympic trials every year!
There is something wonderful about the names of the Holland team - it says a lot about our immigrant history. A Kalenchuk and two Schneiders, and a Holland!
END #1: This end seems a little more wide open than either team intends. Holland blanks.
END #2: Must have missed this. A blank.
END #3: McCarville wants action and Lang puts up a centre line guard. Kalenchuk's rock goes through the house. Lang puts her second rock in behind her first in the house. Kalenchuk sits on the corner of Lang's rock. MacLean joins her and all can be removed. Schneider chips out the front McCarville stone and barely hangs on. MacLean kills it, rolling off. Schneider and George clear the house up to a degree. Kim Schneider kills the George rock, but rolls out. One Holland rock in the house at 9 o'clock, twelve-foot. It is now gone, and George's rock is not too far away. Schneider (Kim) removes it and sits at around 5 o'clock. McCarville hits and sticks. Holland hits and sticks. McCarville would like to hit and roll behind the guard. But she hits and sticks. Holland blanks perfectly.
END #4: McCarville centre guard, Holland into the house, and then McCarville beside it (both well back of the T-line). Holland puts one into the front of the four-foot. McCarville has MacLean try to freeze but she comes up a little short. This is getting complicated. Tammy Schneider hangs out trying to freeze and ends up left of the McCarville rock (from the point of view of the back of the house). MacLean removes it and rolls into the line of rocks along the centre-line. Great shot. Schneider misses her hit, moves the MacLean rock over a little, and rolls out. George kills a Holland rock but loses the shooter. Kim Scheider misses her attack on the McCarville rock in the front of the four-foot - taps it back but loses the shooter and leaves the rock in an annoying spot. George sits nicely and nastily on the front of the button. Kim Schneider follows orders and peels the guard. We have two McCarville rocks in the front of the button. McCarville guards. Holland moves the McCarville rocks around, barely getting by the guard. McCarville kills the Holland rock and lies four as Holland draws. She uses some backing and scores 1.
END #5: Last two ads - Advil and TSN. Hmm - tricky boycott plan on the latter though Advil will easily be a miss in the future. Two rocks in play. Aarrgghh. Holland has two rocks in the house in front of the button behind two McCarville guards. MacLean cleans the front nicely. Kim Schneider wrecks slightly but keeps filling the house with Holland rocks. MacLean cleans up one and loses the shooter. Schneider puts another in the house, and George misses the double, also losing the shooter. Holland's rocks are being spread out in the process. Kim S puts another in the house (Holland lying three); George wrecks on a front rock and is open, having done nothing to Holland's rocks. Holland punches that rock out - now lie four. McCarville gets a brilliant double and rolls over in front of a Holland rock. Just a great piece of salvage work! Holland puts a scoring rock in the back of the house, but leaves no double. McCarville hits it and sticks. Holland hits and rolls out, and gets only one, where a few shots ago she seemed on line to four!
END #6: Sorry - damned life dragged me away from TSN for a few minutes. Holland has two front guards, with a Holland and McCarville rock cuddled up behind the guards behind the T-line. George puts a rock in the top edge of the four-foot - did not break as much as wanted. Tammy Schneider clears one of the front guards but hte angle is not as desired and misses taking out the George rock. After another couple of shots, Holland has shot in the four-foot, but is pretty open. George hits it but it jams and still is the shooter. A couple of rocks later George has cleaned up the house and McCarville can contemplate more than one. Holland comes up short, sitting now in the front og the four-foot. McCarville seemed to feather the front guard but clears the house of Holland rocks with a double. McCarville is shooting 93%! Holland plans to bury on the button behind the front guards. Shad better as McCarville lies three. She leaves a rock openish - McCarville has a hit for four - and she is perfect! My heavens, what a pair of matches these tiebreakers have been! 5-2 McCarville.
END #7: Two rocks in play but this was just because TSN decided to review previous ends. Annoying but no boycott candidates. McCarville has two rocks in front of the T-line, unguarded. Holland has a corner guard and now rock in the house too. George removes the rock in the house and rolls out. Holland replaces a McCarville rock in the house with one of her own. George wipes it out and rolls in front of their other rock. Kim S puts a rock in the front of the eight-foot. McCarville gets rid of it and rolls out. Holland makes a shot I just do not get - she is open. And is removed. She can draw for one. And does. 5-3 McCarville.
END #8: Hooray! SlapChop makes my boycott list! McCarville's two-month-old baby looks really cute. Holland, clearly plagued, faces a hog-line violation on her first rock. Still, Holland has a nice front guard and a rock in the house behind it. Time for the peeling! Front guard is gone. New guard, now gone. New guard, George wants to peel, and does. Another guard, another George peel. Holland decides to come in behind her rock in the front of the eight-foot. But she seems to leave a double. McCarville misses it, removing only one. Nice freeze by Holland on a McCarville rock at the back of the eight-foot. McCarville will now draw, surprising the commentators. It is perfect! Who is this unmasked woman? She is shooting 95% and she is getting some very tough shots to make.
END #9: More than two rocks in play as coverage resumes and I failed to note who was running the late ads! This is hard work. Peeling has started. MacLean completely whiffs on a peel, so let's see what Holland can do. George misses her peel but luckily removes a Holland rock in the house. Kim S buries a nice rock behind the remaining corner guard. Which corner guard is now gone. Holland punches a McCarville rock back and sits in the front of the eight-foot. That rock is gone. Holland puts a shot in the four-foot, leaving a possible double. McCarville kills one, leaving Holland a draw for two. She makes it. 6-5 McCarville going into the tenth with the hammer.
END #10: Again two rocks in play and I am really sloppy about watching the ads. So far we have Advil and SlapChop as guilty parties. McCarville weirdly is filling the house with early shots, and Lang goes deep with one of her shots. Tammy S puts a shot on the button. Peeling now starts - double peel requested, and one centre guard remains. Now there are double-able rocks up front. MacLean removes them! Guards installed and removed. Holland rock on the button will be in play later. McCarville calls a timeout and coach Rick Lang comes out and has barely arrived before he says 'Peel it'. Too entertaining. Everybody immediately agreed. They just wanted confirmation. Rock peeled. Holland can cause grief by sitting in a perfect place behind a McCarville rock and in front of hers on the button. And she makes it perfectly! Brilliant shot. McCarville's double attempt gets only one. Holland steals one! We go to 11! Fantastic match.
END #11: Nikon and Ford are the guilty parties this time. Easy boycott candidates for me. Lang pulls off a tick, with great discomfort but also success. Peeling may now begin. And so it goes. Skip stones now. Holland puts up another long guard. McCarville's team are having a great discussion. Lang (the coach) is down on the rink again; they want to come into the top eight-foot to shut Holland's approaches down. Lang does not mind. The commentariat wants a peel, but McCarville is going in, top eight, and open. The shot is too close to the centre-line and now the peel looks really good. Holland can draw now behind the McCarville rocks. Wow! This is too exciting! She is drawing to the open side, and it slides to the back of the eight-foot, and is not even shot. McCarville wins 7-6. Another Olympic dream dies and the McCarville rink continue their longest day ever, I imagine.

Roar of the Rings - Women's Tiebreaker 1 - McCarville-Lawton

Two young teams, Lawton having survived into the tiebreaker by delivering a first defeat to Bernard, and McCarville by beating Webster.
END #1: Pretty wide open exchange of hit and stick shots. Russ Howard points out that one advantage to this for both teams is that they save some time they may have to use later in more complicated situations. Lawton hits and sticks once more than intended, fails to blank and takes one.
END #2: With her first shot, McCarville removes a well-guarded Lawton rock from the house, and rolls into the open. Lawton hits but does not roll behind cover. McCarville does not get the roll out of the house, and takes an undesired single. 1-1.
END #3: McCarville puts a rock on the button behind a guard, after a hit but roll out by Lawton's team. Lawton makes a great run-back double, clearing the house and the guard. McCarville runs a rock through the house, not intentionally. Lawton goes through the house, intentionally. Still 1-1.
Apparently McCarville had noted during the week that she was 3-0 with straight hair, and not so potent with her hair curled. So the team is out this morning with straight hair. Russ Howard comments that he played much better when he had hair.
END #4: First complicated end. Hosse has more or less vertically aligned Lawton and McCarville rocks, in two pairs. There is a front guard partly covering the aligned rocks. Singler wobbles coming out of the hack, overrotates, and removes her own front rock, the shooter rolling out. Tara George puts up a guard, covering the rocks in the house. Kasner removes both front guards. Tara George makes a great pick shot, removing the Lawton rock from its position in front of the button; the rock is still just hgugging the rings at the back. Kasner removes the front McCarville rock. McCarville removes Kasner's rock but rolls towards her other rock, allowing a double. Lawton makes it perfectly, and now sits two. Howard says it is a shot he would not even have tried, as it had to be done so thin. McCarville now needs a long double, and gets it! Who are these unmasked women! Fantastic curling. Howard - the room for error on the last two shots was about the width of a penny. Lawton hits and inadvertently sticks again. 2-1 Lawton.
END #5: McCarville (George) goes behind two Lawton guards. Kasner taps it back, and Lawton also has a rock on the centre-line. George does not quite freeze to it, but close. Lawton intends to freeze to that rock, not necessarily getting shot rock. She taps it more than wanted (Howard calls it a half-inch miss.) McCarville taps Lawton's rock, barely missing her freeze. It is difficult to tell which rocks are counting. Lawton now plans to tap her centre-line rock into the button. She gets it there but it is not buried and McCarville may have a double for three, possibly four (I suspect there will be a measurement.) Howard has pointed out steadily through the end that McCarville has forced the hitting Lawton team to play touch shots. McCarville's shot is perfect! Looks like four to me. Man, that was an aggressive and exciting end. 5-2 McCarville. Seems time for McCarville to renounce the touch and start hitting.
There was a good discussion early in teh broadcast on a topic I have long wondered about, how the McCarville rink, stuck way up in Northern Ontario, get good tough practice sessions. It turns out they play regularly in a men's league, and, as Russ Howard pointed out, when you have Al Hackner on the opposing team, you learn quickly not to leave many good hitting opportunities on the ice.
END #6: McCarville puts the first couple of rocks in the house in front of the button, and then peels. Kasner tries a gentle tap back but it not gentle enough. McCarville clears that rock and rolls out. Lawton is thinking about the double to set up a blank, but it is now a long double. The deliberations are curious to watch as Lawton consults Lana Vey; Howard cannot figure out why. She misses the double and leaves a McCarville rock in the house. McCarville clears that rock; Howard says Lawton's double will not allow her to roll out, exactly as McCarville wants. Lawton decides to hit where Howard would draw, and makes her single. It says an awful lot about the quality of women's curling that Howard is constantly saying he would not try the shot being played right in front of him, usually successfully.
END #7: Lorraine Lang is curling 94%! We're back to peeling after her rocks. There is a Lawton rock in the eight-foot on the centre-line, and McCarville rocks behind it on the button and the back 12-foot. Lawton is throwing up guards, and George double the guard and the Lawton rock in the house away, but sits out front. Kasner rubs on that front guard and goes through the house. George puts another rock by the button. Lawton plans to freeze on shot rock - she won't be shot but she has one more rock. She leaves about a foot between her rock and McCarville's backing rocks. McCarville chips it out but leaves a spot to freeze into. And Lawton does, beautifully. McCarville is now designing another crazy shot - hitting one of her own rocks very thin to bounce into the house almost horizontally and clear the Lawton rock. She finally backs off and taps the Lawton rock back to take one. 6-3 McCarville.
END 8#: Usual protocol. Lang puts two rocks in the house, and then McCarville starts peeling guards. Singler wrecks on one of her own guards trying to come into the house and her rock becomes a centre guard. We have guards on both sides of the house as well. George removes the centre guard but we have corner guards on both sides, so Lawton gets another shot at it. Kasner is a bit heavy and her tap on the rocks in the house slides into the open. George, under clear instruction, makes a perfect shot, removing the Kasner rock, and one of her own, and slides up into the front in the eight-foot. Kasner whacks the McCarville rocks, lying open, and leaving two McCarville rocks in the house, but nowhere really to freeze. As Howard says, this end cannot now be blanked, and it is hard to see where two will come from. McCarville removes the Kasner rock and sticks. So there IS a freeze, a McCarville rock at 9 o'clock in the eight-foot. And thatr is Lawton's intention. Very nice - Lawton is shot rock and there is only about a six inch separation. McCarville does not get shot rock because of an overcurl. Draw for two for Lawton. Lawton is heavy. Measurement! Howard - "It's amazing how many times you don't think you're shot rock and you are." Lawton did go too far - 6-4 McCarville with the hammer into the ninth. This is BY NO MEANS over.
END #9: Amusing discussion from Howard about the forms for the Olympics. Apparently they are full of slots for the names of your parents, but not for the names of your children. Ageism! Anyway, back to the match. Lawton centre guard, Lawton rock in the house on the centre line eight foot, McCarville rock on the button. I missed what Kasner did, it must have been a goof-up, and George clears the centre guard. Kasner puts a rock up beside their other rock in the house. George misses the double, but the shooter stays in the house. Lawton now seems to be playing a guard, puzzling Russ Howard, as McCarville has a rock on the button, and would surely be happy with one. It IS a great guard, but why it is there also baffles me. McCarville peels. Lawton tries a tap back but does not get shot. McCarville has a number of ways to get two now - she elects a draw, which might be heavy, and could wind up giving Lawton one. Apparently someone in the crowd shouted "Throw it away", and Howard asks "Was it Kevin Martin?" McCarville makes a brilliant shot but it looks like one. One it is - 7-4 into the tenth, hammer to Lawton.
END #10: TSN let us miss the first two rocks. I think I am adopting a new policy. I will list the last two advertisers in each TSN ad break and invite readers to boycott that company. This time one of them was MicroForce, selling some silly-looking shaver. Please do not buy it.
McCarville threw one through but then left one as well in the house, and now they have a guard (a failed peel). Lawton throwing up guards, McCarville peeling. Howard is baffled that McCarville wants her rock in the house. McCarville's peeling is weird - she now has two rocks in the house. Why any? Lawton needs a timeout - I can understand - she has few rocks left. Lawton seems worried about being shot, and Howard points out that she has much larger problems than that and being shot means you get peeled! Lawton's coach, Brian McCusker, gets rid of the goal of being shot, and Kasner tries to get behind a corner guard, but still pretty open. George completely misses the Kasner rock! Kasner misses her attempted freeze and goes right through the house. Disaster for Lawton. She's out of rocks if McCarville removes one Lawton rock. And she does. Handshakes. And Lawton's Olympic dream dies. Sport is brutal - someone loses.
Great match though.
And just a passing thought. It seems to me that over the years the women's curling PI (pulchritude index) has been rising fairly steadily. A bit like golf. Both events are becoming through competition much more competitive.
Back in a couple of hours with McCarville-Holland!

Draw 14: Conclusion

A very close game, and whatever misses there have been have been relatively minor or only partial misses. Great curling going into the last three ends tied at five.

End 8. Standard opening again. Nice double by Laing to remove two Martin stones. Martin split the rings, and Howard tries an angle raise double off his own rock. Removes one and moves the other Martin rock to leave Howard sitting two. Martin plays a perfect hit and freeze. Howard replies with a run-back single (trying for a double) and scores one. Howard 6, Martin 5.

End 9.Different opening. Otherwise Martin would have been able to blank the end. Should be fun. This is SO much better curling than the match we saw this afternoon. Morris freezes beautifully to a Howard rock. Howard wrecks, Martin is heavy, Hebert doesn't lift his hair broom away from the rock's path, and some of controversy. Martin makes a terrific raise double to score three. Amazing!!
Martin 8, Howard 6.

End 10. The Howard team looks stunned. They are trying to put up corner guards, and Martin removes them, while still having two on the button. Big miss by Morris who didn't remove the guard but removed a Martin stone from the rings. Fantastic saving double by Martin. Wow, again! Howard leaves his shot open. Martin peels it and wins. Howard plays Stouton in the Semi-Finals. Martin gets the bye.

Draw 14: Howard vs. Martin, middle ends

A series of cat-and-mouse ends so far, with each team forced to take one on each end.

