15 years ago...

Very happy today! I will be returning to a National Championship!



My team – namely Alanna Routledge, Mikey Kennedy and Joëlle St-Hilaire won the Mixed Provincial Championship at TMR Curling club this past weekend. We beat Tom Wharry in the semis, and then snuck by Phil Lemay in the finals in what could best be described as an unusual game.

My last trip to a National Curling Championship was some 15 years ago, playing 2^nd on a mixed team skipped by none other than Guy Hemmings.

How long ago was it? Well, to give you an idea, 15 years ago:

- The internet was really only for nerds

- My 2^nd (Mike K) had not even taken up curling yet. (Although he says he had already gotten the drinking part down). I was actually at Lachine CC the day he and 3 of his drunken buddies stumbled into the club and said “We wanna curl!”
- TSN actually covered the Mixed on TV (the semis and finals at least)
- Princess Diana was still alive
- Jonathan Mead, Kevin Koe, Mike Fournier, and the sweeping tools we used all had hair.
- AMJ Campbell Van Lines launches its exciting new commercial featuring Russ Howard!
- My lead and 3^rd were starting 1^st Grade.
- The Korean Women’s Team from the Worlds were not born. (Or at least they look that young)
- People went to Dunkin Donuts, not Tim Horton’s.
- Only cool people had a cell phone – text messages came from Western Union.
- “Google” was the term used for trying to sneak a peek under a girl’s curling kilt when she bent down to call sweeping, and if you saw something good you would say “Yahoo”.  (I hadn't yet met my wife!). As in "I googled Marylin Bodough when she was making that sweeping call, and Yahoo!".

It certainly does seem like a long time ago.

So where do we get to travel to for our National Championship? TMR. About a 20 minute drive from my house (no traffic).

Actually – I think it will be very cool to be the home team at Nationals; we will get to introduce curlers from all over the country to Montreal delicacies such as Smoked Meat, Poutine and Chez Parée. Should be an awesome week – and amazingly the finals fall on the day of my birthday!

 

***

Some random observations from the Women’s World Championships:

- Was impressed by the level of play in the final – watched the last 3-4 ends of Sweden-Switzerland, and saw some brilliant shot-making. Mirjam Ott still looks seriously freaky when she throws a stone, but she’s got game.

- I like watching Heather Nedohin on TV for the same reason I like watching NASCAR; you never know when there will be a crash. She made some seriously weird calls. It’s amazing how roles have reversed – 10 years ago Canadian Women were always seen as by far the best curling strategists in the world, now they look weak compared to Sweden, Scotland and Switzerland.

- The Korean team was pretty good for a bunch of 12 year olds.

- The Ford on the ice looked too realistic. It looked like there was a car parked on the ice. Glad I do not have a 3D TV.

- Eve Muirhead might have missed playoffs, but she is still smokin’ hot.

Oh - and someone posted this pic of the Swiss 3rd, Carmen Schaefer this morning. I think I will Google her, and then say "Yahoo"!

***

Kurling For Kids:

I have very little curling left this season – all of one game left in the club. But this Saturday I am playing in Kurling for Kids.

Kurling for Kids is a fundraising curling day that raises money for Montreal area Children’s hospitals – a very worthy cause. So here is your chance to show me how much you loved reading my blog this season – throw a few bucks to a worthy cause through the website – or if you prefer e-mail me directly to buy some Kurling for Kids raffle tickets (the prizes this year are awesome: trips to Hawaii, iPads, KLM passes). All donations get either a tax receipt or a "Thank You" raffle ticket ($5 gets you one raffle ticket, $20 gets you 7).

It’s for the kids!!! Be generous!!! Here is the link to sponsor my team. Anything helps!!!

Kurling for Kids - Sponsor Team Awesome!!!

Thanks!!!

Brier recap - and So Long to K-Y

Thus ends another Brier. Here are some thoughts:

- Glenn Howard wins, as expected. The final itself was a perfect Sunday night final –free of any drama or excitement that would cause you to have any difficulty sleeping. SportsCenter on TSN described the game as a narrow 7-6 victory that came down to last stone. Were they watching the same game? This one was never close. It never felt close. It was a complete domination.

