#team brown

[barisi-esq]

I may have just solved the Peter Scanavino hair color debate once and for all...

So you know when he was on SVU as Johnny Dubcek (s14 e13)? Nick Amaro says, and I quote, “... He has blue eyes, light brown hair.” 

You’re Welcome World! That’s what you get when I procrastinate all of my real life responsibilities. 

[letgladnessdwell]

Noooooo! Why, baby, why are you breaking my heart like this?

[artistaedribeiro]

Carlinhos Brown visita Exposição de Ed Ribeiro em SP.

[mollierodriguez]

Well-played Random Selections, well-played.

[nohocurling]

#FANDango in Fargo: The Finale

Jesus Christ this is taking forever. Figure it'd be better to get this finished before the new year. In case you missed the previous parts in the series, you can check them out here. So let's just dive in, shall we?

Ready for my workout session at the Fargo Family Wellness Center w/ 3X NCAA wrestling champ Steve Saxlund. #FANdango pic.twitter.com/t9lth0K7h9 — Matt (@NoHoCurling) November 16, 2013

The day started butt ass early at the Family Wellness Center in Fargo. The contest called for a work-out with 3-time NCAA wrestling champion Steve Saxlund, so naturally I came prepared to wrestle! However, he only kicked my ass in circuit training at the fancy gym. Steve is also part of the Convention and Visitor Bureau, and was an integral part in making the whole trip happen. Many of the non-curling bonuses happened with his help. Now, thoroughly worked, I got to undo all that work by drinking some fine fruit wine with the gang at the Maple River Winery. It was a very cozy operation. They're packed with wine and wine making tools. Their classic recipes are quite popular. See, grapes don't grow in North Dakota (or at least not worthy of making wine out of) so they make all kinds of fruit wines, like apple and rhubarb. Plus, a whole bunch of other flavors. In addition to the plentiful wine tasting, they sent me home with a gift basket featuring their Wood Chipper (seriously, Fargo loves them the wood chipper) rhubarb wine and a couple of branded wine glasses.

Wait, wait, wait... Apple jalapeño wine?! Yes please. @MapleRiverWine FTW — Matt (@NoHoCurling) November 16, 2013

Mmmm... Just like licking a honeycomb! @MapleRiverWine's Honey Comb Plum! — Jen Gamboa (@cupcakecurler) November 16, 2013

As good as it all was, we couldn't stay for long, there was a busy day of curling ahead, starting with helping the ice crew! #FANDango!

Workout & wine. Now time to prep ice with @shawn_olesen at the #OlympicTrials for the Shuster/Fenson match. The Fargo #FANdango continues. — Matt (@NoHoCurling) November 16, 2013

My job was to line up Shuster's yellow stones so they looked nice and weren't touching the barrier. A task I handled with great ease, as it was the only ice crew task I was qualified for. More importantly, I got to bestow upon Terry Kolesar her ice crew sash with her "Rookie of the Year" badge. She must have gotten the award from me stuffing the "favorite ice tech" ballot box with her name.

I wore my official Ice Crew hat for this job.

Then, the curling started. Shuster v Fenson, game 2 in a best of three.

@HollywoodCurl in #Fargo with @FargoBrewing = awesomeness. #OlympicTrials pic.twitter.com/dzCHNc9T4J — chris olander (@colanderland) November 16, 2013

"Curl, you son of a gun!" - @Shoostie2010 #OlympicTrials — Matt (@NoHoCurling) November 16, 2013

“@NoHoCurling: Zez and Lands: Power Sweepers. #OlympicTrials #curling” I want to sweep like them when I grow up. — Jen Gamboa (@cupcakecurler) November 16, 2013

It cannot be understated just how much cow plop John Shuster pulled himself out of — Matt Sussman (@suss2hyphens) November 16, 2013

Great #curling match tonight. Rojeski & Polo played amazing. Shoostie got himself out of jams. Let's do it again tomorrow. #OlympicTrials — Matt (@NoHoCurling) November 17, 2013

After Fenson won in the extra end, we still had a tight schedule to keep. The ladies were up at 7pm, but we were off to attend our pal Jerome's reception for his Hall of Fame induction. It was a classy affair at the Ramada, with an eclectic group of folks, including a couple other California curlers! Wes Seeger and Jay Diamond from San Francisco were there, so it was nice to see some familiar faces. It was also nice to meet some new folks, as curlers are wont to do. At our table were some nice Canadians who were there to support Jon Mielke, who was also inducted in to the HOF that weekend. Turns out, one of them was The Curler, Resby Coutts! 

