Let’s talk curling: USA-Sweden gold medal match
This is the pinnacle for my particular niche sport, so let's talk curling
Some of you asked for it, so here it is.
TV: NBC Sports Network, or streaming apps.
Some of you asked for it, so here it is.
TV: NBC Sports Network, or streaming apps.
Always enjoy watching Olympic curling. Glad that its caught on just enough to make NBC air a good portion of it on the TV side of things instead of having to watch a stream.
I love the light Blue shirts they are wearing this year and here’s hoping this isnt like the NFC championship game where the USA beating Canada was not their own personal gold medal match.
As a Vikings fan, I hear that. Let’s hope it’s nearly as entertaining as the last 4 matches have been.
I’m here! Just took a nap and good to go. Is that a picture of the Albany club?
Yup.
Since there may be some curling folk here that watched the last Canada match, why did Canada set most of their guards on the left side of the ice during the last end? Was it just to force the US to continually throw that way to clear the path to the house?
Canada set the stones in the middle. The US knocked them aside. When you don’t have the hammer and you need to prevent a point, it’s in your interest to clog up the middle. The US did a good job of knocking their center guards to the side (tick shots) to keep the middle wide open.
Ok, thanks.
Those double takeouts are pretty awesome looking.
That’s the difference between club players and the national guys. I’ve had a few of those, but it’s usually aspirational or accidental. They can just dial them up.
And how both teams have been threading the needle between the two stones consistently…I am guessing another difference?
Absolutely. That “port” is huge for them. Tiny for me.
I don’t know if you golf, but it’s like if you’re just starting out, a guy who shoots in the low 80s looks unbelievable. When that guy in the low 80s plays with the pros, he looks completely overmatched. They waste far fewer shots.
Yep…makes sense.
They are memorable for us, and workmanlike for them.
Nice shot by Hamilton there. Kept the shooter in.
Aaand, a beautiful double take by Sweden.
Another question that I haven’t heard answered…is there always the same throwing order? Will Shuster always throw his two last b/c he is skip? Or can they change it throughout the match?
Nope, the order is set.
I guess you would always want your best throwing the stones last anyway.
That is correct. The guy with the hammer is generally their best player and team captain
And, not that anybody asked, but my 10-second game preview: Sweden dominated the round robin. They’ve been best in the world for a year. However, the U.S.’s run prevention, to use a baseball term, has been terrific for the past four games. They’ll have to keep doing that to have a chance.
I believe the US was highest scoring team…but allowed the second most points.
Let’s hope they can continue their recent success of run prevention.
Wow. Amazing by George.
Please don’t show Ivanka.
Ha.
Awesome again. That was something.
And there’s one of them doubles. Huge for Shuster.
Right. Due to my impatience I really didn’t realize how long an end really can be and how important each end builds up with each stone thrown.
This is a messy end for both teams.
US is lucky Sweden missed the double. They might be able to kick out of disaster.
Edin missed both his shots. Whew.
Looks like a steal.
The measuring tool comes out. Haven’t seen that yet this Olympics.
I have seen it a few times…it kinda looks like a weird gauge they use though.
Before we bought one, we used a homemade one that involved rubber bands. These are better.
Would like to see a picture of that.
Pretty sure there is no documented evidence of it. It only got used once or twice. Needless to say it didn’t work very well.
As the match goes on, are there noticable paths that get worn into the ice toward the house?
More in terms of speed. A worn path is faster, but it doesn’t wear a groove in the ice.
I see.
The strategy talk is great.
Tyler George is bringing it tonight.
Gah. US still in good shape, but that was a big missed opportunity.
Light was the way to miss that shot. Surprised Shuster went all the way through.
Damn. Could be a huge miss.
It seems like Sweden couldn’t have placed those last two stones better than that.
For your intermission enjoyment, here’s me curling on TV: http://www.fox32chicago.com/mornings/chicago-curling-club-offering-programs-and-leagues
I am in the light blue jacket and panda hat.
Nice Laura. Looks like a great place to play.
It makes me feel better when these guys miss run backs, because I do too.
So are there judges to score the accuracy of the intent of a shot? Is that how the percentages are tabulated?
You can get up to five points per shot. Someone assigns a score for each shot based on intent and result.
Thanks. I have been wondering how the percentages they have been throwing up there work.
Hey, I could miss that shot.
This is a momentous shot for Edin.
Get this double, Shuster.
And now Shuster
FIVE!
Holy shit, Shuster.
I hear Hawk screaming “yes!” at the top of his lungs.
Is that gonna be game?
In a regular game, yes. In the gold medal game, you at least play the 9th and see what happens.
That accuracy make it look easy…which I am positive it is not.
You can put that on the board!
YES!
Pretty amazing. Thanks for the curling knowledge all…greatly appreciated.
I really enjoyed the run this team went on and just helps reaffirm why sport is so damn great.
I’m watching for the first time. It’s Pétanques on ice! Very exciting.
Welcome to the bandwagon. Plenty of room!
Six stones from making that movie.
Jim, I tweeted at you Sunday about how disappointing Shuster was playing during that Norway game and pretty much wrote them off. I am glad I was completely wrong.
So did I. That missed takeout is unthinkable now.
That’s spinorama is the spirit of curling. Make that damn movie.
This match made me so warm and fuzzy.
Drambuie time.
Wow, wish I would have seen this post ahead of the game. Let me just announce that CURLING SUCKS!… At least for 4 more hours, until the Swedish women play their final.
Man, I really thought Edin was going to win this one. USA played with such confidence though, and it sort of felt like Edin had given up already half way through the final. He simply didn’t have his usual energy.
And no, Curling doesn’t suck, I really love it. I’m just a really sore loser at times! I recently dominated the Mini Curling event in Olsympics (sic!) so I know I must be good at the actual sport to.
At least the women took care of business for you. They put on a clinic.
It really helped! Also seeing Edin and the guys in the audience smiling made me feel more relaxed. Plus: It was the USA and not Canada who won the men’s gold, that’s very helpful in curling specifically 🙂
Nice to see the homeland represented at the Olympics, even if it’s only in rock form.