- The bronze medal game is here to stay. This year featured a game with two teams who looked like wanted to be there. There was less pressure, great shot-making – and it resulted in by far the most entertaining game of the weekend. This was what the bronze medal game should be!

 - Now that the Brier is over, Rob Fowler can get back to his day job: professional Matthew Perry impersonator.

- Best line from the Brier: Wayne Middaugh to Glenn Howard, after finding out that there were only a few inches of separation between two stones, and not the six inches that he was told by the front end: “Well, I guess everybody has a different idea of what 6 inches is.”

-It was fun to see the contrast between Team Howard and Team Koe – two teams on the opposite end of the intensity spectrum. The strength of Team Howard to me has always been their ability to stay loose and focussed, making jokes and not taking themselves too seriously. Team Koe on the other hand barely cracked a smile for 3 hours. I am not saying one style works better than the other - both styles can work – but you need to find teammates that share the same approach as you. I am definitely more of a Team Howard kinda guy – and when I have played with super-intense serious guys it usually results in disaster. It’s Lee Trevino vs. Jack Nicklaus, or Rory McIlroy vs. Tiger Woods if you prefer a more up-to-date comparison.  

- I will claim responsibility for the Gazette devoting some ink to Brier coverage this weekend, as surprisingly many of you took the time to scribble a note to our esteemed local purveyor of news. Now we just need to get them to cover the local curling scene a bit better! (thanks for cc'ing me to those who took the time!)

 ***

I am completely out of the loop this year as far as which teams are changing and which are sticking together. All I know is my phone has not been ringing off the wall with offers (still waiting for the Jeff Stoughton call). This being Quebec, I can’t imagine all the teams will be sticking it out. Usually Quebec teams get changed more often than my 1-month old daughter (and often for the same reason: can’t stand the smell anymore).  

Usually the guy who goes to the Brier is the one team that does not change – although even that was proven wrong last season. Of course everybody knows that the key to being a great team is to stick together – like Martin, Howard, Koe who have more or less kept the same teams over the past 5-6 years. But the temptation to try something new – to catch lightning in a bottle is too great for many.

 ***

I lost a curling friend of mine this week, rather unexpectedly. Kevin Yerbury, a man so smooth and easy-going that his nickname was K-Y, passed away Brier Sunday at the tender young age of 52. I have curled with/against Kevin for over 20 years, first at Lachine, then Glenmore. He was a fun, big-hearted guy with a smile that was almost as wide as is outurn usually was.

My best Kevin Story was getting snowed in at Lachine CC after a Calcutta or something in a crazy March blizzard with about dozen people.   We ended up spending the night at the curling club until a plow came by at around 6am to “rescue” us.

Kevin’s passing certainly caused me to stop and reflect. It’s easy to put off our goals and dreams, thinking we can get back to them when we have more time. Glenn Howard is pushing 50, and still trying to get to the Olympics. Kevin was 52 and looking forward to curling in seniors. Moral of the story: don’t put anything big off. Do it now – there might not be a later.  

Random Thoughts from the Brier

I love Brier week. This year the Brier happened to fall on my kids' spiring break, and the last week of my paternity leave. So I actually got to watch some bits and pieces of games. (note: a week of spring break with 3 kids at home is really not a "break" - it will feel like a "break" when I am back at work next week).

·         Brier week is the ultimate showcase for curling. It gives curlers a chance to watch a ton of curling on TV. It is also one of the great amateur sports events on the planet. The Grand Slams offer much better curling –with a better field of the top teams, but they will never be able to approach the Brier in terms of prestige –and tradition. 

·         Quebec had a respectable week, finishing at 4-7. As expected, Bob was entertaining. The boys just did not put up decent enough numbers to win games. Russ Howard called Bob the best 71% curler in the competition, and Bob called himself the best 1-4 team at the Brier, (at the same time that Gushue was 1-4). sad fact: you just will not win many games if you cannot curl above 80% consistently as a team. They had some great moments, especially when they were on TV – they just seemed to be sandwiched between some pretty awful shots.

·         I am glad I have HD, otherwise I would have never known that Pat Simmons from Alberta was trying to grow a beard. I have dated women with thicker beards.

