Palmetto Curling Club

History making in South Carolina:  http://www.foxcarolina.com/video/23506604/index.html

Fw: Palmetto Curling Club - "Curling Experience on Ice” - Saturday, April 24 - Greenville Recreation Pavilion

----- Original Message -----
From: Palmetto Curling <palmettocurling@gmail.com>
To: Palmetto Curling <palmettocurling@gmail.com>
Sent: Wed Apr 14 21:41:20 2010
Subject: Palmetto Curling Club - "Curling Experience on Ice" - Saturday, April 24 - Greenville Recreation Pavilion

All:

There was such an enthusiastic response to the Palmetto Curling Club gathering on April 3rd at Rick Erwin's! Over 100 people attended despite the fact that it was Easter weekend!



We are now excited to announce the first Palmetto Curling Club "Curling Experience on Ice" on Saturday, April 24.  Please join us at our future home, the Greenville County Pavilion Recreation Complex located at 400 Scottswood Rd, Taylors, SC 29687 (www.greenvillerec.com <http://www.greenvillerec.com/> ). We will begin the registration at 4:30 PM, followed by safety instruction; stretching; an on-ice "taste of curling" and ending in the warm room for a follow-up on the future of the Palmetto Curling Club. We plan on ending at 7:30 PM.



We ask that you bring a pair of clean-soled, comfortable sneakers (or tennis shoes as we call them down South!) and wear layered, warm, and especially loose clothing. Note: jeans will restrict your ability to stretch as needed.



We will provide all equipment needed, but, if you happen to have a curling broom, please bring. We can always use extras.  We will provide refreshments and pizza in the warm room.



This invite is restricted to a select distribution list who have already signed up as interested in the Club.  We encourage you "VIPs" to invite your interested guests to come with you! This event will be free but donations will be accepted to help defray costs.



We will be having a second event with the same format on May 15th, but we hope to open that session to the public, so we would prefer you attend this first event for your best chance of ice time.



So we can plan properly, preregistration is REQUIRED!  You must do this by emailing palmettocurling@gmail.com <mailto:palmettocurling@gmail.com>  with all names of those attending in your group.  The deadline for preregistration is Thursday, April 22, 2010.



See you on the ice!



Regards,

Beau Welling

Davis Harrelson

Susan Sorrell

Anne Wiggins

A Valiant Effort

Well, we didn't get the help we needed in the last end. We played it well, but the Swedes made a good peel, and, even though the Swedish skip missed her first stone, we were sitting with no cover and she came through for the victory.

I can't tell you how proud I am of these women. They faced some adversity, overcame it, and scrapped their way through to the tiebraker.

They represented the USCA and the USA very well - both on and off the ice.

It is certainly sad for it to be over, but I feel very honored to have been a small part of a very special week.

Now it is time to party.

BW

We need some help

Sweden made a nice to keep us from picking up three in the 9th. So, it's 10-8, but we don't have hammer coming home.   We need some help.

I hate the 6th end

Breaking News

Sweden misses open hit in the fifth. US steals 2. It is tied after 5!

Game on.

Tiebreaker Update

Sweden scored 3 in the third. Unfortunately, we didn't get four in the fourth.

We were forced to take 1. It's 5-3 headed into the fifth.

Tiebreaker Update

Two to two after two.

Aplogies for the Silence - BIG GAME Today

Sorry for the silence....no, Swift Current did not get swallowed up by a giant hole in the prairie.  We have been busy scrapping and fighting....but we are alive and kicking!

After the Swiss win took us to 6-2, we faced Scotland, and it didn't go as we would've hoped.  We got behind early, and then the Scottish ladies put on one of the better hitting displays I have ever seen in women's curling. We literally could not keep a rock in play ....we would hit and roll behind something but then it would just be double peel (again and again and again).  Kelly Wood and Eve Muirhead were pretty impressive.  Stats had to be high.  They had impressed me drinking beer at Cub Bud in the Olympics....but this was even better.  

That loss dropped us to 6-3 and set up a dramatic last day of the round robin as we faced Sweden and China.
The math was pretty simple - win out and we were in the playoffs.  But it was also such that if Germany, China, or Sweden won out then they were in.  So the net of all of that meant that if we lost to Sweden in the morning then we needed to beat China and hope for a Swedish loss vs. China or a German loss vs. Latvia or Switzerland, the two bottom dwellers.

Well, we lost to Sweden. The 22 year old Swedes showed up with their A-game; we missed a couple of shots and the next thing I knew it was over.    

My attention shifted focus to the shockingly tight Germany-Latvia game. It was tied 2-2 in the tenth;  Germany had hammer but the Latvians got a rock buried pretty good with backing, behind the center guard.  It looked like I might be standing up and singing Sweet Home Alabama for the Latvian gals as well as inviting them to the US team dinner we were going to be having later that evening.....but unfortunatly, my high hopes were vanquished when the Latvian skip's first stone just ticked the guard, giving the Germans a path to victory.

So, it was on to China knowing that our destiny was in someone else's hands.  But we still had to beat China.

