Viterra Men's Curling
The men's provincial curling championships are currently underway at TOGP with the playoffs set for Saturday and the finals on Sunday. The 32 teams are playing a double knockout schedule whereby eight teams will qualify to play in a double knockout playoff round with the top four teams advancing to the championship round.
There's no shortage of talent at these provincials with the top five seeds being very competitive, deep in talent, very experienced and all from Winnipeg. Defending champion Reid Carruthers, with Mike McEwen now throwing third rocks, has been selected the number one seed, as they should be, because between them they've won the last four titles.
They are followed by veteran Jason Gunnlaugson, young Braden Calvert, Tanner Lott and Dennis Bohn. Our own Graham Freeman, because of his past history and success, can certainly play with the big boys and with a little help from Lady Luck, can do a lot of damage if he gets on a roll.
This is Virden's time to shine with the provincial sporting spotlight directly upon us, so let's hope that the many curling fans in the surrounding area come out in full force, fill TOGP and support this tremendous and worthwhile endeavour.
Trivia time, what city is hosting the 2020 Viterra Championships?
Super Bowl LIII
So much for the "Year of the Offence". In the most important NFL game of the season, widely expected to be the biggest and most exciting team sporting event in North America, SB LIII didn't live up to its lofty advance billing as both defences completely dominated all game long. The Patriots won the snooze fest 13-3 and even though it did break 18 SB records, including the obvious one for the least number of points scored in a half, three quarters and game, it also set one for the most fans that fell asleep.
No one saw this coming. These were two of the highest scoring teams in the league, the Rams and Patriots together averaged almost 63 points a game but miraculously somehow both team's "D" stifled each other's "O" for 60 minutes, something no other team even came close to doing. By the way, the Patriots' defensive co-ordinator, Brian Flores, became the head coach of the Miami Dolphins the very next day. If you're good enough, they will find you!
Not that there were many but if there was anyone on this planet, with a pulse, who didn't believe that Brady and Belichick are the G.O.AT. (greatest of all time), it's a no-brainer now. It's impossible to comprehend and/or argue nine Super Bowl appearances in 18 years, four in the last five with a record SIX Lombardi's (trophies) on their mantles and SIX rings on their fingers. Is there anything else to say or discuss? Didn't think so! Over and out (mic drop).
PGA
Don't tell me that there's no such thing as golfing gods. After watching the wild and wacky, up and down roller coaster play at the Waste Management Phoenix Open last weekend, I'm sure everyone is still in a state of bewilderment. After being 20 under par after three rounds, fan favourite Ricky Fowler finally won his fifth career title but not before he butchered the back nine that included a double and a triple bogey.
That triple was not only strange but completely unfair. After hitting his ball into a hazard, he correctly put his ball into play but while contemplating his next shot, his ball rolled back into the hazard because of the wet conditions and the extreme slope of the land. He was assessed a stroke penalty. I'm calling BS? Not right, not fair!
Trivia answer, believe it or not, for only the second time in 24 years, Winnipeg will be the host. Now that is a head scratcher! Until next time....