·         It was awesome to see Jamie Koe from the Terrotories making the playoffs, the first time ever for a team from the North. I like these guys. I played Jamie in Saskatoon a few years ago. We beat him in a C-qualifier in a cash spiel, and then proceeded to drink with him for the next 7-8 hours. Jamie and his team are old school curlers – they believe in partying hard regardless of where they are in a tournament. Earlier this season, they lost the finals of a big cashspiel while simultaneously emptying the contents of multiple kegs of beer at the curling club bar. This is a role model!

·         Glenn Howard and team are just too good - especially with Middaugh. I think they will win it all this time. Maybe if they win, they can get Wayner some chin implants.

·         The “Rockumentary” on Team Howard that TSN showed endlessly this week felt a little like a collection of bad home videos. Not sure what the point was. I like these guys, but this was 30 minutes of my life I will never get back.

·         The Northern Ontario front end scares the shit out of me. These guys look like they could bench press my entire team. I’m not saying their front end is on steroids, but their coach was Ben Johnson, and their 5^th man was Jose Canseco. Seriously though, these guys need to spend a little  less time in the gym, more time curling. In curling, brains usually wins over braun. Maybe they should quit curling – and try to get to the arm wrestling national championships, like Sylvester Stallone in this horrible 80s movie:

     (maybe I am just jealous – my wife seemed to watch their sweeping a little more intently than the scrawny PEI guys who looked more like Kermit the Frog sweeping up the backstage at the Muppet theater).

·         Rob Fowler has been solid this week after a bad start. After looking like a club curler in his first Brier game against Quebec – Rob played some solid big-hit curling. They controlled most of their games – and have a good shot at beating either of the the Koes to get to the final.

·         Gushue was awful this week. He looked pretty bad out on the tour this year as well, so this was not a complete shocker. Expect some team changes here. His front end has been killing him all year, and Fry is just not a 3rd. Nicholls certainly leaves a pair of big shoes to fill.

·         PEI was not nearly as bad as last year. I think they would likely go 5-2 or 4-3 in my club's A-ladder.

·         I honestly enjoyed watching the crappy games more than the good games this year. Alberta-Ontario was a snooze-fest. They are just too good. But NS – NB? It’s a little like watching Nascar – you are just watching for the crash.  There are strategy mistakes, there are good shots – there are bad shots – there are 3-enders, 4-enders - there are a million rocks in play no matter what the score is. Way more fun for an armchair skip.

·         The Saskatchewan team looked like a seriously nerdy bunch of nice guys. I would like to have seen them play a little better for the home crowd. Their games were also fun to watch.

·         Ok – here is a Pet Peeve of mine: The Brier was going on this week – but it was hard to find anything but the standings available in the Gazette sports section. Once again, the Brier gets relegated to the same back-page status as bobsleigh times and European cycling results. So why do they not cover the Brier more? TSN released numbers that they get the same level of viewership for curling as they do for NHL hockey or CFL football. Curling has become one of their pillars. I guess the Gazette thinks that nobody cares. They neglect that there are thousands of curlers in the Montreal area that care about curling. So what can we do?

Here is my plan:

Let’s all e-mail the Gazette sports editor, Stu Cowan:  scowan@montrealgazette.com and tell him the following:

“Stu: I want more curling coverage in the Gazette, and so do all of my friends!” or something similar.

It will only take you a minute, and if they get a mere 10 or 20 e-mails like this, they will likely start to listen. If you can, mention this to any senior curlers that you might know. (in my experience, old people still read newspapers, and actually take the time to sit down and write letters to the editor when they are angry). My goal is to get at least one letter published in the Letters section bemoaning the Gazette’s lacklustre curling coverage. So let’s use our voice and raise the profile of our sport in Quebec!

Pour mes amis francophones, je suis certain que la couverture du curling dans La Presse et le Journal de cette semaine était probablement aussi faible que la Gazette – ils méritent surement une lettre aussi!

I want a Schticky! (and other random observations from the Scotties)

Some random observations from the Scotties from a guy on paternity leave who was watching TV while simultaneously changing diapers (shitballs!), having a tea party and playing attic baseball:

- Heather Nedohin is certainly entertaining to watch. It’s nice to see a little passion on the ice for a change. After watching Robo-Stoughton in men’s, and the ever-demure Kelly Scott, it surely adds a bit of spice for the TV viewer to see someone as expressive as Nedohin as our National champion.

