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Curling
Posted: February 21, 2006, 9:17 am
by Aabidano
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.

Posted: February 21, 2006, 10:16 am
by Kelshara
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.
Posted: February 21, 2006, 1:35 pm
by Xyphir
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
Posted: February 21, 2006, 2:40 pm
by Aabidano
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".
Posted: February 21, 2006, 3:09 pm
by Wulfran
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

Posted: February 22, 2006, 6:01 pm
by masteen
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.
Posted: February 22, 2006, 10:04 pm
by Dregor Thule
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.
Posted: February 22, 2006, 11:10 pm
by Pherr the Dorf
Posted: February 23, 2006, 1:29 am
by Forthe
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!!
Posted: February 23, 2006, 5:55 pm
by Xouqoa
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.
Posted: February 23, 2006, 6:06 pm
by Kaelina
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.
Posted: February 23, 2006, 6:08 pm
by Leonaerd
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.
Posted: February 23, 2006, 6:54 pm
by Winnow
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.
Posted: February 23, 2006, 7:09 pm
by Wulfran
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.
Posted: February 23, 2006, 7:28 pm
by Drolgin Steingrinder
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.
Posted: February 23, 2006, 7:35 pm
by Drolgin Steingrinder
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.
Posted: February 23, 2006, 9:03 pm
by masteen
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.
Posted: February 23, 2006, 9:15 pm
by Truant
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!
Posted: February 23, 2006, 9:20 pm
by Truant
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.
Posted: February 24, 2006, 4:23 am
by Dregor Thule
What I felt was a good movie based around curling!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0263734/
Posted: February 24, 2006, 6:14 am
by Winnow
lol @ Drolgin's video
Posted: February 24, 2006, 1:48 pm
by Niffoni
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.
Posted: February 24, 2006, 2:00 pm
by miir
Pronounced GOO SHOO.

Posted: February 24, 2006, 3:56 pm
by Niffoni
Thanks Miir... can you maybe help me with his opponent from Finland today?
Uusipaavalniemi.
a moose once bit my sister!!
Posted: February 24, 2006, 5:54 pm
by Dregor Thule
Oh Canada!
Posted: February 24, 2006, 6:47 pm
by miir
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

Posted: February 24, 2006, 10:51 pm
by Midnyte_Ragebringer
I enjoy it.
Then again, I can sit and enjoy watching soccer, golf, NASCAR, Poker, ping pong, chess.