Disclaimer: CurlingZone does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any Content posted on any Forums area and you acknowledge that any reliance upon such Content shall be at your sole risk. Any Content placed on any Forums area by users and anonymous posters are the views of the user posting the statement, and do not represent the views of CurlingZone or our partners, advertisers or sponsors. By posting anonymously, you are allowing your IP address to be displayed for identification purposes. CurlingZone reserves the right to remove any post at its discretion without warning or explanation.
04-04-15 09:09AM |
|
prairie guy
Swing Artist
Registered: Jan 2011
Location: Southern Sask.
Posts: 364 |
quote: Originally posted by Mr. Jordan
prairieguy, I wish I could give you a straightforward answer, like how Canada sets its picks, but unfortunately, we don't know who's representing us yet. Our team is going to be selected by committee, and there's a little more information (and a lot of corporate management-type talk) about that here: http://m.teamusa.org/USA-Curling/Fe...-team-selection
While the Continental Cup is a good chance for one men's and one women's team of ours to get experience on arena ice and against top competition, our selection process seems too convoluted for a tournament that features things like singles and mixed doubles.
Thanks for the info Mr.Jordan! Yes based on that it probably is hard to say how it will shake out. Here's hoping for Shuster...
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
04-04-15 09:23AM |
|
Mr. Jordan
Harvey Hacksmasher
Registered: Feb 2011
Location: NY, USA
Posts: 39 |
Universal Sports is kind of the "Olympics" sports channel, but it's very much a niche sports channel and if I'm not mistaken, most cable providers don't carry it (mine certainly doesn't, and it's a fairly big provider). Some sport federations/circuits/competitions have exclusive deals with USN, but for everything else, I suppose NBC can use USN to either gauge viewer interest or just dump extra coverage there. That said, it's kind of a shame that I have to use a VPN to watch the games there and others just miss them altogether. Curling is still small potatoes without bigger patrons. At low cost, ESPN can sneak ahead and promote its WatchESPN TSN coverage of the Season of Champions events, which is better than NBC's and does feature outstanding curling, though possibly "undercutting" exposure of USA curling.
quote: Originally posted by prairie guy
Thanks for the info Mr.Jordan! Yes based on that it probably is hard to say how it will shake out. Here's hoping for Shuster...
No prob. I think Shuster is the best skip we've got, but if I were a betting man, I'd bet the field. I can see Heater and Plys being the back end, with the USCA having to think more about whether to keep their entire HPP rink together or just change the front end.
__________________
"'cause curlers are a rowdy bunch; they're boozers and carousers,
See them hanging out in matching sweaters, throwing rocks at houses,
They're afraid of linoleum, afraid of being chased
Around the kitchen with their socks on by a pack of timberwolves." --Dik Van Dykes
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
04-04-15 10:04AM |
|
misty1
Supreme Champion!
Registered: Sep 2011
Location:
Posts: 6002 |
I have to wonder just how long chris plys will remain in favor with the US if he continues to fail to get results.
I like chris but he hasnt done anything to earn their favoritism since winning worlds in 2008
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
04-04-15 10:43AM |
|
Flat Hat
Harvey Hacksmasher
Registered: Mar 2014
Location:
Posts: 86 |
This was a much better showing than most were predicting, and Team Shuster has no reason to hang their heads. A pick, a wick or a tumble either way and we could be setting up to watch them play today.
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
04-04-15 11:48AM |
|
Phil_D
Drawmaster
Registered: May 2014
Location: Joliet, IL
Posts: 629 |
quote: Originally posted by Flat Hat
This was a much better showing than most were predicting, and Team Shuster has no reason to hang their heads. A pick, a wick or a tumble either way and we could be setting up to watch them play today.
Agreed. Some of those games in the round robin were very close.
With the hole they were in standings-wise, many teams would have fallen apart. They dug deep and ground it out though, fighting all the way to that last stone.
You can practice fundamentals and be coached all day long, but at the end of the day the experience you get in your mental game from a competition like this is priceless.
__________________
Recreational curler & resident armchair curler at Windy City Curling Club.
Co-host of the NerdCurl podcast & occasional blogger.
http://www.nerdcurl.com
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
04-04-15 12:07PM |
|
dbsdbs
Drawmaster
Registered: Feb 2013
Location:
Posts: 812 |
Thought I would at least be able to watch replays of games on YouTube but just found out that even that is blocked. Very disappointing.
