April 14, 2008
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.
April 13, 2008
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.
April 12, 2008
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.
April 11, 2008
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.
April 10, 2008
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.
April 9, 2008
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.
April 7, 2008
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.
March 16, 2008
Well now here I am sitting in the friendly confines of the big “Phone Booth” with a couple of brewskis cleverly dressed up as Timmies. Now what to do with my time, just to keep me busy…humm, let’s do a sorta play by play of this battle of “The Legends of Rock”. So on with the show this is it.
1 - Alberta starts with the hammer. Benny misses a tap back. Kev rolls out on first. Glenn draws the pot with last stone. Kev chips it out. Blank end. SCORE: zip-zip / ON-4 draws,4 hits / AB-2 draws, 6 hits
2 - Alberta still has the hammer. Benny half shot miss. Marc half shot miss. Richie hits & rolls out on last, Johnny draws around center guard, Glenn tries run back it over curls, Kev draws to sit two, Glenn makes double takeout, Kev tries to blank end but rock hits a catcher on the side. SCORE: 1-0 AB / ON 4 draws, 4 hits / AB 3 draws, 5 hits
3 - Ontario now has the hammer, Johnny’s last stone draws just a bit heavy, Richie follows it down, Kev’s first is just a bit heavy, Glenn draws to sit two, Kev tries run back double but only removes one ON stone, Glenn draws for a deuce but wrecks on a front stone. SCORE: 1-1 tie / ON 5 draws, 3 hits / AB 4 draws, 4 hits
4 - Alberta has the hammer, Lainger with a runback double, Johnny makes a nice draw around a center stone, Glenn runs back his own stone to sit two, Kev draws around front stones to sit shot in the 8ft, Glenn’s last rock overcurls and ticks a front stone, Kev draws for two. SCORE: 3-1 AB / ON 2 draws, 6 hits / AB 5 draws, 3 hits
5 - Ontario now with the last brick, Lainger misses on a takeout, nice double by Richie, Kev hits and rolls out with first, looking like a blank end to me, Glenn draws the back butto, Kev hits and rolls away, Oops, Glenn hits and sticks. SCORE: 3-2 AB / ON 4 draws, 4 hits / AB 2 draws, 6 hits
6 - Alberta with the hammer, Benny heavy on a draw, slams sliding brush and the head falls off, Marc fixes the brush, wide open end so far, looking like a blank, Kev with his last rock hits and oopps, does not roll out. SCORE: 4-2 AB / ON 5 draws, 4 hits / AB 1 draw, 7 hits
Attendance: 9,223 - total 165,075 - 7th highest Brier attendance
7 - Ontario with the last rock, couple of uglies this end by Ontario, Richie with his last rocks cleans up the mess with a triple, looking like a blank, but hold on anything can happen today, Kev on last rock hits and rolls out, Glenn has a throw thru. SCORE: 4-2 AB / ON 4 draws, 3 hits, 1 throw thru / AB 2 draws, 6 hits
8 - Ontario has the last rock advantage. Richie makes a nice tap back to sit two, Kev on his first stone nose hits, after much checking of stones to see who is sot, Glenn taps out the Alberta rock, Kev’s last rock is a perfect cross house double (not what he called), Glenn hits and rolls out, measure to see if rock is biting, out by a half inch, blank end. SCORE: 4-2 AB / ON 3 draws, 5 hits / AB 2 draws, 6 hits
9 - Ontario still has the hammer, Benny has a throw thru, Marc peels guard take out his own stone on the button, Kev gets into hack facing two Ontario stones with his first rock, plays a hit a roll towards the middle, Glen’s first rock is a hit, but rolls the wrong way, Kev is trying a double takeout, nose hits the shot stone, Glenn has a nose hit for two and he makes it. SCORE: 4-4 even steven coming home / ON 6 draws, 2 hits / AB 1 draw, 6 hits, 1 throw thru
10 - Alberta with last brick, Craig with a front stone, Benny ticks it over, Craig with another front stone, Benny tries another tick, but it is to hard, put back the front stone, Lainger draws around front stone to the button, half open, Marc hits shot stone to si in the top 4′ open, Lainger plays a hack weight shot but rolls th wrong way, Marc atempts to peel the front stone but rolls just away, Richie draws around front Alberta stone to bite the 4′ on the tee-line, Johnny Mo peels the front stone, Richie puts up another guard, Johnny Mo peels it again, Glenn with his first stone puts up a tighter guard, Kev peels the guard, Glenn with his last rock plays a rock into the 12′, Kev with last rock needs to draw full 4′, and he makes it. FINAL SCORE: 5-4 AB
PERFECT RECORD 13 - 0
CONGRATULATIONS, Kevin Martin, John Morris, Marc Kennedy & Ben Hebert.