After a quick Subway feeding, the gals came out on fire, and when Betty Wang came up short on a last rock against three in the second end, we took control of the game.  We played well through out the game - probably our best of the round robin - and ultimately defeated Wang and Company 9-5.

So, we finished the round robin 7-4, which I think we would've taken Day 1 as that should've been enough to qualify for the playoffs.  But it wasn't, and our fate would be decided later that night. If China didn't beat Sweden or the Swiss beat the Germans, we would be out.

While we waited to see whether we had more curling ahead of us, I took the gals and their families out to dinner at the nicest place in town:  The K Motel.   Yeah, you read that correctly......The K Motel.

So, just so you get the right picture:  visualize all 17 Americans currently in Swift Current eating steaks at a place called the K Motel and pulled loudly for Red China.

Well, more power to the K Motel....Ms. Betty Wang came through, having the Swedes shaking hands after 8!

We were alive!

Gals went back the arena for some practice and now here we are playing Sweden in the tiebreaker.

I am feeling good!  We even have Jeff Bishop in a do-rag!

Go USA!

Big Day Shaping Up

Team Brown came from behind with a huge 9th end to outlast the Swiss. The US came out pretty flat giving up 3 in the first two ends. They steadied the ship though with a series of deuces before taking the lead for good with 3 in the 9th. Able to hit their way through the 10th to secure the vicorty, Brown and Company moved to 6-2 still in soile third place.

For the Team Leader, the tenth end was easier to handle than the previous tenths but the first 9 weren't easy.  The pressure is building in the I-plex as the contest is coming down to the wire.

In the afternoon draw, Scotland outlasted Switzerland while Sweden won in extra ends over the Danes; the big shocker was Germany gave Canada its first loss....also in an extra end. 

So math of the situation is that Canada and Scotland have one loss; the US two; Germany and Sweden three; and China and Russia four.   We play Scotland tonight, then Sweden and China tomorrow. We are in good shape but we need to keep on winning! 

Games will be tough but I think the gals are starting to gel now.

USA!

Team USA in Third

After 7 games, the US Women are in good shape at third position in the standings. Last night, they lost to Canada in a hard fought contest to drop to 5-2.

The ladies did not have their best game by any means while the Canadians played near perfectly, curling well over 90 percent; yet Brown and Company was in the game to the very end. Erika had some incredible shots to keep it close, but we ran out of rocks in the tenth to fall 6-4. All in all, though, I think it bodes very well for Team USA over the next few days.

Currently, we are knotted up at 4 all with the Swiss after the fifth end break. We started out a little sluggish giving up 3 points in the first two ends; since then we have been in control.  We need this win in a big way as the schedule only gets tougher with Scotland, Sweden and China remaining.

Let's go USA!

Here We Go - Bring 'Em On

We had a huge win over the pesky Danes today. After a near perfect Danish freeze inthe 10th, Erika Brown threw another monster last rock that knocked the Danish stone and ours out while the shooter spilled threw two counting US stones to give us the come from behind victory.

I didn't think it coiuld get more nerve-racking than yesterday.....I was wrong. It took me an hour for my pulse to return to normal.

Tonight we have the hometown folks. The place is packed as undefeated Canada and the upstart one-loss team from the USA lock horns in battle.

Bring 'em on!!

USA!

Team USA Wins Again/Team Leader Nearly Has Heart Attack

Team USA prevailed in a back and forth nerve-testing game over the Norwegians. After giving up a deuce in the first, Brown and Company battled back to tie it up in the third. After a steal of two in the 8th, Team USA seemed in control.....that, however, proved to be a very fleeting moment as the Norwegians came roaring back to score three in the 9th to tie it up.

The tenth end was a real nerve tester with lots of rocks in play. Ultimately, Erika needed to draw the inner four foot around some debris for the win on her last rock. It was slightly long of perfect - adding to the drama - but a winner. "Close" may count in horsehoes and grenades, but with the hammer it is just "Closer."

My heart rate is still in the high 100s.

I'm not sure I'm healthy enough for this.


We are off the next two draws - take on Denmark tomorrow afternoon.

Way to go ladies!  4-1....whoop-whoop!

World War II - Part Whatever

Team Brown faced their second Axis Power this morning and escaped with a hard fought victory. After taking a 6-2 lead into the break, Erika and the gals gave up four in the sixth to the Germans to make the contest a little intersting.

All the other sheets had finished play so I guess Team USA wanted to give the brave Monday morning fans a show....well, a show they got.

After taking one in the seventh, a huge steal in the 8th put the US seemingly in control of the game. However, Schoepp was able to get the duece in the 9th to tie it up.

With lots of Rocks in play early, Anne Swiishelm threw a monster triple to change the game to the US' favor. Erika came through with a great last rock and the US ended up winning with the misleading score of 12-8.

Up next - the ladies of Norway, who apparently have their crazy polka dot pants at the laundry.

USA!

I knew it was a bad omen....

Here at the Women's Worlds, one country is honored before every draw.  The honeree team stands at center ice, they are announced and then their country's national anthem is played for the standing crowd. 

