17to85

well that would also correspond to the free guard zone coming in and some truly all time skips rising to prominence. Martin and Stoughton had been fixtures at the top for a long time, The Howards too I suppose you can add. Wayne Middaugh was good for a lot of those years too. So you get the game improving to the point where there's big shots and lots of rocks in play, TSN and their coverage you can see why it grew to that point. Now that there really has been a changing of the guard in terms of the teams I think it's natural to see a drop in interest. Especially when it seems there's less interest in participation in the game in general. I don't think it's entirely on the boomers, though it likely plays a role.

There is a fine line to balance between taxes and a social safety net. The bottom line is that I don't trust self serving politicians in this country enough to want them to take that much in taxes from me.

Wasn't that Kenton Thief? That's going back a little ways.

"plight" is the wrong word. They play their cards right this could be a real good thing for Alberta in the long run. Hasn't worked in the past. Albertans keep re-electing them, and the best way to ensure bad behaviour continues is to reward it. again you say bad behaviour, but is it really? Us Albertans have a real low tax rate. Why should "good" behaviour from a government include taxing it's population up the ass? I'll say it again, there is a lot of spending required because of the massive population boom, they've been spending that money on the backs of the resource boom rather than taxing the population as heavily. Now that the boom has died down they are looking at increasing the tax load on the population. That seems like a sensible thing. I think too many Manitobans have the Stockholm Syndrome having had so many tax tax tax NDP governments.

They didn't get the big money Alberta was fortunate to dig up. that's a defeatist attitude. Manitoba could have worked to build up some type of industrial or commercial base, but instead the province has had a long tradition of socialism and anti business policies. High taxes and pro-union governments make Manitoba into what it is. There's resources in Manitoba too, but there isn't a lot of incentive for companies to base themselves in Manitoba. So anti-business that we have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. It's just a fact of living here that there are more expenses and fewer resources than Alberta. Manitoba certainly wasn't competitive with Alberta when the PCs were in change for a decade, so you can hardly blame pro-union or anti-business attitudes for anything. a low unemployment rate perhaps because when people can't find a job in Manitoba they head out west to Alberta right? Not like this is the first NDP government that Manitoba has had you know, the provinces history stretches back a lot farther than you or I have been around for.

and I heard that the biggest cashspiel of the circuit goes this weekend too.... or something to that effect anyway

"plight" is the wrong word. They play their cards right this could be a real good thing for Alberta in the long run.

insecurity is the hallmark of the bandwagon fan. They know they're a phony and have to over compensate so they don't get found out.

The best way to improve the running game is to improve the offensive line rather than paying an older injured runningback. Good news is that Kyle Walters seems to agree with that sentiment.

They didn't get the big money Alberta was fortunate to dig up. that's a defeatist attitude. Manitoba could have worked to build up some type of industrial or commercial base, but instead the province has had a long tradition of socialism and anti business policies. High taxes and pro-union governments make Manitoba into what it is. There's resources in Manitoba too, but there isn't a lot of incentive for companies to base themselves in Manitoba.

what a ridiculous statement to make. Alberta has seen it's population grow by something close to 1 million people in the last decade, you think it's cheap to build infrastructure to support that many new people? Especially without raising taxes? Give me the government who keeps taxes low rather than the one that raises taxes at the drop of a hat. Oil will bounce back and Alberta will be rolling in the money again within a few years, Manitoba is still going to be stuck with their ridiculously high tax rate in a few years though. My my, touchy on such an innocent statement. Manitoba has worse infrastructure problems than Alta. has, and way less money to have spent on it. Alta., with any kind of competent governing, should have quite the nest egg, even with a minimal Prov. tax, but they don't. Even though my statement was tongue in cheek…it still stands. So the question is, who's statement really is that ridiculous? Perhaps the reason Manitoba has worse infrastructure is because Alberta has been spending a crap ton on it? That's why they don't have the big next egg, they've actually been building things the province needs. The Heritage fund hasn't been prioritized by the province, but it still exists. The spending has been focussed on a lot of spending to meet the needs of the province. Ralph Klein was hell bent on getting out of debt and he deferred a lot of spending to accomplish that, the governments after him have had to spend more and they are. The finances in Alberta aren't as dire as they seem. There is a lot of sensationalism regarding the price of oil right now because the rest of the country is very jealous and are taking the time to mock Alberta, but they don't realize that things are still pretty good in Alberta. Every province has budget issues, the difference is that Alberta isn't already taxed to the hilt so there is a lot of flexibility in terms of how to fix them.

