Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Draw Eleven

On Sheet C, the game I watched most, strong and consistent BC blew away Manitoba in 7 ends. All the other games were surprisingly close, given the form thus far. Playing mediocre Saskatchewan, Canada made two huge errors in the ninth to give up a steal, and then Jenn had to make two great shots in the 10th to eke out three for the win. I was continuing to become less enamoured with her: she just had no confidence and was asking too many questions of her team. And I wasn’t satisfied with their replies.

PEI got a win over Quebec, despite strong play by Quebec early—I thought they deserved the win (how might THAT have changed the eventual playoff outcomes?). On our sheet it was a steady game by NB and Newfoundland with no outstanding shots. Andrea Kelly’s streak seemed to be at an end as cool-as-cucumber Heather Strong made a pressure-filled draw without backing for the win in an extra end. I became more and more impressed with the Newfoundland team, and they were certainly on a big roll. Charles drove me home, which took longer than if I’d walked but at least I did not have to go down those spooky, empty streets.

Draw Ten

The afternoon games as a whole weren’t too exciting. Alberta blew away PEI in 7 ends 7-0, and Raylene and Lori went to watch the rest of the games. NS won a fairly predictable game over Saskatchewan, NWT got their first win over NB. On our sheet again was the best game: BC playing Ontario. Kelly Scott struggled a bit for once. The last end was one close miss after another and the tension built and built until finally BC missed and Scharf stole one for the win.

Without Canada on the ice I had to watch other teams, and spent a fair amount of time observing the Canada Cup winners, Team Alberta. Lori Armitstead is a very touchy-feely person, and drew everyone into a close huddle after each end, while also providing all the motivational speeches, whether they were up or down.

After the game I sprinted home, then belatedly trotted over to the Heart Stop Lounge to get autographs. Unlike the King team, Team Nova Scotia was all in street clothes and Colleen was surprisingly striking in person. Not that any of them gave me the time of day! But it was interesting anyway.

Draw Nine

This was absolutely the best draw so far—too bad it wasn’t televised. But I felt extremely lucky to be there. On our sheet was what would have been the feature game: the battle of the Joneses. Colleen was ahead early with two steals, and Jenn was a little down. I was continually impressed with the whole NS team: they were always cool and collected and kind and only Kim was a little hyperactive during games. Once again I was amused and impressed by Colleen as she slowly made her way down the ice to shoot, her hands behind her back, apparently lost in thought.

Jenn fought back with two steals in the 8th and 9th, but couldn’t prevent Colleen from counting 2 in the 10th for the 7-6 win. She left quickly, while the crowd saluted Colleen with rousing applause as she glided up the ice to retrieve her water bottle. She smiled and nodded to the crowd and raised her hand in acknowledgement saying ‘thank you, thank you’ all the way down. She was the only skip I saw do that all week. But then, she got the most applause of all.

Jennifer Jones looked unsettled all game—the broadcasters called it earlier in the week when they said she looked uncomfortable. For someone who is crazy about curling, she certainly did look uncomfortable. She seemed to be lacking confidence. I felt that they were only getting through most games by the skin of their teeth (or the craziness of her shots) and wouldn’t really have a chance on the weekend. And so I started looking for a new favourite… Newfoundland was coming to mind. I just can’t warm up to BC, who will obviously be there in the playoffs and who I imagine will win it all.

All the other games were nail-biters too. On sheet A, NWT again came close to a win but I was happy to see Strong's Newfoundlanders prevail. On Sheet B, Manitoba won over and on C a high-scoring affair saw King’s team defeat Quebec. On every sheet it came down to the last shot of the 10th end, and the spectators definitely were thrilled and rewarded for arriving early.

Monday, February 27, 2006

Draw Eight

Oh Canada was sung by a young man and the whole place sang with him—it was very loud! As always, being my patriotic self, I was very pleased by this. I noticed that Jennifer Jones always sang, and she was especially congratulatory to the singer on this occasion. Many of the other curlers always sang... a little different from watching hockey where the players seem to be listening to something else entirely.

There was a crazy game on Sheet A: Ontario was down and despite scoring 2 in the 9th, they didn’t have enough time to properly set up the 10th for a steal—it was too bad. But Quebec was on a roll! Yay Quebec!

Jennifer Jones was never really pressured in her games against NWT, joking and the whole team was socializing with Kerry Koe’s team. She even threw Kerry a little ‘compliment’, saying loudly (and I heard, three sheets away): “I think this one’s going to cause trouble” about a NWT rock, when really she was in no trouble. There was a little falter in the middle, but all in all the team played well, their best game of the week thus far, I’d say.