Now, I'm not terribly familiar with Resby's work, but I can't forget such a great curling name like that! We chatted about curling and all that good stuff and he talked about his radio show. He then asked our group who was the best speaker, which prompted all of us to point to each other in this bizarro Mexican standoff. He then pulled out his portable recorder and microphone and interviewed Marissa and me on the spot about our club and our awesome bonspiel!

Now it was time for the ladies to play their second match in the best of three, so it was back to Scheels Arena for that game.

Watching @RockEBro continue their quest toward Sochi!  #goteamgo #OlympicTrials pic.twitter.com/Q5g8H5ZrJ5 — Marissa Messier (@dydirect) November 17, 2013

This game was another close one, as expected. They're such evenly matched, it came down to the last end as Team Brown was coming home with the hammer.

Tick. Tick. Peel. Peel. Peel. Peel. Draw. Draw. Win. — E.Bro (@RockEBro) November 17, 2013

Just like that, Team Brown booked their trip to Sochi. But first, they had to get their trials medals.

Yup, as a last minute #FANDango addition, I got to give out the gold medals. I think Deb and Jess were a little surprised to see me up there. Jen handed out the silver medals to a gracious Team Pottinger. The worst part of the weekend was being on the ice, and seeing Allison and Nicole after the loss. I guess that's one of the problems when you'd be happy with either winning team, when one of them loses, you feel terrible for them. 

Chris took this great photo with the gang, Debbie and Pete McCormick. We've had a few laughs over the years, hanging with them at the Wine Country Curling bonspiel, so it was nice being able to share this moment with them.

I think part of the #FANdango prize is @cupcakecurler gets to be fifth for @RockEBro, right @Jess_Curls? — Matt (@NoHoCurling) November 17, 2013

It was another night in the Holiday Inn bar. Liza and I chatted with Kyle, giving him some fodder for this terrific post. There was a live band, and maybe even some twerking. Then we called in a night. Originally, the men were supposed to play in the morning, but because the women finished in two games, the men were bumped to the afternoon. Yay for sleeping in, boo for early evening flights. When we saw Shuster in the hotel lobby on Sunday morning, we suggested an early end would help us make it to our flight in time...

Whoa, congrats to @TeamShuster! Kick some ass in Germany! #RoadToSochi #Curling — Matt (@NoHoCurling) November 17, 2013

Alright Team #FANDango, let's get our shoes on and fill this TV time. — Matt (@NoHoCurling) November 17, 2013

Here they are! Team USA/Shuster for the Olympic Qualification Event in Germany and then on to Sochi. #OlympicTrials pic.twitter.com/ROmnWgNmLQ — Terry Kolesar (@terry_usacurl) November 17, 2013

It was a doozy of a game, one in which the stunned crowd sat silent as it wrapped up. Shuster had told us they have to play six ends because of TV, so when Fenson shook after four ends down 11-1, it was quite a stunner. No one wants to cheer in a situation like that. The fiver for Shuster was crazy enough, but to follow that up with a steal of four? Not the way you want to see something like that end. As it stood, it was just in time for us to say goodbye and make it to the airport for our long journey home.

*single tear* “@terry_usacurl: And just like that it's over. #teardown #OlympicTrials #scheelsarena #hockeytime pic.twitter.com/HEHa7nn9YH” — Matt (@NoHoCurling) November 18, 2013

Thanks to @terry_usacurl, Rick, @knit1curl1, @shawn_olesen, Steve, Jon, Carmen and everyone in Fargo. Can't wait to come back. — Matt (@NoHoCurling) November 17, 2013

Thanks #Fargo, @NoHoCurling is right, you're the Paris of the Midwest. So many great times this past #Curling week. #awesome — chris olander (@colanderland) November 18, 2013

Epic week in Fargo. Journey home begins now. First stop MSP. — Matt (@NoHoCurling) November 17, 2013

Now that that's done, time to look forward to Sochi. Tickets purchased, flights booked, visa's in passports. Really excited for this one, you know, if it actually happens.

