BS: Gold for GB/Scottish curlers

Subject: Gold for GB/Scottish curlers
From: Cobble
Date: 22 Feb 02 - 02:05 PM

Great to see the GB team win gold, congratulations to Rhona and her team.

I have been very sad at some of the comments made by some TV personel, ie. "they are not sports people only a bunch of house wives", "curling is not a sport its just ice dusting"!!!

I'm sure Team GB gave their all and no dought their families have made some sacrifices so they could go to Salt Lake City.

This attitude of media presenters is a poor show, curling may not be everyones sport but these folk are sending out the same message as they do when having a go at folk music and morris dancing , if its old and traditional its to be sneered at!!!

As for not being a real sport those girls played over 36 hours to win the Gold medal !!

MrsC

Subject: RE: BS: Gold for GB/Scottish curlers
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 22 Feb 02 - 02:20 PM

Congratulations Great Britain.

Subject: RE: BS: Gold for GB/Scottish curlers
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Feb 02 - 02:26 PM

Hey Mrs. C!!! Okay darlin'....I'll fess up to you. I had watched some Curling about 3 or 4 times in my life and although I knew it had a following, it seemed like some sillyass shit to me. But I'm an insomniac and NBC on there alternate networks of CNBC and MSNBC carried an awful lot of the competition. Not being able to find a movie one night, I tuned in and watched. After about an hour, I was just gassed! Those two stations also carried all of the hockey games and I'd check them and get really mad when Curling wasn't on! I watched several excellent matches and became a bit of the "fan."

Some of the shots to put blockers out or get through/past them just blew me away! It's hard to imagine having such control of that stone on the ice. The one announcer was a Curler and often pointed out exactly where a stone should end up and then would chastise someone for a shot that was maybe 6 inches off!! Add to all of that the time element.....Many games came down to almost being decided by the clock and on one occasion the fact they had to hurry cost the team the game and match.....It was truly exciting! And I would never have dreamed that I'd be that involved.........

So my congrats to all of the folks who participated!!! My gawd, to be able to focus in and perform at such a high level in anything is quite an achievement and I will never sell Curling short again!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Gold for GB/Scottish curlers
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 22 Feb 02 - 02:36 PM

'Spaw,

The local Curling club is a three minute walk from my house. I have never tried the sport, but I would really like to. I have several friends who I grew up playing hockey with who now curl. They love it. And yes, like anybody who is representing their country in any sport at Salt Lake, these people are highly skilled athletes. I've watched enough curling to know just how tactical a game it is and how much skill & precision is involved.

Subject: RE: BS: Gold for GB/Scottish curlers
From: Cobble
Date: 22 Feb 02 - 02:39 PM

spaw... Cobble and I too, got hooked on watching the game on TV from Nagano ( last winter Olympics). I must confess I have never seen a live match, there are no curling rinks in Englnd!!! This games was more of a thrill as the home team went Gold but we watched all the matches, some nights not getting to bed until 3am.

Mrsc

Subject: RE: BS: Gold for GB/Scottish curlers
From: beadie
Date: 22 Feb 02 - 03:28 PM

As a resident of Wisconsin (home to some members of the USA team), I offer my hearty and sincere congratulations to the Scots (OK, the UK) team.

I'm of Scots heritage, as well, so this isn't really that much of a stretch.

Well Done!

Subject: RE: BS: Gold for GB/Scottish curlers
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Feb 02 - 04:09 PM

I saw a great match between the Swiss (Silver Medal) and the American women. The American's came very close and I was impressed with bot squads. The Swiss team has a couple of just unbelievable players on it. Canada did a fine job in getting the Bronze. The competition was very stiff from this rookie observer's standpoint and I hope that others were converted by this Olympics too.

The Gold match between Canada and Norway is coming on in about a half hour.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Gold for GB/Scottish curlers
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 22 Feb 02 - 08:59 PM

Marbles next time?

Subject: RE: BS: Gold for GB/Scottish curlers
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Feb 02 - 10:58 PM

Interesting match between Norway and Canada....I guess the Canadian (Martin) is a bit of the legend and he sure is brilliant tactically but they appear to be snake-bit in the big ones. Karen thought I'd gone nuts til she watched some of it.

Kinda' makes me wish we had somewhere around here to take a shot at it. We have the NHL's shittiest hockey team...Maybe someone could start a Curling club and use their ice.........

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Gold for GB/Scottish curlers
From: DonMeixner
Date: 23 Feb 02 - 12:26 AM

I have been a curling fan since 1974 when we got CBC on our local cable. I watched matches all one winter until we lost the CBC franchise. I am amazed aat the skill it takes to do what these athletes do. Its every bit as much a sport as running fast jumping on a sled you can't steer very well, landing belly down and letting gravity do 90% of the work.

My wife thought I was nuts until she got hooked watching the US womens team.

Don

Subject: RE: BS: Gold for GB/Scottish curlers
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 23 Feb 02 - 12:34 AM

'Spaw,

Are you referring to the Bluejackets or the Penguins? Hell, make another trip up this way again, I'm sure that we could find a place to let you try it.

Subject: RE: BS: Gold for GB/Scottish curlers
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 23 Feb 02 - 12:37 AM

Still like watching paint dry to me (but there again I like cricket). Still, I do acknowledge the skill and the concentration it demands and am obviously pleased they won. Can't help wishing (even though they were representing GB) that something like Flower Of Scotland had been played for the medals though.