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
04-04-15 01:26PM |
|
MCC_PE
Hitting Paint
Registered: Mar 2009
Location: Cleveland, OH
Posts: 140 |
quote: Originally posted by dbsdbs
Thought I would at least be able to watch replays of games on YouTube but just found out that even that is blocked. Very disappointing.
Use Hola http://hola.org/ and switch your country to one that doesn't cover (and therefore geo-block) the event. Got that tip from runinrock a while back, thanks Mike! UK has been working for me for both live and replays.
CurlingGeek, thanks for what you do. Didn't realize you're the man behind the website so the next time you're down for the Evergreen at Mayfield I'll buy you a drink or three.
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
04-04-15 02:21PM |
|
dbsdbs
Drawmaster
Registered: Feb 2013
Location:
Posts: 812 |
quote: Originally posted by MCC_PE
Use Hola http://hola.org/ and switch your country to one that doesn't cover (and therefore geo-block) the event. Got that tip from runinrock a while back, thanks Mike! UK has been working for me for both live and replays.
I have used Hola before but is not working for me now? Trying you tube via UK but no luck
Last edited by dbsdbs on 04-04-15 at 03:02PM
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
04-04-15 03:42PM |
|
Mr. Jordan
Harvey Hacksmasher
Registered: Feb 2011
Location: NY, USA
Posts: 39 |
quote: Originally posted by misty1
I have to wonder just how long chris plys will remain in favor with the US if he continues to fail to get results.
I like chris but he hasnt done anything to earn their favoritism since winning worlds in 2008
He's 27, he's got to be the most talented player we have, and he's got plenty of good years left to curl. Say what you will about the USCA's decision-making, but if we're gonna have an HPP like the one we have, we've gotta have Plys in it.
__________________
"'cause curlers are a rowdy bunch; they're boozers and carousers,
See them hanging out in matching sweaters, throwing rocks at houses,
They're afraid of linoleum, afraid of being chased
Around the kitchen with their socks on by a pack of timberwolves." --Dik Van Dykes
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
04-04-15 05:35PM |
|
Alice
Swing Artist
Registered: Feb 2012
Location:
Posts: 324 |
I really enjoyed following the USA/Finland tiebreaker on Curling Geek the other day. It was just like sitting on a stoop listening to a baseball game on radio... with over 1,700 other chatting and cheering fans. Looking forward to buying something from his store soon.
This major fail by USCA, Inc. staffers not to have any live broadcast service for any of our games other than some random tweets just goes to show our leadership does not want to showcase any games by non-HP selectees. What else could explain that major fail? Are its golden handcuffs to NBC so tight it can't tweet live stone-by-stone results or set up a chatroom like Curling Geek? If the Spirit of Curling reigned here, USCA would reimburse CG for his having to upgrade his server twice(!!) to provide the tiebreaker coverage he did.
USCA's website headline for our final game was a glass-half-empty spin instead of a clarion happy boast that our men's National Champion had its best result in X many years from a skip who improved his own World and Olympic record so impressively.
Mental game is right, Phil_D. On so many different levels, on and off the ice.
Last edited by Alice on 04-04-15 at 05:54PM
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
04-04-15 08:50PM |
|
AteEnder
Harvey Hacksmasher
Registered: Dec 2006
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 14 |
quote: Originally posted by MCC_PE
Use Hola http://hola.org/ and switch your country to one that doesn't cover (and therefore geo-block) the event. Got that tip from runinrock a while back, thanks Mike! UK has been working for me for both live and replays.
CurlingGeek, thanks for what you do. Didn't realize you're the man behind the website so the next time you're down for the Evergreen at Mayfield I'll buy you a drink or three.
Works great, I am probably the only guy watching this in Afghanistan :-)
__________________
Proud Member of SPCC
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
04-05-15 09:45AM |
|
Grat
Hitting Paint
Registered: Mar 2014
Location:
Posts: 107 |
quote: Originally posted by Alice
This major fail by USCA, Inc. staffers not to have any live broadcast service for any of our games other than some random tweets just goes to show our leadership does not want to showcase any games by non-HP selectees.
Time to step back from the ledge. You can throw stones at the USCA, but it needs to make sense. We got the same coverage for the non-HP men's team as we got for the women's HP team at worlds.
You think they were sitting around in the back room deciding that if they don't tweet every shot that people would forget the championships were going on and that their funded team didn't earn its way in?
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
04-05-15 10:02AM |
|
Mr. Jordan
Harvey Hacksmasher
Registered: Feb 2011
Location: NY, USA
Posts: 39 |
Doug from curlinggeek.com dropped a hint this week that the USCA is going to use its service for one of its future events, but left it as a teaser and didn't go into details. So, we could have more of that sort of thing coming soon, which would be nice.