Yesterday, the honeree of Draw 4 was Latvia.  Latvia is competing in its first international competition for curling outside of Europe. 

After the Latvian team was announced, the announcer asked everyone to rise for the Latvian national anthem.....there was a little delay in queueing the music, but when it finally started, what do you think came out? 

How about "Sweet Home Alabama!?!"

The Latvian gals giggled letting me know that the Lynyrd Skynard southern rock classic was in fact NOT the Latvian National anthem.

While the crowd laughed and the announcer embarassingly looked around for guidance as what to do, a bad, bad feeling started creeping up my spine...... Yeah.....we  were facing Latvia in Draw 4.

I don't know if you find it as bizarre as me: but what are the chances of a South Carolina boy leading a US Women's Curling team in the World Championships in the absolute middle of nowhereville Saskatchewan, facing a team from a former Soviet Republic who has never competed in international curling competition, who comes out to be honored and instead of playing their national anthem a song is played that if the South were to rise again this song would be a serious contender for the national anthem of the New Confederate States of America?

You can't make this stuff up.

Yes....Latvia won.....their first win in world competition...ever.


Luckily, the gals have shaken it off.  They are still in good shape....tied for second, one game behind Canada.

We are back in the European theater again this morning.  We face Germany on sheet D in about 15 minutes.  This is the same sheet where we took care of their Japanese allies in Draw 2.  

Go USA!

Team USA on Top

After 2 draws at the Women's World Championships, the US finds itself atop the standings with as the only team at 2-0.  

After a close battle in the Cold War II, the US took it to the Japanese early and often.....and World War II part duex proved to be a no contest as the Japanese conceded after 7 with the score at 10-3.

Tomorrow the US only competes in the fourth draw at 130 against the new to international competition Latvian women.

Erika and the gals seem to be in great form and somehow, someway are managing in spite of their offical team leader....thank goodness for Grace!

Signing out from the windy prarie......

Cold War Won; Victory in the Pacific Part 2

Skip Erika Brown perfected a monster shot in the tenth to clench the Cold War victory over the pesky Russians.

Undefeated Team USA now faces the ladies from Japan, who defeated the Latvian women in the afternoon draw.  Latvia was competing for the first time outside of Europe but came up short on their last rock.

We are on sheet D tonight which is right where I am sitting - looking forward to watching some good curling up close and personal.

USA!

Draw 1 Set to Start

Team USA is finishing up practice as their first draw is about to commence. We take on Russia on Sheet B.

Let's win this Cold War.   USA!

Women's World Curling Championships - Swift Current

We are mere moments away from the Opening Ceremonies of the Women's Worlds in Swift Current, Saskatchewan.....yes, that Swift Current.

Grace and I are team leaders....why do I feel that we, USA Curling, and the entire province of Saskatchewan may never be the same?

Gold Medal Curling Games

Women started at 10; it is going down to the wire.  Men are at 3pm.

http://curling.teamusa.org/live.html

Back at Nationals

I am back in Kalamazoo at the US Curling Nationa Championships.

This afternoon Patti Lank defeated Amy Wright's gals from Duluth to advance to the finals against Erika Brown.  Grace and I are the team leaders for the Women so whether its Lank or Brown....I will ebd up with a new story. Patti curls with Jessica Schultz and Aileen Sormunen both curlers who have worn BWD on their uniforms in the past; Erika Brown was apart of the Women's Olympic team in 1988 (she was 14 at the time) that first drew me in to the sport in the first place. So whoever wins, I will be super excited!

Tonight the mens's semis are happening. Its Farbelow vs. Stevens.  Winner takes on 2006 Olympian Pete Fenson tomorrow for the right to go to Cortina for World's.  No matter what, it will be a Minnesotan.

The picture is competitor Richard Maskel who was barely eliminated from the playoffs. He tells me though that he is now number 2 on the list of all time wins at Nationals.

It's "Go Curling Day" in Michigan

The US Curling National Championships have begun in Kalamazoo, MI at Wings Stadium.

It is another great week for curling - 10 men's teams and 10 women's teams will vie for the right to represent the United States at the upcoming Men's and Women's World Championships.

Follow online!

Here are some pictures from the Opening Ceremonies.

The South Carolina Curling Club up to over 300

The South Carolina Curling Club on Facebook is up to over 300 fans.  If you are interested in curling coming to South Carolina, please join:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Greenville-SC/South-Carolina-Curling-Club/351593970515?ref=ts

Donating to USA CURLING/US Nationals

Several folks have asked me "how can I donate to USA Curling?"  Well, here you go:  http://usacurl.mybisi.com/products/all-categories_0/?page1.

I am happy to be home watching the Closing Ceremony from my couch.

Next up:  US Nationals  http://www.wingsstadium.com/curlingnationals/index.php

Martin Mines Gold

I made it back to my house in Greenville just in time to see Kevin Martin take the gold! And the crowd explode.

Somehow that seems fitting....especially since its about 15 degrees colder here than in Vancouver.  About time I saw some curling in the cold! 
I am happy for our northern neighbors and Congrats to Martin.  He deserved it!

But wait til 2014!