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: Gold for GB/Scottish curlers
From: Cobble
Date: 23 Feb 02 - 06:05 AM

Jon... I have to agree, 'Flower of Scotland' would have been very apt for the Scottish team.

I have been a Cricket fan most of my life but I must admit I find Curling more interesting to watch than most of the Cricket we get treated to on TV these days. Some of the best Cricket played in England is at the village clubs!!!

Mrs C

Subject: RE: BS: Gold for GB/Scottish curlers
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 23 Feb 02 - 06:41 AM

Now, if they'd lost, the English papers wold have been saying what a shame it was for the Scottish team. When they win of course it's a British triumph.

Subject: RE: BS: Gold for GB/Scottish curlers
From: gnu
Date: 23 Feb 02 - 08:09 AM

The Scottish team did a great job ! Cost me $50 too.

The Norse were amazing ! When I saw their last two games before the gold, I knew they had a trick up their collective sleeves and that Canada would have to be on their toes. I feel sorry for the young lad... he curled at higher percentages than any other player in the games until the gold medal game, where he couldn't buy a shot. He must be heartbroken. Cost me $50 too.

But, I'll get that $ back tomorrow in the hockey match.

Subject: RE: BS: Gold for GB/Scottish curlers
From: Susan of DT
Date: 23 Feb 02 - 03:37 PM

(dick greenhaus here)

Well, I find curling a more satisfactory event to watch than the judged events (figure skating, ski jumping, free-style exhibition anything.) What I'd like to see in the Olympics would be a Canadian biathlon: target shooting with a bow and arrow from a white-water canoe.

Subject: RE: BS: Gold for GB/Scottish curlers
From: Cobble
Date: 23 Feb 02 - 06:31 PM

dick .... your Canadian Biathlon sounds a great idea I would watch that.

The scotts are having a good games, Alan 'Highlander' Baxter has the Bronze for slalam.

Mrs C

Subject: RE: BS: Gold for GB/Scottish curlers
From: gnu
Date: 23 Feb 02 - 07:11 PM

Susan said... I'd like to see in the Olympics would be a Canadian biathlon: target shooting with a bow and arrow from a white-water canoe.

The Triathalon : on top of that, you have to shovel a driveway full of wet snow.... if you miss a chunk of ice, the plow comes around again and fills it in as a penalty.

Subject: RE: BS: Gold for GB/Scottish curlers
From: Wolfgang
Date: 25 Feb 02 - 07:21 AM

The last British gold medal at winter games before this was in 1984 in Sarajewo. No wonder they like to poast about it.
Let us not forget to mention that Ireland had its best ever result at winter olympics this time: a fourth place (men's skeleton).

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: Gold for GB/Scottish curlers
From: GUEST,Airto
Date: 25 Feb 02 - 02:52 PM

I know nothing about curling, but given that strength doesn't seem to be a factor, why is it a segregated sport?

I already asked this question on a less relevant thread. Gnu suggests it's because curling has traditionally been linked to pubs, which until not that long ago still banned women.

Subject: RE: BS: Gold for GB/Scottish curlers
From: Wolfgang
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 04:23 AM

I am also interested in a response to Airto's question. I did a search but only found that Swiss curlers at very senior age have men and women competing together. Is e.g. the 'sweeping' a limiting factor for (wo)men's ability to compete?

Wolfgnag

Subject: RE: BS: Gold for GB/Scottish curlers
From: Pseudolus
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 10:53 AM

OK, I'm getting into this discussion late but I have to comment. I came down with the flu just as the olympics started and in fact missed an entire week of work. While at home, all by myself (anybody feeling sorry for me yet?), I watched CNBC and MSNBC all day and saw a LOT of curling. The most amazing thing to me is that the "rocks" weigh 42 pounds! Try sliding a 42 pound rock down a sheet of ice and make it stop where you want it to! I was hooked by the end of the first week. Since there are three NBC stations in my area (NBC, MSNBC, CNBC) we occasionally had to choose which olympic sport we were going to watch. Let me tell you, it was a hard sell to my wife to leave skating for curling but being sick, I got my way a lot!! :)

I will say this though, by this past Sunday, I was getting a little tired of getting beaten by the Canadians!!! The women for the Curling bronze, the men AND women for the hockey Gold!!! *BG*

Anyway, hats off to the GB/Scottish gold medalists, the Swiss Silvers, and of course the Canadians for the bronze!!! And we'll see ya in Italy! *BG*

Frank

Subject: RE: BS: Gold for GB/Scottish curlers
From: Cobble
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 01:38 PM

Just a mention .... Alix Coomber and Alain Baxter both with bronze medals , with the Curling gold gave GB the best winter games scince.......

1936!!!!!

Mrs C

Subject: RE: BS: Gold for GB/Scottish curlers
From: gnu
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 05:38 PM

Actually, the "link" to pubs is that every curling club I have ever been in has a pub/bar next to the sheets and you can watch the action through large windows. In other words, the curling club is a pub which just happens to be a curling rink. Thus the abscence of women, save for special events or nights, until not all that long ago.

And, anyone who doesn't consider it good exercise has never curled. Huurrryyyyyyharrrrrd !!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Gold for GB/Scottish curlers
From: gnu
Date: 02 Mar 02 - 08:25 PM

Collen Jones, Team Canada, (one of) the best women's rinks in the world, is down 4 to 2 in the forth end of the semi-finals of the Scott's Tournament of Hearts. Anyone watching ?