February 18, 2006
Men's Curling
The US Men's Curling team is facing Germany this morning. It's a must win game for the Americans as they face Great Britain and Canada in their final two matches of the round robin. The US took advantage of a German miss in the first end to score two.
Update: A poor hammer shot by the Germans in the second end leads to a steal of a point by the United States. Pete Fenson's last shot curled too much, hitting a guard and leaving the Germans a chance for two. But the hammer rolled to the back of the house, and the US was able to sweep the stone beyond where their shot rock for the point.
The steal gives the United States the hammer in the even ends, meaning if the ends go back and forth, the Americans will have the hammer in the final end.
Update: A poor shot at the end of the fourth end by the American skip blanks the end, giving Germany the hammer in the even ends. The US leads 3-1.
Update: Although they're not showing the match, Italy leads Canada 4-1 through five ends. That would be a huge upset. Italy is making the most of home ice advantage in this tournament.
Update: The German skip just executed a takeout of three US rocks in the fifth end. Fenson, the US skip, follows up with a take out shot that leaves the German stone on the edge of the 12-foot ring for a steal for Germany. An impressive turnaround on the last two stones, and Germany is back in the game 3-2.
Update: The US takes 2 in the 6th for a 5-2 lead.
Update: Germany picks up two in the 7th end. The US leads 5-4, and has the hammer in the even ends. They're in good shape, barring mistakes.
Update: The Canadians are losing 6-3 to Italy after 8 ends. That would be very good for the US. If Canada loses and the US holds on against Germany, the Yanks will be leading the Great White North by a game going into their match.
Update: Germany just tried to take out three US stones and threw an air stone. The US has a chance to bury Germany. They have three stones in the middle of the house, two left, and the hammer.
Update: I'm still learning this game, but according to the announcers, the US skip just made a bad shot. It looks to me like he's guarding stones in the middle, but I guess a good hard shot takes them all out. Kapp, the German skip takes out only one, however, and now Fenson can put his last rock in the house (a draw) and score three.
Update: It's a good draw, and the US scores three. They're up 8-4 with two ends to go, and they'll likely have the hammer in the tenth. All they need to do now is knock German stones out of the house.
Update: The Canadians get two in the ninth, but trail by one in the last end and Italy has the hammer.
Update: The Germans get only 1 in the ninth. The US leads by three with the hammer in the tenth.
Update: Germany concedes. The US is now 5-2 in the round robin. Canada and Great Britain are losing, Finland is winning, so the US could be tied for first when these matches are over. As I've watched this week, the men keep improving. The next two days against Canada and Great Britain should be fun.
Update: Canada lost, Great Britain won. That puts the US in second place, tied with Finland. I assume Finland holds the tie-breaker since the defeated the Americans. Italy and Canada are tied for fourth, and again I assume Italy holds the tie breaker with the defeat of the Canadians. The British team plays their last two matches tomorrow, while the US plays tomorrow morning and Monday afternoon. The Canadians do have one easy match as they face the winless team from New Zealand tomorrow.
Posted by David Pinto at
08:27 AM
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That shot by the German that took out all three US stones was amazing.
No, I'm not joking.
Is it really called an "air stone?" Or did you make that up? Either way it's hilarious, the conjoining of the frenzied basketball chant with the image of some ancient Scotsman derisively muttering "air stone" to his opponent in the middle of nowhere.
I made it up when I wrote that, in that I hadn't heard it before. I don't know if anyone else has ever used "Air Stone."