Alberta also had their best game of the tournament, blowing away Manitoba, who I have been not at all impressed with.

The best game was on my side of the arena, Sheet C, NS versus Newfoundland. Heather Strong—she reminds me of a cute little pony, not in a bad way!—played a good, cool game and forced errors from NS, ultimately resulting in a great final end to score three points for the win.

Draw Seven

The kids were back in the afternoon and were extremely noisy. I continued to watch Jennifer and formed a bit of an opinion as to her on-ice character: she seemed a little flirtatious, outgoing, liking to make others feel comfortable (she always congratulated the anthem singer, gave warm and genuine smiles to everyone… when not involved in a game!). She wears her emotions on her sleeve a little bit, gets up and down easily, and seems a little distracted by what’s going on around her. No other skip spent so much time glancing at the audience, or watching other games. She played PEI in this draw, and at the break she was up 5-1, laughing and cheery... Until PEI took 2 points in the 6th. I don’t think they were in any real danger though and she made more good shots to win.

None of the other games were interesting. And since I was still hung up on Team Canada, it didn’t really matter to me!

Draw Six

Monday morning, and I expected the place to be half deserted. Nope! Not only were there quite a few of us regular spectators, there were also a couple hundred crazy schoolkids in the upper levels. Each class seemed to have picked a different team to cheer for, and when the team marched out and were announced big cheers went up. Most of the curlers acknowledged the kids with smiles and waves.

I thought the singer of Oh Canada was a little over-the-top; apparently Colleen agreed because she was cracking up throughout the whole song. I never saw her sing along with Oh Canada. So perhaps she was cracking up about something else, not even listening to the anthem.

The best game was on the far sheet, an excellent game between NS and BC which ended in a heartbreaking loss for Colleen. Andrea Kelly continued her excellent play with a defeat of Cathy King. Kelly kept King off balance the entire game in an impressive display. The crowd was behind Kerry Koe as she nearly defeated PEI—I’m not at all fond of Gaudet’s team—NWT had a couple of close games now. They’re bound to get a win at some point.

I quite enjoyed watching Cathy King, as I felt she was in control of her team. My opinion would change a little as their luck continued to run down.

It was extremely cold in the arena. Outside it wasn’t any warmer and despite walking very fast I was chattering my teeth by the time I arrived at the Heart Stop Lounge. It was a giant room in the London Convention Centre and I had a quick look around before getting in line to get Team Alberta’s autograph. Cathy King was very warm but the others didn’t even look at you. The fifth was very sweet and offered me a pin, which I took.

Sunday, February 26, 2006

Draw Five

The evening draw featured three good games. Canada won a well-curled nail-biter over Quebec—I really thought Belisle was going to beat Jennifer. But Jenn had her confidence that game, smiling, relaxed, making two excellent doubles to keep that confidence up. Jill played really well and ultimately they just nipped Quebec. On Sheet C, Newfoundland fell behind but fought back and actually had a chance to score 4 in the 10th for the win. Georgina Wheatcroft, Lori Armitstead and others stood and watched but Heather missed the raise take-out and Manitoba won.

Then all attention turned to the near sheet where there was an outstanding exhibition by Ontario and NS. Scharf played excellently, as did Colleen, and she scored 2 in the 10th to send it to an extra end. An awesome double take-out by the Ontario second had the arena in a roar and Lori pumping her fist in the air on their behalf. But ultimately Colleen was cool and Krista missed a relatively easy draw by sliding it through the house, giving NS the steal and the win. The crowd was extremely supportive of both teams.

I noticed that Colleen has a very forceful personality—in a very quiet way—and also very decisive. On her team, Kim Kelly is the comedian, talking all the time to the rocks, to the other sweepers, to herself. Very funny. She said quietly to her teammates as they held off sweeping her rock: “Don’t let it trick you….”

Colleen saunters down to the far end of the sheet for her shots, as if there is all day to get there, slowly pushing her way along, looking down, introspective. Once there, she steps over the bumper, takes a drink, steps back over, gets in the hack, cleans her stone with her broom, adjusts her glasses, then pushes off. Smooth as silk. I pointed this routine out to Charles beside me: “You watch too much curling” was the reply.

There was a older guy in the crowd with a beret who called “On-taaar-iooooooo” to the delight of the crowd. Later in the week he brought a giant Ontario flag which he waved while calling out. He was a crowd favourite.