[nohocurling]

Road to Sochi Detours Through Glasgow

While the men are in Germany fighting for their Olympic lives, the ladies of Team USA are in Scotland riding in swings.

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Post by Team E. Brown.

They're in Glasgow for the Red Sky Challenge at the Braehead Curling center. Red Sky is Eve Muirhead's management company, so obviously her Scottish rink is participating. To round out the field are Mirjam Ott's Olympic Swiss team and Cissi Östlund's national champion Swedish team are joining the fray. For those looking forward to seeing Eve exact Swedish revenge after the European Championships, you'll be disappointed. Don't know why Margarita Sigfridsson isn't coming, but as a spectator, I'm not going to complain. 

It's a nice Olympic preview, with 4 of the top 5 nations from last year's World Championships, and the top three countries from last months Euros. But really, this is a showcase for Eve Muirhead and the team. At least that's what her managers are hoping. Here's to Team Brown doing some damage and winning this thing.

You never know who you'll run into on the bus to curling in Glasgow. pic.twitter.com/GWUzVSsgXA — Matt (@NoHoCurling) December 11, 2013

It's a double round robin event, so each team plays each other twice. Then 1 and 2 play each other for the crown, while 3 and 4 duke it out to avoid a Finnish medal. The schedule is below and they plan on webstreaming the event with commentators and everything. More importantly, I'll be tweeting during the event, so tune in for my in depth analysis and play-by-play. 

“@NoHoCurling: I'm drinking this all weekend in honor of @ebrowncurl. pic.twitter.com/XiJd2VnyTz” @Curling_Tet #scottishgolfvacation #nextyear? — Erika Brown (@ebrowncurls) December 11, 2013

Thursday 12th Dec  11:00 am PST *Great Britain v USA *Switzerland v Sweden Friday 13th Dec 3:00 am PST *USA v Switzerland *Sweden v Great Britain 8:00 am PST USA* v Sweden Great Britain* v Switzerland Saturday 14th Dec  1:00 am PST Great Britain v USA * Switzerland v Sweden * 6:00 am PST *Switzerland v USA Sweden v Great Britain* 11:00 am PST Sweden* v USA *Switzerland v Great Britain Sunday 15th Dec 1:00 am PST Rank 1 v Rank 2 Rank 3 v Rank 4

[nohocurling]

#FANDango in Fargo: Getting Serious

Part 1 and Part 2.

It's Friday morning. The round robin has completed. The finals about to begin. What to do?

So what do you do when you get knocked out of the Trials and all your friends are here to support you? @dbenson55 @courtneycgeorge #judge — Tyler George (@tgeorge1323) November 15, 2013

Between the busy days and the jetlag, I could have gone for some Judge myself. But no time, there was too much on tap. First up, Carmen and I awake early to get a tour of the Fargo Microsoft campus.

Apparently it's their biggest campus outside of Redmond, Washington, dating back to their acquisition of Great Plains Digital. As expected, it was a high tech office park, with fancy room reservation systems, a state of the art commissary, Starbucks coffee, and fully stocked video game break rooms. But the biggest thing I took away was that there is an update for Windows 8 that lets you change the default screen to the desktop. Jen, get on that.

We wrapped up and joined the rest of #TeamFANDango for my private screening of Fargo at Fargo's historic Fargo Theater.

It's a cool art deco theater built in 1926, complete with an organ and everything. The staff was very friendly, selling me the last black and white print of the theater they had in their case. When the movie started, I couldn't stop laughing at how dumb my video entry was. I also found the other connection between the movie and the Olympic Trials.

Really enjoyed watching Fargo, starring Heath McCormick. #FANdango! pic.twitter.com/vWtHzwcF2W — Matt (@NoHoCurling) November 15, 2013

I always forget just how good that movie is and how much I enjoy it. Also, how little of it actually is set in Fargo (the opening scene) and how little of it was shot in Fargo (none of it). But God bless Fargo, they embrace it. Here's a wooden statue of Francis McDormand.

Thanks @NoHoCurling for letting us crash your #FANDango prize screening of Fargo.  #OlympicTrials pic.twitter.com/3b5heQnj45 — Marissa Messier (@dydirect) November 15, 2013 

After a grand time at the cinema, it was time to hit the Road to Sochi (event) at the Scheels sports store and use my gift card.