__________________
"'cause curlers are a rowdy bunch; they're boozers and carousers,
See them hanging out in matching sweaters, throwing rocks at houses,
They're afraid of linoleum, afraid of being chased
Around the kitchen with their socks on by a pack of timberwolves." --Dik Van Dykes
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
04-05-15 03:22PM |
|
Alice
Swing Artist
Registered: Feb 2012
Location:
Posts: 324 |
Gnat, I guess I was just never able to spoof my URL or get it on home cable to get any video from Men's Worlds. I was just expecting more live coverage from an event in our timezones versus the women's in Japan.
At least we can all still see highlights online from one USA women's game here:
http://wwcc2015.curlingevents.com/video/archive/1
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
04-05-15 03:47PM |
|
gonzobob
Harvey Hacksmasher
Registered: Apr 2013
Location: Brooklyn Park, MN
Posts: 33 |
quote: Originally posted by dbsdbs
I have used Hola before but is not working for me now? Trying you tube via UK but no luck
Yeah, I used Chrome/Hola to watch a few early round robin games but it hasn't been working for me to watch the playoffs.
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
04-05-15 06:42PM |
|
Grat
Hitting Paint
Registered: Mar 2014
Location:
Posts: 107 |
Looks like the geo block got tighter for the playoffs. I got by pretending to be in Germany. It was interesting trying to use Google to shop flights when I forgot to turn it off.
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
04-06-15 12:09PM |
|
runinrock
Harvey Hacksmasher
Registered: Jul 2013
Location: 216
Posts: 41 |
quote: Originally posted by Grat
Ruinrock,I'm pretty sure expanding TV coverage in the states is one of Rick's highest priorities, and Curling Night in America was a big win. Next step is to expand on that, but I doubt those results were back in time for NBC to do anything with this year's worlds.
You're right, getting more TV coverage should be the largest priority of the next CEO.
and I'm not sure you can consider tape-delayed coverage of an exhibition event in which we paid the other teams to show up as a "big win"...especially when many of the ends were not shown in their entirety..talk about making it even MORE confusing for a novice to understand the game or strategy
__________________
-Mike Moore
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
04-06-15 01:19PM |
|
Grat
Hitting Paint
Registered: Mar 2014
Location:
Posts: 107 |
Some curling on TV is infinitely more than no curling on TV. I think that's a "big win". But if it's not a stepping stone to more and improved coverage it's a meaningless win. Hopefully it's the first win of many.
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
04-06-15 01:57PM |
|
AlanMacNeill
Super Rockchucker
Registered: Sep 2011
Location:
Posts: 1064 |
I kinda wonder something...
*should* we be putting the responsibility for "get more TV" on the USCA?
It seems to me that our better course would be for someone with relatively deep pockets to create an event, and shop those rights to TV.
ESPN can't show Nationals/Worlds/etc due to contracts...but there'd be nothing preventing them from putting "The World Invitational Curling Championship" on ESPN3 (or even, for that matter...a slot or two on ESPN2). There'd probably be no broadcast money in it at first, but it's a route.
Once you're there, then let interest build and voila, now you have folks wanting the sport.
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
04-06-15 02:33PM |
|
ethan.b.meyers
Harvey Hacksmasher
Registered: May 2013
Location: United States
Posts: 18 |
quote: Originally posted by runinrock
You're right, getting more TV coverage should be the largest priority of the next CEO.
and I'm not sure you can consider tape-delayed coverage of an exhibition event in which we paid the other teams to show up as a "big win"...especially when many of the ends were not shown in their entirety..talk about making it even MORE confusing for a novice to understand the game or strategy
It was a big win because it had good numbers and showed the people who matter that there's a TV audience for non-Olympic curling in the US.
If anything, they should be encouraged for setting up an event like this. It was a significant risk and they (largely one person) managed to set up a successful TV event out of absolutely nothing. Yes, it was an exhibition event. Yes, it was cut down to two hours with commercials. No, it wasn't live. People watched it anyway.
TV is a very high priority for the USCA. They're doing the best they can given the cards they're dealt. Just because it's going to be a long road doesn't mean we should be bashing them for taking the first few steps down it.
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
04-06-15 05:53PM |
|
IMWright
Swing Artist
Registered: Dec 2014
Location:
Posts: 206 |
quote: Originally posted by ethan.b.meyers
It was a big win because it had good numbers and showed the people who matter that there's a TV audience for non-Olympic curling in the US.