- For my money, Jenny Jones is still the best women’s curling team on the planet, despite their 3rd place finish. They just need to find a way to get Kaitlyn Lawes shooting as well on the Scotties final weekend as she does every other day of the year. You can’t win a National title if your 3^rd is not making shots in big games.

- A great effort from the Quebec side. Marie-France seems to have put together a strong team that she can build on for the next few years. While Marie-France and Brenda have been to the Scotties a bunch of times, this is a new team, and 4^th place is an exceptional result. They finished ahead of a lot of big names, including defending champ Amber Holland. Let’s hope they stick together.

- Speaking of sticking... I want a Schticky. I want the Big Schticky. I want the little Schticky too. I need to deal with that shedding pussy. Seriously – this Vince guy is a genius. He has figured out that if you make a commercial entertaining – he can get 10 views on-line for every paid commercial he puts on during the Scotties. Genius. In case you don’t know what I am talking about, here is the link to the Schticky ad on Youtube - genius.  The Schticky (youtube)

- The often maligned bronze-medal game will once again result is calls for its removal. Jennifer Jones looked thoroughly unimpressed at having to play for 3^rd place Sunday morning. After winning – I think I actually saw her shrug her shoulders and sigh. There was no jumping up and down or rejoicing. Only Marie-France and team looked like they wanted to be there. It was a shame they could not finish that one off.

- 2 commercials I always see during curling that need to be retired - now:

1.       AMJ Campbell van lines – where 2 guys move a TV from the 1980s that magically keeps showing a much younger Russ Howard curling at a skins game while the movers carry it around. Sad fact - if you still own an old TV that requires two guys to carry it around – you probably can’t afford to hire professional movers. I think this commercial is at least 10 years old - and it was not good then. 

2.       Jennifer Jones forgetting her damn Scotties tissues and sliding across the store to get a box. I find myself hoping for the mannish looking lady in the aisle to just once ram Jones with her shopping cart as she slides by and then say “Clean-up in aisle 2”.

- Russ Howard is the best curling commentator of all time.

- Nobody really talked about this, but WTF?:  After Nedohin thought she had missed the draw to win the semi-final against Jones – she immediately went and took off her shoes before the measure! What!?! Who does that?   Who takes their shoes off before shaking hands with the other team? I would say it was classless, but I think it was more a question of clueless. I assume TSN did not have a live feed to her microphone during the measure – or the Scotties would have to be rated NC-17.

- Speaking of Nedohin and profanity, what exactly did Nedohin mean when she was caught uttering “Shitballs” after missing a draw earlier in the week? Was she referring to spherically-shaped excrement, or did she in fact utter two swear words: shit and balls. Neither one really makes sense to me - it seemed like a rather random piece of scatological profanity.  Maybe she is plugging for a future sponsorship from Cottonelle Toilet Paper. “Trouble with Shitballs? Use Cottonelle!”  

- Not related to curling: If Jesus Christ were to sing the US National anthem as a duet with the prophet Mohammed, with Fidel Castro, Maurice Richard and the Queen of England on back-up vocals at the next Habs game, it would get less media coverage than the NHL trade deadline does on TSN. They have 789 analysts talking about trades that are not going to happen.  I am a hockey fan- but I do not give a shit that Nashville is looking for a 3^rd line center. Anybody who complains about TSN having too much curling coverage should be tied to a chair Clockwork-Orange style and forced to watch the panel talk about the top 50 most likely to be traded players. Just sayin....

Brier starts this weekend - will be back to discuss later this week.

Shitballs and a phone call from Jeff Stoughton.

Mid week at the Scotties-  Marie-France is at 6-3 and looking like a lock to make the playoffs, maybe even the 1-2 game. Go Quebec!

I am a big fan of this team. We actually spent some time with them this year – we seemed to have the same draw at a couple of out of town spiels. So if you were wondering, they are as nice in person as they seem on TV.

While Marie-France has not been shooting the lights out – she seems to be making the shots that count. And has any skip will tell you, it’s not about how many shots you make – if you can make the right ones.

More importantly, they look confident they are going to win. There is nothing like a streak of close wins to make you feel like you will always win your next game.

***

Favourite moment so far: Heather Nedohin – skip of Alberta caught on TSN saying “Shitballs” after missing a shot. Awesome use of profanity Heather!

