Hi, and welcome to CBCSports.ca's live blog from the BDO Canadian Open.
I'll be at the K-Rock Centre in Kingston, Ont., from the opening draw on Wednesday night, right through the championship final on Sunday afternoon. Along the way I'll post commentary, tweets, pictures, video, and maybe some other stuff. I'll also check in on your comments whenever I can, so feel free to write a comment or ask a question and I'll try to get to it. Should be a great event. Looking forward to covering it through this fun format.
Gonna be in Kingston starting Wednesday to cover the Grand Slam of Curling's BDO Canadian Open. Hence the new (semi) professional avatar.
As Nucky Thompson would say: If there was a God, would He have given me this mug?
Just a note that I'll be posting sporadically until the spiel starts on Wednesday evening. Then... look out.
I've set sail for Kingston. First leg of the trip: Toronto's Union Station, where I'm enjoying a complimentary iced tea in VIA's Ambassador Lounge (that's what I'm calling it anyway)
They just put me in charge of the emergency glass-breaking hammer on the train. Like the reborn Larry David, told them they can count on me.
Who knew business-class service on VIA trains was this good? Feel like Arnold Rothstein.
Great opening draw on tap tonight. McEwen, Stoughton, Martin, Koe, Howard all in action in separate games
Hilda, that's what I keep saying! Slams don't have the tradition of the Brier, but the fields are better
To update on an earlier question, looks like the new 5-rock rule is a go for this week
I think that's the hope. Teams may figure a way around it eventually, but more rocks in play usually equals more excitement. Word was not all the players were eager to sign on, so we'll see how it goes this week.
Haha, I did. Lovely train ride. Heading to the arena in half an hour
Quality downtown here in Kingston
Heading to the rink soon. For Draw 1 tonight, looking forward to McEwen-Kean. Matchup of young skips. Kean, 23, is youngest in the field. Still looking for his first Slam win of the season.
Kean-McEwen is happening on Sheet A. That's the farthest one from the press box, but I've got a good angle. Glad it's not on the nearest sheet to me. I'd throw out my back leaning over the counter in front of me for the whole match.
Some more background info on McEwen-Kean: McEwen has earned $83,500 this season on the World Curling Tour, which is crazy. The next-closest skip (Kevin Martin) is at $44,000.
Kean is still looking for his first Grand Slam win of the season. He went 0-5 at the season-opening GP Car and Home World Cup of Curling, with three of those losses coming by a single point.
As you can imagine by his money total, McEwen has been very busy this season. He gave his rink a rare week off last week, so we'll see if he's "fresh" or "rusty" here tonight.
We're about to get underway. Teams about to draw to button for hammer in the first end.
Jacobs and Koe both covered the button. Martin and Menard trying to match.
Martin covers the pin (which Jacobs did as well), so they'll go again.
Team Jacobs leaves the door open. Morris throwing for Team Martin.
Got it. They gotta start showing this on TV.
Getting piped in would be awesome. Can I pay some guys to do that for me everywhere I go?
Curling analyst Mike Harris previews the BDO Canadian Open www.cbc.ca #cbccurlby cbcsports via twitter 12/12/2011 9:51:40 PM
@JesseCampigotto Via1? It's friggin awesome!by JasonD79 via twitter 12/14/2011 7:06:13 PM
