Curling

Aabidano · Post by **Aabidano** » February 21, 2006, 9:17 am

I was channel surfing last night and ran across the womens curling (CN vs. DK).

That's a very odd sport, looks like fun though. Kind of like slow motion bowling with brooms.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » February 21, 2006, 10:16 am

I've actually had some dead time so I started watching Curling. Once you really start watching it and you begin noticing the tactics and technique being used it is really fascinating. Way more tactics than you might think at first and a lot more involved than bowling. Kind of a combination of pool and bowling I guess.

I laughed at my parents when they said they found it really interesting. Now I do as well.

Xyphir · Post by **Xyphir** » February 21, 2006, 1:35 pm

My friends and I had a theory about the heirarchy of the curling teams. Okie, it was more my theory. The two people brushing the ice are the bitches to the person rolling the stone. We came up with a new catch-phrase from this as well... "BRUSH MY STONE, BITCH!"

I

Olympics

Aabidano · Post by **Aabidano** » February 21, 2006, 2:40 pm

There was a lot more strategy to it than I thought. My son was walking by and saw it, he ended up watching to the end of the round too.

I'm still wondering what the Danes were saying while the stone was going down the ice, sounded like "yip, yip, yiiiip, yip".

Wulfran · Post by **Wulfran** » February 21, 2006, 3:09 pm

Curling is something I have mixed thoughts about, as an Olympic sport.

To be a good curler takes a lot of practice and skill, like just about anything, and as others have mentioned, there is more strategy to it than is apparent at first glance. Its more like pool than bowling, except for the fact that you're throwing the damned rocks

On the other hand, while it does take a lot of skill and practice, its not something that takes a lot of athletic ability. A little balance, and the ability to lay it on with the brooms, but not much else.

I mean its fun to do it, and its an event Canada usually does pretty well at, but I'm still not totally convinced it belongs in the Olympics. Oh well, at least its a score-oriented thing and not open to corrupt/politicized judging like figure skating

masteen · Post by **masteen** » February 22, 2006, 6:01 pm

Wulfran wrote:I mean its fun to do it, and its an event Canada usually does pretty well at, but I'm still not totally convinced it belongs in the Olympics. Oh well, at least its a score-oriented thing and not open to corrupt/politicized judging like figure skating

My criticisms are that it's boring sport. Figure skating is so not a sport. It's like wrasslin' for fags and grammas.

Dregor Thule · Post by **Dregor Thule** » February 22, 2006, 10:04 pm

Aabidano wrote:There was a lot more strategy to it than I thought. My son was walking by and saw it, he ended up watching to the end of the round too.

I'm still wondering what the Danes were saying while the stone was going down the ice, sounded like "yip, yip, yiiiip, yip".

Calling out to the sweepers how much they should be sweeping.

Pherr the Dorf · Post by **Pherr the Dorf** » February 22, 2006, 11:10 pm

http://24.104.40.88/KNBR/0222curling.mp3

The sounds of curling... or pr0n

Forthe · Post by **Forthe** » February 23, 2006, 1:29 am

masteen wrote:
Wulfran wrote:I mean its fun to do it, and its an event Canada usually does pretty well at, but I'm still not totally convinced it belongs in the Olympics. Oh well, at least its a score-oriented thing and not open to corrupt/politicized judging like figure skating
My criticisms are that it's boring sport. Figure skating is so not a sport. It's like wrasslin' for fags and grammas.

wtf Curling rules for the simple fact that you can drink while you play!!

Post by **Xouqoa** » February 23, 2006, 5:55 pm

masteen wrote:My criticisms are that it's boring sport. Figure skating is so not a sport. It's like wrasslin' for fags and grammas.

I think anybody that has spent as much time practicing and learning how to skate like the olympic figure skaters would disagree with you.

It's not a competitive sport with a set scoring system that can easily determine a winner. But, I've been ice skating and seen some of the people doing figure skating and in my opinion it takes a tremendous athletic ability to be able to do some of the things they do. Not to mention having to time it all with the music and not fuck up even ONCE.

Having defended it as a sport, I would like to see it move towards a more objectified scoring system.