If anything, they should be encouraged for setting up an event like this. It was a significant risk and they (largely one person) managed to set up a successful TV event out of absolutely nothing. Yes, it was an exhibition event. Yes, it was cut down to two hours with commercials. No, it wasn't live. People watched it anyway.
TV is a very high priority for the USCA. They're doing the best they can given the cards they're dealt. Just because it's going to be a long road doesn't mean we should be bashing them for taking the first few steps down it.
Any curling on TV is good. That Curling Night... TV event was probably not specifically aimed at diehard fans (many who post here) who want to watch curling live (like people are like for basketball/football/etc) and want to know right away who won. It was for the casual person who may be interested to watch it. And yes curling enthusiasts will watch anyways, but that's just an added plus.
Do you think any of those skiing events you see aired on those sports networks are live? Probably not. They're recorded and packaged into a two hour slot how the curling event was. Those who are "in the know" for skiing probably know who won already, everyone else, probably not.
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
04-06-15 07:14PM |
|
Nine Ender
Swing Artist
Registered: Feb 2009
Location:
Posts: 338 |
quote: Originally posted by ethan.b.meyers
TV is a very high priority for the USCA. They're doing the best they can given the cards they're dealt. Just because it's going to be a long road doesn't mean we should be bashing them for taking the first few steps down it.
Although I don't agree with some posters on here of how close this US team was to being a serious medal threat, I do think they were a quality team with a lot more legitimate chances then most recent US teams. And the skip seems to be the kind of character guy people would love to follow and cheer for. Great for TV it seems, and many viewers love pulling for lovable underdog stories.
I do find it puzzling that a world event being played in Canada had such mediocre TV coverage. Just the Canadian games, they cut out most rounds if Canada won early, and alternate TV options were minimal if at all. If curling is truly growing in the US as many have said, this seems to be a serious oversight in my opinion. Surely international curling federations needed to partner up with TSN and offer expanded coverage. In particular, the US given the time zone the event was in.
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
04-06-15 09:07PM |
|
Grat
Hitting Paint
Registered: Mar 2014
Location:
Posts: 107 |
Going in I would have called them capable but not favored to win a medal. In the end they needed one of five shots to go a different way and they're in the playoffs.
I don't know how the contracts for the rights for Worlds are handled. Do networks contract through the WCF for rights in each country? Or does each country's governing body handle the rights within their country. Are we tied to NBCU because of their USCA relationship, or could ESPN decide they've got enough channels and could use the content and bid on them in the future?
I was also curious about the reversed decision by TSN to broadcast the tie-breaker. Did they decide a non-Canadian game wasn't worth the expense - or did NBCU nix streaming on ESPN3 because they own the US rights and that tip the scales for TSN?
Basic problem this year is that NBCU hasn't come around to real curling coverage outside the Olympics. So they didn't pay World Curling TV to cover the American games. Then the games they picked up are on Universal Sports - which has few big names on their please contact your provider to get USN list.
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
04-06-15 09:46PM |
|
Alice
Swing Artist
Registered: Feb 2012
Location:
Posts: 324 |
quote: Originally posted by ethan.b.meyers
..TV is a very high priority for the USCA. They're doing the best they can given the cards they're dealt. Just because it's going to be a long road doesn't mean we should be bashing them for taking the first few steps down it.
"Cards they're dealt....". OK, what are those cards? Did USCA, Inc. sign off on some adhesion contract with USOC, Inc. for TV/ broadcast money which in turn apparently gives NBC whatever it wants including the rights to stop all "amateur" broadcasts in the USA of worlds?
Our USCA website already dissolved into the mega USOC Team USA matrix. Didn't we all love those AT&T commercials from women's nationals last year on webcasts? Why not for worlds this year? Did WCF refuse to neogotiate this with USCA? Or ask for too much money? How much longer will any broadcasters like Curling Geek or TESN be able to do what they do at "events leading to worlds or Olympics" without giving a cut to NBC or be blocked the moment NBC takes over an event?
As for "bashing" USCA, I am hoping they really did try to get some live or even delayed coverage of both worlds this year. But all we've seen this year is that Curling Night showcase and the Twister Game TESN went through for our nationals.
It all comes down to those contract "cards" which I suspect will mean more of the same thanks to the very long underlying NBC/IOC contract. Hit or miss for national and worlds and moving target for made-for-TV events.
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
|
All times are GMT. The time now is . |
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Rules:
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
|
HTML code is OFF
vB code is ON
Smilies are ON
[IMG] code is ON
|
|
|
|
|
|