Something To "Mitch" About

I have often said that sports is reality television at its finest. Its not this scripted crap like Survivor, Big Brother, Amazing Race, etc. etc.  Friday night in Edmonton was reality television at its best. The last draw at the Tim Hortons Brier and the drama and theatre it provided was second to none.  The way TSN brought it into our living room was a thing of art.

Could Kevin Martin make the playoffs? Could he beat previously unbeaten Ontario Glenn Howard—his chief rival—and then get the help needed to get in and if he did, could he win in front of his home crowd.

Martin accomplished the first thing by delivering a cool as ice trademark draw through a hole to the button to beat Howard. Moments before that, Stoughton had failed to put his game away by botching his last rock in 10 setting up an extra end. The crowd had gotten on Howard at the end in hopes of getting Martin into the playoffs and they were on Stoughton’s case too, but with a sold-out pro-Martin crowd watching, Stoughton did not fail in the extra end to win and eliminate Martin. It was fantastic television. It was absolutely gripping. It was so good I watched the end again on Saturday morning when it was played on TSN2.

Later, I learned that had Stoughton missed his draw, the CCA was ready to give him a second shot because of the raucous crowd. As unbelievable as that sounds, it might have happened although it is said Stoughton would have said no. Imagine the scene at Rexall Place if the 15-thousand in attendance believe Martin is in the playoffs because Stoughton misses his shot only to see an official come out with a rulebook saying Jeff could try again. It would have been pure pandemonium.

It brings up the story about cheering against missed shots in curling. Some hate it and I understand that. You can’t stop it though. In that situation, the Edmonton crowd wanted Martin in and they would do what they could to make it happen. However, there is no difference to what the crowd was doing to what they would do at Mosaic Stadium if Travis Lulay or Henry Burris or Anthony Calvillo was leading his team down the field in a possible game-winning drive against the Riders. When you pay what you do to get in, you can cheer all you want. Yes, curling isn’t in the same stratosphere as other pro sports, but I really don’t have a problem with it.

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Line of the weekend if not line of the year came from Kevin Martin when his fate had been sealed. When asked by a reporter about the atmosphere inside Rexall Place, Martin responded by saying “It reminded me of Oilers playoff hockey---if some of you are old enough to remember that.” Great line! Sad but true and the way Edmonton is playing this year, it appears as if Rexall will be quiet again much to my disgust.

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I don’t know if the Oilers will make the playoffs or not. I just don’t understand that team. They look so good against Chicago, yet looked so bad against Nashville. They should be better. They aren’t. End of story! Perhaps the win over the Hawks will get them going for the stretch run.

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Oh Mexico. How foolish did you look on Saturday. Don’t get in the faces of Canadians. If you didn’t know before, you know now that we’re a tough bunch.  That display by the Mexican baseball team and their fans was horrible.  Both managers were right in criticizing the tournament for having a rule in place in which scoring runs at anytime is fine, but that’s not the way the game is played. You play by the rules and sadly those were the rules.  Speaking of which, the Canadian team certainly made up for their brutal performance against Italy on Friday with their games against Mexico and the U-S. They didn’t beat the highly favoured Americans, but they certainly made them sweat. The U-S was six outs from answering a lot of questions.  Beating the U-S in baseball is like beating Canada in hockey and we are Switzerland. We are getting there and have a lot of talent and quality , but we need some more time to develop.

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Did Tiger send a message? Win another major and I’ll say you are back. He did look pretty good this weekend though. Speaking of which, I can’t wait for Tiger Woods 14 to come out.

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I thought Trent Wotherspoon would win the NDP leadership convention. 

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Can’t wait for the CIS womens national basketball championships. I really hope the CKHS is full for Friday night’s game between the host team and McGill.

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Back to curling and in a field that featured the likes of Martin, Glenn Howard, Jeff Stoughton, Brad Gushue and Jean-Michel Menard, did anyone see Brad Jacobs winning? He certainly was in the zone for the final. Did he miss a shot when it mattered?

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I wonder if morning hates me the way I hate it.

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Have a good Monday!