Gold Medal Game Underway; Opening Ceremony Award Update

The gold medal game of Kevin Martin's Canada Rink vs. The Nowegian Funny Pants Wearers is underway.

I am on a plane in Atlanta trying to get back to the great state, but the crew in Minnesota is keeping up to date on the action:  Martin blanks the first.

For those that don't know, Martin lost the gold to the Norwegians in 2002 at the Salt Lake games, albeit a different Norwegian skip whose rink had decidedly more conservative pants.....he lost it on a missed last stone....so I am sure he is gunning for payback.

Should be fun to watch - he's basically.....awesome.

Oh, the Opening Ceremony Award Update:  I am pulling very close in the standings to the Belarussian for the Smelliest Person on the Planet Award......it's time to do laundry.

Leaving the YVR

So I have decided to cut my trip home a day or so short. I have had an absolute blast here - so many good memories.   Having said that, I feel like I have been in Vancouver for a significant portion of my late 30s.  

This is not the end of curling for me....well maybe for February. March heats up with the US Nationals next weekend in Kalamazoo, followed by my and Grace's duties later in March as Team Leaders for the US Women at the World Championships in Swift Current, Saskatchewan......yes, that Swift Current.......I am indeed going to attempt to be the first South Carolinian to travel to so-called "Speedy Creek" ....and return.  (Apparently 3 Georgians did make it in 70s so Grace will have to settle for being number 4.)

I have had great company on this trip and would like to thank lots of people for great memories (in no particular order):

Dave Ogrean - USA Hockey
Jeff Turnham - Triangle Curling Club
Sandra - Smokey Mountain Curling Club
Chris Dawes - Vancouver Curling Club
Crystal Muller - London, Ontario
Dick Zokol - PGA Tour
Patrick Sanduskey - USOC
Jen Kim - NY, NY
Vernon Davis and Lisa Goodwin - SF 49ers
Sasha Taylor - San Jose, CA
Team USA - Curling and families - MN and WI
Rick Patzke and Terry Kolesar - USCA
Bob Weeks - Toronto
Leland and Margaret Rich - Fairbanks, Alaska
Kellie Krake - NBC
Dan Field - Chicago
Carl Lewis - New Jersey
Dick Fosbury - Ketchum, Idaho
Greg Stremlaw - CCA
all the World Curling folks - Joanna and Kate from Scotland , Graham and Sandy from Canada, Didi from Germany, and many more
Kelli Obrian - MN
Angela, the CIA lady - parts unknown
Matt Van Houten - USA Handball
Gerry Guerts - London, Ontario

I'm sure there are others, but it's just past 5am and I have had about an hour sleep. I have cleared customs and am waiting on the first of like 14 flights to get home.

The pic shows some of the poor saps that are like me - stuck in early morning airport existential bliss.

Thank you Vancouver - thank you friends and family and other people that have gotten stuck reading this.

Talk to you soon....until then "Good Curling."

Canada Wins Short Track Relay Race

The entire bar I'm in just exploded as Canada won the gold in short track. Everyone in the place is on their feet yelling, except for me and the four other Americans I'm with.
Now, the Canadians are chanting in unison: "free beer, free beer, free beer,..."  We have decided to join them.  

My USCA Friends

Dan, Kellie, Rick and Terry are certainly blogworthy.....they've had to put up with me all week! 

Thanks, y'all, for taking an Olympic Rookie under your wings!  And for listening to my hourly reports about the latest membership count of the South Carolina Curling Club.

Q and A - Delivery

Q: New York - "Why do shooters hold on to their brooms while shooting a rock? Is it required by the rules for some reason? Is it a balance thing? Or is it just aesthetic, since it does look kinda cool?"

A: When a player throws a stone, he or she oftentimes holds a broom in the non-throwing hand and presses it against the ice for balance and stability. The more stable and consistent the slide, the more accurate  the throw.

A standard broom is not required by the rules, and, in fact, many players design their own "crutches" to use instead. 

Sverige!

Sweden takes golf as Bernard misses the double with the hammer.

The crowd is stunned. People are literally standing, not knowing what to do. Canadian Deer in Headlights. 

Going to an Extra End for the Gold

The photos show the last rocks of the 10th. After Bernards hit for the win jammed, the Canadian a few down from me claimed "I thought I was having heart attack for second."

Canada has hammer....so heart attacks will most likely be avoided....but you never know....this is curling.

Glad I'm not sitting behind the dude with the flag

The Final Showdown

We are moments away from the first rocks of the gold medal game - Sweden vs. Curling.

The stands are filling rapidly - lots of flags, posters, noise maker, and maple leaves of course.

I am sitting right in the heart of the stands - just left of the far end hog line, 10 rows up.  I wanted to get a better feel of what this controversial, rowdy crowd is all about......plus, my credential doesn't work today.

In event, here is one of my fellow Row 10 seatmates. His name is Dan. He is for Canada.

My Last Day in Vancouver

It's raining....back to "normal" Vancouver weather, and I am sitting in the hotel bar that I have seen a lot of....at night.  It's funny how it seems a little different with light.