I will not judge. I have to admit, when I curl I swear like a drunken sailor who just stubbed his toe on the bedpost after finding his girlfriend in bed with his ship captain. I have used words that would make Hugh Hefner blush. So I am not sure what would come out of my mouth if I missed a big shot on TV.

But honestly, it was nice to see a little intensity from someone at the Scotties. Everybody is a little bit too sunshine and lollipops at this year's event. Where is the eye of the tiger? Where is the steely-eyed stare of a champion. Only Jennifer Jones seems like she means business. 

I was watching Kelly Scott from BC, and she actually says things like “aw shucks” when she misses. Btw - Kelly Scott sounds exactly like the receptionist from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. You be the judge: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHa1zTLrXO8

   
***

So Mike – what are you doing next season? I seem to be getting this question a lot lately – so here is a phone conversation I had last week:

Ring – Ring...

- Hello?

- Hello Mike? Jeff Stoughton here.

- Hey Jeff, nice to hear from you. Tough loss at provincials this year buddy.

- Yeah. It sucks to be the World Champion – and to not be invited back to the Brier.

- Indeed.

- Well Mike – let me get to the point. I have decided a need a new bald, toe-tucking third. Mead just is not cutting it any more. And we think you are the guy.

- Really Jeff? You do realise that I did not even make it to Quebec provincials this year?

- Yes, but your talent and ability has shown through. I blame your team. Also, we saw how well it worked for Jennifer Jones to pick up a Frenchy from Quebec - with that “Joelle” chick.

- Yeah, but I am not actually French Jeff, I just have a French name.

- Trust me buddy, nobody out here will notice the difference.

- OK – I am in – sign me up!

- Great! Welcome to the team! By the way – you will have to move you and your family to Winnipeg. Or maybe Flin Flon. Or Gimli.

- Hmmm – let me get back to you

Okay – this conversation did not really happen. So to answer those who have been asking, I have no idea what is going on next year. And being up to my ass in diapers, school lunches and sleep deprivation, I will tell you that it is not the first thing on my mind these days!

***

Big Congrats to Pierre Charette and team who won the senior men's and are on their way to Abbotsford, BC!!! As I have said before, Pierre is the smartest curler in the world - it would be nice to see these guys come back with a national championship. It has been a while since Quebec actually won something at a national level. (I believe William Dion's junior team was our last national champion, and that was a bunch of years ago). Yes, Marie France still has an outside shot at the Scotties - but I would bet on Pierre being our best shot at a National Title this year.

Bob is back at the Brier - and my minivan has 275 HP!

Sorry I have not blogged in a couple of weeks...have been rather busy on the home front with a new arrival.  Hospitals, sleep deprivation and diaper changing are just not conducive to creative writing, or for that matter giving a rat’s ass about all things curling.

So Bob is back at the Brier...

Robert Desjardins completed a solid week of curling by winning the Quebec Men’s provincial championships, and will be off to the Brier in Saskatoon in March.

Is this an upset? Absolutely. Bob and his team were thoroughly average all season – showing very few signs of potential. They looked mediocre when we played them (although I think we were 1-1 against him this season).  But thisis not that big an upset. Bob and team have paid their dues. I have said in the past that Bob was the Phil Mickelson of curling – and now, like Phil, seems to be able to close the deal. He drew the button on his last rock in an extra end to beat Phil Lemay.

As spectators, we are quick to label players as “chokers”, and Bob always seemed to carry that label. We see player miss a big shot in a big game – and we say CHOKE!

Yes, Bob has “choked” in the past. But really, Bob has been in the payoffs at Provincials probably 10-12 times in the last 15 years. He went to the Brier last year – and yet still does not seem to get the respect he deserves. Well, I think the choker label is now gone for good.    

How will they do? Sadly, I predict no better then 6-5. But I will be cheering. Hard. Go Quebec!

I sincerely hope that TSN and RDS will feature at least a few Quebec games at the Brier - especially with Bob. Having played Bob a number of times - I can guarantee that it will make for good TV.

The format – and the Venue

This year, the provincials were held in a curling club (instead of an arena), and used a triple knockout format instead of the usual round robin. I have not heard from any of the players to hear if they liked it or not.

But Guy Hemmings has given his opinion: Guy used his blog on the CCA site to treat Curling Quebec the same way my new daughter Sophie treats her Pampers.

