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!