If you’re near a TV tomorrow (Sunday March 30th) that gets the CBC, you
might want to take in the final of the world women’s curling championship;
that’s 10:30 AM Pacific. It’s remarkably good TV, the contrast between
the finalists is stark, and it could totally go either way. The semifinal
between Canada and Japan this afternoon featured a big comeback and a
hairbreadth finish.
Wang Bingyu’s China
rink has beaten
Jennifer Jones’
Canadians twice in the last week, but nobody thinks the final’s a foregone
conclusion.
[Update: Well, it was kind of anticlimax; the Chinese switched their
strategy from aggressive to defensive and it fizzled, they never really hit
their stride, so Ms Jones and her teammates sailed through without much drama.]
Things to like: the women’s unselfconsciously small-town styles, the banshee howls for more or less brushing, the furious synchronized grace of the broom-wielders, the byzantine tactical depths when the house gets full, the skips’ considerable (but very different) charisma, the colours of the clothes and stones bright against the white ice.
Contributions
Comment feed for ongoing:
From: J. King (Mar 30 2008, at 05:11)
Yesterday's semi-final was without a doubt the most exciting curling I have ever seen: only Jones and her team's greater experience and composure saved them from a trouncing. The Japanese women were really cute, too. :)
I hope you enjoy the final, Tim. I know I will.
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