Women's gold medal game is at 3pm pacific - I will be heading over shortly. Looking forward to it but also ready to go home......I think I have been here for 3.7 years.

China beat Switzerland for the Bronze 12-6.  I think the gold medal match will be closer - wouldn't be surprised if it goes down to the last rock.  I think I will be pulling for Bernard but I gotta a feeling that Norberg is going to disappoint the certainly-screaming-home-town-fans.


Should be fun!

 

Men's Gold Medal Match Set

To the delight of the hometown crowd, Kevin Martin's Canada Rink advanced to the gold medal game with a relatively easy victory over Sweden. The Swedes looked to be in it initially, but Edin missed a shot for three in the 3rd and then when he gave up 2 a couple of ends later it was  over.

After cheering Martin's exit from the ice, the Canadian crowd started chanting "Norway Pants" as they rooted their next opponent's victory over the Swiss.

Canada in 2 golf medal games = Chaos at the Vancouver Olympic Center.

 

Women's Gold Medal Game Set

It will be Canada's Bernard vs. Sweden's Norberg.

The Locals are happy.

Bronze Game will be China vs. Switzerland.

Donald Sutherland Makes an Appearance

Apollo cools off after he smoked some cats

Short Track Camera Men Wear Camo!

Thanks Jeff from Raleigh for pointing that out!

Short Track Warm Ups

Tonight's Activity

My new curling friend's from TN and NC have hooked me up.

Looking forward to it.!

The Official Winter Olympic Sport of South Carolina?

http://www.palmettoscoop.com/2010/02/23/curling-to-become-official-sport-of-sc/

Another Tough Day

The Women lost both games today to finish just like the Men, 2-7 and in tenth place.

I really don't know what to say.  The teams just didn't seem like themselves all week. My heart goes out to them especially, but also to everyone involved with USA Curling as this was not the week that anyone wanted or  expected.

Hopefully, we can find the positives in this experience and learn from the week to be better and stronger as we look to win medals and grow the game in the United States.

It is a great, wonderful game and I am excited about the coverage and exposure we got this week:

- We had 1500 people show up for a "learn to curl" event in a Ballroom in a Hilton in Washington DC. (1500!  Not even on ice!)

- I heard stories of whole bars of people in Atlanta, GA watching curling.

- I did seven radio shows in non-traditional curling markets because they were interested in curling. Some of them even asked intelligent questions.

- More curling was shown on tv in the United States than in the history of television. Ever.

- Preliminary tv ratings were up significantly.

-  We have people serious about new clubs throughout the country, but, for me, some of the more notable places include NC, SC, GA, AL, FL and LA. (Including my hometown of Greenville, SC)


Curling's future is bright in the USA.


Good curling.

Southern Canada

I have now been in Southern Canada for 12 days. I can't remember the last time I was somewhere for 12 days.

I find myself  starting to say "y'all, eh."

Greenville SC Curling

Since being at the Olympics, we have received serious enquiries about new clubs throughout the South: NC, SC, GA, AL, FL and LA.

Looks like Greenville may be a possibility too.

When I get back I am going to try realluy hard to help these efforts descibed in the link.

If you are interested, please sign up. If you are in another town and interested in Curling let me know.

http://greenvillerec.com/parks/pavilion/curling

Tuesday Morning Draw

The women's team just concluded this morning's draw and, unfortunately, came up just short against the World Champion Chinese team. They played them really tight, but the Chinese were successful in blanking the 9th, thereby keeping hammer for the final end only needing to score one. 
I thought we had a chance after an unsuccessful Chinese stone mid-way through, but on the last stone the Wang Rink prevailed. 

So, the loss elimated Team USA from competition.  The gals have one more game tonight versus Switzerland and I fully expect them to go out like the Champions that they are.

The womens playoff field is now set: Canada, Sweden, China and Switzerland.

The men's 2pm draw will determine whether any tiebreakers will be necessary tomorrow to set that field.

Fun Afternoon

After this morning's draw, I headed into town and ended up at Nike's hospitality area. Shani Davis was in the house - it was certainly neat to see him, but I got an even bigger laugh out of thinking about all the people that kept thinking that Vernon Davis was Shani Davis (because of his jacket with "Davis" on the back).

Vernon is about 3.8 times the size of Shani.

After Nike, I met some new friends from down South. Sandra from the Smokey Mountain Curling Club in Knoxville and Jeff from the Triangle Curling Club outside of Raleigh. They are both pumped to be here - and it was great to be able share a beer with folks that love curling, appreciate college football, and understand what barbeque really is. I think I may go bonspieling with them in June.

Speaking of curling in the south, we have gotten serious enquiries/indications from possible new curling clubs in NC, SC, GA, AL, FL and LA this week.

The South is gonna rise again.

Who woulda thunk that it is gonna be with brooms, rocks and ice?

Q and A: Youth Curling

Q:  Memphis, TN - "How did most of the Olympic curlers get involved in curling? Did they start young? Is there competitive youth curling in parts of the U.S.?"