Here is the link: Guy's Blog

Guy suggested that Curling Quebec has erred in pulling the event from arenas – and that CQ needs to take control of event organization – and to use an event promoter to generate the sponsorship required to turn the men’s provincials into a huge event.

I personally like the way Guy is thinking. The growth of the sport in Quebec requires a showman – a promoter – a Don King to “Show me the Money” and make the Quebec provincials into a giant arena-filling-super-event that showcases everything that is great about curling.

I LOVE IT! Let’s pack the Bell Center! I can see it now:

The Ford-Videotron-Hydro-Quebec Men’s Curling Provincial Championship! There would be scalpers selling tickets to this sold-out event! There would be music – and spotlights - and cheerleaders – we need cheerleaders! Let’s dream big!  I am getting an erection just picturing it.  

But seriously...

I am a big fan of dreaming big dreams. (If “Dreaming Big” had a Facebook page – I would click “like”). But in the meantime, Curling Quebec has to manage this event in the real world. CQ needs to find committees to organise. CQ needs to find arenas willing to give up 8+ days of ice time in hockey-mad Quebec in February. CQ needs to find companies willing to sponsor events that – as of today - do not generate significant enough exposure to be a worthwhile investment. And they need to try to do the same for women’s as well, all while operating on a decreasing budget (as fewer and fewer teams are participating and paying entry fees).  

So I am not as quick as Guy to condemn the choices Curling Quebec has made. I believe Curling Quebec is doing the best it can with the cards it has been dealt. Guy's proposal is like his hair: popular but unmanageable.

Ok – not related to curling – but just need to vent:

Somebody has to explain to me why I can fit three grown adults across the back seat of my SUV, but there is no room for three friggin’ car seats. I feel like the automotive industry is trying to force me into buying the vehicular equivalent of a vasectomy: the minivan.

I do not want a minivan. I sat behind the wheel of a Honda Odyssey at the dealer’s the other day. This thing feels huge. I felt like I should be wearing brown shorts and dropping off UPS parcels instead of shuttling my kids to school. Admittedly, it would be handy for long curling trips (especially with the DVD player), but it still just seems like overkill to me.

To make it worse, the dealer tries to sell me on the sexy 275 horsepower that it generates. Dude, I am driving a minivan, not drag racing. Do you think I care how fast it goes from zero to one hundred? Do you think I am going to add spoilers and mag wheels and drive it down to the Orange Julep on Sunday Afternoons? ITS A MINIVAN!
Just make sure it has tinted windows so I can be anonymous.

My Astrologer picks JM - and no more curling on the CBC

First of all - yes I am bitter. I wanted to be at provincials this year, but as many know - we managed to throw up on ourselves in our regional playdown. So I get to stay home on watch provincials on the internet. Grrr.

On the bright side, my extremely pregnant wife is somewhat grateful that I will not be a 5-hour drive away from home in case our 2034 Scotties champion arrives a few days ahead of her expected date. Let's just say that the C-Section that I will be watching will not be one that happens after you lose in the B.

But I will make some predictions. I have consulted experts in Las Vegas, I have called the psychic hotline, I have consulted an astrologer, and I have gazed into a crystal ball. I have come down from the mountaintop - and I will share this knowledge with you. So here are the teams and their odds of winning.

1. JM Ménard:  (2-1)

Once again, JM is the odds-on favorite to win. They won a lot this year. They won in Gatineau. They won at Glenmore. They won in Ottawa. they played well at the Slam. They were far and away the best team in Quebec this year. If they do not win, it will be an upset. But, as we found out last season, the finals come down to one game. The astrologer I consulted said:
"With the moon and Jupiter in alignment with Aquarius, Your energies will be  high this week and anything you set out to do will have successful end results." I guess this means they will either be going to the Brier, or they are all going to score at the Eclipse (the Montagnais hotel bar) during the week. My bet is the Brier.

2. Marty "Ferly" Ferland: (5-1)

Marty has been on the edge for a few years now. He probably should have gone 2 years ago, and then had a disastrous 3-6 finish in last year's provincials. I believe this is the only team at provincials that has remained unchanged from last year. I predict a good showing for these guys - but they need to start well. This team is driven by emotion - for better or for worse. If things start well - they will destroy a lot of teams - if they start badly, they will destroy a lot of brooms and scoreboards.

