World of Wheels Review

The Piston Ring World of Wheels Car show is on in Winnipeg. My wife and I took our 2 year old son along with his Grandparents to the show.

Hot cars, hot bikes and hot women. Well, at least that's what the announcer said over the P.A. system every 30 minutes.

The whole point of going was for us to take Nolan to see Mater, the car character from the Disney Pixar movie Cars. Plus, he's just blown away with Hot Wheels and Matchbox toy cars. He has a pretty sizable collection and plays with the cars e-v-e-r-y day.

I've been to the Convention Centre for a few social events. Sam Roberts at the Grey Cup, Brier Patch, and 3 wine shows. All good times. This event was pretty cool too.

1st gear - former WWF wrestler Virgil was on hand for autographs. I was a pretty big fan of WWF during the Hulk Hogan day. Wait, that's not specific enough is it. The Hogan, Andre the Giant, Ricky Steamboat Dragon days. My dad reminded me not long ago that we had the play ring and the toy characters. I took a break from rastlin' for quite a few years. Kinda like millions of other fans did. In about 1999 I was hooked again with Stone Cold Steve Austin and DX. I'm not a fan anymore. I couldn't tell you who the champ is. So Virgil has a little booth and NO ONE is getting an autograph. Our entourage goes over and we are making no attempt to engage so neither is he until my mother in law picks up one of his 8 x 10 photos. "Autograph?" "Autograph?" Virgil moved in on her like he would have done in the ring to give some jobber a Fujiwara Arm Bar (thank you Internet). We politely declined the $5 autograph fee and the 8 x 10 photo and hurried along but not before I could hear him vent in frustration to his booth partner, "I'm just too pushy". I guess steroids doesn't help you sell autographs post wrestling.

2nd gear - hot women. I wasn't exactly out with the boys but I did notice some ladies with great... personalities.

3rd gear - Mater. Just like Virgil, Mater was pimping his charm for $5. Unlike Virgil, Mater had a sizable line. Picture with a full size version of the car for $5. We had to do it. After all, this was the major reason to go. A bit of drama over hand holding and waiting in line created some tension and the babe didn't really seem to enjoy it. He did get a decent shot so it was still worth it. Talk about good marketing though. Lots of young kids were there to see this car. Most accompanied by at least 2 grown ups or in our case, 4. $11 per adult or $9 with a reduced ticket to get in the door. Let's just say Mater brought it and Virgil better step it up a notch for tomorrow.

4th gear - wheel in the sky. Don't you just love it when a song is played and it makes absolute sense at that given moment? It's kinda freaky but really cool. I took all sorts of pictures at this event. I wouldn't recommend it without a camera. I attempted new things with the camera my friend showed me. Taking pictures of wheels and rims and different angles then I heard the classic rock of Journey and Wheel in the Sky. I looked around and I'm surrounded by classic muscle cars and middle aged guys and you better believe all of them own Journey's Greatest Hits album.

5th gear - hot bikes. I'm not a big fan of bikes. I can barely ride a mountain bike. My friend has a scooter and I won't even test drive that. I admire the detail but the thing that caught my attention in the bike section was the 12 year old dude wearing an Adrian Peterson Vikings jersey. That was cool to see and my mind wandered for a bit thinking about who the Vikings will take in the NFL draft. Every year the Vikings lose with Purple Jesus healthy and producing is just a shame. I refocused quickly after I spotted the absolute best car: 1977 Pontiac Trans AM.



6th gear - hot cars. I don't really know anything about cars. At one point my father in law said something about a car having dual manifolds. I had no clue what he was talking about. Still don't. I couldn't even tell you what a piston ring is and that is the damn title sponsor. But I can tell you that the 1977 Pontiac Trans AM is a beauty. Lots of other cool cars and trucks there too. There was a Mustang GT 500 E or the Delilah car used in Gone in 60 Seconds. Still didn't beat the Trans AM plus I'd take a car featured with Burt Reynolds over one with Nicolas Cage any day.

Despite Virgil, hot women smiling at him, Mater, hot bikes, and all the other really big cool cars my little guy found what he loves best...the toy cars. He laid out on the floor, settled in, and stared at a small toy car next to an awesome KISS themed sports car. Clueless of the extravagant workmanship of the real car and totally enthralled in the generic toy he could hold in his hand. Fortunately for the kid in me, it was the last thing he saw and that meant I was able to take in the World of Wheels and then give you the gears about it.

