Jet Boots - Curling Cutlets

Humm, let’s see now, CBC runs the Cow Channel which by the way is now called BOLD for some reason. Why BOLD, don’t know why, but me thinks it should be called FREE and run something like TSN2. Hey that’s what they should call the network since we pay their wages with our hard earned buckaroos, you’d think, instead of trying to gouge more dollars out of us. Ah, however the top knocks at the Mother Corp., they could never, and I mean never would have thought about doing that. Take last night (Sat. Nov. 15) you know the set-up. HNIC on the regular CBC, Leafs lose 4-2, what else is new and say for the cost of nothing…FREE, which it should be for all Canadians, another sporting event…hey the Masters of Curling, semis. What a brilliant idea, but not for the CBC. Oh well two out of three games televised for free, I guess the minds at the CBC think this is good for us fans of curling, but it isn’t. I for one, is glad that the CBC has been given the boot in televising the SOC events.

Good luck to both Kevin Koe and Glenn Howard teams in todays final.

Till, next time folks…keep your eyes on the broom and your mind out of the gutter. OH yeah, remember DON’T DRINK and DRIVE.

Ok, I see the curling season is now underway.  But wait just a darn tootin minute, I’ve still have three weeks of work left out here at Grand Pines GC and I’ve just started putting the ice in at Grand Marais.  You know what, stupid fuses on our electrical box in our ice plant room.  Would have had the ice well established by now but lost most of it due to a one buck fuse, that blew out the other day. Back to the start again.

Onto curling now. Well now, looks like Glenn Howard and company are in fine form without Glenn.  Get back soon, Glenn.  They took down Kerry Burtnyk and team, with their new line-up in the final of the Shorty last weekend.  Also, congrats to Ted Appleman and team on their win against Pat Simmons and squad at the BP Shoot-out.

I see the great folks here at CZ are running a Curling Fanstasy Pool.  Hope you all sign up for this, I know I did.

For those of you in Manitoba, don’t forget the MCT kicks off their season with the McMillan in Selkirk.  I know I’ll be down there have a few Standard wobbly pops.

Also, I be remissed if I didn’t mention my son, Mike O’G in Airdrie.  Congrats on your marriage, sure had a blast at the reception.  Oh yeah to all the guys who were there I’ll see you at the Brier in Calgary, come March.

Till next time, limber up kids, it’ll be time to rock-on.

Come again next May. Man it has been just stupid out here on the magnificent eastern shores of Lake Winnipeg. Just today we had 3 inches of the wet stuff and last week it was another 3 inches as well. Not only once, but twice.

Holy smoke-er-roo, the skeeters are just gigantic. You know the size of crows.

I only hope things get better in August and we at EastMans finest golf course (Grand Pines) have a good month.

Till later kids, have a great summer.

Rant time! First off, let me get this off my two-four of Michelob. It was just ridiculous at Canada Customs last night. What I mean is an hour and forty minute line-up, just to get thru. With only four gates open and a car going through maybe every three minutes, it just took forever. Me thinks they could have had…say two border inspectors working every gate, instead of one. This would have decreased wait time and probably some frustration. Oh well, I made it through and arrived back last night to catch the last period of the Flames / Sharks game. What’a comeback for the Flames. “GO FLAMES GO”

How about KMart and his crew of JohnnyMO, Slider and Benny. Way to go guys, congratulations on your first World Men’s Curling Championship. Kevin, I must say, I’m really happy for you. I remember sitting in the old Winnipeg Arena back in 1991 watching you play in the Safeway Worlds and back then I said to myself…self, this guy here is probably the best curler I’ve ever seen and it won’t take long before he wins a world championship. Wow, was I wrong. But none the less, I’m really glad to see Kevin finally get his world championship.

Now, here is my thank you list for the great time I had at the 08 Worlds in Grand Forks, ND.

Don Barcome (aka: DBZ) - thanks Don for your hard work, the past few years and for the poster

The Ralph Staff & Event Volunteers - treated me very well on any request I made

Australia, Czech Republic, China, France, Germany, Norway, Scotland, Sweden and Switzerland Teams - for their donations of cool stuff, hope that you ALL make it back to next years worlds in Moncton, NB.

Gerry & Dallas - great to see you guys again, had a blast…Dallas enjoy the VCR and Gerry, do the Eagles thing…”take it easy”

Bob “The Pipes” Picken - Bob, we’ll all miss you and that magnificent voice on the airwaves on 68CJOB, in Manitoba. We’ll see you up at Grand Pines GC.

Resby Coutts - Always a blast to see you. Oh yeah, great job as MC at the Canadian Stick Championship.

Clayton (Golden West) & Paul (Wpg.Free Press) - I’ll see you guys at the Safeway Championship next year in Selkirk.

Joan (CBC Radio), Brian (Tor.Star), Jim (Vcr.) - Hope to see you all next year at the Brier in Calgary.

George K - Thanks for your work on the media bench.

I sure hope I get to Moncton for next years Ford Worlds, just have to wait and see.

