Registered: Sep 2011
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Quick! Get the TESN folks rolling...you have 3 hours and 21 minutes..>GOGOGOGOGOGOGOGGOGO!!!!

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Registered: Jan 2009
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I'm enjoying CZ again with a fairly positive thread like this one! And I'm really enjoying rooting for the determined Team Shuster and their scrappy play to get to where they have so far.

GO USA!!!

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Registered: Jul 2013
Location: 216
Posts: 41

It would be nice to get an explaination as to why the World Curling Championships are not aired on US television. I don't mean "select" draws on Universal sports, or tape-delayed playoff games. I mean live curling. I understand if NBC owns the rights to the games. But if NBC owns the rights to the games why not ACTUALLY show the games. They have approximately 7-8 channels they could use to air this, as well as an APP. If ESPN pays for the rights to air TSN's coverage, and NBC's ownership trumps that when a US game is aired, then maybe NBC should actually show it.? Maybe I'm wrong but during the Olympics isn't curling the highest rated sport shown on the cable (not broadcast NBC) channels? It doesn't take a genius to figure this out. I understand there are cost's involved, but why not pay the WCTV or TSN crews for their feeds? I understand that this year we have live playoff games, but potentially that may not involve the US team.

Rick, Terry, USCA- (like they will actually read this) If you want to grow the game we need to get better athletes involved (no offense to our current group). But I think we can all agree if you got some of the 40 million youth athletes in this country to try curling, guess what? you may find some elite talent. Look at other countries, and you will see athletes from other sports who migrated (or were forced) into curling. We are lacking that pipeline. 95% of kids that try curling are from curling families. If they had an opportunity to SEE the game it may spark interest in the parent or the child. Maybe mom is afraid of hockey or football and is looking for another sport for her child...maybe by the age of 12 the kid realizes that he's not going to make the travel hockey team, or the travel baseball team, and is looking for another outlet. How would these people even THINK of trying curling without ever seeing it or being exposed to it....If the US team isn't involved the the 3/4 game this year then Americans had exactly 1 game to watch..

I'd love an explaination of why the USCA doesn't push harder to have more coverage (I am sure they are trying) The answer may be simply that they are at the mercy of the USOC/NBC contract, and if that is the case, then fine, but at least let us know what the situation is. We have seen from donations to TESN that there is high demand for live curling. We have also seen that there are enough people to potentially change NBC's mind on this...

Side note: what stops one of our PAID USCA people in Halifax, (Terry) from simply tweeting pictures after each shot? Even that would be better than nothing. When we have no way to watch all we have is the standings...Team USA's 6-5 record is in no way indicative of how well they have played (save 2 games). John and Tyler are both in the top 4/5 in shooting percentage. People like to rip the USA's performance because they HAVENT SEEN IT. If they saw it, they would know that the team isn't that far away. Ewan made a great in-off, and that Canada game was crazy..if those two go our way guess what? 8-3 and potentially in a 1-2 game...

I'll await USCA's response...then probably see the Browns win the Super Bowl before I hear back.

Rick, you know how to contact me.

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-Mike Moore

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Registered: Jul 2013
Location: 216
Posts: 41

All that being said, Good Curling to Shustie, Ty, Hammy and Steiner! Kick some butt so we can ACTUALLY watch tonight!

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-Mike Moore

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Registered: Feb 2011
Location: NY, USA
Posts: 39

I was a little irritated about curling's TV presence here but I've realized it's not something to get mad at the USCA about; I think the USOC and NBC are the ones calling the shots there.

And I don't think twisting Terry's arm about this is a good way to go. She gets to hear and read a lot of criticism for things out of her control (I've been guilty of that myself) because she runs the media/PR, social media, and other public aspects of the USCA set-up. She wears a lot of hats for USA Curling and I would guess she couldn't fit the one to be our personal Twitter assistants on top of those.

If we want more TV coverage in the US, the USCA isn't going to be able to just ask NBC, and voil�_. Money talks. We're going to have to find some bigger corporate sponsorships. How we get those is a different story, and I've taken this thread too far off topic already. We should follow, support, and rally behind our team in their biggest game in years no matter what avenues we have to do so, and worry about all the other stuff after the tournament.

__________________
"'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

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Registered: Apr 2011
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quote:

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Originally posted by runinrock
Side note: what stops one of our PAID USCA people in Halifax, (Terry) from simply tweeting pictures after each shot? Even that would be better than nothing

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Registered: Jul 2013
Location: 216
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oh trust me CurlingGeek, I've been relying on your coverage all week...Thanks!

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-Mike Moore

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Registered: Sep 2011
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Posts: 1064

I'm just hoping the curlinggeek servers are up to the incoming challenge...

I was seeing 200 or so users yesterday...I'm betting more today...

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Registered: Apr 2011
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Posts: 208

My record is about ~560 for the game that eliminated Team Howard from the Brier playdowns this year.

I just quadrupled my server size from that game. Bring on the fans!

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Registered: Mar 2014
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Posts: 107

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.