I left the arena with my heart pounding: what a display of curling! And then I faced the long walk home.

Draw Four

I arrived as the teams were finishing practice. Canada was way over on Sheet A playing Newfoundland, and I didn’t think it would be a very interesting game, not expecting much from the Heather Strong team. I started to chat with my seat mates. On my left were alternately a man and his wife (never at the same game) and then beyond them an older couple during the day, and their daughter and granddaughter at the evening draws.

The crowd was large and enthusiastic once again. My sheet had an excellent game featuring Quebec and Manitoba, with Quebec pulling off the win with a steal in the 10th. Sheet C had a relatively boring game between BC and NB, won by Kelly Scott, of course. I still wasn’t expecting too much from the juniors. And Canada on Sheet A got trounced by confident Heather Strong and her Newfoundlanders 9-3, with Canada giving up after 8 ends. This turned my head to look at Newfoundland, that’s for sure. Jennifer Jones was very discouraged, and sat alone at the end of the break, silent. PEI won over Saskatchewan, and I began to wish that Stefanie Lawton had made the Scott instead of Streifel, to make things even more interesting.

Draw Three

I confess… I didn’t go to the morning draw. The teams playing didn’t really interest me (only two sheets in play) so I took the opportunity to stay home and instead went early for the 2:30pm game.

I must describe the ugly pants. On TV, you don’t really realize how ugly they are. In fact, I quite liked the ones the Kleibrink squad wore in Torino. However, in person, they are ugly and wrinkly and very unflattering. I was surprised. Poor curlers! Funny though, after the second day… I no longer noticed the ugliness anymore. Too busy watching the curling and the players.

Saturday, February 25, 2006

Start of the Scott

I left Toronto early, then I settled in at my home for the next week. Then, with some trepidation and a hand-drawn map, I set out for the John Labatt Centre.

It took me almost 30 minutes, past some nice old houses, on a very nice afternoon. London downtown was fairly quiet, and a little run-down, but everywhere hung flags advertising the Scott and most shop windows had displays of hearts and curling paraphernalia. This made me smile, but I was still a little anxious as I headed for the JLC.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I arrived, as I thought I’d be the conspicuous as the only one there. I was dead wrong! The place was busy, and I went to my seat quietly: the Hot Shots competition was underway. Right away, I saw both Joneses, Colleen and Jennifer, and all my anxiety was gone, replaced by a little thrill: here I was, in the presence of my curling idols. I was instantly drawn in. They both made it to the semis, and competed on my side of the rink (Sheet D). It was fun to see this in person, as you only get little snippets on TV. Ultimately Colleen went on to win the whole thing and we all spilled out into the sunshine. I walked around the downtown a bit and then returned to the arena.

DRAW ONE
I arrived just after practice had ended, and settled in to my seat. The MC came out and announced the pipers. What I hadn’t realized from watching on TV was that when the pipers marched out at the head of the teams, the crowd stood. I loved that: clapping my hands in time with the pipes and focusing on the teams entering the arena. The curlers came in clapping too, marching in lines around the whole arena and then back to the start. Then Oh Canada was sung, the MC wished everyone good curling, and ‘let the games begin!’

My sheet had what I thought would be a good game, NS versus King’s AB crew, but Team Alberta was outplayed the whole game, and inevitably lost. The best game ended up being ON and Northwest Territories, on the far sheet, with Koe almost pulling off a first-game upset. NB’s young team skipped by towering Andrea Kelly trounced PEI, and Saskatchewan edged favourites BC.

After the game on my sheet, Colleen got a big cheer as she left the ice: all the fans I’ve heard for years have done so much complaining about her... and yet in person they love her. And I have to admit, I liked her too.

DRAW TWO
But it was the evening draw I was waiting for with baited breath: Team Canada’s debut. The afternoon draw went long with extra ends and I raced home the half hour jog and raced back again to make sure I was there when the piper’s first notes rang out. The fourth team out was headed by the Canada flag and then there was Jennifer, giving Scottie’s Little Softie (the big, ridiculous-looking mascot) a high-five like the other curlers, making her way up the arena and then back down my side of the sheet. She looked right at me as they paraded by and I dropped my eyes immediately with shyness: there was no one in the two rows ahead of me. The team was throwing things into the audience but they were out by the time they got to me.