Oh yeah, one more weekend of curling to go for this season. The Players Championship takes place in St. John’s, NL. Don’t forget the Ladies championship on Saturday, then the Men on Sunday.

Don’t forget to get those clubs all shined up and I hope to see you out at our fabulous course (Grand Pines), just an hour north of Winnipeg on Highway 59. Me thinks it’ll be open, say around the 1st of May.

Till later folks. Have a great Spring. 

I hit the BBL last night, holy moly, what a blast I had. First off I pounded back a few ’ski’s with CeCe Snitil (the Czech skip). We talked about the teams stay in Winnipeg before arriving here in GF. CeCe told me he also made ice in Switzerland for a few years in such places as Basel, Flims and Geneva, before taking up the sport and competing internationaly. Lastly, he said to me that he’d like to thank everyone in Canada and the States for the great time and he can’t wait to get back.

Next up it was over to the Chinese team, who were pounding and I mean pounding back the brews. Who said these guys are regulated. I just have to thank these guys for a great time last night, even though there was a language problem of sorts, naw…not really, the brews did all the talking here.

Finally, I hooked up with the Norwegians. Tonzo babes around these guys. Thomas and crew, especially, Chris were just a blast. Of course a few more pops were consummed, hic, hic.

Gotta go now, my cabbie has arrived.

Now, the big game. Can KMart win his first world title or will it be another silver finish, hope not. This guy deserves to be on top of the heap. Let’s hope so. But it won’t be easy peasy. Scotland’s team skipped by David Murdock will give Canada everything they have. Heck, maybe even toss in a two-four for good measure. LOL.

Then it’ll be the long ride back (3to4 h), to the hopefully melted eastern shores of fabulous Lake Winnipeg and the quite confines of my humble abode and my Lazy-boy.

Remember folks, just because I pound back a few brewskis.

I don’t drink and drive, so please DON’T DRINK & DRIVE, yourself.

That’s gotta hurt, up by a wack and blow it. Ouch. Oh well they’ll have to focused when they play the Vikings.

Ok now let’s do nicknames of the curlers who are participaing here at the WMCC. The ones in Italics are made up by yours truly, hic…

Aussies: Skippy, Ice Hut, DT, Bushman, Clam & Digger.

Canucks: Ol’ Bear, Johnny Mo, Slider & Heebze.

Chinese: They don’t have any, but now they do. In order from skip to lead…Charlie, Louie, Mikey & Spanky.

Czechs: ZeZe, Kitzy, Marty & E Kay.

Danes: Freddy, Landy, Bob & Ully.

French: Two-Four, Boost, Cruz, Two-Cruz & Rafi.

Germans: 2ner, Al, Kemper, Holgi.

Norwegians: Rudder, Toe, Bompi & Blix.

Scots: Muddy, ConMan, Smitty & Bader

Swedes: AK, Keyman, BB & Tone-ster

Swiss: Space Cowboy, Max, Pass & Polo.

Americans: CB, Dr. Double, JayDee & Big A.

Go Canada Go…now it is time for a wacko bunch-o-brews at the BBL.

Humm…the joint was a rocking last night here at the REA. Canada and the USA hit the ice and it was no contest. KMart and crew finished at 10+1, meanwhile the Yanks finished at a miserable 5+6. The game with all the marbels on the line was the Wegians and Aussies. Aussies win and thier in, along with the Wegians, and Frenchies. That woulda / coulda been a long day for someone. But Ian’s (4th stones AUS) last rock draw to the eight foot, was a wee bit (Scottish) heavy.

But last night the main focus on everyone’s mind here in the mighty spralling megatropolis of Grand Forks was the “Fighting Sioux” hockey game in Denver at the NCAA Frozen Four. It was over early in that one as well. The Sioux fell 6-1 to the Eagles of Boston College. That just seemed to let the air out the fine folks here who were ready to party it up hard in the BBL.

Ok now the situation is like this…

(2PM-Fri) China (#3) plays Norway (#4), with the winner advancing to Saturdys semi-final game. NORWAY wins 7-5

(7PM-Fri) Canada (#1) plays Scotland (#2), with the winner advancing to Sunday’s championship final.

(1:30PM-Sat) Winner of the 3vs4 game (Norway) against the loser of the 1vs2 game. Winner of this game advances to the championship final on Sunday.

(7PM-Sat) Loser of the 3vs4 game (China) plays against the loser of the Saturday afternoon semi-final game for the Bronze medal.

(1:30PM-Sun) Championship game

Ok now, I’m going to get some brewskis at the BBL. Next report, tomorrow.

Oh yeah, it snowed here last night a couple of inches.

Remember don’t Drink and Drive.

Well yesterday I was out venturing around the Ralph and I ended up on the upper level and at the home end there is this gigantic bar area. Well now, bar and me we go together like…humm, fish to water, bread and butter, pancakes and syrup, you get the idea. So I saunter over to the lovely lassie working the bar and instead of ordering a brewski, she smiles and said, ”we make the best Caesars around”. Well now how can I turn down a lovely lassie. Wow, what a drink, it was great, gotta love the free pour system down here in the States.