And no, I don't usually watch it when it's on, but I think saying it isn't a sport is doing a disservice to the people who dedicate the first 15 years (or more) of their lives learning to be the best in the world at it.

Kaelina · Post by **Kaelina** » February 23, 2006, 6:06 pm

My criticisms are that it's boring sport. Figure skating is so not a sport. It's like wrasslin' for fags and grammas.

How is figure skating any less of a sport than other 'sports,' such as gymnastics, snowboarding, or golf? They all require specific skills and finesse, but might not be very exciting (read: boring) to watch for a lot of people. Usually these types of sports only appeal to people who also participate in the sport or give a damn about it at all.

I find football incredibly boring to watch, but I don't discredit it as a sport simply because *I* don't find it entertaining.

Leonaerd · Post by **Leonaerd** » February 23, 2006, 6:08 pm

Xouqoa wrote:Having defended it as a sport, I would like to see it move towards a more objectified scoring system.

I just read an article recently that said if they were to objectify the scoring system, it would take the "soul" out of figure skating. In essence, skaters would force the technical parts and not have, well... soul.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » February 23, 2006, 6:54 pm

Kaelina wrote:
I find football incredibly boring to watch, but I don't discredit it as a sport simply because *I* don't find it entertaining.

Join the VV Fantasy Football League next year! Drafting and managing your own team makes for a much more interesting season.

I haven't seen a Curling Fantasy League or I'd be grabbing the top broom sweeper right away.

Wulfran · Post by **Wulfran** » February 23, 2006, 7:09 pm

Leonaerd wrote:
Xouqoa wrote:Having defended it as a sport, I would like to see it move towards a more objectified scoring system.
I just read an article recently that said if they were to objectify the scoring system, it would take the "soul" out of figure skating. In essence, skaters would force the technical parts and not have, well... soul.

IMO this lends more to the argument that figure skating is more art form, like ballet. Thats not to detract from the athleticism required to perform at the top level, but I think when you are talking about "sports" that give marks for Artistic Impression, you've already crossed over. I think the non-technical gymnastics, synchronized swimming and any other competition that puts together a "routine" in this manner is the same.

Drolgin Steingrinder · February 23, 2006, 7:28 pm

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the Danish support song for our National Curling theme, it's called 'We throw stones (and sweep with brooms)'.

http://www.dr.dk/satire/_arkiv/gramse_9 ... edsten.asx

If people want I'll post a translation of the entire lyrics here.

Drolgin Steingrinder · February 23, 2006, 7:35 pm

ah fuck I'll just post it no matter what:

(ooh ooh ooh)
There's a small country
It starts with a 'D'
it ends with a 'k'
and the fourth last letter is an 'm'
Before the m there's an 'n'
but there isn't any c
and no å either
but it's our home

It's the place where we belong
the country without a 'b'
it's where we play our sports
the one that starts with a C
it's Curling, it's a damn fine game
we'll win once again this yea-a-a-a-ar

We throw stones
and sweep with brooms
We give what we have
in the name of our country

We throw stones
and sweep with brooms
We don't win every time
but we aim as well as we can

If an opponent steps up
and thinks that she might win
then we'll extinguish her every hopes
we defeat any enemy
we crush them
and humiliate them
we're winning again this yea-a-a-a-ar

We throw stones...
and sweep with brooms
We do what we can
for the Danish curligans

We throw stones
and sweep with brooms
We don't win every time
but we aim as well as we can

Such great art. Ahhh.

masteen · Post by **masteen** » February 23, 2006, 9:03 pm

Kaelina wrote:
My criticisms are that it's boring sport. Figure skating is so not a sport. It's like wrasslin' for fags and grammas.
How is figure skating any less of a sport than other 'sports,' such as gymnastics, snowboarding, or golf? They all require specific skills and finesse, but might not be very exciting (read: boring) to watch for a lot of people. Usually these types of sports only appeal to people who also participate in the sport or give a damn about it at all.

I find football incredibly boring to watch, but I don't discredit it as a sport simply because *I* don't find it entertaining.

I don't argue against those being sports because they're boring. It's the complete lack of objectivity in the scoring system that makes me say that.