Sheet 141, we meet again

Yesterday I took in most of the 10AM draw at the Canadian National Wheelchair Curling Championships at the West Kildonan Curling Club. I walked in as teams were having practice time.

Provincial jackets, crests, coaches, officials, volunteers, etc. All top notch stuff that you would expect at a national curling championship level. I didn't see (or hear) any pipers but I'm told they were at the opening ceremonies. I was impressed with the organization and look of the event before the first rock was thrown. It also made me miss the Brier. Seeing an Ursel name bar on a team jacket and the fact that the Nova Scotia skip had a big white beard made the two events even more similar.

My friend and I kept a close eye on two games. Team Manitoba - Host vs Alberta and Team Manitoba vs Ontario. The host team was playing on sheet 141. That's a curling sheet I'll never forget because it was there that I made my first appearance in the MCA bonspiel just last year.

I'm not going to explain the rules or systems of wheelchair curling. I encourage you to check out the action at the West Kildonan Curling Club this week or check out regular league play there on Friday nights. If you want to learn more about it at your computer than head to the wheelchair curling link under the PEBBLE section of this site.

I do have some general comments and thoughts. Here it goes...

Lead Rocks - the event had 3 things that I am in favor of and if you are a regular reader you know them by now - Host Team, Northern Ontario, shorter games.

Games were 6 ends. That's a little too short but I love the idea of shorter games. 8 ends would be perfect in my opinion.

Not every province was represented at the event but Northern Ontario was and I think that speaks volumes about that regions participation in the sport of curling and why they should continue having a representative at the men's level.

If you need to promote the event and sell tickets then there's no better way than having a solid Host team. A lot of major events have a host team. It's also a great reward or incentive for the amount of volunteer hours to host the event.

Second Rocks - No sweeping! Can you take such an important function out of the game and still call it curling? I talked with some friends about the event and we debated that question. Sweeping is so huge to shot making. Anyone who curls has had sweepers make or miss a shot for you. Ray and Linda on TSN constantly talk about the importance of sweepers. In wheelchair curling there is no sweeping. I don't claim to be an expert in this area and I don't play the sport so maybe I have no right to even bring it up but it was just something that crossed my mind and obviously others have opinions on it too. My opinion is of course you can call it curling even though such an important aspect is out of the game. Same playing surface, same scoring system, same rocks, etc. It also has the same atmosphere. People in the lounge watched and discussed the games the same way we did at the MTS centre for the Brier. You could also see the same curling etiquette on the ice between players that's such an identifiable part of the game. I'm not involved in the growth of the sport but I wonder if wheelchair curling has considered a sweeping method or not. It doesn't really matter for now. I think it's a great sport and a very attractive option for wheelchair users interested in curling, sports or just being active.

Third Rocks - there's a blurb about the West Kildonan Curling club on the website link. Check it out. Kudos to the club for being proactive and making the necessary arrangements and accommodations to allow people with physical disabilities opportunities to be active in curling and the community. It's really great to see inclusive thinking, creativity and determination. It's also really smart. More clubs should look at the steps WKCC has taken and get a plan in place to get on par.

Skip Rocks- apparently some of the curlers from Team Atlantic or Team Nova Scotia are from Sackville, Nova Scotia. This was a tidbit a curling spectator passed my way. So if anyone from Sackville finds their way to this site I'd like to say I'm from Sackville too...Sackville Street, here in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the curling capital. Enjoy your stay here on this site but I encourage you to come to Winnipeg for the MCA next year. After all, that first game on sheet 141 for me was against a team from Halifax.

Russian back to Curling

My ankle injury is healing faster than Sydney Croby's ankle injury so I'm happy about that. For Crosby, I'm sure he wants back in the line up in a bad way and the Penguins need him too. I watched them play on Monday night vs the playoff eliminated New York Islanders and were pretty much nullified by a bunch of below average NHLers and semi good prospects from the Island. Without a 100% Crosby I don't think much of the Penguins.

I caught a lucky break with my curling schedule and get an extra week of recovery so I should be able to play in the club playoffs.

In the Seasons of Champions of Curling the Women's Worlds are well underway in Vernon. Canada (Jennifer Jones) remains undefeated despite some poor shot making in both games on Monday. Cathy O was more like Cathy Oh my God you missed another shot! I think she sailed her rock through the house 3 times in a row. Brutal!