End 4. Who said this: "Is it just me, or is it hard to make a shot out here right now?" I think it was Hart (Howard's 3rd) preparing for his shot. Hmph. He's curling a much higher percentage than Morris... but then Morris makes a really nice hit and roll behind centre guards. Hart removes one and moves another to the 12' with a near double. Nose hits follow. Martin removes the centre rock and sits one. Howard tries to swing around the corner guard but is more than half open. Martin tried to pick it but it jammed on Martin's rock in the back 12, leaving a split for three for Howard. Howard 4, Martin 2.

End 5. Two of Howard's rocks in the 4' and two of Martin's out front. Beautiful pick-double by Hart to clear the sheet of Martin's rocks. And made the same shot again after Morris put one back in the rings nearly frozen. Wow! Howard tried the same shot but missed and took out his own rocks. Now Martin is in good shape to get two. Howard hits and rolls out, leaving Martin with a draw for two. Tied at 4 at the break.

Break: I just realized I'm missing Thursday night NFL to watch this match. Oh well, the Steelers have lost 4 in a row and the Browns are the worst team in the league. It isn't much of a sacrifice!

End 6. By the time the thirds are throwing, Martin has two touching the 8' and one touching the button. Howard will be lucky to escape with one, the way this end is going. Morris and Martin kept dropping a stone on the button, forcing Hart and Howard to play run-back take-outs. Howard, facing three with the hammer, hit and stuck for one. Howard 5, Martin 4.

End 7. Standard opening: Savil to top 4' for Howard; Hebert sets corner guard for Martin; Savil, centre guard; Hebert corner freeze to the 4'. Lang freezes to that stone. More exchanges in the rings. Nice run-back by Howard forcing Marting to draw for one. Tied at 5.

Draw 14: Howard vs. Martin

This will surely be one of the matches we have all waited to see. The Howard and Martin rinks are two of the best in the world. Unfortunately, both are guaranteed places in the play-offs. Fortunately, first place is at stake, with the attendant bye from the semi-finals (no page play-offs here). So with that at stake, it should be an exciting game.

End 1. Far from perfect curling from the front ends as they all miss or sort of miss their shots. Morris doubles off two Howard rocks, and then on his next shot tries to go around the only guard, but is wide open. Howard hits but stays open. Beautiful hit and roll by Howard behind the corner guard forces Martin to draw for one. Martin 1, Howard 0.

End 2. Both teams curled only 72% in the first end. It showed. In the second end, there are five rocks staggered along the centre line. Laing (Howard's second) takes out two and has his shooter roll to be a corner guard. Great shot. The rings are gradually being emptied with only two in the rings now plus a corner guard after the front end rocks have been thrown.
Morris's attempt to clear the house leaves a couple biting the rear. Hart inadvertently knocks them out, leaving only one rock in the house plus a corner guard. Hits and rolls by Hart and Martin. Hit and stick by Howard. Martin manages a hit and roll behind the corner guard. Howard has to draw for one in an end that looks a lot like the first end.

End 3. As we join the end in progress, Martin has a corner guard with the hammer while Howard tries to dominate the centre of the sheet. Beautiful shot by Kennedy (Martin's 2nd) clears the rings and rolls to be a corner guard on the opposite side. But a miss by Martin's team lets Howard set up well in the rings. Martin is forced to draw for one against three. Martin 2, Howard 1.

The iPhone App

Thanks to Marc and Punch-Drunk in comments here, I decided to try the curling info application for the iPhone, Curling Zone. It's okay, I guess. But it is slow, and there is quite a delay in reporting the scores. Also, there's a lot of stuff there that doesn't interest me all that much. Here's hoping that future updates will be faster and will have more information about what is happening in each game. But that would require a truckload of reporters and connections. I doubt if it will ever become as detailed as the material provided by other apps about baseball or the NFL.

Please Support Our Sponsors

We have added a sponsor on the right side of the page, just under the "Links" label. They have decided to sponsor "Curling" for the next year, for which we are grateful.

Draw 13: Second Half

I hate to say this, but I'm not convinced that either of these teams (McCarville, Webster) could end up on the podium at the Olympics. Too many misses. Indeed, their curling percentages are considerably lower than those of the top teams.

End 6. With her last rock, McCarville attempted to pick a Webster rock out but instead took out the Webster rock along with two of her own, allowing Webster to blank the end.
End 7. Webster missed a draw and scored only one. zzzzzzzzz.
End 8. The thirds on both teams are curling only mid-60s percentages. McCarville makes a fine hit and roll to lie one behind guards. Webster wrecks on one of the guards with her last rock. Then McCarville's draw is too heavy and she scores only one. McCarville 5, Webster 3.
End 9. Guard, peel, etc. until a McC shooter sticks as a guard. Webster come-around to a McC rock in the rings. Pick by McC, replaced by Webster. Webster well-set to score two, but her first draw is light. So McCarville hits and sticks to lie three. Webster has a hit-and-stick for one. Barely scored one. McCarville 5, Webster 4.

It is really clear the announcers are trying (and struggling) to say nice things now and then about the shots in this game. It is also really clear that there is a sizeable gap in performance between the top teams and the rest.

End 10. McCarville is up 5-4 with the hammer coming home. If she wins, she'll force a tie-breaker with Holland, who just demolished the Scott rink (man, did I ever pick them wrong!) and with Lawton, who just handed Bernard her only defeat. Two centre guards by Webster, nice come-around by Lang (McC lead), followed by nice come-around by Preston (Webster's 2nd). Guard, remove, guard, remove, guard, remove, guard.... Wtf is Webster guarding? she's second shot and McC is shot. And in the end, Webster misses a hit-and-stick. McCarville wins 6-4 and will be part of the tie-breaking marathon that is shaping up.

Draw 13: McCarville vs. Webster

McCarville is 3-3; Webster is 2-4. I would much rather be watching Bernard 6-0 vs. Lawton 3-3. So my interest might drift a bit.

One nice thing about watching these matches live is that you get to watch the game you want to watch and aren't forced to live with TSN's choices.

End 1. McCarville is off to a bad start as George (vice) came up short and then wrecked on her second shot. A series of missed attempts to hit and roll failed. McCarville hit and stuck for one. McCarville 1, Webster 0.
End 2. Lots of rocks in play agian, but not all on purpose. Ray's tone captures my feelings: this is good curling, but it's nothing like what we saw this morning. 7 rocks staggered along the centre line. Messy house. Webster tried to knock out the McC rocks, but scored only one. McC 1, Webster 1.
End 3. Holy cow! George is curling only 46% through three ends, leaving McCarville with difficult shots. Webster wrecks on a guard after McC is too heavy with a draw. But on her second shot, McCarville draws through a curved port for one. McCarville 2, Webster 1.
End 4. Plenty of McCarville stones in the rings, but strategically the teams seem about even so far in this end. Nice near-double by Olson-Johns (Webster's third). But McCarville seems to be gaining position. McCarville's last shot was light and thin; Webster missed a hit-and-stick for two, rolling out, and scored only 1. McC 2, Webster 2.
End 5. I've been distracted by the responses to my request for an iPhone app. More on that later. Meanwhile, as I look up at the tv, I see 7 rocks in the rings and an attempt by McC to play an angle raise take-out on the Webster shot stone. Got a double, but not quite the way I was expecting, and scored two. McCarville 4, Webster 2.

Future Coverage of the Roar on This Blog

We expect to be able to cover both of the remaining draws today. We're also hoping to cover the playoffs on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, but we're not sure one of us will be available for both of those matches.

I am hoping that I will be able to attend the finals on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon at the Rexall Place in Edmonton. If I can, I shall try to take my laptop and iPhone with me to blog updates from there. We tried desperately to obtain media passes for this event, with no success since neither of us is a full-time journalist, and so I'm not sure how it might work out, if at all, trying to blog from the stands. But I'll give it a shot.

Watch for updates!

Is there an iPhone app with Curling Updates?or are we it??

I have an iPhone, and I love it. One of the apps I use often is a sports application that provides frequent updates of scores and plays in all the major sports. But I have not been able to find such an application that includes curling scores/plays/updates. Is there one? I know there's curlcast for the computer, but curlcast requires "flash", which is not available on the iPhone.

Curlcast for the iPhone would be great. I'd certainly pay for it.

Or do people just check in here now and then for brief descriptions and updates?

Draw 12: Second Half

As the second half of the draw begins, Ferbey leads Howard 4-3 and has the hammer. I have quite enjoyed Russ Howard's commentary, but it is dangerously close to becoming too pedantic.
End 6. Lots of rocks in the rings. You have to be a good intuitive physicist with good foresight to play at this level. Nice raise double by Ferbey to clear two Howard counters from the rings. Nedohin's last shot: attempted quad-raise take-out, but didn't quite make it. Steal of one for Howard. Tied at 4.
End 7. Just a few rocks in play, keeping the strategies a bit simpler. Ferbey (throwing 3rd's stones) rolled out of the rings, though, with his last rock, and Howard drew perfectly around the guard. Nedohin's first draw or tap missed and coasted a bit deep. Howard puts up another guard. Nedohin has to draw through a good-sized hole for one. Ferbey 5, Howard 4.
End 8. Russ Howard's insight on the Gunnlaughson rink: "They haven't lost enough games in their careers to learn from their mistakes." The rocks are not really lined up in the centre, leaving some interesting carom attempts. Great fun! Two phenomenal hit-and-rolls by Hart have set up the end nicely for Howard. Draw for two. Howard 6, Ferbey 5.
End 9. Another staggered line-up of rocks down the centre with the lead's rocks. I sure am impressed with the knowledge and quickness-of-adjustment on the part of all those involved. Most of us would take minutes or hours to get to the strategies they do, if we could ever get there. Wow! what a shot by Laing through the port to pick a Ferbey rock; and then Pfeiffer makes a good clearing shot. Great curling! But a thin double is always a tough, risky shot, and Nedohin missed it, giving up a steal of two. Howard 8, Ferbey 5.
End 10. Up three without the hammer, Howard is keeping the sheet as clear as he can. He'll run Ferbey out of rocks and win.

Draw 12: Howard vs. Ferbey

After having seen these teams play in the past, one has to expect the probability that Howard will win is reasonably high.
End 1: Centre guards and come-arounds into the rings. Jam by Hart sets up the end for Ferbey to score 2, which he does after Howard misses a pretty tough double.
End 2: Pfeiffer (Ferbey's 2nd) comes up short, setting up the end for Howard, but Ferbey slams out a bunch of guards and a Howard rock to reduce the Howard advantage. Both Ferbey and Nedohin had superb first shots and not quite superb second shots, allowing Howard to take two. Howard 2, Ferbey 2.
End 3: Guards and run-backs. Howard missed a run-back, setting up a chance for Ferbey to score two, but Nedohin leaves his first rock exposed, creating a double opportunity for Howard. So Ferbey is forced to blank since he can't get two.
End 4: A series of terrific hits, run-backs, doubles. There's one long guard and a rock in the rings; and both teams vie to use both. Ferbey - nose hit. Hart - nose hit. Nedohin - nose hit. The ice seems straighter than they expect; let's see if the skips adjust. Oops, Howard rubs on the guard then misses a double, allowing Ferbey to score two. Ferbey 4, Howard 2.
End 5: Several beautiful draws make both teams concerned about what the other team will do. With last rocks, Nedohin taps instead of freezes, setting up a hit for four by Howard, but he's just a bit off and gets only a single. Ferbey 4, Howard 3.

Draw 11: Jones vs. Bernard

Bernard is 5-0 coming into this draw, but a few of their wins were very close.... some would say lucky. At the same time, the Jones rink has struggled and not looked all that good, with a record of only 2 wins and 3 losses. I'm not sure I'll be able to keep up with the draw, but I'll post notes as I get a chance.
End 1. Plenty of guards and lots of action and lots of misses or rubs. Nice draw by Jones, but not quite good enough to cash a deuce. Jones 1, Bernard 0.
End 2. Hit and stick in the rings. Etc. Etc. Ho hum. Blank.
End 3. Oh crap. Same thing again. zzzzzzzzzz. Peaty single malt seems to relieve the boredom somewhat...
End 4. The TSN announcers can't believe it, but there's a corner guard from Bernard. Maybe we'll see some action this end? Lots of rocks on the side in the 8', but just the one corner guard. Jones last rock drifted too deep; Bernard made a raise take-out and scored 4. Bernard 4, Jones 1.
End 5. Jones has positional advantage as the end develops. Just missed a slight tap for 3 but had to settle for two. Bernard 4, Jones 3.

Sorry, but I'm too tired to continue.

Draw 10: Second Half

The Martin team dominated the first half of the end. It will be interesting to see how the Ferbey team reacts.

End #6: Two centre guards by Ferbey, two come-arounds by Martin. Nice tap by Nedohin, leaving Martin with a raise double on his last shot, but it jammed. Steal of one by Ferbey. Martin 5, Ferbey 3.

End #7: Similar start with a centre guard by Ferbey, but this time followed by come-arounds with the remaining lead stones. Beautiful double peel by Mark Kennedy -- he should get bonus marks for that shot! Lots of ensuing guard-peel-guard-peel, etc. even with rocks in the rings. This is definitely NOT club-level curling! Martin scores 2. Martin 7, Ferbey 3.

End #8: Oops. Work got in the way again, so I missed the first eight rocks. I see there are two Martin rocks and one Ferbey rock in the rings; no guards. In the end, Ferbey scored 2. Martin 7, Ferbey 5.

End #9: The end begins with a centre guard, but Hebert (Martin lead) moved it over; the next guard was pushed back to the back line and barely stayed in. So now the come-arounds begin. With his last shot, Nedohin just missed a double, leaving Martin a draw to the 4' for two. Martin 9, Ferbey 5. Handshakes. I must say, the Martin rink looks VERY good.

Draw 10: Martin and Ferbey

This is one of the many matches forward to which we have been looking... 8-)
Both teams are among the contenders, entering the draw with 3-1 records.

End #1: Cat and mouse with no guards. Hit-and-stick; repeat. Disappointing. I gather the goal is to get a better feel for the ice and at the same time to save time. Blech. Blank.

End #2: Action this time, with guards and come-arounds. Nice taps by Kennedy (Martin's 2nd) and Ferbey (throwing 3rd stones). So now, already, we get the joy of listening to their discussions and strategies. This end alone makes up for the boredom of the first end! Nice triple-tap by Morris (Martin's vice) to leave Martin lying 3. Nedohin (throwing skip's stones for Ferbey) over-curled with his first rock and tried a real tv-shot bounce-around, but left Martin lying two. Martin had a nose hit for four, but lost his shooter to score only 3. Martin 3, Ferbey 0.

End #3: Lots more strategy, but a bunch of it seems wasted as Ferbey flashes on a pick attempt. Nevertheless, Martin still seems to be fretting and his shot drifts too deep. Nedohin's first shot is a nice angle tap, but Martin's last shot leaves him lying two and Nedohin in trouble. But he was able to draw for one. Martin 3, Ferbey 1.

End #4: Two big wrecks/rubs by Pfeiffer (Ferbey's 2nd) set up a possible big end for Martin. But watching the skips explore the possibilities is a great treat anyway. Morris makes a thin hit, and Ferbey tries for a double, but doesn't quite remove one of the two Martin stones. Martin's lying 3 and Nedohin tries a come-around to sit second shot. I don't understand why Martin doesn't pick it out, but Linda (commentator) he is trying to keep some other options open for the hammer. So he draws to the top 4 to lie 2. Nedohin misses a double. Martin draws for two instead of picking for three. Martin 5, Ferbey 1.

End #5: The end opens with jockeying for guards with a couple of rocks in the rings. Tap and roll by Ferbey that is removable, but Martin asks Morris to tap it back. Too hard. Martin lies three; Ferbey taps back the shot rock, but too far. Nedohin hits and sticks for one. Martin 5, Ferbey 2 at the break.

Draw 9, second half

After the first half, Kleibrink leads Bernard 4-2. Bernard dodged bullets often and Kleibrink dominated more than the score showed.

End #6: Fascinating analysis by Russ Howard, who pulls no punches. Kleibrink's last rock: a double attempt that was close and pretty darned good, leaving Bernard with only a draw or hit for one. She elects to try the hit. Nice pick. Kleibrink 4, Bernard 3.

End #7: Through 6 ends, Bell (lead for Kleibrink) is curling 100% and Darbyshire (2nd for Bernard) is curling only 65%. These two percentages more than anything else probably account for the Kleibrink lead over Bernard.

Another note: As Alan has mentioned, it is really annoying to miss the first few shots of the end. Not seeing those shots makes it harder to maintain interest --- Take Note, TSN!