A:  Almost all the Olympic curlers started curling at a young age as all lived in towns with local curling clubs.  Many of them come from big curling families.  There is youth development curling in parts of the United States as well as competitive Junior Curling. In fact, current US Olympian Chris Plys is a former World Junior Champion where Coach Phil Drobnik also served as his coach.

Story from Weaverville, NC

This is a true story.

A good friend of mine, Jim "Famous James" Bannister  was a part of the South Carolina delegation that traveled to Denver last February for the Olympic Trials to investigate whether Curling should become the Official Winter Olympic Sport of South Carolina.  He gained a good working knowledge of the sport and has become quite a fan.

This past weekend Famous James was deep in the western NC mountains near Weaverville to go grouse hunting.  After a day on the prowl, he stopped in at a country liquor store in search of some much needed refreshment.....well, sure enough, there in the middle of nowhere, the local proprietors had curling on the television. It was a tight moment in the France vs US contest so Famous stopped for awhile to take in an end or two.

Well, the locals took notice of him standing and watching the television and before too long asked, "u kno' what thiz stuff is? U unnerstan it?"

Well, he certainly felt obliged and began his impromptu lecture with the basics.   As more and more customers came in, many would stop with bottles in hand to listen to the discussion.  After rocks,  scoring, and sweeping,  he began to discuss strategy, and while, he was greeted with a mix of understanding nods as well as some mouth-agaped stares,  there was no doubt he was creating some new fans - as bottles began to be opened as the lecture continued.

 As the game grew to its dramatic conclusion, the small crowd of mountaineers cheered on Team USA as they prevailed in their first win. As Famous thanked everyone and began to make his departure, one of the proprietors, a forty-something, mountain born and bred, platinum bleach blond, commented "thankee for splainin all that....I kin tell already this here's lik eatn biled p-nuts....atter ya eat one ya jes kaint stop!"


Curling is coming to the South. 

Physics Baby!

http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=ice-ice-baby-the-physics-of-curling-10-02-18

Thanks Katie B. From Charlotte for the heads up!

Hockey Payback

Canada took revenge on our Men's Curling team for the US win over Canada in hockey last night. Hockey and Curling are Canada's two bigggest sports and the whole nation was stunned last night with the victory by the Yanks.

In the curling, our guys hung in there early, probably playing as good they have all week.  After the break though, Canada was able to steal two ends when we missed a couple of high risk/high reward shots. Once Martin was up by three, he just put the death clamp on us by hitting most everything out.  Unfortunately, I believe that eliminates the men from the playoffs, though they do have one game remaining tonight vs. China.

Hopefully, they can close out with a victory and the Women can throw the Hail Mary tomorrow.

Every Canadian I see I talk smack about the Hockey.....like I even know what hockey is??

My favorite line is to wish them good luck in the elimination game they have to play tomorrow because they lost to us.

USA.

Q and A - Golf

Q:  Columbia, SC "Didn't Richard Zokol wear a walkman while playing?"

A:  Yes.  Hence he was known as "Disco Dick."

How Crazy is the Weather?

See photos....one is a famous golf hole seen worldwide in the spring; the other is an unknown park next to an Winter Olympic Curling Venue.

It is another glorious day in Vancouver.

I decide to go to the Winter Olympics and it snows in the Deep South, while its Canadian-shorts-wearing weather at the ice rink.

NB: Canadian-shorts-wearing weather is still no where near Beau-shorts-wearing weather.

Shuster Steals One in the First

The boys played the first end well and when Martin missed his hit for one, they were able to steal one!

U-S-A has broken out in the stands.

Today is the 30th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice.

Men's Day

The women have the day off today, while the US plays Canada this morning and China tonight.  I did some early morning mathematics and the good news is that we are not out of it!  The bad news is we need a lot of stuff to happen....switzerland or sweden need to lose two and germany and france each need to lose one......and of course we have to win two....including beating red-hot Kevin Martin this morning.

It is a tall order....buy hey it's curling!

Rally caps folks.

Last Draw of the Day

The final draw of the day is in its final hour. The picture shows Deb McCormick throwing her final rock of the 9th end, while Cheryl Bernard stalks the house in the 8th, looking at who is shot in her match against the Chinese. USA trails Sweden 6-3 while Bernard just tied it up in the 7th at 4.

Been another tough day for the USA. Hopefully the gals can work some end of the game magic again.

Carl Lewis in the House

I have become the resident expert to explain curling to our non-curler guests.

Disco Dick Zokol

Just has a great lunch with Richard Zokol, the Canadian PGA Tour player.

Women Started Slow Today

I was at a Today taping and had to watch the Ladies from the Richmond Curling Club. Unfortunately, they did not have their A-game this morning. After going up 1-0, Deb missed another draw and ended up giving Bernard, the Canadian, 4 early, and our gals were never able to recover.

I saw Allison and Nat last night - they seemed in good spirits. I hope they can help rally the team as tonights contest against now becomes "must-win."

Below is the USOC prees release, but first I do need to mention that I have had another "small world" occurence. The State Department attache we had at the taping this morning used to serve with a South Carolina colleague of mine in Sao Paulo, Brazil of all places.....even as a student of network science, this small world stuff it is getting kinda weird.