Can you tell me how to get to the #RoadToSochi? pic.twitter.com/3nK9tSjxm3 — Matt (@NoHoCurling) November 15, 2013

The event was a bunch of demos for Olympic sports, including curling. We tried it on their fake ice, either going completely off the sheet, or coming up well short. Obviously it wasn't real curling, but I imagine the luge demo was EXACTLY what it's like to be on the luge.

Chris and I tied for hardest slapshot at 58 mph, the girls posed for a photo in a bobsled, and we got free yogurt. We also met 2010 US Olympic Curler Jason Smith, out of his Florida retirement to schmooze with potential curling fans.

On the #RoadtoSochi we met @smittycurler #RaiseYourHands #RISE @nohocurling @dydirect pic.twitter.com/FPqYsx18qP — LizaBeres (@curlgurl82) November 15, 2013

He had a contest with John Benton, who was in the booth the day before, on who would get more visitors. Benton had 40, and we just gave Smitty six. Don't know who had more visitors, but I know who won, me. Because I got my hands on the ultra rare Pete Fenson Topps card with and error on the back.

One of the coolest things I snagged is Pete Fenson's @toppscards! Extra valuable due to the error #Memidji #FANdango pic.twitter.com/DejU9xCg9p — Matt (@NoHoCurling) November 18, 2013

The Scheels store was nuts! Two stories, a Ferris wheel, and statues of American Presidents everywhere. Here is John Adams watching Chris and Marissa on the wheel.

Again, tight schedule to keep as the first draw of the finals was nearing. We had to get there early too, as our pal, Jerome Larson was getting inducted into the USCA Conference Room Hall of Fame. He's a legend in California, affectionately referred to as the Johnny Appleseed of curling. If not for him, none of #TeamFANDango would be curling. So it was extra special to be there for his induction.

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Post by USA Curling.

Then the finals kicked off! On the women's side it was Team Brown vs. Team Pottinger, the two teams I picked to be on top. While I like both teams, Team Brown features two pals in Debbie McCormick and Jessica Schultz, so we were rooting them on. Mostly, I just want to continue to get some mileage out of this poster. 

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Post by Hollywood Curling.

I found out later that the ladies on Team Brown really love the poster. So much so that they had a copy hanging in their hotel room! That was the second coolest thing during the week. The coolest comes up tomorrow.

On the men's side. Shuster squared off against Fenson. I wasn't ballsy enough to make picks on the men's side, but this final is set up similar to the women. I like both teams, but I know Shoostie, so I wanted him to win. Plus, I like the potential redemption story if he gets back to the Olympics. Of course he had to beat Pete first. The first game started off great for him, dropping four in the sixth end to take an 8-3 lead with three ends to go, looked like smooth sailing.

Until, somehow, the game ended up in an extra end!

We're approaching #DEFCONShuster — Mattheim Sussroller (@suss2hyphens) November 15, 2013

So, this was it. Was Shuster going to Shuster it again? Would the wheels come off his run as the top seed into the playoffs? Was Pete going to put the hammer down on Shuster? Why am I asking so many questions, of course you already know that Shuster pulled out the win in an extra end.

After that that business was done, we finally go to the real curling as they let #TeamFANDango onto the ice and on the fifth man sheet, where Liza promptly drew a shot to her own face.

Photo: I threw a stone at my face and I hit the button!!!!! Look at that shot! Thanks to Matt for winning... http://t.co/gCDrdxC9vv — LizaBeres (@curlgurl82) November 16, 2013

It was a pretty cool throwing stones on championship ice and slider over our the faces of our friends.

Shawn on the ice team was great, too. Those guys probably have the most fun at these events because they love their job so much. Lots of pressure to get that ice right, and it seemed like they did a great job. Can't wait to get to the next big event and hang out with them again.

We're hanging with @shawn_olesen on the Trials ice!  @colanderland @cupcakecurler @curlgurl82 @NoHoCurling pic.twitter.com/EiQgXfBPyG — Marissa Messier (@dydirect) November 16, 2013

We wrapped up throwing stones grabbed some grub and retired back to the Holiday Inn bar. Last recap coming up soon, featuring the finals, the winners and more random shenanigans.

[crazy-4-zayn]