Gymnastics is exactly the same IMO as figure skating. Snowboarding is a funny beast. I think the race events are true sports, but the shit like hot dog or WTF ever they call it now is much like ice skating or gymnastics.

Football is a sport because there is an objective scoring system. A TD is 6 points if you do a double move and make a fingertip grab in the corner of the endzone or if you just smash the ball in on the ground.

The comparison to WWE is very valid. They are definitely athletic, they put an assload of time and effort into their training, but in the end what matters most is subjective. In the WWE, it's fanbase popularity. In gym/figure skating, it's how much the judges like you. Those are NOT aspects of a real sport.

Truant · Post by **Truant** » February 23, 2006, 9:15 pm

Drolgin Steingrinder wrote:ah fuck I'll just post it no matter what:

(ooh ooh ooh)
There's a small country
It starts with a 'D'
it ends with a 'k'
and the fourth last letter is an 'm'
Before the m there's an 'n'
but there isn't any c
and no å either
but it's our home

It's the place where we belong
the country without a 'b'
it's where we play our sports
the one that starts with a C
it's Curling, it's a damn fine game
we'll win once again this yea-a-a-a-ar

We throw stones
and sweep with brooms
We give what we have
in the name of our country

We throw stones
and sweep with brooms
We don't win every time
but we aim as well as we can

If an opponent steps up
and thinks that she might win
then we'll extinguish her every hopes
we defeat any enemy
we crush them
and humiliate them
we're winning again this yea-a-a-a-ar

We throw stones...
and sweep with brooms
We do what we can
for the Danish curligans

We throw stones
and sweep with brooms
We don't win every time
but we aim as well as we can

Such great art. Ahhh.

That is freaking awesome!

Truant · Post by **Truant** » February 23, 2006, 9:20 pm

Masteen, the new scoring system for figure skating has actually moved that way. There are still points awarded for artistic things however, including their choreography...but the majority of the points are based exclusively on technical points. That's why the jumpers dominate the sport right now.

Also, you mention the scoring in the freestyle events of snowboarding or skiing. It's hard to understand at first. But each trick is assigned a level of points. A perfect execution would earn the maximum points for that trick, a botched landing, etc leads to deductions from that total.

If you can't do the sickest trick, you pretty much can't win. So it's not really subjective, unless i'm high atm. (possible!)

If boring had anything to do with it...it would be totally different. But I also understand that my opinions are radically different from most americans. I find several major american sports boring as fuck to watch...and enjoy watching things that make me a fag according to the local macho tool.

Dregor Thule · Post by **Dregor Thule** » February 24, 2006, 4:23 am

What I felt was a good movie based around curling!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0263734/

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » February 24, 2006, 6:14 am

lol @ Drolgin's video

Niffoni · Post by **Niffoni** » February 24, 2006, 1:48 pm

Today is the men's gold medal game, and just to let you know, Newfoundland has cancelled all schools across the province in the afternoon so kids can watch Gushue's team (Newfoundland won the Nationals this year) take on Finland.

A bit of six-degrees of Niffoni for you, my brother actually skipped his own team to the provincial championship this year. He led team Nova Scotia to 3rd place in the National championships that Gushue won. I used to curl with him myself til i went off to College in Newfoundland.

Curling is an awesome game to play, or watch live. On TV it's (with apologies to Carlin) like watching flies fuck, except during the championship games.

miir · Post by **miir** » February 24, 2006, 2:00 pm

Pronounced GOO SHOO.

Niffoni · Post by **Niffoni** » February 24, 2006, 3:56 pm

Thanks Miir... can you maybe help me with his opponent from Finland today?

Uusipaavalniemi.

a moose once bit my sister!!

Dregor Thule · Post by **Dregor Thule** » February 24, 2006, 5:54 pm

Oh Canada!

miir · Post by **miir** » February 24, 2006, 6:47 pm

Niffoni wrote:Thanks Miir... can you maybe help me with his opponent from Finland today?

Uusipaavalniemi.

a moose once bit my sister!!

M15 or maybe Betterlucknexttime

Midnyte_Ragebringer · February 24, 2006, 10:51 pm

I enjoy it.

Then again, I can sit and enjoy watching soccer, golf, NASCAR, Poker, ping pong, chess.