Neither team was able to establish a guard for this end. We're looking at 1980s curling as a result. No surprise, a blank end.

End #8: This should be fun. Bernard puts up a near-centre guard, Kleibrink comes around to the top 12, Bernard tries a come-around, but freezes to it, which ends up making life difficult for Kleibrink. Great shot by Darbyshire and a near miss by Webster leave Bernard in pretty good shape for this end even though Kleibrink has the hammer. A complete flash by Nixon, followed by two Kleibrink misses put Bernard in an even better position. Bernard steals two. Bernard 5, Kleibrink 4.

End #9: Wow. Bernard has the advantage again, as Nixon flashes again. And then Bernard makes an amazing draw, followed by at least as amazing draw by Kleibrink through a tight portal for one. Bernard 5, Kleibrink 5. Bernard has the hammer going home.

End #10: Again, the Bernard team seems to grab the advantage early on, then Nixon wrecks on a guard and O'Connor essentially triples off the yellow guards. With the hammer, Bernard is in great shape to win this. Kleibrink makes a fine draw, and Bernard opts for a run-back take-out for three. Bernard wins 8-5.

Thoughts: wow, did the Kleibrink team ever fall apart in the second half. Russ Howard pointed out numerous strategic errors; also the curling percentages plummeted for Webster, Nixon, and Kleibrink. At the same time, Darbyshire improved and Bernard never seemed to lose here cool.

What a difference from the first half of the draw!

Draw 9: the Kleibrink-Bernard Duel

The Bernard team comes into this match-up undefeated, and the Kleibrink team is in second place so far with a 3-1 record. This is gonna be fun!

End #1: The Bernard front end of Bartel and Darbyshire curled only 50%, setting up the end for Kleibrink to score big with the hammer. She had a chance for three, maybe four, but was about a quarter inch wide and scored only two. A bit of moral victory, so to speak, for Bernard.

End #2: The Kleibrink lead (Bell) was about a foot or two deep with her first rock. After guards, Bartel froze to the Bell rock on the button, and Bernard was in good shape. But then Webster (2nd for Kleibrink) made a perfect freeze. It looks as if the advantage is going to flip-flop a bunch this end. Great raise double-tap by Kleibrink left Bernard facing four; she was a bit heavy but escaped, giving up only 1. Kleibrink 3, Bernard 0.

End #3: I'm working at home today and the damned work interruptions are getting in the way of watching curling. I looked up in End 3 and saw three yellow Kleibrink rocks in the rings, but have no idea what is happening. Interesting: Kleibrink has two near the button that could easily be doubled off, but Bernard has O'Connor, her third, attempt a hit and roll. For reasons that are not clear to me, Nixon (Kleibrink 3rd) clears the rings, allowing Bernard to blank the end.

End #4: This end has unfolded much as the 3rd end did but with a corner guard for Bernard. Oops. Kleibrink missed a run-back attempt, leaving Bernard with a good chance for two or three. Russ Howard (commentator) was puzzled by Bernard's decision not to try to bury her first rock, meaning the most she can score is two. Kleibrink 3, Bernard 2.

End #5: The Bernard rink bounces back with some excellent shots including a good freeze, putting a lot of pressure on Kleibrink, facing one on the button with a couple of guards. Nixon miscalled the sweeping slightly, but Kleibrink salvaged one anyway. Kleibrink 4, Bernard 2.

More Reflections on the Roar of the Rings

Well, the Scott rink sure hasn't pulled through the I expected. And the Bernard and Kleibrink rinks both look pretty impressive so far. I wonder, though, whether either rink will have the consistently strong ability to win the gold in Vancouvre. I am really looking forward to their match-up this morning!

On the men's side, Howard has squeaked through but also looks strong. The other major contenders also look good, especially the Martin, Ferby, and Koe rinks.

We are hoping that I will be able to live-blog the finals from Edmonton.... we'll see...

Roar of the Rings - Draw 7

And now it's the women! TSN is featuring Holland-Lawton; not quite sure why, as both are at 1-2.
END #1: Holland makes some great finishing shots to score two.
Sorry - wandered off. Family mini-crisis.
6-3 Lawton over Holland in the 6th end.
7-4 Lawton after 7. Apologies, but I have a life.
Lawton wins 10-4.

Roar of the Rings - Draw 6

It's the men, and the TSN feature is Stoughton-Koe. I intend to follow yesterday's pattern.
END #1: Howard had predicted a fairly open end, and was terribly wrong, as the house is filling up with Koe rocks. Ooppss, my mind wandered, but Stoughton successfully drew for his one.
END #2: Koe slightly misses on a tap-back, leaving Stoughton with shot rock, which Stoughton guards. Koe draws for one.
END #3: Park makes two great shots to give Stoughton two rocks in the front of the four-foot. Koe doubles them out. Stoughton freezes beautifully to a Koe rock in the four-foot. Koe misses his freeze. Stoughton draws to the button for two.
END #4: Koe makes a perfect freeze and sets up his own double. Something fitting about that.
END #5: Koe makes a brilliant double with his last shot. Koe's rock is partly buried behind a front guard. Stoughton draws for one, with a LOT of help from the sweepers.
END #6: MacDonald makes a great double to leave Koe lying two, but the double is there and Stoughton makes it, leaving the house empty for Koe. In the end, Koe winds up drawing for one, after a great Stoughton freeze. 4-4.
Russ Howard has already commented that these are two great hitting teams, engaged in a battle of touch shots.
END #7: After some early complication the house becomes pretty empty and the skips trade hits, and Stoughton blanks.
END #8: What a messy house! How did htis happen? (I was chopping vegetables.) More or less vertically aligned we have a Stoughton rock, two Koe rocks, and two Stoughton rocks now. Of course there are many weird angles involved. MacDonald comes up short and puts another Koe rock up in the front of the house. Weird stuff goes on with the bizarre angles at teh front of the house. Hey what happened? More vegetables and I find two Koe rocks scoring in the house now! Stoughton doubles them out and scores two. Wow! This is one crazy match. For all the touchie-feelie, that was a great hit.
END #9: Koe, against three Stoughton rocks, draws to take one and heads into ten down one, Stoughton with the hammer.
END #10: Nobody entirely happy with play in this end, and Koe tucks his first rock beautifully behind cover. Stoughton removes the cover. In the end, the hitting wins as Stoughton doubles the house clear. Great match.

Roar of the Rings -- Early Reflections

Because of my day job and other activities, I have been unable to watch nearly as much of the Roar of the Rings as I had hoped to watch. One of the things that has impressed me, though, is how good the non-favourites have been. The Howard rink has squeaked by with a couple of wins; Martin looked shaky against some impressive competition. And so many rinks, including Simons and Stoughton are looking quite good (despite lapses now and then).

And on the women's side, the Scott rink hasn't dominated as I expected them to. And even though the Jones rink was VERY impressive last night, they looked quite weak in their first two losses. At the same time, McCarvill looks better than she ever has at the Scott. And the Kleibrink rink is doing better than I expected, too. And that doesn't even include the others who are doing so well!

So, based on the early rounds, the Roar of the Rings is everything we hoped it would be and more.

Roar of the Rings - Draw 4

Can one do better than Howard-Middaugh? ex-teammates, and both skips of great teams - obviously - they are here!
As with the previous commitment, I will do a light-handed documentation of what is on my TV screen.

Roar of the Rings - Draw 3

It's women again, and the featured matchup is Kleibrink-SCott, which is a bit of a revenge match from the last Olympic Trials. I won't be live-blogging in detail but will update this from end to end with the current status and occasional comments.
END #1: Kleibrink blanks a pretty much wide open end.
(Meanwhile Lawton chooses complication and scores 3 in the first against Webster, and Jones scores 1 against McCarville.)
END #2: Kleibrink makes a brilliant and risky double to clear the house of Scott rocks and score 3. 3-0 Shannon.
END #3: Scott blanks. There still seems to be significant confusion about the ice.
END #4: Scott is using some front guards but the Kleibrink team hitting skills are working so far. Meanwhile McCarville steals one to go up 3-1 over Jones. Lawton scores 2 in the third to go up 5-2 over Webster. Schraeder buries a beauty and Kleibrink's attempt to remove it just moves it in the house. Scott puts a second rock in the house, but behind the T-line. Kleibrink decides to knock one out, leaving Scott a shot for two. Then she chnages her mind; and misses badly short. Scott, as a result, can and does score three. 3-3.
END #5: Nixon makes a perfect and brilliant shot through a tiny port to place the scoring rock in the house. Scott starts clearing guards. After further adventure, including a whiff by Scott, Kleibrink now has a draw for three. And makes it. 6-3 Kleibrink.
Holy Cow! McCarville is 7-2 over Jones!
END #6: Kleibrink fills the house with rocks (five!) for Scott's last shot. One sits on the button behind guard. Scott just taps the rock on the button with a brilliant shot to take one, by far the best of the alternatives available to her!
END #7: Under significant threat from the Scott rink, Nixon has a terrible miss, with a totally lucky outcome, a freeze, entirely unintended, against a Scott rock. Scott herself then misses and basically blasts all her own stones from the house except the shooter. Two wrongs have made a big right for Kleibrink. After some more bare competence (at this level) Kleibrink scores two to lead 8-4.
END #8: More dumb luck for Kleibrink, and a miss by Scott, give Kleibrink a steal of one. 9-4.
Scott keeps fighting but succumbs in the tenth. Bernard-Holland ends up in a measurement and Bernard wins by a whisker.

Roar of The Rings - Draw 1 Live-Blog - Ends 6-on

End #6:
Wow have I seen worse TV coverage? We enter ends with many rocks in play, the TSN team choose not to name the members of the Holland team. I have three of their names now, but may never learn the name of the lead, as her rocks are gone by the time the ads are over. I am building a list of the advertisers as I really do not like this.
And indeed all Holland lead rocks in play. This is horrible. I loathe it.
OK empty house with the first Officer rock to come. She drops a center guard. Tammy Schneider peels. Officer pust up another guard. The peel attempt leaves a rock out front and Overton gets sort of behind it. Sorry - missed some shots (I have a life) but Overton leaves a rock in the eight foot at roughly nine o'clock and open. It gets peeled and Jones tries to get in behind a Holland guard out front at 1 o'clock, but it is pretty wide open. Holland hits and rolls into the open at 11 o'clock in the front of the eight-foot. Jones hits and rolls past cover. Holland blanks.
END #7:
My fault this time - caught up in Lady Gaga, figuring the end would be over before TSN returned. And in fact I am right to a degree - this is major yammering going on while play goes on. Does TSN think actual curling is boring and therefore we should have almost brain-dead chatter instead of actual coverage of play with, like, the names of the players?
This is awful.
Two Jones rocks in the house, one Holland rock in between, all roughly vertically alingned on the center. No guards out there at the moment. Officer guards. Tammy Schneider peels. (The front Jones rock is roughly on the button.) Overton guards. Kim Schneider chips out the front Jones rock and sticks! Overton gets a rock to the front eight, behind a Jones rock in front of the house I did not notice. But it is not buried. Kim S puts a beauty in front of the other team rocks, in the front of the eight foot. Jones hits but really does not clean up much - her shooter is open and Holland has two counting rocks (though they are side by side) behind the Jones rock. Holland puts a rock into the four-foot. Jones clears out the second and third Holland rocks; Holland draws for two. She leads 6-3 and still TSN has not told me the name of her lead!
END #8:
Ms. Kalenchuk! Outscoring Askin by miles! First name please?
OK we have Holland rocks in the front of the house, eight and four foot. There is a Jones rock off to the side. And Officer now puts one out in front of the house at left (there is another at right). Holland clears the left guard and rolls over to sit in front of her other center-line rocks. Officer drops a rock into the house, just behind the T-line, at around 4pm in the four foot. Whatever the plan. Holland peels the left front guard. Housecleaning going on. Overton fails to bury a rock. Holland picks it out. Jones tucks a nice hot in to the back of the eight foot behind cover. Holland slightly misses. Joes draws for two. WOW!
END #9:
It's like watching track and field when you rejoin the CBC coverfage in the 1500 and they have already run 800 meters. Rejoining and end with rocks in play is extremely annoying, and this is TSN, who love to claim to serve fans. Jones has a pile ov center line rocks - including one at the front of the four-foot, flanked by Holland rocks. Tammy S just peeled a front guard. Replaced by Officer. Tammy makes a slightly flukily great shot clearing most of the Jones rocks from play. Jones tosses up a center line guard. Overton almost freezes to the Holland rock in the back of the eight foot. Kim Schneider clears that and their own rock - but that is a win. Jones gets her weight wrong and her rock sails by all planned acquaintances. Holland drops a rock into the four foot but goes a tad too deep. Jones deposits a stone in front of the four foot, with Holland stones backing, and it seems she may be shot. Holland thinks not and plans to draw to the button for two. Perfect!! Two for Holland.
END #10: We are into running out of rocks.
Heather Kalenchuk! That is the lead's name, and a fine cross-cultural name it is. Thanks at last, TSN.
I'll take notes if this starts looking other than a foregone conclusion. And that will not happen. Holland 8-5.

Roar of The Rings - Draw 1 Live-Blog

Key point here is that there are only eight teams so each round-robin match has great significance. Falter once and you may be gone.
And this actually raises my first question. There will be ten teams at the Olympics. Would it not make a lot more sense to have the Canadian Trials mirror the likely upcoming competition - that would mean ten teams, and the same schedule? Why did the CCA (I assume) choose this odd format?
Theory #1. This is 20% cheaper.
Please offer other theories.
I was once a track and field coach and I always thought that the brilliant thing about the US Track and Field Olympic Trials was that they mirrored the Olympic schedule perfectly. Now the US was likely the one country that could do that; but surely Canada is that country in curling.
First draw on TSN is Jennifer Jones versus Amber Holland. Woo-hoo! I am so excited.
END #1:
First Holland rock to back of the eight-foot, Askin goes through the house. Holland puts a center guard in the twelve foot. Askin peels. Another guard in the twelve foot. Officer peels. This one heads into the four-foot. Officer punches the guard into the back rock, which rolls over to the side of the house. Holland team punch out Officer's rock, and leave the shooter up front. Overton misses the double, leaving her rock out front. Team Holland kills Overton's rock, and also her own rock, sticking out front. Overton peels the front rock, and leaves the house. Holland sits in the four foot. Jones hits and rolls over into the eight foot. Holland removes that rock and moves to the four foot. Jones fails to blank the end, hits and sticks.
1-0 Jones - Holland takes on the hammer.
(I apologize to the individuals on the Holland team - I am learning your names.)
END #2:
(Meanwhile Lawton scores 2 in the first over Scott. Bernard-McCarville blank in the first. Kleibrink down one after one.)
And dammit - we are many rocks into the second end! What the hell?! In the Roar of the Rings, TSN does not give a crap?
Let me wait until it makes sense to describe but I am peeved. All the advertisers will get nastygrams from me.
Jones rock in the back of the eight-foot, a number of Holland rocks up front on the right. Officer tucks a rock in almost behind those just behind the T-line. Nice Holland team shot, clearing one of the up-front rocks and rolling to the other side of the house. Overton kills the rolled-over rock. Big Holland team miss - they punch a Jones rock over and lose the shooter, not as planned.
Why is TSN not mentioning the names of the players on the Holland team? Did they forget to pick up the media package?
Holland punches some rocks out of the house. Jones leaves a thinnish double. (I wish I could describe this better but TSN is being silly.) Holland makes the double beautifully. Jones hits - hit and stick for two for Holland. Meanwhile Kelly Scott makes a very great shot for 1 to go down 2-1 to Lawton.
Holland hits and sticks for 2, so 2-1.
Editorial comment - TSN got broadcast rights, and Doc and I did not get media passes? Oops - forgot - CTV has a lot of money (despite what they tell the CRTC).
END #3:
Rocks in play again! What sort of braidcast contract is this - advertise at your ill? Certainly not a fan-friendly one. Wonder if I could take this to the CRTC.
After first rocks we have one of each in the house. Jones rock removed by Holland's second. (HEY TSN - DO THE HOLLAND PLAYERS HAVE NAMES??)
Jones tosses up a guard, the unnamed Holland second drops in behind it.
The Jones freeze merely taps the Holland rock out a bit and sits. Lost track of some shots but Jones freezes to a Holland rock at 9 o'clock. Holland's third (still unnamed) comes up short and taps the front guard and joins it.
Overton makes a fine hot to sit on top of the two shots behind guard at 9 o'clock
Holland gos too deep, to back of the twelve-foot. Jones comes and sort of sits on the back rock. (Meanwhile McCarville draws for 2 to go up 2-1 over Bernard.)
Holland clears all teh back rocks but that leaves Jones an interesting shot for at least two. Jones misses big time and gives away a steal of one!
HEY CCA - send a media package up to TSN with the names of the players on Holland's team! I am sure they are asking.
END #4:
This is sad. No end starts without rocks in play. TSN Seems to have no idea of the names of the players on the Holland team. What bad joke is this?
Rocks in play again. I almost give up! Holland rock at the fron to the four-foot, guards in front. Askin's (we all know her name) second rock tucks in at the top edge of the twelve. Lots of action up front. Let's see what happens and then I can try to describe it. Holland asks for more piling up out front. Officer does MAJOR house-cleaning - still some guards out front but nothing much left behind. Tammy Schneider (yes, a name!) slightly misses. Officer goes too deep behind a bunch of Holland rocks out front around 11 o'clock. And now Kim Schneider (a name!) removes an open Jones rock at 3 pm. Overton hits that and rolls beautifully behind the Holland rocks out front. Kim Schneider sits on a Jones rock at the back of the eight foot. Overton is light and leaves herself at the front of the house. (Meanwhile Scott steals two in the fourth and leads 3-2 over Lawton.) Holland puts a rock on the button, well guarded. It seems to have gone a tad too deep. Jones is heavy and goes through the house. Holland goes into the eight-foot, almost inviting a double attempt from Jones, though the risk is self-destruction of a high degree. Jones misses totally, so Holland has another steal and leads 4-1.
END #5:
Oh for heaven's sake! They interview Jones while more rocks go into play. I almost give up.
We have two Holland rocks in the house, and a left guard from Jones. Officer puts a guard up on the right. Tammy Schneider (now that they told me her name) clears that and goes away. Overton tucks a rock away behind one of their guards on the left side of the house, not yet scoring. Kim Schneider kills the guard but there is a jam and she leaves a Jones rock on the left behind the remaining rock. Well, not quite behind. Overton hits and stick nicely on a Holland rock in the four foot. Kim Schneider htis and sticks, missing the planned double. Overton hits and rolls, implications not clear. (Scott and Lawton go to the break at 3-3.) Holland hits Jones' scorer, but also leaves the house. Jones sort of tucks in behind a corner guard. Holland clears teh guard, missing her planned double, leaving Jones a draw for two. And she gets it. 4-3 Holland at the break.
END #6:

My pick to be Canada's representative to the Olympics

As Alan says in the previous posting, and as we have been noting for the past four years, we expect that the curling we will see for the next week will be the best curling in the world. Canada has so many teams that could compete well and be likely to win the gold at the Olympics. Furthermore, there will be more than one team from some provinces, whereas in the Scott and the Brier only one team can represent each province or territory.

Unfortunately, my day job will keep me from watching many of the draws, as will some travel. At one point, Alan and I had hoped we could report live from the event in Edmonton, but we were unable to secure media passes because we not been full-time journalists for the past year. But more on that later....

Meanwhile, I would like to offer my predictions as to who will win and maybe some thoughts on which team I think might best represent Canada at the Olympics.

Since the women start first on Sunday, I will begin with them. I have no idea who will win this. Not a clue. Kelly Scott came so close four years ago, and her rink has been superb over the years, but they seem to have slipped a bit lately. The Kleibrink rink actually looks better than they did four years ago, and they have a good chance. The Jones rink has been solidly good for most of the past few years. I will be a bit surprised, but only mildly, if one of these three teams doesn't win the trials. But several of the others would likely be just as good at representing Canada in Vancouvre. My pick will be Scott, but with 8 highly qualified teams in the running, I give them about a 15% chance of winning, which is only a bit higher than random! Whoever wins will surely have their hands VERY full trying even to medal at the Olympics.

On the men's side, it looks like a real fight between the Howard and Martin rinks, with Stoughton and Ferbey as close contenders. I expect that Simmons or Koe would also do an adequate job of representing Canada. The real dark horse is Gunnlaugson; I'm really looking forward to seeing him curl again. I'm willing to bet beer (at even odds) that Middaugh's rink will not be the Canadian representative at the Olympics. My pick: Howard, but I'm really expecting to see some fine and fun curling over the week.

Fasten Your Seat Belts - Roar of the Rings

The Olympic Trials in Curling for Canada start tomorrow. The eight top teams for men and women, election unencumbered by provincial origins (in fact, the teams need not have members from the same province, if I interpret the Gushue team from 2006 correctly), making this likely the best Canadian tournament of the season.
I expect we'll be there. I know I will be racing home for the first match.

Road to the Roar

This weekend, I've been watching the Road to the Roar --- the preliminary preliminaries, so to speak. It has been enjoyable curling. Excellent teams, even if the top names in curling are not there. And it sure is fun to watch some of the lesser-knowns (e.g. Jason Gunnlaugson).

Once again, I am pretty strongly convinced that the best curling of the season will be the Olympic trials (aka "The Roar of the Rings"), where the best Canadian teams meet to see who will represent Canada in the Olympics. Even if the Canadian teams do not win gold in the Olympics, overall, there is so much depth of superb talent in Canada that I cannot imagine we won't be delighted with the play in December.

Grey Power World Cup of Curling Final - Maybe a Live-Blog

It turns out the CBC is broadcasting it live on the main network. The final is Howard vs Koe; the Koe rink is 0-5 in Grand Slam of Curling events. The Howard rink has been in six of the last seven Grand Slam finals. The winning team wins $18,000, which probably reflects the fan demographics, also revealed by the sponsor.
First End
After Koe's first rock, a delicate and nice tapback, his rink sits two, Howard with the hammer. Howard clears Koe's front rock (the key priority), but Koe still counts one with a rock touching the button. Koe nearly freezes, again delicately, to his front rock to count two. Howard is not planning for a deuce, just wondering what is the best way to count. Howard is heavy, and allows a steal of two.
Koe must be hoping!
Second End
"Great sweeping", from both the broadcasters and the skip on the second Howard stone. Hart's second rock runs too far and Howard, with a couple of rocks counting behind a variety of guards, not all intended, fails to capitalize immediately on those. Koe now wants to come into the house and bury a draw. The shot is lovely, is now counting, and blocks the path to Howard's two rocks angled behind it. Howard's attempts to double Koe rocks out of the house misses slightly but disastrously, removing one of his own. He also buries a Koe rock behind a Koe guard in the four-foot. Koe slides yet another guard into the front of the eight-foot in front of his counter. All Howard has is a tough draw for one. A beauty to the button.
It's not over yet!
Third End
Early in the end Howard is piling up rocks in front of the house, and in the front of the house, but Koe has a rock that counts. He clears out two Howard guards in front of the house and leaves his own there. Howard puts another in the front of the button, so there is Koe rock and flanking Howard rocks behind a Koe guard. Koe clears one of the Howard rocks, but leaves Howard an opportunity to cause trouble. Hart's shot does not roll enough, but the Koe team response leaves a Koe rock open and two Howard rocks in the eight-foot, one guarded. Hart leaves Howard lying three. Koe gets rid of the front guard, and parks a rock next to the front Howard rock. Howard just misses his removal of the Koe rock, in that he now lies only two, and the shooter rolled out past the third rock point. Koe now thinging a deuce! It overcurled, and now Howard needs to hit and stick, and force a one. Koe gets his one, despite a moment of wondering.
3-1 Koe after three ends.
Scott Russell does a laughable interview with a sponsor, the premiss being that the amount of money available is increasing. $18,000 dollars for the winning team, divided by four (more likely five or six)? So around $3,000 for winning individual members of a team, for a week of direct participation. My guess is that in, say, tennis, that iswhat a losing qualifier in the first round of qualification gets.
So why is the CBC cheerleading this crazy notion? (Maybe not the CBC overall, maybe just a deluded Scott Russell.) Curling won't last long as a spectator sport with these economics.
Poker after Dark is a lot cheaper to show.
Fourth End
Was cutting vegetables for salad, so am not sure how we got here. And I think I will wait to describe 'here' as peels are coming up. OK that is not how it went but here is the scene after Hart's first rock. Two Howard rocks in the front of the eight-foot, one Koe rock in the back - Koe planning to have Blake M(a?)cDonald double out the Howard rocks. Well, that did not work. Jams. Howard buries a rock (well, burying is relative). Koe plans a cosmic blast, and misses it barely.
Sorry, attention wandered (there is also NFL), but Koe has now left Howard a draw for two. Howard makes it.
Broadcasters are saying, well, back where we started from, but NO, the hammer has moved.
Fifth End
Got a bit lost in housework in the long break between ends. Will describe things when it makes sense (to me).
OK well open Koe rock unguarded in the house with Hart's last rock top come. He removes it and rolls to the button. We are in blank country now. And now the house is empty. Howard puts his own first rock at about three o'clock in the twelve foot, not really guarded by a nearby rock out of the rings. Koe clears it and roils to the eight-foot in the centre behind the button. Howard hits and rols a tad to one side. Koe blanks with no problem.
Sixth End
Anticipating a blast, I refrained from detailed description.
Now there is a Koe guard out front, and Howard rocks in the front and back of the eight foot more or less behind it and a Koe rock in the twelve foot behind them.
Another blast replaced the front Koe guard with the shooter, and removes all but a Howard rock in the back of the four foot and Hart adds a beauty in the twelve foot in front of the button. Another Koe blast is coming. Almost excellent, leaving Howard a rock on the back of the button slightly covered by a Koe rock off centre line in front of the house. Howard draws behind cover just in front of the buttopn. Runback number four coming. And it is an utter miss by Koe.
Howard has two in the middle of the house, and Koe one at 3 o'clock on the centre line. Howard puts a rock in the centre at the top of the eight foot. Howard lies three. Koe aiming to clear the house and score one or two - no draw intended. :-)
This blast clears all the Howard rocks and the shooter, and the shooter just misses Koe's rock, so Koe scores one to lead 4-3.
Seventh End
I missed the first shot, not because of me, but because the CBC decided to have people yapping instead of showing play. I think I will wait a bit before complicated descriptions of the house are useful. Worth mentioning that an initial nice split of Howard rocks in the house got removed by Koe, placing the shooter nearer the center of the house. Koe's second second misses mightily, clearing the house of all Koe rocks and the shooter, and leaving Howard a chance to drop a rock in behind a Koe rock in front of the house, to join two others of his.
First Koe third rock removes one Howard rock and parks near another. Howard calls a timeout, looking for some way to prevent the runback multiple shots we have been seeing from the Koe rink at times. They want a rock in the front of the eight foot to allow a possible jam. They get top 12-foot, so they are not second shot but do make a runback more problematic. They try for a runback double and jam but leave Howard lying only one. Hart essentially walks down and puts his rock behind cover. Koe clears the guard and centre Howard rock but leaves the shooter to go behind. Howard splits the house. Koe hits and stays but is open.
Howard hits and sticks for two.
Howard 5-4, Koe going home with the hammer.
Eighth (and possibly final) End
House is becoming pretty messy with a pileup of rocks in the front and some guards out front. Howard asking for a big runback - and it misses, though not as badly as it might have. Koe's response wrecks out front. Hart puts the rock where wanted, and Howard lies three, though things are so messy anything could happen.
Koe puts a rock sitting on a Howard rock in the back of the house. Hart sits on that but none of these shots makes anyone happy. And then reciprocation. This is too complicated to be worth writing about. Howard puts his own first shot on the button in front of a staggered line of rocks. Koe calls timeout (his team in under serious time pressure). He plans to hit that Howard rock, no mean feat. He misses, moves the Howard rock more behind cover, knocking out his backing, and leaving the shooter in a mildly threatening position.
Howard takes a timeout. He will guard the last attempted shot and put a guard up around 5pm, in the twelve foot. Hmm no that was wrong. Well, no it was right, but way in front of the house. Koe plans some crazy runback. With no real time to think about it.
He gets the shot off just in time and misses. Howard wins this tournament for the fourth straight time, and Koe now has six straight Grand Slam final losses.
An aside.
Just now, as the coverage ends, that worst ad in the universe for Grey Power is being run. I have been waiting. But there is a second worst and Capital One (same company) has been running it all afternoon.
Come on guys, find a decent ad agency! What about Sterling Cooper?
Major Hmmmmmm:
They are holding one of those pseudo-cheques for $24,000! Changes my analysis above marginally.

It's That Time of Year!

Well, it has been for a while, and we've been a bit lazy, but I suspect we'll be around for the season now.
Currently, the Grey Power World Cup of Curling is running, with what may well be the best field of the year to come (though I imagine the Canadian Olympic Trials do trump this one).
It is a little ominous looking at the championship sponsors. It means that if this gets onto TV we will suffer the most annoying TV ad in the history of the universe. I embed below a video response to this ad, which really does not hit all the obnoxious things about it, but captures one viewpoint, and identifies the insurance company responsible.
But the good news in this tournament for those of us who did not subscribe to CurlTV is that the CBC is streaming (free!) CurlTV's broadcasts. Just go to cbc.ca/sports.
I am coming to love this new world, and, I hate to say it, but thanks, CBC!

Travesty?

If it gets more viewers for the sport, we should be all for it.

In the episode, Homer and Marge form a mixed-doubles curling team with Principal Skinner and his mother, who are experienced curlers. It turns out that Marge is a natural, while Homer is a disaster on the ice. Marge is faced with a difficult decision: Possibly win a medal by asking Homer to leave the team or ruin their chances by keeping him.

Capital One Grey Power Men's Final Second Half

Capital One guy tells Scott Russell that they are in for next year. Good news for all of us.

Next - Kevin Martin explains why he did not win the World's. I sure hope they put this online as his discussion is quite good. "All the power to David, he made a perfect shot."

END #5: It just dawned on me you might be someone who can find this blog but not the tournament site or news sites. So, just so you know, there was a women's tournament too and Jennifer Jones won it 9-7 from Shannon Kleibrink.

Mike Harris asks an interesting question about the scoring of shots. What if you as skip decided on a stupid shot and make it perfectly? How should it be scored?

Anyway Ferbey and Hart compete on getting a rock buried in the house. Ferbey does OK but Howard can see a lot and pops it away. Nedohin clears it, and rolls behind the Howard guard at the front. Howard plans a tap-back - very nice, but leaving Nedohin a pretty easy hit to blank. Which he JUST achieves.

END #6: Getting to be a complicated house but the most important comment from Mike and Joan is the observation that when Glenn Howard may call a shot, he is ready to be overruled by his team. And on the nIt's at about 3:30 on the edge of the 4-foot, and half-open. Next shot, the Ferbey team does a consultation as well. Anyway after all this Hart doubles all the Ferbey rocks out of the house, leaving Team Howard counting three. Ferbey nose-hits a Howard rock - not as wished. Hart hits the Ferbey rock and rolls into mild cover. Ferbey hits and rolls to about 9 o'clock in the twelve-foot, largely open. Howard nose-hits. Ferbey decides to draw around a Howard rock in the front - undercurls and comes a bit deep, according to Joan because of undercurling. Ontario freeze to it but with an angle and Ferbey has a draw for two. Sweepers make it. 7-5 Ferbey!

END #7: Much chatter about the growth of quality of curling but really, there is NOT enough money in this sport, as far as I can see, to maintain the current level. I guess we will see.

Even the big bonus for winning the Capital One series, as Howard will do, is only $50K. Divided among four (five? six?). Maybe now someone else pays their expenses. 7-all, Ferbey with the hammer, into the eighth.

END #8: Roque's move-aside is heavy so the Howard guard gets restored. Howard second guard leaves a double-peel wide open. Next tick shot leaves a guard in place. The perversity of funny rules! Howard goes to the button. Peeled. Back to the button. a bit better buried. Front guard is peeled. Howard tosses up another pretty good guard. Peel called. Made, but leaving the rock in the house, and actually I would guess it was the run-back they wanted. Guard replaced. Ferbey comes in but the shooter angles away. Howard comes in behind the guard. Nedohin does a perfect tap. Howard has to come sit on it and poke it back not far. Howard sits in the front of the four-foot. Nedohin is just fine. We'll see Ferbey in December!

Really a fine match. Fun to watch and it is SO nice to see them back.

