OT Olympics: Team USA in Curling Gold Medal Match Tonight.
After twice putting Kevin Koe and Team Canada to the sword, John Shuster's USA curling team plays in the gold medal final tonight at 1:35 EST / 12:35 CST on NBCSN. Shuster is already guaranteed the best curling result in American Olympic history; time to see if he can make it gold.
They face Sweden, the #1 curling team in the world and a decided favorite. In their favor, the Americans have been on fire most of this week after a 2-4 start to the tournament. Shuster and vice-skip Tyler George have been curling lights-out, and if they can continue this hot streak, they have a real chance.
It will be fun to see what happens. In the cutthroat win-or-die world of curling, only one may survive. They're running out of places to bury the bodies.
February 24th, 2018 at 12:42 AM ^
I know nothing about curling but I'd like to learn. I will tune in.
February 24th, 2018 at 12:53 AM ^
It's the sport of kings.
February 24th, 2018 at 1:51 AM ^
Slide rocks down a sheet of ice every four years is one of my favorite things. If they could let these contestants drink beer while doing it and mic them up...... now that I’m thinking about it, is there a professional league? Serious question. Off to google I go.
February 24th, 2018 at 7:34 AM ^
Beer and a mic... That would be awesome!
February 24th, 2018 at 12:47 AM ^
I move that Olympic curling be declared permanently on-topic.
I expect very little tonight. Then again, I expected very little from them entering the tournament, and especially after they looked outclassed early in the tournament. Shuster really turned it around, although I wonder how much of it was Koe feeling the pressure. They didn't look good at all against Switzerland in the bronze medal game.
February 24th, 2018 at 12:47 AM ^
I'm excited to drink beer and fall asleep to this
February 24th, 2018 at 1:10 AM ^
Let's go!!!! No reason to go to sleep now. Beer + curling
February 24th, 2018 at 1:11 AM ^
Stephenjrking are you at Duluth curling club watching that they showed on NBC?
February 24th, 2018 at 2:17 AM ^
Negative, I have to sleep as soon as this is over, so no time for that, even though it's a few minutes away.
February 24th, 2018 at 1:11 AM ^
Really hoping the boy's hot streak continues. USA USA USA
I love Curling Night in America.
February 24th, 2018 at 1:12 AM ^
Man I wish we had hockey night in America tomorrow night :(
February 24th, 2018 at 1:15 AM ^
I blame Gary Bettman for that. He's the worst.
February 24th, 2018 at 11:44 AM ^
Delaney and Bettman are the worst commissioners I've ever seen in sports.
February 24th, 2018 at 5:01 AM ^
Sort of.
I actually work in the film and video industry, and really the main problem is that the NHL, as a whole, has not figured how (or, intentionally does not want) to turn the league into a narrative-driven league. Their lack of initiative to broadcast games, in order to reach a wider audience and make it more exciting (notice i'm saying BROADCAST, not rule changes, the game is/was always fine as it is) way to reach and entertain more fans is atrocious. They don't weave any narrative, and they are severely lacking in understanding how to "reach" an audience.
Hockey is admittedly slightly harder, maybe the hardest of the 4 sports due to the unique characteristics and challenges of each sport. But just on face value I can see four or five pivotal PR/Broadcast moves I would make to covertly teach/communicate how/what the game is to the less familiar as well as entertain and drive discussion for the more hardcore fans.
I've always secretly fantasized about pitching just one, single franchise on different strategies, but alas, I'm not as far along in my career yet to get that meeting. As well as different strategies to make the game more accessible as a whole.
But if it ever happens, you heard it hear first, it was the Dairy Queen!
February 24th, 2018 at 7:39 AM ^
Pitch it to your bosses as a business opportunity for them to further pursue. I would love to see hockey increase its viewership and available games being broadcast.
February 24th, 2018 at 9:10 AM ^
DairyQueen for Commissioner!
February 24th, 2018 at 1:24 AM ^
Why would it be any different than Vancouver or Sochi? Canada's roster would have been equal to those team or probably a bit better. Jeebus, our fourth line would have been centred by Jonathan Toews.
http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/21942999/nhl-2018-olympic-teams-look…
Hope Shuster wins, btw. By all accounts he's a good guy.
February 24th, 2018 at 1:27 AM ^
Actually in these Olympics I like our team over yours. Both had identical results against the Czechs. We carried the play. Would've loved to beat you guys for bronze.
February 24th, 2018 at 1:30 AM ^
Also Toews centering a 4th line on an all star team isn't that surprising. Overpaid and overrated.