Good Luck at the Worlds in Grand Forks, ND
SIDE NOTES:
First Team All-Stars:
Skip - Kevin Martin (AB)
Third - John Morris (AB)
Second - Marc Kennedy (AB) (unanimous)
Lead - Craig Savill (ON)
Second Team All-stars:
Skip - Glenn Howard (ON)
Third - Bob Ursel (BC)
Second - Brent Laing (ON)
Lead - Rick Sawatsky (BC)
Ross Harstone Award: (sportsmanship)
Gerry Adam (SK)
Scotty Harper Award: (best curling story)
Jim Henderson (Decisions, Decisions, Decisions - SWEEP Magazine)
Paul McLean Award: (behind the scenes)
Denis Lavoie (Associate Director, CBC Sports)
CCA Presidents Award: (contribution to curling)
CBC-TV (for outstanding coverage)
Special Media Awards:
Bob Picken (CJOB Radio, since 1965)
Jack Matheson (Sports Editor, Winnipeg Tribune)
Now I’m off back to the pristine eastern shores of Lake Winnipeg to recuperate from this past week. Oh yeah, I still have to shut the plant down at our club a get everything done so I’m ready to go next season.
March 15, 2008
Pat Simmons’ Saskatchewan team should be proud of their performance today, a gutty effort after such disappointment last night. A normally stoic Simmons was fighting back tears saying last night he didn’t get much sleep, and after they fell behind by 3 in the seventh, yours truly thought they were done.
Their body language just looked like they had packed it in. But, a couple miscues by the Howard rink in 8 and Simmons’ rink capitalized to grab three and tie the game up. Simmons battled hard in the last two ends plus the extra, and if it were not for Howard and team making some brilliant shots, the comeback would have been complete.
CBC couldn’t have scheduled a better final matchup for their Brier sendoff. Martin and Howard should go down as a battle for the ages.
Gerry, Jet Boots Correspondent
It’s starting to looking like Saskatchewan is cursed at this event, with that final shot pick last night, and another opportunity is wasting away this afternoon as the Simmons team sure looks flat. Simmons himself already looks defeated, and with Glenn up 3 with 3 to play, Simmons will have to buck up and pull off the type of comeback Martin showed last night.
The Green Machine sure has drawn out some great fans though. Rider Nation has showed up proud here in the stands, and they definitely stand out as the best dressed fans.
A bucket drive for the Sandra Schmirler foundation was held between the 3rd and 4th ends, with many of the teams taking part collecting donations. We sure do have the best and most generous athletes in this sport, who are so willing to help support the cause.
You can make your own donation from home by going to the Sandra Schmirler Foundation website: http://www.sandraschmirler.org/english/donations/
A brilliant tribute played during the 5th end break to honour all the broadcasters we’ve lost over the years. Doug Maxwell, Don Chevrier and Don Whitman.
As I write this, Simmons is now hitting for three in the 8th end, and in a humourous scene, the crowd is yelling “Clean! Clean!”. Such knowledgeable fans and one great reason to be out here enjoying it live!
Hit and stick and we’re all tied up!
Gerry, Jet Boots Correspondent