Capital One Grey Power Men's Final - Early ends

It's the Ferbey rink (nice to see them again, after they beat Martin in the semi-final) against the younger Howard.
END #1: With a possible but high risk double available for two, Ferbey directs nedohin to play the draw for one, which is perfect. 1-0 Ferbey.

It feels a bit odd watching curling again on the CBC.

I am not sure what this "Grey Power" thing is. I hope to find out.

END #2: Ferbey loses the shooter on a double and lets Hart draw into the front of the house. Sorry - cannot really see the computer screen in the sun. Things will improve. Team Howard put a nice rock into the front of the house and sit two. Nedohin punches out a Howard rock and rolls into the middle. Howard hits and rolls ff the center, as planned. Nedohin nose hits, leaving Howard a hit and stick for two. An invitation he accepts. 2-1 Howard.

There are some things at stake in this match. If the Ferbey rink win, they have a pass into the Olympic Tirals tournament. If they lose , the Middaugh rink gets that slot. There's a lso bonus money in the Capital One series at issue. Seems Howard has the 50K for first lined up but Ferbey could take second over Kevin Martin.

END #3: The CBC broadcast crew do not fully at ease, but we are getting a lot of the team chat about next shots, which is really good. There is a pile of Ferbey rocks in the house, and Howard's only defence looks as if it can get whacked. This could be a major mess of an end - Mike Harris suggests Howard would be happy to lose 3 in this end. Hart hits and rolls into the four-foot to join the other gazillion rocks there. Ferbey adds another rock to the "What a mess". Howard tries a super high risk shot - too complicated to describe. It "is as good as he could have made that shot", says Joan McCusker, tucking a rock into shelter. Nedohin overcurls and there is some cursing on the microphones; team Howard are now joking about a steal. Team Howard are serious and plan a shot Joan McCusker really does not like. First comment on this shot is "Ah no". Some major whack is coming, and nobody is sure whether it will be three or five for Ferbey. Nedohin does his job and Ferbey's rink score four. Wow!

Aha! Grey Power is auto insurance for older coots like me. Maybe it is their ad with the screaming lady in the intersection.

END #4: Howard comes too deep, leaving Nedohin a double he just misses. Draw for three for Howard. MAJOR MAJOR brushing gets it there. 5-5 halfway (it's and eight-end match).

Scotland Deservedly Win the Worlds

I finally saw the end of the Canada-Scotland final during the wee hours, having sensibly and needfully fallen asleep during the match. Canada had a tie and the hammer in the tenth. It looked as if Canada had finally solved the Scotland problem. When Morris missed a double-peel of guards (he got a single peel), the Scots got to create a monstrously complex house, to the point that Martin actually threw away his first rock.
As Martin was heading to the hack for the final rock of the tournament, one of his front end muttered something like "I don't like this". He was right. Martin came nowhere close to doing the cleansing operation on the house that was needed.
Congratulations to the Scottish team. They beat what I still think an amazing rink three times in a row! Nobody can even contemplate begrudging them this championship.
Moreover, not a single one of those wins was easy - when the going got tough, they kept going!

Men's World's Semi-Final, Canada versus Switzerland

After 10 straight wins, Canada's Martin rink ran into a Scottish steel wall twice in a row, most crucially in the Page 1-2 Playoff. Martin never looked comfortable with either broom (target) placement or weight calls, and it showed. Mind you, both matches were close.
As a result, Canada was relegated to the Page Semi-Final against Switzerland (coached by Russ Howard), who scraped out a win against Norway (to my disappointment) this morning.
Canada seem very comfortable with the ice tonight and lead comfortably late in the match - in fact, leading 6-1 after 7.
I might have live-blogged, but once again, as happens every year, I find myself on the weekend of the World's channel-hopping with the Masters Golf Tournament. And those azaleas are much nicer to look at than yet more ice!
Switzerland get two. Canada go into the 9th leading 6-3 with the hammer. The Swiss have made great shots, so I am not counting this in the win column yet - I will update.
UPDATE: John Morris looks so wonderfully vulpine as he delivers his rocks - the sort of concentration I can see as the pack pursues its target.
Switzerland steal one in nine as Martin whiffs on his last rock - 6-4 Canada with the hammer.
ANOTHER UPDATE: The match this morning featured something I have never seen and it seemed nobody was sure of the rules. Norway and Switzerland had rocks that needed to be measured, and the person who measured initially announced that she could not distinguish their distances from the button, and so there was a tie, and so there was some outcome. I was not following completely. The Swiss team objected, insisting that the rule requires two umpires to make a determination. I do not recall how it came out, but in the end the Swiss could not really fret about it. On the other hand, I liked the Swiss player making the objection - he said, "Look, giving it to Norway would have been all right but you have to make a choice." I wonder how much national and international rules differ on this.
UPDATE: 10th End. No hint of what became of the lead rocks. Typical TSN. Snarl. Kennedy kills all the Swiss rocks potentially in sight - shooter vaguely around but not really relevant. Sorry - it actually is up there. Swiss put up a guard. Kennedy kills his previous shooter, almost coming near the Swiss guard. Now the Swiss have guards on either side of center. That one is cleared. Swiss try a come-around but "oh-oh" in Schweizerdeutsch is about the same as in Canadian. Morris removes the remaining guard - Swiss have one rock at 7 o'clock around 12-foot. Swiss put a rock at 3 o'clock at the edge of the 8-foot. Martin kills the 7 o'clock rock and hangs on the edge of the house. Last Swiss rock goes to about 9 o'clock at the edge of the 8-foot. Martin need only remove one of the rocks. Here it comes! He kills the 3 o'clock so we get one more nail-biter with Scotland! Canada wins 6-5.
Can it REALLY be the first time ever we have had the two same skips playing for the World's final in consecutive years? What an amazing observation.

Magic. Ugly Magic

Scotland defeated Canada in 11 ends in the final game of the round robin. But that's not what this posting is about.

Here's the magic: the minute the tape-delayed telecast on TSN showed that Scotland won, CurlCast was magically restored to show us the details of all the evening's games. That development is consistent with my theory that TSN blocked CurlCast from providing the data on the internet for those of us who wanted to follow things live.

And here's the ugly magic: There will be two tie-breaks tomorrow. And TSN will NOT be showing either of them. TSN, which has two channels, will not be showing them.

And even uglier magic? Tonight, TSN opted to show a replay of the Masters's golf tournament on TSN2 rather than show live curling. What are they showing tomorrow instead of showing the curling tie-breaks?

Addendum: Actually, TSN has very misleading information on its site:

TSN may occasionally need to tape-delay some games, as has always been the case when programming conflicts occur. In this instance, TSN will now be in a position to offer the live game on TSN2 while still broadcasting that game on a tape-delayed basis on the main TSN network.

As Johnny Dangerously would say, "lying bastidges."

1. There's not much of a "programming conflict" in my mind between live curling vs. a rerun of golf that had just been on the main TSN channel.
2. They did not carry draw 17 live on TSN2, despite what they say on their website.

Chumps. Yes, they were in a position to offer it. But they didn't.

Did TSN Place an Embargo on CurlCast and Other Sites?

So here we are. Ms. Eclectic and I enjoying a pizza and watching the curling on TSN. I keep peeking ahead to see what happened in real time by looking at the scores and stats on CurlCast. Here's what I see:

Holy Cow, Scotland scored three in the eighth. And then Canada took only one in the ninth to trail without the hammer. And then Canada stole one to tie it up in 10th and go to an extra end. And then..... and then.....

Nothing.

CurlCast goes blank. So does Season of Champions. So does the Canadian Curling Association site.

We saw that the US stole four in the 10th to beat France and guarantee themselves a spot in the playoffs.
But what happened with Germany? They were in a close match. What happened with Switzerland? They, too, were in a close match.

But, nope. Suddenly at CurlCast it says "Data unavailable for this draw". Of course that is utter nonsense. The data are available. They're just not providing them.

I think this is what happened: TSN went to CurlCast and the other websites and said something like, "We have an exclusive contract to broadcast this tournament and you are broadcasting. You must cease and desist."

I'm pretty cheesed off. thanks for nothing, TSN!

The Winnowing Continues

Switzerland and Scotland have won in the last afternoon draw. One clear outcome is that 5 losses is the most that can lead to past-round-robin play.
Moreover, Scotland is into the playoffs, joining Canada and Norway.
Outlook for others?
The Swiss at 6-4 play China tonight. The USA look headed to a big win this afternoon and will end up at 6-4, playing France tonight.
Germany are also still in, locked in a tough match with Norway. They play Japan tonight and will be 6-4 if they win.
There are still a lot of possible outcomes.
I am sorry it will be tape delay this evening.

UPDATE: Norway finish at 7-4. Scotland are at 7-3 playing tonight against Canada. Does Martin care about beating them? Probably.
USA, Germany, and Switzerland are at 6-4, all playing teams tonight that are now at best spoilers.
I'll be watch CurlCAST and the golf!

The Final Day of the Round Robin at the 2009 Ford Men's Worlds

This morning, Canada defeated Denmark to extend its record to 10W and no losses. I thought Canada didn't curl quite as well as their 91% scoring indicated, but they still looked mighty good.

We will not see any curling this afternoon on TSN. Tonight Canada plays Scotland. Our impression is that the game will be on a one-hour tape delay because TSN is showing hockey and golf. If so, it is unlikely we will be live-blogging that last draw of the round-robin.

And starting tomorrow, I'll be on the road and won't be able to do much; also, with The Masters occurring, there will likely be conflicted interests to divert our attention.

And, quite frankly, the way Canada has been playing, it would be (note the subjunctive mood here) a tremendous upset if Canada were not the winner. To the best of my recollection, in the past twenty-five years of watching curling, I don't think I have ever seen a curling team as good as the present Martin rink.

Draw 15, Conclusion? (live-blogging)

Canada is in good shape but really cannot relax against the Danes, who aside from the first end have done pretty well.

End #9: Kennedy peels two long Danish guards. Excellent shot. Jensen puts up another long guard, which Kennedy peels. It seems a little premature for Morris to be goofing around with those funny-looking pink glasses. Is he always so inappropriate? I'm still impressed that Martin is able to integrate Morris into the team and keep him reasonably in check.

With his second stone, Schmidt glances off the Danish stone in the rings and is open at the back 8'. Morris hits and sticks. Denmark tap-freezes into a crotch of Cdn stones. Martin draws to the top 8'. With his last rock, Fredriksen slams into the cluster to knock some Cdn rocks back and to have shot rock. Martin has a tough nose hit with some ancillary action to score two (or was it three?? Schmidt had his foot on a Cdn stone before the rocks were done moving!) and Denmark concedes. Canada 10, Denmark 4.

Draw 15, Ends 7 and 8; Live-blogging

End #7: Without that four in the first end for Canada, this would be a pretty close game. Canada starts with three clustered in the rings, top 4', and Denmark has a corner guard. Den taps out one Cdn stone, but Kennedy removes the Den rock as well as one Cdn stone. Jensen taps back one Cdn stone onto the other so both Cdn stones are back 4'. Morris picks Jensen's stone off the top 4'.

Schmidt draws top 4'. Morris picks it. Schmidt tries again, but is light again. Martin picks it, but also removes one of the two Cdn rocks in the back 4'. Now Denmark has a corner guard and Canada has one rock in the back 4'. That's it. Fredriksen freezes to the Cdn rock which strikes me as an odd strategy. Odder still, instead of freezing to that stone, Martin crams the freeze out, leaving one Cdn rock in the rings. Fredriksen peels and blanks the end.
Canada 8, Denmark 3

End #8: Two in the rings for each team. Kennedy runs one Cdn rock back to remove one of each and keep his shooter. He's disappointed with the shot. Denmark draws about 4" too deep; Canada lies two. Morris executes a short double-raise tap and roll to get rid of one Den rock and lie two, but both are behind the t-line. Schmidt freezes to them, but isn't quite shot rock.

Morris throws up weight to remove one Den, one Cdn, and lose the shooter, leavin two Cdn rocks and one Den rock in the rings. Schmidt looked at a double attempt but tapped the Cdn rock off the button. However the rocks are lined up for Martin to slam into them so both Den rocks roll out and his shooter rolls behind a Cdn guard. Fredriksen doesn't have much, facing three, makes a nose hit (which he wanted) to be second shot. Canada is shot and third shot.

Martin opts to draw to the back four, lying two. The only shot left for Denmark is to hit and stick for one.
Canada 8, Denmark 4

Draw 15, Ends 5 and 6; Live-blogging

End #5: Canada starts with one in top 4' and one in the top 8'; Denmark with a corner guard, then a weak tap on the top Cdn stone. Kennedy removes the Den rock in the rings with a very good hit-roll to the side of the rings, lying three.

Jensen tries a double, but gets only one, leaving shooter top 8'. Kennedy removes it and rolls a foot. Jensen hits-rolls on Cdn shot rock, but is mostly open. Morris hits it but is wide open. At this point Canada has 3 in the rings and Denmark has a corner guard. Schmidt noses it and is also open. Morris hits and rolls a bit away from the other Cdn stones, but is still wide open. Schmidt tries to hit-roll behind the Den corner guard, but didn't roll enough. Martin hits it, but rolls out; blames it on the stone, but I thought he was a bit narrow with the shot.

Fredriksen draws, but doesn't curl enough; is wide open on the button. Martin hits, and now Fredriksen must hit and stick to save one.
Canada 6, Denmark 3 at the break.

End #6: All rocks in play after the leads' stones. Nice hit and roll by Jensen to end up behind a centre-line guard. Kennedy peels the guard, and Jensen replaces it. Kennedy and team convince Martin to let him try a run-back double, but he gets only one, leaving a centre-line guard and two Den rocks in the rings.

Schmidt hits the only remaining Cdn rock in the rings and rolls behind a Danish stone. Den lies three with a Cdn rock out as a centre-line guard. Morris's freeze attempt is a tad outside and exposed; Schmidt tries to tap it back but is outside, leaving Canada as shot rock. Morris draws to the the top of the button; Canada lies two.

Fredriksen tries a tap back but rubs slightly on a guard, taps the Cdn shot rock but not enough, and so Canada is still lying two. Martin worries that if Denmark can make a run-back double, they'd lie five, so he mixes up the rocks on the button a bit. However he nudges the Den rock into 2nd shot position. Fredriksen guards, but Martin has a tap-tap to score two. A bit harder and he'd have scored three.
Canada 8, Denmark 3

Draw 15, Ends 3 and 4; Live-blogging

End #3: Canada starts with a rock on the top button and another frozen to it. Denmark has a tight corner guard. Poulsen knocks off the rock at the button, Kennedy removes Poulsen's rock to lie two. Jensen draws up short of the Cdn rocks in the rings, so Kennedy peels the Den corner guard. Jensen's second shot is light and overcurls, lying to the side of the 12', short of the stones in the house. Morris takes out that stone but nudges the other Den stone up frozen against the Cdn shot stone at the top of the button.

Schmidt freezes to his own stone. Canada still has shot rock, but Denmark has pretty good position at this point. Morris throws up weight, removes all the Cdn rocks and moves the Dane rocks apart from each other and to the side of the rings. Schmidt draws to the back 4', and Martin tries a double, but gets only one. Denmark lies two. Strange call: Fredriksen peels the front Cdn rock. Martin tries a hit and roll but loses the shooter. Fredriksen draws for two. Nice save of the end.
Canada 5, Denmark 2

End #4: Two Den guards short of the rings, and two Cdn rocks near the centre in the rings. Den runs one guard back and removes one Cdn rock. Kennedy hits and sticks of the resulting Denmark rock in the rings. Jensen hits that stone and rolls out of the rings. Kennedy draws to the top 8', leaving a possible double, which Schmidt makes. Denmark has one on the top 8' and a bunch of guards on the right of centre. Morris hits and rolls over sort of behind the guards. Schmidt throws a neato double raise takeout, but it opens up the rings. Morris hits and sticks for one. Fredriksen tries a hit-roll to get behind a guard and almost makes it. Martin has tough draw to try to set up a deuce, but it's wide open. Fredriksen makes an excellent hit and roll to lie two and to force Martin to draw for only one.
Canada 6, Denmark 2

Draw 15: Live-blogging Canada vs. Denmark

Canada, undefeated, takes on Denmark (6-3) in this draw. Denmark has been good so far in the round robin, but has had some spottiness and lapses. This draw will not likely be a walk-over for Canada.