February 24th, 2018 at 1:34 AM ^
IDk.
Calder Trophy, 2nd year Captain, Stanley Cup 3x, Conn Smythe Trophy and a two time gold medalist.
If he played in Detroit the homers would shorten his name or add a y to a name, call him a legend and revere the guy...
First ballot Hall of Famer.
February 24th, 2018 at 1:35 AM ^
Great player at points in his career no doubt. But go ahead and pay 2 guys what, $13 million a year? And we'll see what happens.
February 24th, 2018 at 1:38 AM ^
That's bad cap management.
Take him 4th line all day tho...
February 24th, 2018 at 1:45 AM ^
Can't disagree with that.
February 24th, 2018 at 1:25 AM ^
O yeah the wife is liquored up
February 24th, 2018 at 1:51 AM ^
Nice! Good job
February 24th, 2018 at 1:27 AM ^
Lol, so they're hyping this dude's new focus on dieting and working out? He's got a beer gut. I love this sport.
February 24th, 2018 at 1:33 AM ^
Curling, bowling, and sometimes baseball.
February 24th, 2018 at 1:37 AM ^
That 2 v 2 mixed game (where you sweep your own rocks) is actually pretty ridiculous on the cardio/slowing the heart rate on delivery.
February 24th, 2018 at 1:52 AM ^
Yes! 2v2 mixed USA was the largest team.
February 24th, 2018 at 7:43 AM ^
Craig Stadler says 'Hi' form the golf course!
February 24th, 2018 at 1:28 AM ^
Audio issues... lol. I feel so uncomfortable for the talking heads that just stare awkwardly after being asked a question.
February 24th, 2018 at 1:30 AM ^
And may the losers be respectfully embalmed prior to burial.
February 24th, 2018 at 1:43 AM ^
I miss the neutral commentators already.
February 24th, 2018 at 1:49 AM ^
they discuss strategy in front of each other, but I doubt the US team knows Swedish.
February 24th, 2018 at 1:54 AM ^
Both teams are killing it
February 24th, 2018 at 1:59 AM ^
Swedes with 2 after the second end...
February 24th, 2018 at 2:01 AM ^
Never in my life have I watched the Olympics and said to myself, "You know what? I could do that!" Everything changed tonight when I witnessed the curling alternate. Visions of gold in my future, my friends!
February 24th, 2018 at 2:02 AM ^
Not so fast, my friend. ;)
I'm pretty sure that the alternate has to appear a minimum number of times to qualify for a medal. Otherwise you'll just be a particularly envious spectator. :)
February 24th, 2018 at 2:05 AM ^
I guess I'll just have to settle for the coaching spot, then!
February 24th, 2018 at 2:07 AM ^
ducking
The coaches don't get medals either (which I personally think is ridiculous). Herb Brooks didn't get one. Medals are for competitors only. :-(
February 24th, 2018 at 2:08 AM ^
Doesn't matter; appeared at the Olympics.
February 24th, 2018 at 2:11 AM ^
But he'll get those big cash payouts from agents and shoe companies who want to sign his curlers.
February 24th, 2018 at 7:51 AM ^
And that's just crap. Herb Brooks earned a Gold by outcoaching that Russian guy!
30 seconds!!! "Why aren't they pulling the goalie? - They don't know what to do!"
February 24th, 2018 at 2:39 AM ^
Not sure if Olympic rules require the alternate to compete but may teams will run their alternate in a couple games through a championship mostly to give their lead or second a rest. At the highest levels in curling (Brier) the alternates are usually a friend of the team who happens to also be really good at curling. A few have been carried, however.
https://thecurlingnews.com/2011/03/london-brier-alternate-reality/
February 24th, 2018 at 2:46 AM ^
Thanks Clarkie. :)
It's an Olympic rule. I remember hearing about it at either Vancouver or Sochi. For team sports, everyone who participates in competition will get a medal; those who don't, won't.
You'll see this in summer events like swimming or track & field relays -- strong teams will have alternates run in some early heats, not just to save the starters but also to qualify them for medals. I think it's come up with the backup goalie in hockey too.
February 24th, 2018 at 4:38 AM ^
Maybe they changed the rule, because the alternates all got medals. The coaches didn't, though.
Still, the dream lives once again! Olympic Alternate for Everybody! :)
February 24th, 2018 at 2:10 AM ^
The Swedish team looks very Swedish, and the American team looks very American. Especially the trucker hat American.
February 24th, 2018 at 2:13 AM ^
If you looked up a picture of "Minnesotan" in the dictionary, it would be a picture of that gentleman.