| The sport of curling is steeped in tradition yet on | | | | obviously past his peak and the team just didn't |
| that note it is still changing. Not surprisingly, | | | | fit well together. It was the only time I had ever |
| Canada has had a great year winning both the | | | | heard any trash talk in curling and that related to |
| men's world championship and the women's world | | | | events that happened many years ago. That was |
| championship. Canada has always been a force to | | | | a lack of class that you rarely see in curling. |
| reckon with and this year was no exception. | | | | The Canadian team skipped by Kevin Martin |
| They have been very strong all year long with a | | | | however, could easily be labelled "the perfect |
| couple of world class teams in Glen Howard and | | | | curling team." They simply do not show a weak |
| Kevin Martin. Kevin played a bit more consistently | | | | position. Every man on the team is doing exactly |
| to earn the right to defend the world title for | | | | what is asked of him through the play. What |
| Canada this year. | | | | appears very interesting is the relationship |
| Maybe some news that may be a bit more | | | | between the 3 young men and the old guy they |
| surprising is the success of China. Both men and | | | | call "The Old Bear." They work extremely well |
| women from China gave what is likely their best | | | | together and have learned to work with that "Old |
| ever performances for China in the world | | | | Bear" extremely well. |
| championships. They are showing that the rest of | | | | There exists a level of communication between |
| the world must sit up and take notice. | | | | the boys and the old guy that almost seems like |
| The traditional European teams performed well, | | | | father and sons. It appears they are quite willing |
| but in general don't appear to have teams that | | | | to offer suggestions to a man who at times in |
| are working together at peak efficiency and | | | | the past, would prefer to be the boss and do it |
| co-operating 100 percent together. It appears that | | | | his way. He has become very comfortable with |
| they have slipped a bit in their own grip on | | | | that. His trust has been earned by them and it is |
| dominance in the game. Norway has a bright | | | | respected. |
| future with the pleasant team and relatively | | | | The boys accomplished everything asked of them |
| young skip that is showing that he is first class in | | | | in the world championship and "the old bear" came |
| all respects. | | | | through in a few key, high pressure situations. |
| Scotland, although they made it to the final, is not | | | | Could it be that Canada has put together the |
| a complete team at the moment. They found it | | | | perfect curling team? |
| necessary to bring an older player who is | | | | |