CURLING: U.S. men’s team rolls to victory over New Zealand
Pinerolo, Italy – The U.S. men’s curling team keeps rolling along. Pete Fenson’s team picked up a 10-4 victory over New Zealand in eight ends Tuesday, wrapping things up two frames early a day after a last-rock loss to Finland.
“I still say we’re playing pretty well,” American vice-skip Shawn Rojeski said. “Unfortunately, (Monday) we missed the last shot of the day.”
The Americans’ next game is today against host Italy, where curling is usually associated with fusilli. Throw in Saturday’s game against the winless Germans, and Fenson’s team (2-1) probably needs to steal just one or two more victories in its other four games to reach the medal round.
In the third against New Zealand, the Kiwis (0-3) tried to sneak a rock through a couple of blockers and nicked one of them. The Americans overcame the hammer – think of it like a tennis player breaking serve – for the first of three times in a four-end span.
New Zealand managed to snap the slump in the seventh, but in the eighth Fenson kept clearing them out of the target zone and scored three. Kiwi skip, or captain, Sean Becker shook hands to concede.
More exciting was Italy’s victory over Germany, a match that went to an 11th end as a tiebreaker. The Italian crowd lingered, broke into frequent “I-TAL-IA!” chants and saw the hosts stack rocks in the target area only to have Germany knock them away.
On the hammer, three Germans swept furiously as it slid toward the target, only to nick a guarding stone in front, leaving a rock in the center untouched. The crowd jumped to its feet, waving Italian flags, while two curlers hugged at the center of the sheet.
The crowd cheered again when the 9-8 victory was announced – new to the sport, they seemed to need the confirmation. Alternate Antonio Menardi came over and planted a big kiss on the cheek of team leader Joel Retornaz.
“Any victory is good for Italian curling,” Retornaz said. “We are probably not the favorites for the medal. Our goal is to show people curling. If we win some, that is OK.”
HOCKEY: Grahame to start in U.S. opener vs. Latvia
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender John Grahame, who wasn’t invited to the U.S. Olympic orientation camp in September, was chosen as the starter in today’s opener against Latvia.
Grahame, a former athlete at Overland High School, was chosen ahead of Rick DiPietro of the New York Islanders and Robert Esche of the Philadelphia Flyers.
“You’ve got to want that pressure on your shoulders,” Grahame said. “You have to be dead not to be excited. I’m no different. I’m ready to get started.”
Latvia defenseman Sandis Ozo- linsh, who plays for the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, was cleared to return to on-ice competition after a six-week stay in the NHL’s substance abuse program. Latvia likely will start Arturs Irbe of the Columbus Blue Jackets in goal.
Sweden’s Peter Forsberg said his strained left groin felt better and that he would try skating Friday before deciding on playing. The former Avalanche star will not be on the ice when Sweden opens play this morning against Kazakhstan.
SNOWBOARDING: Hale to miss Games because of knee injury
American Jayson Hale tore up his knee during a practice session in Bardonecchia, Italy, and will miss the Games.
Hale was running alone, not four-wide as is typical in snowboardcross competition, when he got too much air on a late jump and landed awkwardly. He was taken to a medical center in Sestriere, Italy. Jim Sterling, the U.S. Olympic Committee’s chief medical officer, said Hale tore his anterior cruciate ligament and suffered significant bone bruising around the knee.
“He is comfortable and stable,” Sterling said.
Hale returned to the athletes’ village in Bardonecchia, where the snowboarding events are held. He is expected to decide in the next few days whether he wants to remain in Italy for the remainder of the Games or go home. His spot on the U.S. team is expected to be taken by Graham Watanabe, an alternate who traveled to Italy to serve as a wax technician for his friends on the team.
The USOC and U.S. Ski and Snowboard were preparing to submit Watanabe’s name as an injury replacement. Barring any surprises, he will race Thursday when the discipline makes its Olympic debut.
SPEEDSKATING: Russia’s Zhurova wins women’s 500 at age 34
Russian Svetlana Zhurova won the 500-meter women’s race in 38.23 seconds, edging Chinese teammates Wang Manli and Ren Hui.
The Americans faded deep into the 30-woman field, with Jennifer Rodriguez placing 11th, Amy Sannes 17th, Elli Ochowicz tied for 23rd and Chris Witty 28th.
“We’re typically not on the podium,” Sannes said. “It’s not like we had any hopes of ending up there.”
At 34, Zhurova, who won her first world title in 1996 and took a year off after giving birth to a son, Jaroslav, in 2003, became the oldest woman to win gold in Olympic speedskating.