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Registered: Mar 2014
Location: Red Deer Ab
Posts: 68

quote:

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Originally posted by CurlingGeek
My record is about ~560 for the game that eliminated Team Howard from the Brier playdowns this year.

I just quadrupled my server size from that game. Bring on the fans!

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Registered: Mar 2014
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I had the chat portion of my CurlingGeek windows covered up - some people had to work today - did they get over 1300 users?

Hopefully between good ratings for Curling Night in America, and the overall interest in Worlds this year, NBC will see that real live coverage of curling can work on US TV outside of the Olympics.

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Registered: Feb 2011
Location: NY, USA
Posts: 39

Our day will come.

__________________
"'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

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Registered: Feb 2013
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Posts: 812

Unable to follow tie-breaker so would appreciate any details folks may provide about the game. For example, I heard USA had a change for big end in 9th but wrecked on last shot. Any other details??

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Registered: Feb 2013
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Posts: 812

How can it be that world championship games this weekend are not widely available in USA?

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Registered: Dec 2005
Location: St. Thomas, North Dakota
Posts: 2613

dbsdbs, Face had a make-able outturn tap for three or four in the eighth end of a tie game. It overcurled and was a steal of 1 for the Finns. 10th end tied up with for a Finnish hammer: USA had 2 rocks on top eight each on a side by the fourfoot lines. Finn skip throws it a touch firm, but it stopped back four.

That's about as descriptive as I can be without four-letter-words.

I maintain that this was an opportune year to medal. The field was not overly strong with the Swiss and the Scots not sending teams that strike fear into your heart. The Canadians haven't played that much, nor have the Norwegians and Swedes. The USA did not squander this chance at a medal...but it is disappointing.

My apologies to our Canadian neighbours (especially Misty whose posts I enjoy) if I snapped earlier in this thread. I, by no means, meant to stifle a free-flowing discussion. I think most understood how we might take negative comments about our friends in the USA threads.

Ben Tucker

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Registered: Feb 2013
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Thanks, Tuck, for the update. I agree that this was an opportune year for USA to medal. Just a couple shots here and there and USA could have finished alone in 4th.

Top 3 teams are the usual suspects - Canada, Norway, Sweden - but the rest of the field was beatable. Altho Norway has not played a lot, they have been very good this week. And Pat Simmons has been unreal. I have watched him play before but do not recall thinking he was this good -- maybe it is his supporting cast this year? But in any event, a disappointing end in spite of a nice run by USA.

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quote:

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Originally posted by tuck
dbsdbs, Face had a make-able outturn tap for three or four in the eighth end of a tie game. It overcurled and was a steal of 1 for the Finns. 10th end tied up with for a Finnish hammer: USA had 2 rocks on top eight each on a side by the fourfoot lines. Finn skip throws it a touch firm, but it stopped back four.

That's about as descriptive as I can be without four-letter-words.

I maintain that this was an opportune year to medal. The field was not overly strong with the Swiss and the Scots not sending teams that strike fear into your heart. The Canadians haven't played that much, nor have the Norwegians and Swedes. The USA did not squander this chance at a medal...but it is disappointing.

My apologies to our Canadian neighbours (especially Misty whose posts I enjoy) if I snapped earlier in this thread. I, by no means, meant to stifle a free-flowing discussion. I think most understood how we might take negative comments about our friends in the USA threads.

Ben Tucker

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Registered: Nov 2012
Location: In the crawlspace
Posts: 83

quote:

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Originally posted by misty1

still a great showing for the US and maybe this will get shuster into the HPP now

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Registered: Jan 2011
Location: Southern Sask.
Posts: 364

Not trying to change the topic in this thread but can someone tell me whether the US teams for the 2016 Continental Cup have been decided? We are going to Vegas for the first time (and why not watch curling!)so that is why I am inquiring. I am hoping it is Shuster for the men. I have really enjoyed watching those guys and they are probably my favorite non Canadian team right now.

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Registered: Jan 2015
Location: United States
Posts: 19

Why does youtube link to watch Norway Canada game say not available in this country,,, usa?

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Norse Curler
SKOL

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Registered: Apr 2011
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Posts: 208

CuringGeek peaked at 1,796 users during the tie breaker. It was about 50% Americans, 25% Finns, and 25% Canadians.

The server almost kept up :-). I had to upgrade in the 8th end, and there were still some issues. Thanks to all the viewers, and enormous thanks to my three volunteers this week: Skram, YHZAlex and jsimonf.

There is a real appetite for curling coverage in the US, even for my limited version of it. This bodes well for the future.

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Registered: Feb 2011
Location: NY, USA
Posts: 39

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.

__________________
"'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

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Registered: Apr 2015
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Posts: 1

I too am stumped that NBC has rights, blocks other coverage, then doesn't show the event live... I'm not even sure if they will show replays. The curling geek crowd and others should let NBC know. If you're not going to broadcast, then don't block! Here is their feedback site...
http://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/contact-us/

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Registered: Dec 2013
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quote:

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Originally posted by Norse Curler
Why does youtube link to watch Norway Canada game say not available in this country,,, usa?

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