World Men's curling gets underway next week and yours truly will Rock the Ralph. I'm looking forward to seeing the venue and watching some live international curling.

Hat tip to the Canadian Wheelchair Championships in Winnipeg this week at the West Kildonan Curling Club. They have two Manitoba teams. Imagine that? 2 reps from one province. One Team Manitoba and one Host team. I have a feeling it's due for development and exposure of the game but I gotta say seeing Host team vs Team Ontario doesn't look that awkward. I like the Host team idea as I've already stated it in my Lake Superior Curling Club post. I'm checking out the wheelchair curling action tomorrow and hope to review it on SS on Thursday.

To round out today's post I want to return to the Women's Worlds and a late reply to a reader question about how to make curling sexy.

I find my answer difficult to say but here it goes..two words, Liudmila Privivkova!

Go Team Russia!

Out 10 days with an Ankle

Trips to the E.R. continued to be the theme for the residents on Sackville.

I had a fantastic day on Thursday. It was the start of a 4 day week-end. Rushing out the door to go to the movies with my wife and son I missed a step on the back stairs and rolled my ankle.

Terrible, terrible pain. I screamed and moaned and felt like passing out.

There's no way of describing it as a sport related injury. It was just plain bad luck.

I didn't go to the E.R. immediately. After an evening and night of icing and elevation things just weren't any better.

After 6 hours of clinic and E.R. waiting I was told it was just a sprain. 2 Doctors had a look and x-rays were taken.

It was a long day. I should be better in 10 days but not soon enough to play in my curling club playoffs. I have missed a lot of curling this year due to work so it's a major drag I have to miss playoffs because of a stair mishap.

But I'm shaking it off and moving onto the next moment and will enjoy the rest of the week-end.

Hope you have a good week-end too.

Happy Easter

Radial Head Subluxation

I didn't get a chance to post Wednesday morning. It was a busy day but things are settled now.

The Prince of Sackville sustained a sport related injury - Radial Head Subluxation.

The common name is Pulled Elbow, Slipped Elbow or Toddler Elbow. It's also called Nursemaid's Elbow. I'm sticking with Radial Head Subluxation.

It's a common injury in kids under 4 when the radius slips out of place where it attaches to the elbow joint. The ligaments around the elbow joint aren't fully formed or very strong. Well, let's just say not strong enough to sustain a sudden forceful pull of the arm in a frantic game of "Ring around the Rosy". Yes, I'm calling the sport in the sport related injury, creative dance.

So my little Prince had an early morning dance and his partner "fell down" pulling Nolan's arm and in the process subluxating the radial head from the elbow joint. That's at least what we think happened. Daycare staff were not entirely sure. They just knew that one minute he was in the corner dancing and the next minute he wasn't his usual self. A morning of monitoring followed by a trip to Children's ER and Nolan found himself face to face with the Doctor.

To treat Radial Head Subluxation the Doctor had to forcefully supinate the elbow with 60-90 degrees of flexation. I wasn't there and my wife didn't explain it that way. I've looked here for my medical jargon. She described it as the Doctor flexing Nolan's arm forcefully until it made a "click" sound. A wail and some brief tears followed but soon after he was good as gold to snap up a grape Popsicle and wave goodbye to the Doctor.

He is now more susceptible to the same injury until sometime after the age of 4 when the ligaments get stronger with his growth pattern. His chances of making a major league baseball roster are still the same today as they were yesterday. Maybe this accident will cause some sort of elbow ligament abnormality that makes his fast ball reach higher speeds than Roger Clemens did during his steroid years. Time will tell.

Or maybe it's time to progress from Ring around the Rosy to something more advanced. Like the Cha Cha or the Car Wash.

I did learn a few things other than pediatric orthopedics. Maybe not so much learning something new but just a refresher of something I've known for the past 2 plus years.

Firstly, I like the fact that the daycare staff know something is wrong with Nolan when "he isn't acting like himself". Maybe that's common but I'd like to think my kid is pretty even-keeled. His behavior isn't erratic or tempermental. Of course he has his moments but he has a true and identifiable behavior pattern and I like that.