All Albertans have to do is ' look in the mirror' and voila..there's the problem according to Jim. Don't mention the fact that the conservative government there has been running the finances forever. Quite a laugher. Maybe not all Albertans - just the ones who kept voting in a Conservative government forever. AlLL Albertans except the corporations. They're exempt from blame. But myself & the rest of my fellow Albertans, we're to blame. Especially those 2 slackers, Noeller & 17to85. They're sucking this province dry. I'm incorporated so technically I'm a corporation and not to blame at all.

what a ridiculous statement to make. Alberta has seen it's population grow by something close to 1 million people in the last decade, you think it's cheap to build infrastructure to support that many new people? Especially without raising taxes? Give me the government who keeps taxes low rather than the one that raises taxes at the drop of a hat. Oil will bounce back and Alberta will be rolling in the money again within a few years, Manitoba is still going to be stuck with their ridiculously high tax rate in a few years though.

The Federal Conservatives don't spend money on pro sports arenas or stadiums. They just don't do it anywhere.

It's a damned shame too. It's a great sport but the younger generation doesn't give it enough respect. Too concerned with their NFLs or UFCs.

Has to be related to a lack of the known names this time around. It's such a new group of teams this year, all the old familiar faces aren't around. Either that of the demographic that watches curling is just so old that that many people have died since 2009.

In an isolated event yeah Mcewen can beat anyone. Hell he wins as many or more bonspiels as anyone going. I just think that he doesn't have that mental edge, and the way he ducked the post game interviews after losing the provincial finals I question whether he has the mental maturity to win the "big" events. That's where the Jacobs team has really improved lately. They've all matured and gotten better at not having those break downs mentally. I don't see that same growth from Mcewen. Plus the guy damned near lost a best of 3 series to a team of scrubs in university, how good can he really be?

TIL envy and disdain are the same things. Just goes to show the level of delusion amongst that fan base. So much smoke blown up their asses they actually believe it.

Carruthers plays on tour all the time as well so it's not a case of one team playing at a higher level than the other, and all of Carruthers team except for one guy has brier experience too. Mcewen has more success on tour without a doubt but none of them have any brier experience, and given all the trouble he's had winning Manitoba I don't think it's a stretch to suggest that they might not be the guarantee at the brier some think in their first go around. That team is good, but they have a lot of mental demons they need to get over. Carruther's team does play on the tour, but with not as much success. The team is new, so they have to get more playing experience together. Are they strong enough positions 1 thru 3 behind Carruthers? Time will tell. McEwen has always had those "demons" and seemed to have overcome them, especially within the last year and a half. It's a shame he has Manitoba Select issues because he would be a top 4 candidate in this field of competitors. well he should be, but he's lost to teams he should beat in the provincials a lot of times and he's never done much of note at any of the olympic trials either. To be blunt I think he and his team don't have the mental strength to win events when there is pressure on them. It's one thing to win on the tour where there's few people watching and not much media exposure, but when the bright lights come on and there's a lot more attention on it he seems to fade. Curling is such a mental game if a guy has shown time and time again that things get into his head maybe we stop pretending like winning a bunch of early season bonspiels matters all that much. Great for his bank account but not so good for his legacy as a curler.

Carruthers plays on tour all the time as well so it's not a case of one team playing at a higher level than the other, and all of Carruthers team except for one guy has brier experience too. Mcewen has more success on tour without a doubt but none of them have any brier experience, and given all the trouble he's had winning Manitoba I don't think it's a stretch to suggest that they might not be the guarantee at the brier some think in their first go around. That team is good, but they have a lot of mental demons they need to get over.

He hasn't sucked all week, he's been really inconsistent. That's how he won the select. Play well at the right time you can win games, play poorly at the wrong times and you lose.

He lost to Reid twice in a row at the select, hard to say he's the best when he can't beat his competition...

it might be OK... I guess.

Bottom line, the NDP made them hire local, you hire people without relevant experience issues like this pop up. Thanks dippers!

Connor McJesus is so highly touted they changed the lottery so that every team that misses the playoffs has a chance to get him, he's so highly thought of the Sabres and Coyotes are having one of the most epic tank battles ever seen to try and get him... he had a better world jr. tournament than Crosby did at the same age.... Something would have to go very very wrong for that kid not to turn into an absolute superstar.