Noeller

If there is one thing I (re-) learned this year, it's that I have zero interest in watching crappy women's teams pretend to curl. I watched no fewer than 3 NWT games, and while I appreciate that Koe chick trying to get better and the fact that she can smack ryes back like a champ, I have no interest in watching her on TV. I want to see curlers who at least know what the **** they're doing. Last night's MB/Ont game was about as good as it gets in women's curling...

Re: Format.... Changing next year for both Scotties and Brier. 16 team field, 2 pools. It'll look more like a Slam event in that regard. They really want to get all the territories involved. Still haven't figured out what #16 will be, but likely ends up being top CTRS team that didn't win playdowns (eg Jones this year, Homan last year)

What Miller had done behind the scenes for corporate recruitment.... Unbelievable. Where we are financially, is the envy of the league, considering we're not privately owned.

He took his game to CurlingZone.com and received similar treatment there. Calls himself "Manitoba Legend" and he's been suspended a few times...not sure if banned or not. It was painfully all too familiar to see it over there...

Yeah, Jones is just about done...be curious to see how long that incarnation of the team sticks together. Chelsea moved to AB to avoid Jones in playdowns every year, but she'll move back as soon as she has a decent opportunity. It's nothing short of shocking that Englot has done as well as she has. She's 14th on the Order of Merit, and not a regular on the big money tour. They curl a few events here and there, but certainly aren't regulars competing against Jones, Homan, Carey, Sweeting, etc....but, any team can get hot at the right time and make a run. That really is the beauty of the sport...

I'm pretty rabid about it...watch pretty much all the Slam events on Sportsnet, and playdown season is a yearly highlight for me. Curling is up there with CFL for the most important sport in my life. Hockey, baseball, and golf are all great TV diversions, too, but curling is huge for me. As mentioned, the Gapper Englot-skips-Toba thing has me pretty twisted up, but I'm happy for Pinawa's Leslie Wilson. Between the 3 actual Bisons and Chelsea on TC, we've got a full 4 curlers there, so I'll take it. Homan's rink has looked sleepy all week, and who can blame 'em with such a weak field. Pretty easy to sleepwalk through that. I'm expecting a much tougher game (in fact, could be a reverse ass-kicking) tonight in the 1/2 game. Next month's Brier should be a fun one, too. It'll be Douchue's to lose, but Jacobs is always in the hunt, Morris might be a playoff team outta BC, and you just never know with McEwen. He was an almost-unbeatable team before Broom-gate, but they just haven't been the same since. Should be a playoff team, but after that...? Who knows....

PS -- If an admin with the capabilities would like to separate all this curling talk into a Gen Forum thread, that'd be excellent. I thought of starting one there, but honestly didn't think there'd be enough interest....

I'm a big fan of CC, and was making a big point of cheering for "Team Manitoba 2" last year through the Scotties, which pissed off my Alberta friends to no end. Now I'm getting my comeuppance with Englot skipping Manitoba...ugh. The upside for me is that my hometown of Pinawa is being represented by Leslie Wilson of Team MB, who now lives there and coaches the junior curling program in town. So.....I've got that to cling to....

Tis the way of the game now.....Jonesy lives in Ontario now.

So unbelievably jealous....soon enough I'll move home and get to enjoy all that...

The girlfriend was losing her mind...just bawling last night. Guess the actress wanted out of the show pretty badly during the offseason, but agreed to come back for an arc to make sure her character was written out properly. Definitely a heartbreaker. The two children (Ontario's Lennon and Maisy Stella) were superb....

If you saw the smelly turd the Flames have to play out of (and, more importantly, that the fans have to endure...) you'd just be thankful for the nice barn and worry about the team later..... #OneThingAtATime

Amen to Bobby I calling it........sickens me watching a Gapper skip Manitoba's entry into the Scotties, but love that an also-ran team that curls mostly around Manitoba, and is not one of the contenders on the mighty WCT, is destroying teams at the national Scotties. Says a lot about the depth in our province, and once again, that curling is our game.

Madani says Popp + Trestman to Argos a done deal. Copeland (CEO Argos) didn't particularly want Popp, but they're saying the only way Trestman would come is with Popp, so they had to. Going to be a very interesting situation to follow this summer...

A guy who can play anywhere on the line would carry some value. Neufeld will make it through camp, but after that.... We'll see....

No sign of Denmark on that roster eh?

It just couldn't happen to a more deserving franchise...

^^ Exactly...I remember MOS raving about Wild leading the team stretching. How fanatical he was about yoga and stuff, and getting other guys into it. He's a pro's pro, alright...

^^ Lurch in the background with his back to the shot...

I think there's a ton of stuff that goes on at practice, in the locker room...even stuff that shows up on game film that we don't see, which contributes to the guy coaches want to keep around. I agree that Bass is younger and likely healthier, and all things being equal, he seems like the logical choice. Having said that, there's clearly a lot more to it...a lot more going on....that made the coaches/management decide to keep Wild.

Ya, without question it was this moment, solely, that cost Bass his job. MOS saw this and said "ZOMG JORB FOR LIFE!!11!"

Have never even typed that address into my browser since the day I left....

I am probably the biggest Ricky Ray fan on this board....unabashed fanboi.......but that poor bastard is beat to ****. I don't think his shoulder or knees can be salvaged, even by a proven genius like Trestman.

1) Huff wasn't going to trade him in-division 2) Tate was due a $40k bonus early march that they didn't want to pay 3) Tate's overall salary became cost prohibitive based on what he was providing...

Hardrick and Foketi are both really good RTs, but Hardrick is better for sure. Really hope he's our starting RT this year for all 18 games.