The Sky Is Falling

Actually, it’s not, but the hysteria is at an all-time high. And said hysteria centers around the two cities that battle for alleged Canadian curling supremacy, Winnipeg (the former champion) and Edmonton (current king o’ the hill).

If you haven’t heard, two skilled ex-Kevin Martin third rockers from Edmonton are joining Manitoba’s two remaining curling legends next season. Mid-90s Martin castoff Kevin Park (in CurlingZone photo with Team Kevin Koe in 2007) now joins Team Jeff Stoughton, and 2006 Martin castoff Don Walchuk is soon to join Team Kerry Burtnyk.

That was a Winnipeg Free Press link; here’s what the Winnipeg Sun thinks of all this (here and here).

Finally, in brief, from the Freep – Paul Wiecek is clearly pining.

It was only a matter of time, folks, and curling will see more of this stuff in the years to come. Look what we’ve had already: Colleen Jones with a B.C./Ontario team; Jon Mead tucking in with Toronto’s Wayne Middaugh; B.C.’s Brent Pierce with an Edmonton threesome; Newfoundland’s Brad Gushue teamed with an Albertan – and now with a Manitoban – Shannon Kleibrink with an import from Saskatchewan; Jennifer Jones with an Ontarian on board... after a Vancouverite.

And don’t forget Team Kevin Martin v.3 – the third is from Ontario (albeit born in Winnipeg) and the lead bleeds Saskatchewan green.


Elsewhere:

• The World Curling Rankings have been released, with Canada solidifying its number one position in both men’s and women’s and China making huge moves up the chart ...

• Jan Betker is back on the ice next year in Regina ...

• New Newfie Ryan Fry is the latest to sit in the hotseat on The Curling Show ...

• Catch the latest webisode of Capital One Curlers Corner? Yep, it’s still running, with last week’s episode still on the Grand Slam homepage until roughly Friday, whereupon another will slide into place ...

• Here’s two tales of Desert Ice curling in Phoenix, here and here ...

• Nova Scotia’s rebuilt Windsor CC is moving forward, while the third and final jerk responsible for the original club’s destruction finally faced the music ...

• Curling Today recommends you visit the CurlTV voting page to help choose a best shot of the season. We do, too!

• DID YOU KNOW: that Jennifer Jones appeared on Toronto’s FAN 590 sports radio? Did you know that you can listen to it here?

DID YOU KNOW II: that some Tibet protestors showed up at the women’s words in Vernon? A handful of them stood up twice to show their signs to Team China, and otherwise sat, watched the games and cheered for Canada. About as passive a protest as one could ever see... but that’s curling for ya!

• DID YOU KNOW III: that Babies love curling?

• These guys (and gals) did indeed get their rocks off ...

• This blogger was at the Pacs where he (or she) first saw China’s future female star skipper ...

• Aw, boo... someone turned off the webcam ...

• It’s the 2009 U.S. Olympic Trials! Get yer tickets ...

• SongMonk has two reasons why curling is “fun” ...

• And finally, memories of an old This Hour curling sketch from 2005; nice to see Jenn Hanna with old Ontario teammate Dawn Askin, and of course Don Wittman ...