Your Olympic Curling Update

The US men and women have truly sucked so far in this year's Olympic Curling competition.

The women lost matches with the Japanese and Germans. Although the scores were close, the US strategy was questionable and shooting was far from accurate. Losing to the Germans was kind of expected, but a loss to Japan was an embarrassment. The women have six more matches to go, but advancement seems very unlikely after this start.

The men lost matches against Germany and Norway. Again, the scores were much closer than the actual matches played out. The US team was out thought, out strategized, and outshot - and frankly looked like they shouldn't have been in the same building. In last night's game against the Norwegians, the US captain choked on his last shot, sending the match into overtime, where the US lost.

In their match this afternoon against Switzerland, the US sucked in the first half of the match, repeating their mistakes form the first two matches. Then they picked it up, came storming back, and had the game won if their captain hadn't choked on his final shot, allowing the Swiss to tie it up and send it into overtime. Once again, the US captain choked on the last shot, giving the victory to the Swiss. The team needs to make sure their captain stops taking the last shot.

So, after 5 matches the US teams have been shut out.

The US team's poor strategy and shot making was too much for even the commentators, who fought hard to try and find something positive to say when you just knew they wanted to shout "WTF ARE YOU DOING?"

In other, better, news, USA Hockey is doing well so far. The women have beaten China and Russia, and have made the semi-finals. The men won their first game against Switzerland.

Friday Feb.19 Update - Have I mentioned how much curling sucks? The US men's team lost to Denmark yesterday, once again in position to win when their captain choked on a key shot and lost the match. In response, the men's team has replaced the captain with the team's alternate for today's match against France.

The women's team also lost to Denmark. They were in great postion to win it handily, and lost because of horrible shot making. Both teams have lost all 7 matches they've played so far.

In brighter news, both the US men's and women's hockey teams won, and are both undefeated in competition so far.

Saturday Feb. 20 Update - The men's and women's curling teams have won two matches each since the last update, all four games in last shot or overtime style. Guess I'll have to jump back on the bandwagon, at least until tomorrow ....

Tuesday Feb. 23 Update - Well tomorrow has come and gone, and they've been put out of their misery. Both teams won two matches each, losing 6 apiece. Neither team was considered a medal contender, but no one figured they'd finish so badly.