Supper rolled around so I headed down to one of my favorite joints “Mike’s Pizza” in East Grand Forks. This was the first time back to Mike’s in about 14 years. New joint, they had to rebuild and move after the flood of ‘97, where everything was lost. But it was the same great ‘za, also the MGD’s were super ice cold.

Tonight here at the Ralph other than the last draw, the ”Fighting Sioux” (hope they aren’t forced to change their name) of the University of North Dakota, hit the frozen pond against their arch-rivals from Boston College at the NCAA Frozen Four in Denver. They plan on showing the game on the big screens in the BBL.

Ok now some curling stuff, gotta like it when the Scots ask for “barriere weight”, it sounds sorta neat. The Chinese skip likes to be called “Charlie” instead of Fengchun. The skip of the Czech Republic is not Jiri, but “Zuzi”, pronounced Z-Z.

Well everything will sort itself out today. hat I know so far is Canada clinches first place and the Swedes, the Czecks and the Swiss are eliminated.

Remember don’t drink and drive and Go “Sioux” Go.    

OK now folks, this REA, aka, “The Ralph” is something to behold. What’a joint, and it starts when you pull up to this place.  Ample parking all around.  Then when you walk into this palace, wow…marble floors, leather seats, fabulous sightlines, plus the history of “Fighting Sioux” hockey in the concourse, plus many other neat little things that make this place world famous among arenas.

Now my observations, from yesterday (Tuesday) here at this WMCC.

First off, checked in with my bro and we caught the first draw, sitting right beside the Aussie/Yankee game.  Just have to say this, the yanks are in tough at this years rock fest and it’s to bad ’cause this event would surely get bigger if they could notch a few victories together. Hey, they’re still not out of it with 4 losses, but they can’t lose anymore games, especially with a bunch of teams in front of them. After the game, we hit the BBL (aka, Broken Broon Lounge). This is nice size place with plenty of room. Lunch ime rolled around so it was time for a couple of ice-cold brewskis, afterall I’m here to party as well. My brother convinced me to try this Taco Bag stuff, man that was filling and good to boot.

Bumped into Hans and Mark, the ice-techs here at this years worlds. Just asking them a few questions about the conditions here at the REA. Hans, pointed out to me that the ice here is just about perfect and so far from the curlers here, no complaints.

Hey looked up on the fall wall (away end) and they have hung all the banners of the NHL teams, present, defunct and moved teams. Opps, they are missing one to my recollection, the Atlanta Flames.

Bumped into Grunthal, Manitoba’s favorite Kiwi last night, Lorne DePape (lead NZ), who’s in town trying to drum up support for a new 6 sheet facility in Auckland with the WCF as well as to attend their annual meetings. This guy is a blast and we go back about 12 years now, the first time when we hooked up for a couple of games with New Zealand team in Airdrie, Alberta. Man those brewskis went down fast last night.

Ok, now standings, after 11 draws.

Name / Record   -   Games remaining against

CAN @ 7+0  -  CHN, CZE, SUI, USA

AUS @ 4+3  -  SUI, SCO, CHN, NOR

DEN @ 4+3  -  FRA, NOR, GER, SCO

FRA @ 4+3  -  DEN, NOR, SWE, CZE

GER @ 4+3  -  SWE, USA, DEN, SCO

NOR @ 4+3  -  DEN, FRA, CHN, AUS

SCO @ 4+3  -  AUS, SUI, GER, DEN

CHN @ 3+4  -  CAN, SWE, AUS, NOR

USA @ 3+4  -  SWE, GER, SUI, CAN

CZE @ 2+5  -  CAN, CHN, FRA, SWE

SUI @ 2+5  -  AUS, SCO, CAN, USA

SWE @ 1+6  -  GER, USA, FRA,CZE

Till later folks.

Head out on the highway tomorrow morning from the still frozen solid eastern shore of Lake Winnipeg on my way to the palatial palace, the Ralph Engelstad Arena and the 2008 World Men’s Curling Championships.

This will be my forth WCC having gone to Bismark in 02 and the two in Winnipeg (91, 03).

However my main focus at this gathering of the planets best rock tossers will be keeping both Gerry and Dallas in check.  Just joking you guys, I’ll see you tomorrow morning.

Now back to why I’m really going.  It has been at least 14 years since I’ve been to the hotbed of romance, fortune, danger, espinoge and just a great time city of Grand Forks.  This neat little city on the Red use to be a stopping off point for a couple of dozen brewskis each, on our annual trek to the International Bonspiel in Hibbing.  Just ask Rob A, Ray Mc and Mark L. This time I hope to give you a inside look at what is happening here at the WCC, the people, the entertainment, the atmosphere and all that neat stuff.  Oh yeah and to pound back a wack of brews.

Heck, even my bro, the ever evasive, Ken “The Sodbuster” J is stopping by tomorrow morning for a draw.  He’s a long distance driver and he will just happen to be in Grand Forks.

Till later folks, have a good one.