End #1: Denmark is using its spare (Poulsen) at lead; he's deep with his first and short with his second rock, and Hebert for Canada has a corner guard and a draw around a long centre guard. Jensen (DEN 2nd) tried a come-around freeze, but wrecked on the guard, and Kennedy drew into the rings. Canada lies three.

Denmark's skip (Schmidt) throws 3rd stones. Hits and sticks, then hits and rolls into the open. Morris hits and sticks twice. If Denmark hits and rolls right, they can put some pressure on Canada. Fredriksen (skip stone) hits and rolls out. Martin draws around a tight guard to the top 4'. The final Danish stone was a double attempt and would have wrecked on the guard, but was burned with the lead's left foot. Martin draws for 4. Canada 4, Denmark 1.

End #2: There are probably two reasons that Denmark replaced the lead for today. Their regular lead has the lowest curling percentage of all the leads; and apparently Denmark's win yesterday qualified them for Olympics, so they can shake things up a bit for now. And of course we missed all the leads' stones. Kennedy tries to hit and roll behind two Canadian guards, one in the rings and one tight to the rings, but his shot is exposed a bit. Jensen picks it out but is wide open himself. Morris hits it and over-rolls to the outside wide open. As the Danes discuss their shot, we see Martin watching action on other sheets. Given his play, I suspect he is studying, not just spectating. It is hard NOT to have phenomenal respect for Martin's abilities and knowledge.

Schmidt's first stone is a perfect draw around the corner guard, but it is a bit light, leaving Canada lying two. Morris chips out the DEN stone and rolls to the centre behind the two other Cdn stones. Wow, what a shot. Schmidt tries to double and save his shooter, but instead just peels the tight guard. Martin puts up a long guard. Fredriksen draws, but slips to the back 4', leaving Canada with shot rockso Martin puts up a guard, which makes it harder for Fredriksen to draw to get shot. Fredriksen tries an angle raise but overcurls; steal of one for Canada.
Canada 5, Denmark 0

Canada Clinches #1 Spot in the Round Robin

After 14 draws at the 2009 Men's World Curling Championships, Canada has a record of 9W and 0L. The next closest teams are Scotland and Norway with 6W and 3L each. Since each team has only two games remaining in the round robin, even if Canada loses its last two games, it will still have the best record of the bunch. The imp entire team has performed magnificently so far. They are one of the most impressive curling teams I have ever seen.

On Thursday, Canada faces Denmark at 9am. I will try to live-blog that game for those readers who enjoy our summaries and rants. And then Canada faces Scotland at 6:30pm (both times EDT), and we are hoping that one of us will be able to live-blog that game as well, but more likely than not we will be sufficiently bent out of shape because the game is being broadcast on tape delay by TSN that we will give it a miss. We'll see.

No Live-Blogging during a tape-delay

As Alan says, it doesn't make much sense to live-blog a draw when it isn't being shown live. So just why is it on half-hour tape delay??

Nevertheless, judging from the CurlCast data, I gotta try to see the fourth end!

Ford World's - Draw 13

Canada-USA

This is seriously on tape delay so I cannot in any honesty "live-blog" it. And won't.

But I DID notice on CurlCAST that the US stole two in the opening end. It was pretty funny - their highest ambition appeared to have been stealing one but Martin decided to go nuts and gave them two. In any case Martin has taken two in the second and the USA one in the third.

For further information try CurlCAST.

That Kevin Martin Rink - Wow

I have been a curling fan for many years, and got to see the early days of Kevin Martin's prominence in the sport. I did not much care for him then, as he ragged his opponents and his teammates and had a rather one-dimensional, I thought, albeit somewhat effective game.
But today's incarnation of Kevin Martin I find quite delightful - I suspect because both of us have changed over time.
But he has changed the more radically. While not losing the intensity (he was complaining about the other team members yesterday over one shot, though the team won handily), he has created a team that is clearly just full of mutual respect. That is enjoyable to watch. I do not know the whole story of how he built this team, but enlisting John Morris (himself a pretty good skip!) as a third must have been a major enterprise for both of them. So just on a personal basis he made great changes. There is no way John Morris could have worked with that young Kevin Martin.
And his game has changed. He has become someone who can out-Howard Howards!
Watching his rink at the Brier this and last year and now at the World's astonishes me. I so wish this sport were broader-based, as I think we would then REALLY see how good these guys are.
So let me bow and say "I am not worthy".

Draw #12: End 6 and ?

Note: This afternoon's game between Canada and the USA is at 2:30 EDT, not 2pm as it says on CurlCast.

So what on earth happened? Hebert is throwing second rocks for Canada, but of course we didn't see who is throwing the lead stones. I assume it's Meek. No explanation, but I assume they're rotating him in for different players. Morris draws to the 4' so Canada lies 3. Finland has a centre guard in the top 4'. The Fin vice hits, takes out only one, and over-rolls out to the 12'. Martin takes it out. Kiiskinen wrecked on their guard in the 4' but is overlapping it so it will be difficult to use either one of them. Martin is lying two and puts up a guard. It's not a great guard as there is still a sizable (for pros) port to go through for a Finnish tap up. But Kiiskinen tries a raise double through the port doesn't make it past the guard, giving up a steal of one. Finland concedes. Canada 12, Finland 4. To be honest, I thought Canada stole two that end, but I guess nobody really cared.

I might be able to cover a portion of this afternoon's game between Canada and the USA, but probably only the first half. Remember it doesn't start until 2:30 EDT.

Draw #12: Ends 4 and 5

End #4: Once again, we join the game in progress after having little idea what happened with the first four shots. The TSN announcers are convinced that Finland just hasn't figured out the ice the way Martin has. I expect poorer ability (aka execution) plays a more important role. Come on folks, it's not just experience and ice-reading. Ability to make the precise shot is something that really distinguishes this Martin rink from the other teams. Note that Morris's first shot overcurled and his second shot undercurled. hmmmm.

Martin's first attempt to draw around the centre guard is half exposed ("lost its handle" according to Martin, but it was still spinning a bit as I saw it). Kiiskinen tapped it back to lie one, but Martin can pick out the shot rock to lie two. Oops, threw it a bit inside ("curled like a banshee" says Martin). Ray says, "There goes 100% for today" referring to Martin's sterling performance against Norway yesterday. Finland still lies one and draws for two. Canada 7, Finland 4.

Linda notes that this is the first time Canada has given up as many as four points to ANYONE! Did I hear that right? [update: I must have misheard. Canada gave up four to Japan, China, and Germany, but never gave up more than four points that I could see.]

End #5: Finland tries to come around the centre guard but is half exposed; Canada has a rock in the back 8 and taps the Fin rock out. Finland tries to tap out the Cdn rock, but flashes. Martin spends some more time watching play on other sheets. After a few more shots, Canada lies four with the hammer and Finland has just an off-centre-line guard. The major hope for Finland in this end to try to freeze to one of the Cdn stones (preferably the shot stone), but if it isn't perfect freeze, Martin will pick it out. So Kiiskinen opts instead to try for a double, but gets only one. So Martin freezes to his own, followed by a fascinating conversation about which rocks do what. Apparently there are more than minor differences in how the rocks interact with different types of ice. Finland tries a tap-freeze to try to hold Canada to just one, but is heavy and bounces away, leaving Martin with a hit for four. Canada 11, Finland 4.

Curling Demographics

Who do they think we fans are? Doc makes a reference to this in another context.
I will now document who advertises between the second and third end of draw 12.

1. Ford Flex (soccer mom ad)
   
2. Rocks and Rings (a Capital One ad much less objectionable than the stupid one with Jennifer Jones)
   
3. Curling Rewards (an almost funny ad from Capital One again)
   
4. Sandra Schmirler Foundation (a weird ad with a preemie - have any of our famous athletes been premature births?)
   
5. Tim Horton's (natch)
   
6. Home Depot (or was it some other hardware store?)
   

Now I must ruminate on who TSN's advertisers think we morning viewers are.

Draw #12: Number 1 vs. Number 12 Canada vs. Finland

Canada comes into Draw #12 after having curled nearly perfectly against Norway yesterday. In fact Kevin Martin curled 100% in that game!

Canada takes on Finland, and surprise of ALL surprises, TSN shows the very first shot of the game! Well blow me down, I'm stunned.

Finland is at the bottom of the bunch so far, having won only one game so far in the round robin. This game should be a blowout for Canada. My guess is the odds are that Finland might have a 3% chance of even putting up a good challenge here. I.e., it's not impossible, but it is unlikely that Finland will do well.

End #1. Finland has already made some mistakes in the first end, and even Martin looks bored as you can see he is watching the play on other sheets much of the time. He'd better not get toooooo careless and sloppy. Let me also point out that in terms of overall curling percentages, Finland ranks ahead of the Czech Republic. Throughout this end, it is clear why Finland has only one win. They just aren't making perfect shots. Martin draws for 4 to lead 4-0 after 1. This shouldn't take long.

End #2. M&M, Cashmere, Tim Horton, Budweiser, Capital One, and a few others, then some TSN updates. So we missed the first three rocks of this end. And here I was hoping our rants might have had some impact on TSN policies. No such luck.

Alan's points were important: if TSN thinks we don't care about lead stones, why don't they just randomly put some stones out there.

Well, if it wasn't over in the first end, it might be after the 2nd end. To be fair, I really can't blame TSN if they get bored with this game and show lots of other games and shots. I presume Finland won't concede until after the break, but I'm not going to report in detail.

Summary: Canada makes amazing shots; Finland looks like good club-level curlers.

Whoa! Finland's 3rd makes a nice tap-tap to have the shot rock. I'm not sure, but this might be the first time they even have shot rock in this game. As a result, it sounds as if Martin is back into the game more thoroughly. But Martin makes an amazing rub-and-take-out to lie two.

Martin: "He's got the bigger biter." Cute phrase. Hit and stick by Finland to lie one; hit and roll by Martin to lie three. Finland has a long shot at a triple to score three, which would make the game interesting. Great shot, and he scored two. So it isn't over yet. Canada 4, Finland 2.

End #3. So it won't be a total blowout. Yea! TSN joins the end after the four lead stones were thrown. Ray, bless his aging mind, tried to summarize what had happened but couldn't quite remember and stammered and stumbled and blathered. Sad and disappointing.

Once again, Canada seems to be curling better than Finland, but Morris misses a shot pretty badly, leaving Canada lying only one and Finland with a positional advantage. After a nice guard by the Fin skip (Kiiskinen), Martin makes an angle raise power double to lie two. Kiiskinen overcurls, and Martin hits-and-sticks for three. Canada 7, Finland 2.

TSN: Show Curling, Please

Last year, when we learned that TSN would have the exclusive (does CurlTV count?) coverage of major curling events in Canada, we speculated that perhaps with their monopoly TSN would get sloppy and unresponsive.

Judging from what we have seen, that is exactly what has happened. Let me second Alan's concerns. These particular parts of his live-blogging from tonight's game struck me as both hilarious and spot on:

I am getting really peeved not seeing any shots in an end until the last lead shot. Thanks, TSN, for this useless coverage. ...

This really pisses me off. Several rocks are in play and I have no idea how they got there. ...

TSN decide to babble with Pia Lindholm, skip of a team that did not make this championship. Thanks, idiots. Nice to know his wife is birthing, Sheesh, I hardly now want to report this end. What excuse is this for sports coverage? Is this the worst of the NBC Olympic Coverage again? ...

I am sure we are all already missing the first couple of shots of the next end. Is there anyone out there willing to admit he/she would get a Capital One card because of Jennifer Jones shouting hard and easy? In fact, my own reaction is that I will studiously avoid getting such a card. Sorry, TSN, they seem to be your sole advertiser, an ominous thought. ...

This is ridiculous - we are almost halfway into the end? What isin their brains? Do they actually get a large audience who find the early shots irrelevant? I guess they think so. ...

Maybe TSN could just put a bunch of rocks out and let the thirds and skips play out the ends. Like limited-overs cricket it could speed the sport up.

Let me just add that the problem with TSN's coverage is not just that they are missing the early shots (though that is VERY annoying). It's also that Ray, especially, but the others, too, seem bored. As a result they blather about all sorts of things and divert attention away from the curling. I don't watch the coverage to hear cute little in-jokes and repartee between the announcers.

This is clear evidence of the value of competition. TSN seemed much better when they had to prove they were as good as, or better than, CBC.

Ford World's, Draw 11- Canada vs Norway

Norway's skip Thomas Ulsrud is surely the hunk of the show.

Norway, we hear, like open ends. So we might something interesting.

End #1: Norway have the hammer by a coin toss. Canada center guard in place. Norway come around into the house, well covered. Canada put a rock in the front 12-foot. Norway wreck on the front guard. Kennedy kills the Norway rock in the house but leaves his rock a bit open. Norway return the favor and roll behind some cover. Kennedy runs the Canada guard back and removes the Norway rock. Norway tap the guard - did they mean that? Canada buries a rock behind cover at about 3 o'clock. Norway's freeze attempt bounces into the open. Morris hits but does not roll. Norway hit and do not roll. Martin, with the option of hitting that last rock, is coming around - slightly hits the center guard, with a ton of brushing, but is just barely edging out of the four-foot. "Curled like crazy, uh?" Ulsrud wrecks on a Canada rock in the front of the house. Martin is talking, precision-wise, about "over-curling by an inch or two". Wow. Crazy brushing and they have a rock just in front of the house on the center. We'll see is Ulsrud can find his way in, facing three. He goes through the house and Canada steal three! Oh dear. Not quite the match I had hoped to see.

End #2: I am getting really peeved not seeing any shots in an end until the last lead shot. Thanks, TSN, for this useless coverage. OK - however we got here, a whole bunch of Canada rocks along the center and some Norway rocks vaguely scattered elsewhere. Martin is being brutally aggressive and adding to complexity - he now has the perfect configuration - one center line rock in front of the house and behind that one in each of the eight and front four foot. Norway do a nice run-back and clear some of this out. Open path not to a Canada rock in the center, front of the four-foot. Canada put a guard right in front of the house. Norway hit, staying shot and wide open, and leaving the Canada rock in the back of the eight-foot at 7 o'clock. Morris hits the Norway rock and rolls behind cover, though behind the T-line. Norway come to the top of the four-foot, not shot, and not frozen, as surely intended. Martin, with a TON of brushing, knocks out the Norway rock and slide behind less cover than hoped (but good cover). Ulsrud puts a rock in the front eight-foot but is third shot. Martin draws, getting to the top of the eight-foot, short of the plan. Norway has some options - risky raises. They are trying one - there is a double for two through a not totally tiny port. He wrecks, but gets one, via, as rightly put 'Plan F' (from Vic). It was like one of those mis-hits or net shots in tennis where you apologize to the other guys.

End #3: This really pisses me off. Several rocks are in play and I have no idea how they got there. Center-line Norway guard out front and two Canada rocks and one Norway rock in the front of the house on the center. Norway add another. I am sparing myself describing this as someone will surely simplify it soon. Getting tricky - Canada misses and wreck on a Norway rock in the front 12-foot. OK two Norway rocks in the front 12-foot, two Canada rocks in teh 8-foot, and a Norway rock in the 4-foot, all hanging around the center. Canada try the nuclear option - the 12-foot reds remain but behind them it is a Canada rock now. Norway try something similar and screw up, leaving Martin the ability to have Morris do this. Oops a screw-up. Anyway a Norway rock at 3 pm behind cover now and an open Canada rocks at thye top of the house. Norway put one beside that, not sure why (they speak Norwegian as they plan shots). Morris definitely does not do as planned. Norway now sit two with shots in the front of the house - nobody has made a shot as planned in a while. Martin plans a crazy double, and makes it. Not quite as wanted as the remaining Canada rock in the house is open and behind the T-line. Ulsrud wants a double and is not even close. Martin has a straight and simple open hit for two. "Sort of a strange end", says Linda. Well, I hope my commentary reflects that! Canada get 2. 5-1 Canada. Does anyone think this is NOT over?

The 'Dancing with the Stars' eliminations for the week are coming up soon, so I hope my assumption that there is a level of irrelevancy here is right!