To point out my second thing I should provide some background. It's been the second trip to the ER for repairs for Nolan. He cut his lip at daycare in January and required stitches. He took it like a trooper. Both parents were there and we were a little over reactional and under prepared.

This time my wife handled things with only a bit of advice or help from me via phone. She had things totally under control and aced it. I admired her composure. I know she's a great mom and getting better and better at it.

Finally, grape Popsicles are fantastic. I wouldn't pick any other color but I know for sure that I'd be looking for a Labatt Blue over a grape Popsicle if someone had to forcefully supinate my elbow back into place. I just wouldn't be able to get over it that quickly. Kids have great recovery ability and move to the next moment. I want to emulate that ability in all things from subluxation to frustration.

The Prince of Sackville is a sleep fully recovered from his sport related injury and is recharging his batteries for another action packed day of creative dance and grape Popsicles.

Lights out on Sackville...

Lake Superior Curling Club

I should really post about hockey and football soon. Pretty much every hockey league is either in their playoffs or in the case of the NHL in the final few weeks prior to playoffs. There's also been a few ugly incidents in the NHL and college that are worth discussing. For football, the NFL draft is approaching and teams continue to add depth via free agency.

But it's the Seasons of Champions in curling and I still have Brier thoughts fresh in my mind. I'll put a few hockey and football posts in the can for later but right now I want to discuss an issue that was brought up at the Tim Horton's Brier this year and it's an issue that is brought up at every Brier it seems; remove Northern Ontario from the 12 teams and replace with Team Canada like the Scotties.

First some background. Northern Ontario was put in place back in an era where curlers travelled by train with their own rocks to bonspeils. Because of the vast landscape in Ontario it was very difficult for teams in Northern Ontario to travel for play. To recognize this and give Northern Ontario curlers a chance at the title of best Men's' curling team in Canada a spot was given for that region.

Curling fans and players bring up the idea of eliminating the spot for Northern Ontario and give several reasons...

So here's my take...

Lead Rocks - it's an archaic rule. It may be an outdated rule in that the teams don't travel by train anymore but Ontario didn't get smaller. It's still a very dynamic province geographically. Imagine playing out of Kenora and having to get to Burlington for provincials. There are some major cultural differences too between the Northern Ontario region and the Golden horseshoe. I'm not a Human Geographer to compare regional cultural differences between provinces but I see a distinct difference in the two regions and their curlers. The point here is that the Brier celebrates curling across the country and we may be erasing a distinct region that has shown to participate in curling.

Second Rocks - increase the competitiveness of the field. Let's not forget that there are 3 provinces/territories that have never won a Brier (PEI, Yukon/NWT, N.B). Northern Ontario won before and we aren't talking about the '50s. Al Hackner still throws the brick. It's unfair to call for Northern Ontario's removal based on "competitiveness"of the field.

Third Rocks - Oh Canada. The champ needs to defend the title. To become the National Men's Curling champion it starts at the Provincial level. The Champ is given an opportunity to defend the title. The NHL didn't schedule the Ducks into playoffs to defend their Stanley Cup final. No, they had to play the regular season too.

Skip Rocks - Oh Canada for marketing. I'm not sure this would make a big difference to marketing. Would Hamilton have sold more tickets with 2 Quebec representatives and an early jump on marketing Menard as Team Canada. I doubt it. If you really want to give the organizers a jump on marketing then give the host province 2 representatives. One host team that the provincial curling association can determine how to select and one team who wins the provincial title.

I don't really have a good way to wrap this up. If I was savvy at putting sound in here I'd have a Northern Ontario moose call I guess.

A new legend of rock

"We both got to play a game on s----- ice, and it just turned into a crap shoot. That's what happened." -Ontario 3rd John Hart

So I guess that's Ontario's reply to how both teams laid such an egg last night in the Brier final. I think that was #3 on my list of possible reasons.

Ontario played the blame game last night better than they played the curling game. Howard echoed Hart's comments and Team Ontario also pointed the finger at Alberta's John Morris for distracting behavior and leaving marks on the ice.

It's a rather poor way to exit as the defending champ for Howard. It stopped short of Brett the Hitman Heart's exit as WWF champion in Montreal at Summerslam when he gobbed on Vince McMahon many years ago but it was still pretty ugly.

For an event that was billed "legends of rock" Team Ontario forgot about the curling past when teams had to figure out tricky ice and battled unfavorable conditions. Howard was no legend in defeat last night. Hopefully time will crush his sour grapes and we will remember Kevin Martin and the legend that ran the table in Winnipeg.

