Cougars womens basketball coach Dave Taylor didn't think his team was going to the CIS womens championship after going down to defeat in the Regional final to Laurier last nite. After playing so well in the 2nd half against Victoria Friday night to advance, the team did not play well in the 2nd half against the Ontario team as they knocked off the U of R 82-67. While Taylor said it was breakdowns that led to a terrible 3rd quarter, one has to give credit to Laurier and their outside shooting. I think they hit six three-pointers in that 3rd quarter alone.
What it means now is the Cougars must wait to see if the CIS will grant them wild-card status for the nationals. He will find out later today. If the girls don't go, it will be the first time since the 2007 season that they have not made an appearance at nationals. In fact, I can only think of one year that the team has not been at nationals since Dave Taylor took over the program which is a testament to the coach that he is. Hopefully Dave is wrong and the girls get a chance to go to Windsor, but the rationale he laid out that is against them was a convincing argument.
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Canada's curling queen was bounced by Amber Holland a couple of weeks ago when Jennifer Jones was beaten in the Scotties final and now we can crown a new king as well. Kevin Martin's Alberta foursome will not be in Regina for the Worlds after he was beaten by Glenn Howard. Howard then went on to beat Brad Gushue meaning he will play Jeff Stoughton tonight for all the marbles. Martin just didn't seem to have it this week for one reason or another. That was evident in yesterday's game against Howard which was a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Curling fans were treated to a dandy.
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I can't say enough about Vic Rauter and the job he does behind the mike when it comes to curling. He is to curling what Chris Cuthbert and Jim Hughson are to hockey. He brings it each and every night. Maybe he's Canada's Gus Johnson---OK maybe not. I just love his calls though.
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I railed on Kevin Martin earlier this week, but I'm praising him today for coming out and criticizing the bronze medal game which he now has to play for today. Martin (and I think many others) thinks the idea is stupid. In fact, he has suggested he may not take the game seriously today and change the order up and this and that. If he does make a mockery of this game, will the Canadian Curling Association take notice and if they do, will they reprimand Martin for his behaviour. Knowing Kevin, he won't back down and it will create some major waves. The bronze medal game is stupid. I don't know if greed is behind this or what is, but the loser of the semi-final should be given 3rd (in this case--Brad Gushue) and not be forced to curl again.
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Congrats to both Braeden Moskowy and Trish Paulsen. They are not coming home with gold medals from the world junior curling championships, but they are coming home after a good performance. After the way they started, it looked as if both would be on the outside looking in come playoff time, but both bore down and scrapped hard with Moskowy ending up losing the bronze medal game and Paulsen with silver after losing the gold medal game. Good job!!!
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I have found one positive about the 2011 NFL season being scrapped. I won't be spending as much on Sundays from September-January as I normally would. No pro-line tickets, no Sunday ticket, no fantasy football costs, no beers at the Press Box or wherever. No, no WAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
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4 comments:
No bronze for the guys, sorry to say, but both team represented Canada very well.
Tony
Couldn't agree more with you on Vic and good on Kevin for criticizing the bronze medal game. Whoever approved that idea is stupid.
Shannon
The Cougar womens basketball team has been a model of consistency since Christine Stapleton was there. Dave Taylor has taken the torch and has run with it. I am guessing if you go back a decade that no team has had more CIS appearances than the Cougars. You can't get there every year. With just one graduating player, they'll be back.
Although I agree that the bronze medal game is a stupid idea, both Gushue and Martin made the best of it, more-less just going balls out, and having fun with it. Martin going for a long raise takeout for 2 instead of an easy draw for one sticks out in my mind. And the Gushue team pranking their lead on the bagpipe march was hilarious!
I'm still not a huge fan of the bronze medal game, but if all teams take that attitude with it, and have fun, there can be some entertaining curling.
Little Johnny.
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