Tough Day for the USA

Draw 3 just ended and it was a heartbreaker for the USA. After battling Norway and their crazy pants in a low-scoring affair, Shuster and company forced the Norwegians into an extra end with the US having the hammer (the last rock advantage.) Needing to draw into the four foot, Shuster's rock skidded through just enough to give Norway the win.  It was a tough way to lose.   Really tough.

February 16th will not go down in the history of USA Curling as a great day.

But the good news:  The Sun will come up tomorrow. 

Yes, that's right, I am resorting to Annie-style-philosphy right now.

Can't hurt right?

In the other games, Germany and Canada had a very spirited contest. Kapp, the German, was playing aggressively and loading the house up with stones, but, time and time again, Martin would pull something out of his bag of tricks and escape much to the delight of the roaring crowd. Ultimately, Martin's skills were just overwhelming as Canada went on to a convincing win......the guy has got skills....and watching him in this environment is pretty awesome, in the true sense of the word.

The only other game was China versus France. France led early, but the Chinese, curling for the first time in an Olympics, came roaring back, taking a one point lead into the 10th. At that point, with the Canada game having been conceded, the crowd took up the Chinamen's cause with frequent chants of "let's go CHI-na!" It looked like for sure the Chinese were gonna make their debut with a victory, when out of the blue, the French skip pulls off a miracle shot, angle-raising a corner guard sharply back at the button to takeout China's seemingly irremovable buried stone. The entire audience sprung to their feet with applause, including all of the Canadian/Let's-go-china-come latelys.

With the US game going to the extra end, it was the only game left on the ice and now the Canadians started pulling for Norway....I thought pulling for China was a little odd, but, it was France.  But Norway against the US?......I'm gonna let it go and attribute it to the Canadians probable attraction to the Norway pants......let it go for now.

I hope nobody up here has to learn the hard way what it means to go " Old School Folly Beach" on somebody.

Annie you have the stage....maybe Leland can play Daddy Warbucks?