"and it could be one of the best games ever."

That was Ontario Skip Glen Howard previewing the 2008 Tim Horton's Brier final. He did say "I think hopefully we will both go out and play to our abilities" leading up to the comment but everyone thought, including the skips of both teams, that the final was going to be one for the ages. I can tell you that it wasn't.

It was a poorly played game and I was quite surprised. The teams did not play to their abilities.

So as I sat in section 309 at the MTS centre with my family and friends and thought about how two great curling teams could lay such an egg.

Oh, maybe I should first mention that Kevin Martin and Team Alberta won 5-4 to go undefeated the entire event and become the 2008 champions. For Martin, it is his 3rd Brier victory and for the rest of his young team it's their first.

(NOTE - Remember, this site is 'under construction' and I haven't figured out yet if I want to have more commentary/editorials or more fact based sports stories. I'd like to try and blend the two.)

Because I was in section 309 and had the pleasant distractions of the company of friends and the restlessness of a toddler I wasn't afforded the luxury of CBC commentary on the game. So here is my take from the cheap seats on the poor performance.

1. Nerves - all good players are subject to butterflies.
2. Fatigue - it's a bloody long week for these guys and there really can't be much gas left in the tank. Even Martin's post game comments were tired and unenthusiastic.
3. Ice condition - it's a bloody long week for the ice and the ice maker too...it starts to change.
4. Final games go faster - There's always a "lets get the feet wet and not lose this thing in the first half of the game". Then boom...the game is almost over. I remember this happening for Olympic Men's hockey too.

So both guys laid an egg and Martin just happened to have a few better shots and opportunities. He put his last rock on the button to win and that's always cool to see.

Martin takes his undefeated streak down the road to Grand Forks for the World Men's Curling in April. For Howard he missed a chance to punch his Ferby Four pass to Edmonton's Roar of the Rings in 2009. It doesn't matter. He will qualify soon enough and same with Martin and the two will be the leading favorites to represent Canada in the Olympics in Vancouver. There's a good chance the two will meet in the final in Edmonton.... and it could be one of the best games ever.

Last Rocks Mini Pack

I've been at the MTS Centre for the Brier utilizing my Tim Horton's Brier last rocks mini pack.

Things did turn around after that terrible Wednesday. My face is still sore from the bus pole mishap and I've answered repeated questions about the mark on my face but I did prevail and finished off the Brier experience in good spirits.

There is one more game left. That's obviously the final. Alberta plays Ontario. Kevin Martin vs Glen Howard. It's who you would have expected to be in the final. It's how they got there that was the surprise. Martin advanced from the Page playoff 1-2 game thanks to a terrible misfortune from Pat Simmons of Saskatchewan. Only needing an open hit and stay for the win with the last rock, Simmons go the worst of all breaks when his rock 'picked' some junk off the ice and spun sideways creating the miss. Martin won. It was devastating and heartbreaking for Team Saskatchewan. They put on a good effort in the Page playoff semi final vs Ontario but Howard came out on top.

Simmons was on the verge of tears in the media scrum after being eliminated. He lost his Brier final appearance (and something like 20 grand in CBC 'performance fees') all because of bad luck. I gave Pat a nod in the Patch and a "good Brier" but a few words from a drunkin' local won't heal the pain.

A few quick hits and draws about the Brier before I head for the final...

Lead Rocks - I was glad to get a chance to speak with Kerry Burtnyk. I told him it was always a pleasure to watch him curl and I meant it. I have my doubts he will return to the Brier. I think his team may make a change at Lead but otherwise will stick together until the 2009 Olympic Trials or 2010 Olympic games. If Burtnyk really wanted to mix things up I'd suggest recruiting Reid Carruthers to play Vice-Skip, drop Kammerlock to 2nd and Daneault to lead. That would leave the likable Garth Smith out in the cold and rock the former Carruthers team.

Second Rocks - Attendance has been solid in my opinion. We should reach about 160 000 and that's pretty darn good. The comparisons to Calgary and Edmonton are unfair. Both have a much bigger audience to draw from and have larger venues.

Third Rocks - I was disappointed in the Saturday Patch entertainment choice of Willie Mack and The Roadhammers. I don't think Winnipeg is a country music city and it doesn't fit the bill of "legends of rock". It's really a shame that the Weakerthans were not a headliner this week.