My seats were pretty awesome, about 10 feet out from the home-end hog line, five rows up (but really only three, because of the ‘penalty box’). And despite the fullness of the arena, there was no one in front of me: and wouldn’t be, until Wednesday! The evening draw was not quite as full as the afternoon one, but it was still pretty good.

Watching their game closely, I was disappointed in Jennifer’s play and if it wasn’t for the rest of her team they’d have lost. She seemed to be frustrated, especially by a flash in the 5th end, leading to a steal of 2 by Manitoba. She sat silently on the break but they came back with 3 in the 6th. The tenth end was a little funny, especially as it appeared that there was going to be a hogged rock (by George or Jill I can’t remember) and the crowd was cheering like crazy to get it over and went wild when it finally made it. Cathy started laughing and I later watched the tape to see what she said: “Sweep a guard and the crowd goes nuts!” Yup, we’re crazy alright.

Canada won the game in the end. BC won their game against PEI handily, NB won another to top the leader board, and Quebec stole lots of points to win their game. I was impressed with the Quebec skip and her style of play and made a note to watch them, especially as I immediately recognized Marie-France Larouche, a past Scott runner-up and fan favourite, as their fifth player.

Back home, to watch curling! I wished I knew someone who would go with me to the Heart Stop Lounge with everyone else but instead I made the long and weary (and rather spooky) trek back home through the silent Saturday night streets of London.

Friday, February 24, 2006

The Scott Tournament of Hearts

Are you a curling newbie? What do you need to know about the Scott to enjoy my coverage? Well, first the format: there are twelve teams competing. Each province sends a team (10—heck if you don’t know curling maybe you don’t know Canada either!), the territories send a team, and then there are the defending champions, who come back as Team Canada. To represent your province, you need to win a bunch of so-called ‘playdowns’, encompassing larger and larger areas until you are at the provincial version of the Scott Tournament of Hearts. The winner, said to ‘win her province’, goes to the national championship to compete.

Notables at this years Scott include past-champion Cathy King of Alberta, the recent winner of the Canada Cup; Colleen Jones of Nova Scotia, a six-time champion back for a 20th shot at the championship; Kelly Scott of British Columbia, 3rd last year, and who narrowly missed becoming our Olympic representatives; Heather Strong of Newfoundland and Labrador, who’d had a poor showing last time out at the Scott in her hometown; Kerry Koe of the Territories, returned again for another try; Andrea Kelly of New Brunswick, last year’s Canadian Junior champion who’d actually failed to get out of her province for juniors and decided to have a go at the women’s!

There were also a bunch of, to me, relative unknowns: Janet Harvey of Manitoba, Krista Scharf of Ontario, Suzanne Gaudet of PEI, Eve Belisle of Quebec, Tracy Streifel of Saskatchewan.

But then again, Kleibrink was unknown to me before the Olympic trials!

And of course, the team I’d supported long before they made the finals of last year’s Scott: Jennifer Jones, Team Canada.

And this is the lineup. I was disappointed in the absence of Jenn Hanna and Stephanie Lawton, who’d brought such brilliant play to last year’s Scott, but thought I’d probably enjoy myself anyway. And one of these unknowns might just turn out to be a star… after all, after two years abroad, I hadn’t heard of Jennifer Jones until last year!

The tournament is a round robin: all teams play each of the others over 6 days, two games a day (except the first weekend). The top four teams make the playoffs. I’ll describe that format when we get there.

For curling basics… well, check out this website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curling. I’m not going to teach it here. Chances are you’ve at least watched some curling if you are interested in my blog!

Oh and fair warning... though I did write and date these posts as shown, they were not published til much later and occasionally you'll see that I jumped ahead... a writer's liberty taken, I suppose.

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Curling does rock

This site is dedicated to curling. Not just the game and the tournaments and what-have-you, but also the curlers. I love women's curling, I think it is way more fun to watch than the men's. And I will lay out my argument to anyone who dares question me!

This weekend I'm off to the premier curling event for women in the world, The Scott Tournament of Hearts. No, not the Olympics or the Worlds but rather the Canadian championships. After all, 90% of the best teams are in Canada (made that statistic up, but it's gotta be pretty close). And that makes for some GOOD curling.

I'm mainly going because it's fairly local and because my current favourite team, Team Jennifer Jones, will be there. Also the recent Canada Cup winner Cathy King, and some more veterans such as Colleen Jones and Heather Strong. I am very excited as this will be the first time I've gone to watch a major event in person. My prediction for the playoffs: Cathy King and Colleen Jones will probably be there. Fingers crossed for Jennifer and Team Canada...