That’s Aomori

AOMORI, JAPAN – Yep, we’re here. You didn’t doubt us, did you?

Japanese curling has changed a lot since Nagano 1998. More people speak fractured English, more people are curling, and their women’s team are demigods with TV endorsements, souvenir merchandise and their own pack of 100-or-so reporters (see photo) handled by, of all things, a “Japanese Media Control Officer.”

Team Sweden, the mighty 2006 Olympic champion Anette Norberg and Co., drew about 15 media members to their opening news conference. Japan’s Moe Meguro and troops – three of whom finished seventh in Turin last year – attracted about 75 media buzzards.

Action gets underway tomorrow with results here and here, and CP’s Donna Spencer has previewed Asia’s first-ever adult world shootout here, with team capsules here. AP is also on the scene, and this fellow seems to have provided the first look at the ice surface... but the real score seems to be live streaming content on the Eurosport curling page, check back often to see what is online ...

• The Strauss Canada Cup is on right now in Kamloops, viewable at CurlTV and this weekend on CBC-TV …

• DID YOU KNOW? ... that Canadian Curling Association competitions guy Neil Houston, himself a World champion (with Ed Lukowich) and World Junior champion (with Paul Gowsell) from days gone by, is leaving the CCA to manage the curling venue at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games? Word came down today, and Houston leaves for B.C. in a month ...

• DID YOU KNOW II? ... that the Brier was picketed by protestors in front of Copps Coliseum? Apparently they had concerns with Brier sponsor Monsanto’s products ...

• Here’s an interesting piece in the Hamilton Spectator by Barry Macklin, who is with the Ontario Curling Association. Macklin takes aim at whinging about ice conditions and attendance, declaring that “people like me don't really care why you missed your shot” and “no city has better media coverage of curling than Hamilton” ...

• And Spec curling guy Steve Buist weighs in with his wrapup, stating that, among other things:

– the ice conditions are the athletes’ fault;
– Russ Howard just might have image problems;
– and Brad Gushue’s “woe-is-me act is wearing thin” …

That’s all for now, but there is so much going on out there, we just might be posting tomorrow. Stay tuned ...