Skip Rocks - Ten end games are too long. It's maybe a sign of my stage of life. With a wife and toddler it's difficult to sit and watch 3.5 hour games for 10 days. It just can't be done. I took my family to the game on Friday and again Saturday afternoon. I'm blessed with a pretty well behaved kid so it went well but the game is far too long. Slam games are 8 ends and I feel the Brier and other Season of Champions events should go that route too. The fan should be able to watch a game in 2 hours...even 2.5 hours tops.

I'm looking forward to the final. I'm not an overly emotional guy but I've always had a bit of trouble with endings. I blame my brother for crying at the end of Littlest Hobo every time. It's been a good experience and I trust Martin and Howard will put on a good show to close things out. I'm hoping Howard wins...for Pat's sake.

Draw 12 Brier Rant

Last night I battled with my 2 year old over where he was going to sleep. His goal was in bed with Mom and Dad. My goal was his bed with Binky and Boots the Horse. It became a real battle of "who's the boss?". I put my best Tony Danza forward and my son didn't back down either. In the end he woke up in his bed and I woke up after only a few good hours of sleep - CRANKY!

It actually all started yesterday on the way home from work. I smacked my head on a bus pole. There's a story behind it but it doesn't matter. I smacked my head and yelled in pain in public. Feeling foolish and in actual physical pain I festered on the ride home.

So this morning I went to the Brier cranky and with a bruise and welt over my eye.

Draw 12 really sucked. Manitoba lost to Newfoundland. 'Nuff said.

I found myself alone at the Brier - friend jammed out because of work - so I looked around with an ill tempered spirit and thought of a few things.....

Lead Rocks - Vicki Hall needs a new press photo for the Tankard Times. Geez...talk about needing to sex up curling a bit. If you can't find a new photo of her please reduce the size. I don't know Vicki but I can bet you she's just as upset about it as I am.

Second Rocks - Could there be any more 50/50 ticket sellers at the Brier? It's not nearly enough to be asked every 30 seconds while walking the concourse. One guy actually said I looked like a 50/50 ticket buyer. Really? I haven't been hit up that hard since the 'games' section of the Conklin Midway.

Vice Skip Rocks - It's great that students from high schools and middle schools around the city get to go to the Brier during the day. Hopefully a few will be interested in the sport and take it up. It also fills some of the upper deck and that's all fine and dandy. But I could really do without all the frantic screaming. It's so annoying and makes me dizzy. It's like being in an overcrowded public pool. I should mention it's also only 9:30 AM! Simmer down...simmer down.

Skip Rocks - When the MTS Centre opened the urinal troughs never made it over. You can put me in the minority of males that is actually glad about this. I couldn't believe how many guys were upset about that. I hated it! It was really uncomfortable. What did come over from the Arena was that stinky greasy pizza smell. Just a whiff gives me stomach cramps.

I didn't even stick around for the end of Draw 12. Packed it in and went to work.

Burtnyk lost...to Gushue.

Okay, I actually feel a bit better after that rant. I'm still tired but I can deal with that. I'm looking forward to returning to the MTS Centre tomorrow for more Brier. I'm going to take the bus and I'll chuckle as I walk by the pole near the driver. I may even have a Pizza at the MTS Centre, join in on a chant with the high school section and maybe even buy Vicki Hall a drink in the Brier Patch. And you can better believe I'm buying a 50/50 ticket!

Senior moment for Gushue

There isn't any sports team or person I take more joy in seeing lose than Brad Gushue and his Newfoundland team. That sounds harsh I know and people that know me know that I'm generally an all around nice guy.

You should know now that I cheer for Manitoba and was devastated when Gushue sat on that golden horseshoe in Halifax to beat out Jeff Stoughton at the Trials for 2006 Olympics. That's where it began...the hatred.

It boiled over last night again watching Gushue play so horrible vs Quebec only to mount a comeback courtesy of a francophone choke job. Then he makes a golden draw with his third, Mark Nicholls, standing on the carpet next to the sheet. According to the rules - that's not legal. Neither Quebec or the officals call him on it and the shot stood.

I wanted to scream last night in agony.

This afternoon I want to scream in joy.....