End #4: TSN decide to babble with Pia Lindholm, skip of a team that did not make this championship. Thanks, idiots. Nice to know his wife is birthing, Sheesh, I hardly now want to report this end. What excuse is this for sports coverage? Is this the worst of the NBC Olympic Coverage again? OK we are already on third rocks, have a Norway corner guard, but a Canada rock in the house behind it. Heavy miss by Norway, behind the T-line,giving Morris a freeze chance. Not great - a bounce and the wrong way. Norway wreck on a guard and the house is now a mess, all over on the right side behind a corner guard. After much discussion Canada decide to come and park a rock on their shot rock, on the outer edge of the eight-foot. Hard to do better than they did! Norway wreck horribly. After long deliberation on how to make Ulsrud's life maximally miserable, Martin and Morris agree to put a rock up in top of the four-foot, forcing him to do something against three counting Canada rocks. Beautiful draw to the button! But really, that is what Canada wanted at the start of the end (maybe not at teh end).

I am sure we are all already missing the first couple of shots of the next end. Is there anyone out there willing to admit he/she would get a Capital One card because of Jennifer Jones shouting hard and easy? In fact, my own reaction is that I will studiously avoid getting such a card. Sorry, TSN, they seem to be your sole advertiser, an ominous thought.

End #5: This is ridiculous - we are almost halfway into the end? What isin their brains? Do they actually get a large audience who find the early shots irrelevant? I guess they think so.

Here is my plan going forward. I will describe ONLY the lead and second shots I get to see. I will no longer describe third or skip shots. I will report the score at the end of the end. I will have for this end only the score at the end. If Doc is around he can complement my effort but this is driving me bats. Maybe TSN could just put a bunch of rocks out and let the thirds and skips play out the ends. Like limited-overs cricket it could speed the sport up.

My new principle means I am NOT reporting two stunning skip shots leading to a blanked end. Thanks, TSN, for pissing me off.

End #6: After the mid-match break there is no excuse. Some rocks already played nonetheless. Norway rock is a center guard in front of another one they have. Canada rock joining another in the house - Canada rocks creating a nice pocket for Norway. Norway park on the button in front of the pocket. Canada clear a front guard. Norway put it back. Canada misses the guard and chip out the Norway rock on the button. That's it for this end for me. Canada steal four! Sorry TSN decided not to let me tell you how.

Handshakes.

TSN - shape up!

Note for Tonight's Showdown

Going into the 11th draw of the 2009 Ford Men's World Curling Championship, Canada and Norway lead the round robin and will meet each other. Canada is undefeated with a record of 6 wins and no losses. Whether Norway is undefeated or has one loss depends on the outcome of their game with Switzerland, which is taking place as I am contemplating this posting.

The point I wanted to make is that if you look at the CurlCast data, you see that Canada leads all teams in curling percentage, while Norway was tied for third, a full six percentage points behind Canada in curling percentage.

Now, I know that curling percentage is not a perfect measure of a team's quality, ability, or performance. I know it is not a perfect predictor of outcomes. But I also know it is a mighty strong indicator of these things*. The fact is, as good as Norway has been, they have not been nearly as good as Canada so far during the round robin.

Additionally, note that neither Norway nor Canada has yet faced the next best team, Scotland.
So even though this looks as if it has the makings of being a showdown, there will be more important and tougher matches to come.

*A student did some stats for me a few years ago and found R-squares in the range of .72 or so when trying to use curling percentages to explain points scored.

Ford World's, Draw 9 - Canada vs Switzerland

Sorry - failed to realize we were in action so early today!

End #1: Switzerland have the hammer, on skip rocks, two Canada rocks in the house, guarded. Swiss clear the guard. Martin will try to put up a guard closer to the house. The rocks in the house are perfect, both at noon and in the 8-foot and 4-foot. He adds one right in front in the 12-foot. Stoeckli has a miserably tough draw against these rocks, maybe to save a steal of one. Steal of two, it appears to me, for Canada. Measuring for three but it sure looks like two to me. Seems I am right.

End #2: I wish Doc had not mentioned the blather. We are getting it in spades this morning. How on earth is this a game of confidence? It is not the financial system! Morris tries a hit and roll and instead stops in front of the house. Canada rock in the house at 10 o'clock, two Canada rocks right in front of the house in the center. Swiss hit and roll does not quite bury behind the Canada rocks. Morris kills it and sits at 9 o'clock on the T-line. One of the Canada guards is removed; I am not sure why. Martin punches his remaining guard to the button, but leaves s tiny port open (maybe not so tiny for these guys). Stoeckli gets through the port, rolls away to about 4:30 in the inner 12-foot, remaining shot. It is open. Martin hits and sticks - draw to the 8-foot for one for the Swiss. Done very nicely. 2-1 Canada.

End #3: Somehow again Canada rocks in the house behind a front guard, albeit Swiss. Swiss do a strange (to me) bump-and-run, leaving Canada lying two, with a Swiss rock in the center in the front 12-foot. Canada put a rock up right beside the Swiss rock at about 11:45. Swiss very nicely hit one of the counting Canadian rocks out, rolling behind mostly cover. Canada peels a guard. Swiss decide to guard a slightly complicated house. Morris peels the guard, hitting a Swiss rock, which jams on one of the Canadian rocks. So there is still a guard, and there are now two Swiss rocks in the front of the four-foot, the 11:45 Canadian rock still there in the 12-foot. The Swiss guard their rocks. Now there is a truly small port. Morris removes one of the Swiss rocks and now sits right in front of the other under cover - he barely missed guards at two levels! A draw attempt by the Swiss goes too deep. Martin wrecks on some guards - leaving Stoeckli at least some possibilities. The Swiss guard their one but there is a hole now, returning the favor to Canada. Martin capitalizes - two Swiss misses give him his two (yeah, I thought of that pun an end ago). 4-1 Canada.

End #4: You may notice I am not so committed to the details in this match as I was with Germany. Just a rough guess on things. So Canada sit on the front of the 4-foot and the back of the 4-foot behind a Swiss center guard. The Swiss run-back just misses and becomes a peel. Morris puts a nice guard in place. There is a swarm of Swiss rocks out in front in implausible positions for in-offs. Swiss punch the guard back into the front Canada rock and get it out - and put one of their rocks up to guard the other Canada rock. Martin buries a rock on the button behind that 'guard' (it is not meant to be there). Remember that Martin's rock is backed by another Canada rock. Stoeckli makes a truly fine shot through a somewhat narrow hole to get one, against three counting Canadian stones. 4-2 Canada.

End #5: Stoeckli has put up two center guards, Canada has come in behind them. Canada clear a guard. There is also a Swiss rock in the front of the house, and now two, backed by the Canadian rocks. Martin really does not like those two rocks. Kennedy clears one at some cost (Canada lose a rock) but now have two in the front of the house with a Swiss rock between. Swiss nicely punch out one of the Canadian rocks. Canada hit and remove the middle Swiss rock in the house, and roll into the open (not as planned). Swiss hit that rock and roll to shot stone, but open. Morris makes a highly brushed hit and roll into cover at the back of the four-foot. Stoeckli rubs on guards and comes into the top of the eight-foot, open. Martin, again with heavy brushing, removes the Swiss stone and one of his own. He still lies two. Stoeckli's double comes up close but leaves Martin a hit/stay for two. Heavy brushing again, then settling and Canada take 2. Canada 6-2.

Please understand if I confine myself to exceptional circumstances in this match now.

During the break Russ Howard, the Switzerland coach, commented, "We're on life support now". That is why I contemplate pulling a plug here.

World's, Draw 8, Ends from Six On

End #6: Oops, was off watching "Dancing with the Stars", even though Wozniak is no longer in it.
Canada center guard, two Canada rocks around the button, one Germany rock off at around 3:30. Germany punch out one of the Canada rocks in the house and sit. Kennedy pretty much freezes to that Germany rock. Germany, though the skip shouts 'optimal' in German, move the back Canada rock, but not where they wanted, I am pretty sure, (Well, I cannot see why they wanted the rocks where they are now.) Morris puts another rock into the front of the four-foot. Can Germany double? Kapp realizes things need shuffling. They are not happy about things now. Lang does a sort of peel, removing one Canada rock and one Germany rock. Morris misses his pick on a German rock on the button! Lang misses his shot and now sets up a double - plan was to pile up on the button - instead he angles off a Canada rock. Martin does not get the double - he clears a German rock but Germany still have shot. Kapp leaves a double available again. Martin hits brilliantly - Kapp has a hard draw/hit(double) for one. He misses - Martin steals one.

I will perhaps be reporting in less detail as I also want to watch "Dancing with the Stars". Doc might pick up for me.

End #7: Canada biter at 8 o'clock, German guard in front of the house near the middle. Canada clear the guard and roll into 1 o'clock at the front of the house. Germany draw, open into the back of the four-foot. Morris removes the Germany rock rolling to 5 o'clock in the 8-foot. Germany hit and roll almost into cover at 12:30 in the 8-foot. Morris chips this very hard rock to remove, no sweeping. Germany try to tuck behind the front Canadian rock but wreck. It is slightly moved and they sit open. Four Canadian rocks in the house now, no German ones (Martin hit and stayed). Germany want to draw behind cover. They sort of do but into the very back of the eight-foot. Martin almost corner-freezes to that German rock. Kapp takes his one.

End #8: Will start reporting once Melissa has finished dancing. (She had a bit of a choppy dance this week.)

Germany rocks at 3:30 and 5:45 in the 8-foot, no guards. Canada trying to freeze on the 3:30 rock. Almost perfect. Germany whack the frozen rock, which rolls to the middle, and Canada comes and freezes on the German shooter at 3 o'clock in the 12, with a little more bump. But German hopes for a double are diminished. Germany trying a very hard pick. They remove that last rock, stick, and no jam. Martin draws in for second shot in amongst German rocks around 3 o'clock. Germany is lining up an insane takeout - which works out perfectly! Andy Kapp is no second-rank skip! Martin must now draw for one. And right to the button. The death blow does not occur in this game.

End #9: This has been maddening. I really wanted to watch "Dancing with the Stars".

Hey wait the final of the Final Four is also on!

Vic gives me the news - where is this German team from!? From right by Neuschwanstein. Neat.

Let me try to catch up. Actually let me wait for a rock or two - this is too tricky. OK two Canada rocks in the four foot behind a Germany rock in the 8. German rock wrecks on teammate's and makes not much difference. Sorry - missed what happened but things look as before (Gilles and Cheryl nailed their dance). Seems we are getting competing doubles. After first skip rocks, and competing doubles, we have a Canada rock sitting open in the house. Germany get the blank.

End #10: Big mistake by Germany, going through the house, lets Canada clear the one guard. And its reincarnations. Rinse, lather, repeat. Germany run out of rocks. Nice job by Kapp forcing Canada to 10 ends.

Ford World's, Draw 8 - Canada vs Germany Before the Break

Germany is again represented by the excellent veteran Andy Kapp.

End #1: Germany put a rock in the back of the house. Martin tosses up a corner guard. Germany go into the very front of the house. Canada removes all the German rocks and now have a rock in the front of the 12-foot. Germany removes the in-house rock, hanging just off the house. Canada punches it away and sits. Germany remove it but roll into irrelevance, where they meant to roll into relevance. Kennedy buries nicely behind the Canadian guard. Germany make a great runback double! Morris buries behind the previous German shooter, now serving as a guard. Germany remove it but roll into the open on the button. Still, a fine shot. Morris wrecks on the guard, and sort of chips off the German rock. We now have a German rock sort of behind cover, and nothing else in the house. They toss up another guard (I am not sure that was the plan) and shot rock is pretty buried but now Canada can get inside the German rock and under cover. Pretty good at 10 o'clock on the edge of the four-foot - the unintended guard is now guarding the enemy rock. This is SUCH A tricky sport. Germany make a fine tap-back but they leave Martin a shot for two. Martin notes that an obvious error is to give Germany a steal of two. Let us see. Great hit and roll by Martin, with NO sweeping, and the comment "It curled like crazy", to give Canada two. I think this is one of the best ends I have seen played against Martin so far.

End #2: Something evil took control of my blogging. May have had to do with the breadmaker. Anyway Germany looked in great shape early and then let Martin make a great shot (well, not Martin - maybe a teammate). By the end it looked as if it might require a great shot for Germany just to get their one. They got their one.

To me it seems Germany are giving a little more game than I have seen so far against Canada!

End #3: Well we did not expect to be here. House filling up. German guard out front, and two Canadian and German rocks in the house all near noon, Goodbye all German rocks! I guess that is the risk. Great German hit and roll to hide behind centre-line rocks! Canada rearranges rocks in the front of the house. Morris removes all German rocks from the house. Germany wrecks on a front rock and now they are likely in some real trouble, unlike the earlier unreal trouble. Morris misses a shot - let's see what Germany can do. German tapback attempt comes up short. Martin produces a stunning hit and roll - Canada lie 2. Germany want to freeze to one of those rocks. And it is not a bad tapback but no freeze. Martin does not like his release - they turn it into, by sweeping, a semi-peel, that lets them score one.

These Germans are proving tough.

End #4: Thanks to TSN I have little idea how we got here. Canada has center guard, rock on the button, and one at about 3 o'clock. Germany tap the button rock back and Canada respond by removing the German rock completely and staying. Germany clear the guard. (The blather, now about the glasses of one of the Germans, is getting really stupid.) Canada rock seems to pick. Nice German hit removes the Canadian rock near the button but shooter lies open. OK Canada lying two again. Germany buries at the front of the four. Martin plans a tapback. Far enough back to lie two. Kapp doubles, maybe lying two now. I have no idea what happened - I guess the Martin rock just went too long. Kapp has a hit for at least two. Tied after 4! Kapp's team are a problem.

Blather time - "It's like a car on only seven cylinders or on six cylinders". Mine maxes at six, and for almost 30 years I drove 4-cylinder cars. How dumb are these people?

End #5: Canada do a hit and roll behind a corner guard. Germany kill it and stay but ignorably. Canada bury nicely at the top of the eight-foot. Germany AGAIN do a great runback double. Canada bury in the twelve-foot behind the previous shooter but Canada is not shot. Germany try to tuck behind the Canadian rock but wreck on it. Morris, not quite as planned, does a hit and roll and Canada lies one, not protected enough to prevent a nice hit and roll from Germany into the middle of the house. Martin hits and rolls over in front of the German rock in the back 12; Canada is now shot but this is not pretty. Kapp clears Martin's rock, no jam, and loses the shooter. Martin has a hit for two. It is a bit hard to understand how well-rewarded Canada might have been! Martin hits but loses the shooter (calling the sweeping instruction, "What the Hell?") so are up only one now after five and Germany has the hammer.

2009 Ford World's, Draw 7 - Canada vs the Czech Republic

End #1: Canada, with the hammer (though CurlCast seems to say the opposite), and with Morris throwing his second rock, already have two rocks in the house behind a phalanx of Czech rocks that came up short in front of the house and one Czech rock, counting second, at the back. Morris gets them sitting two. A Czech raise attempt comes up short. Martin guards against a more successful raise but overcurls. The next raise attempt leaves Canada lying two but gets a rock into the 8-foot. Martin is heavy and Canada take only two.

Doc mentioned that TSN were downplaying the problems with the ice (my evidence that there seem to be some was the prevalence of ends with scores of 3 and 4) last night, but it seems the City of Moncton threw resources at the supposed non-problem, possibly a very good stimulus infrastructure project. There was only one end with a score of 3 or more this morning in four matches. So maybe something had to be done. But I guess we'll see. It is a difficult time of year - days in Eastern Canada can alternate between late spring temperatures and winter temperatures, as they have here, and even an air-conditioned arena is likely to be affected by that.

End #2: This is a lot more open. The blather is suggesting that this is because the Czech skip wants to give his team the chance to make some shots in less complicated circumstances. Sadly one of those relatively easy shots is missed, and Canada now get a chance to lie two. One Canada rock cleared, the Czech shooter leaving the rings. Canada again lying two, not much opportunity for a double. Same result on the next Czech shot. Rinse, lather, repeat. Martin's last rock rolls close to the other Canada rock - Czechs take the one they are more or less forced to take.

End #3: Canada seem to have filled the house with rocks while I was setting up the breadmaker. They are counting four with the hammer and rocks are running out. First Czech skip rock gets a roll, but is open, with a small likelihood of a possible jam. Martin peels, so Canada lie three - the peel call avoided any possible jam and further complication. Czech skip rock goes through the house, leaving Martin a draw for four. To the button. 6-1 Canada. My attention may now wander a bit.

End #4: Nice last skip shot from the Czechs to get two with a hit and roll. 6-3 Canada. Meanwhile the Canadian team is thinking about swapping around their rocks as they find them behaving quite differently from one another and would like better individual matching.

