Curling Night in America slips in and out of Duluth
Curling is a unique sport, quiet and precise like a chess match, and far more intricate in its strategy and execution than the casual observer could comprehend. But it is fascinating to watch, whether uninitiated or expert.
Curling Night in America is a unique bit of competition, involving four nations to compete in men’s and women’s team play and mixed doubles action. It was held last weekend at the Duluth Curling Club, involving the U.S., Scotland, Japan and China, and the three-day competition was free of charge.
Under the circumstances, there was precious little media coverage, although the crowds that showed up for each of three sessions in each of the three days seemed to thoroughly enjoy the action. Maybe they need to allow body contact – full contact curling – because the sport is by far too dependent on sportsmanship and good fellowship.
Organizers didn’t really care about media coverage, because NBC Sports channel was in town to videotape the tournament, and will be playing it nationally in about a month. Duluth sports fans were probably too consumed by college and pro football, although it is interesting that curling involves nations like Scotland, Japan and China – which couldn’t care a bit about U.S. football.
I’ll divulge a secret if you promise not to tell anyone: Team USA won the tournament, while the other three all tied for second. The U.S. lost a close battle against China in mixed doubles on the first night. And Team USA battled furiously to gain a tie against Scotland in the men’s final match of round-robin play, and won in extra ends to win the match, tying Scotland for first. The two then held another shootout for the overall men’s title, and Scotland won.
It’s OK to forget those results, but you’ll want to remember to watch the videotape of the tournament when it comes up on NBC-SC next month.
Football playoffs, bowls set
The University of Minnesota got its wish and will get to go to California to play a bowl game over the holidays. The Gophers will play Washington State in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego. No, not Washington; the Huskies are in the bowl championship semifinals playing No. 1 Alabama. But Washington State is formidable enough.
Both teams are 8-4, but that’s where the similarity ends. The Gophers can strike a major blow for Big Ten prestige against the Pac-12, but if it comes down to a battle of quarterbacks, hang on to your helmet! Mitch Leidner completed his Gopher eligibility by throwing seven touchdown passes this season. Washington State quarterback Luke Falk threw 37 touchdown passes, and averaged over 350 passing yards per game.
Otherwise, the Big Ten has a chance to prove the poll-takers correct, that the Big Ten has indeed risen to prominence among the nation’s five most prestigious collegiate leagues. I still think the Pac-12 is the toughest, top to bottom. The bowl games will give both leagues a fair chance to display their abilities.
In the bowl championship, while Washington challenges Alabama, Ohio State carries the Big Ten colors against Clemson in the other semifinal. I’d love to see OSU and Washington meet in the final, but chances are slim.
The Rose Bowl has Penn State, still whining about not replacing Ohio State in the semifinals, taking on Southern California, the team I think is playing the best football of any team in the country right now. In the Orange Bowl, Michigan faces Florida State, and I think the Wolverines can prove they are the Big Ten’s best in that one. In the Cotton Bowl, Wisconsin faces undefeated Western Michigan (13-0), and the Badgers can win that one if they use the first-half Badgers from the Big Ten playoff final.
Iowa takes on Florida in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 2, and the Hawkeyes will be underdogs against a Florida team that won one of the two Southeast Conference divisions. Nebraska takes on Tennessee in what should be an interesting Music City Bowl on Dec. 30. Northwestern has a good chance against Pittsburgh in the Pinstripe Bowl in Yankee Stadium Dec. 28, but remember Pitt beat both Clemson and Penn State while going 8-4.
Indiana (6-6) plays Utah (8-4) from the Pac-12 in the Foster Farms Bowl in Santa Clara Dec. 28, and I worry about the margin the U of U might roll up. Maryland (6-6) faces Boston College (6-6) in a Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit on Dec. 26, and those two may deserve each other.
Count them up, and it means that 10 teams from the Big Ten are involved in bowl games. By comparison, the Pac-12 has only six. Aside from Washington, Southern Cal, Washington State and Utah, the Pac-12 has Stanford playing North Carolina in the Sun Bowl, and Colorado meeting Oklahoma State in the Alamo Bowl.
I think Washington could ambush Alabama – everybody’s No. 1 – but if the Huskies fail, I think the other five Pac-12 teams are all very likely to win their bowl games. As for the Big Ten, I’m pulling hard for Ohio State and Michigan to win, Nebraska and Wisconsin could win, but from here it looks like the other six are all in deep trouble.