3. Serge "the Surgeon" Reid (6-1)

I believe I am on a personal 35-game losing streak against this team. I never want to play these guys again.
Serge was a Cinderella story at Provincials a few years ago, and has played well ever since. Sadly, they have lost Pierre Charette and his giant brain for provincials - who is unavailable due to his commitments to the Grand Slam. I don't expect them to be in the finals - but whenever I count these guys out, they kick ass and prove me wrong.

4. Robert "Magic Bob" Desjardins (10-1)

Bob can do it all. He can make every shot. He can walk on his hands. He can play tennis. But can he take this team to the Brier? I don't think so. But maybe now that Bob has broken the ice and gone to the Brier, perhaps his home-made Sugis have a little more magic left in them.

5. Simon "Nicotine" Dupuis: (10-1)

This team certainly has a lot of experience. And by that I mean that they are old. Very old. Their front end is over 100 years old. This experience and stability will surely help the frequently unstable Simon Dupuis, who looks like he should have a cigarette pack health warning printed on his jacket.


6. Phil Lemay: (10-1)

This team is the extreme opposite of Simon Dupuis. They are young. I won't do the math, but I am guessing that they are less than half the combined age as Simon's team. With youth comes talent, endurance, and a lack of experience and poise. Phil certainly has the tools, and his team is not short of talent. These guys will win some games they are expected to lose, and will lose some games they are expected to win.


7. Steeve Gagnon:  (10-1)

I am especially angry at these guys, given that they knocked us out at regionals.
Steeve is a seriously under-rated skip in Quebec. He has skipped at the Brier, and its easy to see why. He is calm, and rarely seems unnerved. I am going to pick these guys to be a surprise this week...they will not win it all but will be playing well into the weekend.


8. Francois Gagné: (12-1)

I know these guys guys are the defending champs (although they have lost Magic Bob at 3rd), but they have had a season almost as brutal as mine...but managed to sneak through Montreal playdowns on their last life. I can't see them doing very well this weekend, but whop really predicted them winning last year?

9. Fred Marchand:  (15-1)

This team is sponsored by a mattress company, and they will likely lay down pretty early.

10. Simon Hebert: (20-1)

Simon is magic in the mixed, having won three times in a row. Unfortunately for him, this is not the mixed. My astrologer predicts an early exit for the boys from far away.

11. Kevin Golberg  (30-1)

A blast from the past...Kevin is a grizzled veteran that many younger curlers have never even heard of. However, he has not played much lately. As a matter of fact, he told me he hadn't played more than 10 games all season. Unfortunately, he told me this as they were kicking my ass at regionals. Thanks Kevin.
These guys will likely only be competing to not be the first team eliminated.


12. Pierre Gervais (25-1)

Pierre has moments. This will likely not be one of them. Another team that will be sleeping in their own beds by the weekend.


So who will win? The last 2 years have been upsets - but this year the favorite will prevail.
JM at the Brier - you read it here first.

***


No Curling on the CBC

This week, the CBC surprised the curling world by pulling out of their commitment to show the Grand Slams on the CBC, leaving the tour scrambling to find a replacement TV deal.

Why did they pull out? Not sure- but apparently it is over some financial issues with the company representing the Grand Slams.

Either way - we will not likely see the Martin-Stoughton or McEwan-Howard final.

My question is this:
Have the Grand Slams jumped the shark? Have we seen enough of these? Do we need more curling?

We have the Brier. We have the Olympics. We have the Canada Cup. We have the skins game. We have the World Championships. We have the Scotties. We have the (yawn) Continental Cup. We have the Junior Championships.
Is it possible that we now have too much of a good thing? Do we need to see more curling on TV?

Honestly, I am as big a curling fan as there is - and you cannot pry me away from my TV during the Brier, but to be honest - I can take or leave the Slams. I get the impression that the only people really disappointed by the CBC's decision are the players.
Maybe - there should be only one big televised tour event - like the Tour Championship - instead of the 4 Grand Slam spiels.

Surely the Tour will scramble and find another network (likely Sportsnet) to pick up the coverage where the CBC has left off, but maybe its time to re-think how-much curling we need to have on TV.