Gushue and Team Newfoundland lost to Brian Rafuse and his Senior Men's team from Nova Scotia. Get real Golden Gushue...Rafuse? Was the smell of Ben Gay and old man stemming from Nova Scotia that difficult to handle?

Hey, maybe during your time off this afternoon you can head to the Lions Manner on Portage Ave and find 4 old guys to curl against. Shake the rust off before BC.

Get real.....Rafuse???

Draw 9 at the Brier

The Tim Horton's Brier is at Draw 9. I thought I would pick up the action from here and preview Draw 9.

Draw 9 has the following match-ups:

Manitoba vs Northern Ontario
Saskatchewan vs Quebec
P.E.I. vs NWT/Yukon
Nova Scotia vs Newfoundland

As a fan of the 'buffalo boys' I'm cheering for Burtnyk and Team Manitoba. At 4-1 they are in good shape to make the playoffs. There should be no problem defeating Northern Ontario and advancing to 5-1. This should be a good game for Burtnyk and his team to rebound from a sub par performance vs Ontario in Draw 7 yesterday.

Quebec blew their game against Brad Gushue and the boys from the Rock last night in Draw 8. A poor performance by the front end in the second half of the game cost Quebec and Menard, the 2006 Brier Champ, an important win. It dropped him to 1-4 and has almost all but eliminated his playoff hopes. Simmons and the Banjo pickers are rolling along only having lost to Alberta. A win for Quebec would help Manitoba but it's going to be tough for Menard to rally the troops.

P.E.I. won it's first game yesterday beating Nova Scotia. It was nice to see the veteran Peter Gallant get a W after being totally controlled by Kevin Martin and Alberta earlier in the day. NWT/Yukon started strong with a 3-0 lead over Newfoundland in Draw 7 but ended up losing 6-3. No big deal who wins this as both teams don't factor into the playoffs. If this was the world junior hockey championships you could call this the relegation game. There's a good chance the loser of this will end up last place.

Nova Scotia could find themselves near the bottom too. After starting with a win and taking Manitoba to an extra end they have gotten beat pretty badly. The Brian Rafuse team could play spoiler and knock off Gushue and Team Newfoundland. That would certainly help Team Manitoba but Gushue looks like he's not messing around here in Winnipeg. He slung his team on his back last night and took them to victory.

My picks

Manitoba
Saskatchewan
P.E.I.
Newfoundland

Vikings overhaul WR core

Viking Coach Brad Childress overhauled his WR core very soon into the NFL free agency period. His first move was to ship underachieving former first round pick Troy Williamson to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a 6th round pick in the 2008 NFL draft. Williamson struggled with dropped balls and was never a serious threat. With the WR core 'under construction', it was a good move for Childress to get something for Williamson.

The biggest move was signing free agent Benard Berrian. Berrian was drafted out of Fresno State by the Chicago Bears in 2004. He enters his fifth year in the NFL. In 2008 Berrian had 71 receptions, 951 yards with 5 touchdowns. He has steadily improved his numbers in the NFL despite playing for the Bears and their revolving door of mediocre quarterbacks. Berrian provides a legitimate threat and a reliable receiver for Viking QB Tavaris Jackson. Many believed Berrian to be the best free agent WR available after former Viking Randy Moss. The addition of Berrian should allow sophomore wideout Sidney Rice more time and space to continue to develop. The 2007 second round pick showed good playmaking skills and potential at times last year despite a poor WR supporting cast.

To round out the WR core the Vikings have Bobby Wade who proved to be a scrappy and reliable short yardage receiver. Talks are ongoing with veteran WR Robert Ferguson but may cool off now that Berrian is in the mix.

Fans won't forget either what the bread and butter of the Vikings is - All Pro RB Adrian Peterson of course. An improved WR core will also help the running back sensation as teams will have to pay attention to the Viking receivers now.

Time will tell if the move was a good one. I'm betting it is. Berrian is familiar with the NFC North, has good numbers to back his talent and experience playing in a system with an average QB and run first approach.

Like all good building contractors attention has to be moved to other areas. For Childress and the Vikings that now becomes the defensive end position.

Under Construction

This blog is "under construction" which is what you can use to describe a few things I will be blogging on in the near future. Some examples:

Minnesota Vikings
Non playoff NHL teams
Manitoba Men's curling teams

You will see changes to the site. Probably a new title and hopefully some quality posts.