OT Olympics: Team USA in Curling Gold Medal Match Tonight.

Submitted by stephenrjking on

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. 

J.

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.

DairyQueen

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!

 

clarkiefromcanada

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.

 

Get a Grip

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!

In reply to by J.

1VaBlue1

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!"

clarkiefromcanada

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/

J.

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.

J.

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! :)