Up next - lunch with PGA Tour player Dick Zokol.


From the USOC:

Debbie McCormick and the American ladies drop to 2-4 in the round robin standings after a poor shooting performance by three-time Olympian McCormick that hampered the team in a 9-2 loss to undefeated Canada. McCormick shot just 58 percent today. She alluded to a potential line-up change that would have her throw vice skip stones for tonight's matchup against the defending champions from Sweden to keep the team's playoff hopes alive.

Big Day for the USA

We are on the ice 3 times today. Women have Canada this morning followed by Men vs Scotland, then Women have Sweden. All huge games.

I'm taking the boys to film a Today show segment right now, then gonna hustle back to the arena to watch the gals take care of business against the Canucks.

USA baby.

Q and A: Rocks

Q: from Alabama by way of Colorado - "do the mens' and womens' stones weigh the same amount? hope you're having a blast over there!"

A:  Yes , all stones weigh the same amount, 42 pounds. They also all come from the same place: Ailsa Craig, off the coast of Scotland.

Question for the questioner:  Do you know what ocean one from North America must cross to get to Scotland?

Huge Win!

Way to go Ladies!  Awesome awesome awesome. 

Huge win - stole the 10th and 11th. Doesn't happen a lot. Maybe our luck has changed.

Maybe I shouldn't let Vernon Davis leave!

The Duke hanging with the Guys

Beware: More Toliet Drinkers

Apparently, they're concerned about toilent drinking in the Village as well.  To avoid the language confusion, they have resorted to a pictorial warning.

Who knew toilet drinking was such a global epidemic?

Lunch at the Village

Vernon decided to have lunch with Men's Team after a good extra end victory over the Swede's.

The Village is cool - more to comment later.

8 billion people wait to get in Sochi World

Q and A

Q:  Ada, Oklahoma - "Why do the teams "blank" at the end (of an end)? Can't they just curl one onto the button and score a point? I assume we are missing something important....

A:  Teams "blank" an end so that they can keep the hammer in the following end. Generally speaking when you have hammer, you would like to score 2 or more points; if you don't have hammer, forcing your opponent to take one point is not a bad result.  

Fw: BREAKING NEWS: US Men Pick Up First Extra-End Win in Curling

USA defeated Sweden, 8-7, in men's curling at Vancouver Olympic Center in what was the fourth extra-end game for the Americans in six outings. This was the first in which USA, 2-4, came out on top, powered by the suddenly hot shooting of vice skip Jason Smith (Chisholm, Minn.). As with their first win of the tournament, Smith delivered the last stones of each end for USA. He was perfect on two draws in the extra end, the second to out-position Sweden for the winning point.



Today, skip John Shuster (Chisholm, Minn.) was back in the lineup and called the game while delivering the third set of stones. The U.S. men play Great Britain at 2 p.m. Sunday as the nine-game round robin continues in the chase for the four playoff spots.

US Men headed to Extra End for 4th Time

All four Swedes had to start sweeping just past the hog line, but they got their final draw into the 4-foot to score a point and send the US to its fourth extra end game.....with hammer again.

Let's go boys.
 

Who are the Canadians Worried About?

Everytime I need to relieve myself, I chuckle reading this sign.  Has the world really evolved to the point where we need to advise human beings not to drink from toilets?

Q and A

Q: Greenville, SC - "how does one get the hammer?"

A:  One team is awarded the hammer at the start of the game. After that, the hammer changes hands after a team scores. That is why you see teams sometimes purposely scoring zero ("blanking an end") so that they can keep the hammer in the next end.

Comment and Answer

Comment:  Minneapolis, MN - in reference to me seeing Shaun White.......  "You should have gotten a picture with him! And then taken it to wherever you get your hair cut and ask for that style, sans beard. :)"

A:  I didn't realize they taught comedy classes at Law school

Q and A

Q: Greenville, SC "so, can you play the game without the sweepers? Say, just two on two and just throw? Are ther variations recognized?"

A:  Sweepers are not required but certainly give a team an advantage as they help to control the trajectory of a thrown stone.   Recreationally, people play all kinds of variations of the game, including 2 on 2, no sweeping, etc.  Competitively, there is another version of the game: Mixed Doubles. In this variant, the game begins with one stone in play for each team,  and each male/female team throws 5 stones.  Mixed doubles contests tend to end up with many rocks in play and thus very exciting.  It doesn't take as long to play as a regualtion game, and in some ways is a "made for tv" version of curling. Don't be surprised if Mixed Doubles ends up being a medal event one day.

On a side note, I coached in the first ever Mixed Doubles US National Championship.  My team lost...clearly due to poor coaching.

Draw 13 is getting ready to go

Two big victories for Team USA yesterday and I successfully made it out of the club last night.....all and all a good day.

I could literally lay down on the ice and go to sleep right now.

Let's go USA.

Clubbin' n da YVR

Honary Captain

After cheering on Team USA to its first victory in round robin competition, Honorary Captain Vernon Davis got a little ice instruction from Coach Phil. 

Way to go guys!