End #5: First Czech skip rock wrecks on a guard and leaves Martin with some good chance of getting two. Martin leaves a double open. Czechs remove one, but not the second and the shooter rolls outside the remaining Canadian rock so Martin has a draw for two. Into the four foot for two! 8-3 Canada.

Unless something dramatic happens (and I do not include the Czechs conceding) I likely won't update this.

Blathering

Ms. Eclectic and I agree: there is far too much blathering on TSN during the telecasts of the 2009 Ford World Curling Championship. Too much talking about inanities, too much talking just to fill air time and dead air space, and too much talking over the players whose discussions would greatly illuminate the contemplated strategies.

Wouldn't it be nice if they'd just shut up more, especially when they are blathering?

2009 Ford Worlds, Draw #5: Canada vs. ChinaEnds 6 - 8

Ms. Eclectic asserts that no matter how poorly most skips are curling, the curling is still substantially better than that at the women's worlds.

End #6: Canada is without the hammer and has a mess of rocks in the centre of the rings, while China has a corner guard and a tap-back, which Canada removes. It just looks as if China can make okay shots that would be good at the club level, but not good enough when playing against Martin's rink.

Once again Scotland scores four, and the commenters say it's not the ice, it's the mistakes.

Canada has four in the house, China has one corner guard and the hammer and is clearly struggling. I wonder how long this will go on. Canada still has four in the rings and China still has only a corner guard after missing a bunch of hit-and-rolls. Liu hits and sticks, but Canada is shot to steal one.
Canada 8, China 2

End #7: Meek comes in for Ben Hebert. And the end starts the same as the last one did.

Alan thinks it must be something more than just mistakes leading to three 4-enders and four 3-enders. I cannot figure what else it might be. Any ideas?

As the end unfolds, the guards are gone, and each team has only one rock in the rings and no guards. This is a more defensive style of play for Canada. China puts up another guard. Morris removes a bunch of stones but leaves one Chinese rock in the house. Wang puts up a mediocre guard rather than splitting the rings. An odd decision. Morris comes around the guard and takes out the CH rock, rolling into the open. Wang draws around the guard, but Martin goes off his own to remove the CH rock and lie one in the open. Liu makes a near-perfect draw around the guard to the top of the button. Martin tapped it but not enough, leaving Liu with a draw for two.
Canada 8, China 4 so I guess they can't really shake hands at this point.

End #8: As the 8th end develops, Canada has a rock on the button, China has one in the top 8 and a centre-line guard. Canada removes the centre-line guard. Guard, peel. Guard, peel. I don't understand this strategy, since it almost guarantees Canada a deuce. Finally Liu goes into the rings and taps Canada's rock off the button (but still lying shot). Martin peels the guard, allowing Liu an opportunity to tap (I don't understand Martin's strategy either). The tap ends up on the button, frozen to a Cdn rock, but Martin has a clear shot at a double, but he knocked his own rock out the back, and scored only one. Nevertheless, China shakes hands.

Final Score: Canada 9, China 4

2009 Ford Worlds, Draw #5: Canada vs. China 4th and 5th Ends

We might have a bit of a struggle soon. Tonight is also the opening game for major league baseball, which Ms. Eclectic and I would also like to watch.

Fashion comment: I really like those Team China curling jackets. Love those bright colours!!

End #4: Canada starts, as usual, having Hebert (lead) put rocks on the centre line in the rings just short of the t-line. Zang (CH lead) put up a corner guard, but drifted into the rings with his 2nd stone. Kennedy (2nd) tried to hit and roll, but left his shooter exposed. Xu doubled off the two Cdn stones on the centre line. A series of nose hits down the middle in the rings, with both teams trying to hit and roll but remaining exposed. Morris tried a hit and roll, but rolled out. So Wang drew around a corner guard to lie one, but it was a bit deep. Martin tapped it back to lie two, which will likely force China to draw or tap for one. Liu taps Martin's rock back to lie one. Then Martin taps/freezes Liu's rock to lie one. Liu draws for the single.
Canada 4, China 2

End #5: it looks as if China set up two center-line guards, but the commentators tell us that one was a big mistake: it was supposed to be a come-around freeze that came up short. Meanwhile Canada has two rocks in the centre behind what are now three Chinese rocks on the centre line serving as guards. Kennedy's first shot hung out a bit, but Xu couldn't quite tap it the right way, so Kennedy came down with a beautiful tap out, leaving Canada lying 4.

Wang tried to freeze but was waaayyyy light, so now China has 4 rocks serving as guards on the centre line, and China has four rocks in the middle of the rings. What a strange picture!
Morris put up a long guard on the centre line to keep China from raising any of their guards (in my view, doing that would be hard anyway). Wang tried a tricky shot that would have required maxi-weight, but ended up weakly removing one guard. Morris puts up another guard. Wang threw a tight take-out to double out two of Canada's rocks -- beautiful shot, given the circumstances. Martin hits and rolls to lie three. So Liu again has to make a magical shot. He was really, really close, but took out only one of Canada's stones. Pretty much an open draw for three.

A question in the comments about the high scoring on some of the sheets. The TSN commenters say it is NOT the ice. Rather it looks as if the houses are often full of rocks and then the skips are missing some key shots. Take a look at the CurlCast shooting percentages, and you can see that some of the skips are really struggling.

Canada 7, China 2 at the halfway break. Time for some dessert!

2009 Ford Worlds, Draw #5: Canada vs. China Early Ends

WHAT? Martin lost the "draw to the button" and so China starts with the hammer.

Note: for those of you following this, I will update several times during each end.

End #1: Canada starts with many rocks in the centre, but Xu made a nice run-back to remove and move a bunch of them. Then Xu (China's second) rubbed off a guard to sit on the button behind a Cdn centre-guard. Morris (Cdn vice) made a beautiful gentle tap-back on the shot. Wang (Ch vice, actually he's the skip, but he's throwing third stones) tried to copy the shot, but came up light. Canada guarded the package, and so Wang removed and moved some of the centre guard rocks.

Martin put up a long centre guard with his first stone. Liu wrecked. Martin tried a hit-and-roll but missed, leaving a double attempt for Liu (the CH skip for this draw), but he nosed one Canada stone, leaving the other for a steal of one.

Canada 1, China 0 after one end

End #2: Well, of course. TSN not only misses the first few shots, but also seems not to realize that some of what they see on the monitors isn't showing up on our tvs.

The initial Cdn guards are off-centre a bit, and one of the shots came into the rings too far, setting up a series of freezes and taps, mostly behind the t-line. Morris's first rock coasts just a bit deep, freezing to the agglomeration behind the t-line when they wanted it to be in the top 4. As a result, Wang can sit on top of it and be on the pin. There is about a 2" gap between it and the Cdn second shot. Morris followed it down and tapped it a bit. China still has shot, but the way this end is shaping up, they'll be lucky to get more than one. Wang tapped Morris's rock, and now the Cdn rock is shot with a whole truckload of Cdn rocks near the button and skips rocks to come. The TSN commentators have pointed out that every single rock is still in play!

Martin's guard attempt over-curled, so Liu had a run-back attempt to sit two; it was close, but his rock overcurled, too, leaving Canada sitting one. Martin puts up another guard, and China is left with only tough alternatives. Liu made an impressive long run-back of a yellow (Cdn) stone and scored one.
Canada 1, China 1 after two ends

End #3: Canada has the hammer, and the play is in the rings for the most part, with a Chinese centre guard and Canadian corner guard. The ice looks a bit frosty, but it's hard to tell for sure on lo-res television. But after a couple of ends, it looks as if the teams have the ice fairly well scoped. Canada has shot rock and another on the side for 2nd or 3rd shot. China keeps trying to hit and roll but is always exposed. Morris tried a tap-back or maybe a freeze, but came up about 4' light. China tapped it back, but Canada is still shot and might even have 2nd shot. This time Morris is asked to draw around the guards to the top 4', but he freezes back to the Chinese rock in the back 4'.

Liu made a pretty fancy hit and roll, but Canada is still shot (barely). Martin made a very narrow tapback with his first stone to lie three. China freezes onto their own rock in the back of the 4', and it is hard to tell whether Martin has a draw for two or maybe a gentle, very gentle tap, for three. His draw rubbed just a bit on a guard, but still got in to count. Now to measure to see whether Canada scored 2 or 3. Wow! Even with the measurement, it was close, but Canada scores three.
Canada 4, China 1 after 3 ends.

Draw Five is at 6:30 pm EDT on TSN2

Canada plays China in draw #5 this evening. The game will be shown live at 6:30pm EDT on TSN2 and reshown on tape delay later on TSN.

Update: Alan tells us in the comments that Rogers cable will not be carrying TSN2 in some?/many?/all? of its regions. For those of you who would like more detail than you can infer from the CurlCast details,

1. You might be able to watch it on TSN.ca (I can't tell from their website, but it doesn't look as if they will be carrying it live).
   
2. You might be able to watch it on Curltv.com (It looks as if they are perhaps showing USA vs. Switzerland)
   
3. I might be all that's left! So I will try to provide more detail on an an end-by-end basis.
   

2009 Ford Worlds, Draw #4

There were two games this morning, involving only four teams, not including Canada, so we didn't see it. One highlight, though, must have been the 6-ender scored by Scotland against the USA!

In draw four, Canada takes on France. Through the first three ends, it was clear (judging especially by the media comments) that the curlers were still struggling with reading the ice. The arena is still very warm, and that has played havoc with the quality of the ice.

France took one in the first end. Canada replied taking two in the second. France blanked the third end, when Martin's hit-and-roll was exposed. But then France flashed on a draw for one in the fourth, and Canada stole two to lead 4-1 after 4. Linda Moore says to watch for Canada to try to keep the rings clean, especially empty of yellow (French) stones for the rest of the game. But in the fifth end, Martin seemed pretty aggressive and piled even more pressure onto France. Dufour (French skip) came up light with his first draw attempt and was just as light with his second draw attempt, yielding a steal of three more for Canada.

Halfway through, Canada leads France 7 - 1. Dufour is curling only 43% (which is less than 47%!)

France takes only one in the 6th and shakes hands. All of team Canada looked very impressive in this game. They figured out the patchiness of the ice, they read and anticipated the effects of the frost, and they made most of their shots.

And France is not necessarily a push-over team. After all, this loss just dropped them to a record of 1-1. And in the end, Dufour curled 48% (topping my 47%!).

2009 Ford Worlds, Draw #1 #2(Canada's first appearance, but the second draw of the tournament)

Holy Macaroni! That's quite a mess they have there in Moncton with the ice! Temperatures very high inside the building (what, no air conditioning to cool it down???) that required the ice maker to scrape, pebble, repeat and repeat.

When was the last time you saw so many shots from champions fall so far short of the rings?

After three ends, the curling percentages are (not surprisingly) low. The teams took turns forcing each other to take only one, but Japan is outcurling Canada 76% to only 67%.

Hey, RAY!!! Canada's opponent in this draw is Japan, not China. Time for him to retire?

Amazing. Two big misses from Japan's skip. First he missed the opportunity to score two in the fourth end; and then most seriously, he wrecked with his last rock in the fifth, allowing Canada to score 3.

Halfway through, and Canada leads 5 - 2.

In the sixth, Japan missed a roll-out and took one. But then Canada took one in the 7th. With three ends to go, Canada leads Japan 6 - 3, and Japan has the hammer.

More ones: Japan took one in the 8th and Canada took one in the 9th. So Canada leads 7-4 without the hammer coming home. And Canada runs Japan out of rocks to win 7-4. It wasn't just the big miss that allowed Canada to score three; it was several others, as well, that made match so much easier for Canada.

47%

Tonight was my last time curling this season. I tried to assess my shots objectively (yeah, sure; as if...) as I might expect an official from a major tournament to score them. I estimated that of the 16 shots I made over the eight ends, I would have been awarded 30 points out of a maximum possible 64 points, for 47%.

It will be nice to watch people over the next week who curl so much better than that!

The TSN Schedule for Telecasts from the 2009 Ford Worlds in Moncton

Here it is:

Apr. 4, 2009 7:30 PM (6:30 PM ET) --- Canada vs Japan
Apr. 5, 2009 1:00 PM (12:00 PM ET) --- Canada vs France
Apr. 5, 2009 7:30 PM (6:30 PM ET) --- Canada vs China
Apr. 6, 2009 3:00 PM (2:00 PM ET) --- Canada vs Czech Republic
Apr. 6, 2009 7:30 PM (6:30 PM ET) --- Canada vs Germany
Apr. 7, 2009 10:00 AM (9:00 AM ET) --- Canada vs Switzerland
Apr. 7, 2009 7:30 PM (6:30 PM ET) --- Canada vs Norway
Apr. 8, 2009 10:00 AM (9:00 AM ET) --- Canada vs Finland
Apr. 8, 2009 3:30 PM (2:30 PM ET) --- Canada vs USA (Tape Delayed)
Apr. 9, 2009 10:00 AM (9:00 AM ET) --- Canada vs Denmark
Apr. 9, 2009 8:30 PM (7:30 PM ET) --- Can. vs Scotlnd (Tape Delayed)
Apr. 10, 2009 8:30 PM (7:30 PM ET) --- Page Playoff (Tape Delayed)
Apr. 11, 2009 10:00 AM (9:00 AM ET) --- Page Playoff
Apr. 11, 2009 4:00 PM (3:00 PM ET) --- Semi-Final Game
Apr. 12, 2009 7:30 PM (6:30 PM ET) --- Gold-medal Game

The schedule above is from the official website for the event.

Of course, it would be nice if TSN were to broadcast ALL the draws, but I understand from a business perspective why they might choose not to show draws in which Canada is not participating.

More seriously, though, I am perplexed and dismayed to see at least three of the draws (including a page playoff!) will be "Tape Delayed". TSN has two different networks. Surely they could show the draws live on at least one of them.

Curling, Taxes, and Necessities

Ironman, who blogs at Political Calculations, sent me this link. In it, there is a brief discussion of using a NY state income tax increase to help support the Utica Curling Club.

This tax increase would be less annoying if it were truly necessary to produce a balanced budget. However, as the New York Times noted in a news analysis piece yesterday, the budget's 8.7% spending increase "could hardly be called austere." ...

If the state has money to spend on the Utica Curling Club ("Where Central New York plays the hottest sport on ice"), the Haverstraw Brick Museum ("a museum dedicated to the history of brickmaking & bricks"), and the Montauk Boatman's and Captain's Association (a trade association for charter deep sea fishing boats catering to the Hamptons set), can legislators truly say this tax increase is 'necessary'?

Qualifying for the 2009 Men's World Curling Championship

As I looked over the list of teams that will be contesting the championship, I realized that Australia will not be there. That made me wonder about how the teams are determined. And here is a good answer:

Canada qualified by virtue of having the best finish of the Americas in last years Worlds. North America, who have two spots in the Championship, have always had teams from only Canada and the USA, so a playoff was not necessary. In 2009 for the first time, Brazil has challenged for one of the 2 spots and as a result a playoff was held between USA and Brazil in January and USA won.

The South Pacific recently held their qualifying tournament, where 6 countries, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, China, Japan and Chinese Taipei competed for 2 qualifying spots. China was the big winner for the second year in a row at Pacific Curling Championships in New Zealand. China captured the gold by defeating Japan 8 – 5 in the final, with Japan qualifying as the 2nd place finisher.

This will be China's 2nd trip to the Worlds, their first-ever being last spring where they finished a strong fourth at the Worlds in Grand Forks, North Dakota. They are ranked 10th in the Olympic chase and their latest effort, teamed with a solid performance in Moncton, might qualify them for Vancouver 2010.

This will be Japan's 4th trip to the World Championship, previously playing in 2000, 2002 and 2006.

The 3rd qualifying event was held in Europe in December, where 8 countries qualified from a possible 35 participating countries.

So, Europe gets to send 8 teams and the South Pacific gets to send only two? What do you figure the odds are that there will have to be some realignment in the future, based on the performance of teams from each region?

China Wins the 2009 Women's World Curling Championship

I saw only the first two ends before drifting off to sleep. What I saw was a pretty good indication of the outcome (China defeated Sweden 8-6). The Chinese team looked very good, and the Swedish team looked less good. I see that by the end of the game, the curling percentages were the same for the two teams, but I wouldn't have expected that from what I saw in the first two ends.

Meanwhile, Canada lost the bronze medal game to Denmark. The teams seemed to be fairly even, forcing each other to take only one point in each end. But then Denmark scored a big three, and Canada couldn't recover from that.