Vernon Davis the Duke

Vernon Davis is in the House!


Pun intended.

Q and A

Q: Pensacola, Fl - "how many feet from starting point to center ring?"

A:  In curling speak, the question is "how many feet is it  from the hack to the far-end button?"   The answer is 126 feet; hack to hack is 138 feet; the total sheet of ice is about 50 yards.

Flying Tomato at USA House

He is a little dude

Q and A

Q: How many games does a team play if it hasn't won one yet?


A: The initial round is a ten country round robin.  So, all teams play 9 games regardless of record. The top 4 teams then proceed to the medal round.

This is getting tough

Unfortunately, our women's team did not prevail against the Danes either. They fought hard and seemed to be in good shape at the halfway point, but a missed draw in the sixth gave Denmark a three point end which proved to be the difference. 

They had a chance to tie on the last rock of the tenth but Debbie's shooter rolled long.

All of these women are friends of mine and I've known them since I first showed up in Bemidji in 2006. So, this has been tough to watch.

I'm still pulling hard though and expecting the famous McCormick rally to kick in tomorrow.  (She won Worlds after starting 0-3)

Let's go USA.

Coach Wally

Debbie McCormick's father, Wally Henry, is also the coach of Team USA.  Here he is getting ready for his Elfie interview at the break.

Go Wally!

Deutschland Breaks

Germany and Canada are tied at 2 at the break

Team Canada taking the 5th end break

Women have their Game Face on....Let's Go!

Team USA, Gamecocks??

Matt Smith, from Greenville, SC, points out that I should be used to what has happened to the US Men's Curling Team - given that I am a University of South Carolina Gamecock fan. 

How true.

In fact, I am starting to wonder if Shuster and the boys don't have some Gamecock blood coarsing through their veins. They just lost their third consecutive Extra End game.  The crazy thing is that they have had the Hammer everytime. Generally speaking, a team with Hammer in an extra end wins 75 percent of the time.....so, assuming that the 3 events are independent (which is arguably a big assumption), the odds of losing three in a row are about 1.5 out a hundred.

That sounds Gamecock to me.
(For those of you that don't know, weird, bad things happen to my beloved University.....I think it may be because we eat the mascot while tailgating before home football games.)

Shuster looked to be in control in the 9th, but when he bypassed an easier shot for 2 to go for more points and missed, the Danes found themselves only down one going into the tenth.

The tenth was super exciting with both teams making some great shots through some really narrow Ports. (At the same time the Swiss and Scots were also putting on some nifty shotmaking as well to the delight of the crowd.)  Ultimately, the Danes squeezed out a point  to force the Extra End.

Team USA was in control the whole extra end and on the last stone,  Shuster needed to knockout the Dane stone in first position. To the dismay of the crowd, the Danish stone "jammed" on another Stone to remain Shot Rock.

I nearly threw up my Danish as the German federation leader, Didi,  looked at me and proclaimed, "So sad."

Stimmt.

In any event, I hope the women are susceptible to the Chicken Curse.....they just took the ice against the Danes.

Breaking News: Listen to the Southern Curler Live

It looks I am going on Charleston, SC ESPN Radio at 3:25 eastern today with Bobby Harvin and Ted Byrne.

Listen Live at http://www.910theteam.net/listen_live.shtml

Danish for Breakfast

Draw 7 has started with the USA facing the Danish men; the women are having Danish in the next draw as well.

The men's game yesterday for Switzerland was bizarre; of the 11 ends played, 8 ends were "stolen," meaning the team without the hammer scored. Shuster got down 4-0 early then came roaring back to go up 6-4. The Swiss had some good shoots in the 9th but only got one point. So Team USA looked good with hammer and up one in the 10th. Unfortunately, his last rock "draw" shot (draw means throwing the rock and intending for it to come to rest in play without hitting another rock) was just short giving the Swiss a point and forcing the extra end.

At that point I had to leave to go live on the radio in Missoula, Montana with Curling at Curly's.  (Apparently Curly's is a local yet rowdy tavern that has really gotten into Curling.  Thank you Curly's patrons!). I wasn't worried as Team USA still had the hammer in the extra end. I got back from the interview just in time to see Shuster's last rock. Having missed the draw in the 10th, he tried a "run-back" which is a shot where one stone is hit and used in place of the thrown stone. In this case he was trying to run back the stone and hit a Swiss stone which was "shot rock," meaning in first position. He did all of that but his own stone rolled too far and just past the Swiss rock that was in 2nd position.

It was a tough loss.

I thought my Annie "The Sun Will Come out Tomorrow" philosphy was going to work magic for the US yesterday.....it didn't.

Truth is I never liked Annie anyway.

We just need to eat Danish for breakfast today and get this ship righted.

I don't know who won the other men's games yesterday. I was so occupied with the US game. All I know is that Canada wasn't playing.....it was easy to tell with the full, but much quieter, crowd.

I didn't attend Draw 6 as the US Women weren't playing. 

Danish time.

USA!

Draw 5 Heartbreaker

Shuster lost in an extra end again. It was brutal. It was painful. It has led me to this.