The Extra End

Kevin Martin wins the battle for the number one ranking.

I know that it has been a rivalry between Glenn Howard and Martin, that is, who is the best team in Canada. Some Kevin as number one because of money earnings, and some had Glenn holding down the higher ranking position due to his world championship victory. Sunday's game settled the argument for this season. Martin is king and will represent Canada at the world championships in Grand Forks, N.D., in April.

The Brier final is the biggest curling game of the year for most fans. The prize is huge, the honour is great, the stakes are a place in history. All was set for a big game between the best teams in the world that would showcase the precision shot-making that has become commonplace in competitive men's curling. But, that was not what played out Sunday at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg.

It’s tough to blame the bad guys, especially when they are the nice guys. That’s the situation for the team from Saskatchewan tonight as they take in their semifinal loss and exit from the 2008 Tim Horton’s Brier.

I mean, really, it is not Glenn Howard’s fault. Saskatchewan’s Pat Simmons had chances to make it to the final. First, in making his last shot in the 8th, 9th or 10th ends in the Page 1 vs 2 game on Friday night versus Alberta. Second, in making the most of second chances in the 9th and 10th ends of the semifinal Saturday afternoon versus Ontario.

Sport can be so rewarding and it can be so cruel. Friday's three playoff games all held bright hope for the underdogs, only to have that dream snatched away in the end.

And what happened to Martin’s all star squad Friday night? They were so dominant all week, so it was shocking to see them struggle. In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with their skill level, shotmaking or strategy. Their problem is with chemistry and communication.

The buzz around the MTS centre is whether any team can knock off red-hot Alberta. Many looked to Ontario’s Glenn Howard to do the trick this morning, but that was not the case. Although it was a close game, Alberta played stronger in the last half to make the difference. There is no doubt which team has ruled the round robin.

What great drama in all four games of this afternoon’s draw. All four matches were meaningful with Manitoba, BC and Newfoundland/Labrador all in must win games to make the playoffs. The fourth game featured Saskatchewan’s attempt to secure second place.

The cream is starting to rise to the top in this Brier field. The race remaining in the last four draws is for that final playoff spot.

Looking at the remaining schedule and assuming that there will be no major upsets, there are three teams that will make the playoffs: Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan. They are jockeying now for ranking in playoff games.

I arrived in the ‘Peg early this morning and have finally got a close look at the teams on the ice. There are a lot of all-stars out there and that will be the theme of my blog today.

Oooooh, it’s getting interesting for the middle teams at the Brier. Only Alberta is looking invincible so far, rolling along unbeaten and really, unchallenged. The rest of the field has shown moments of brilliance and moments of brutal ... sure makes for good games for the spectators.

Great opening weekend at the Tim Hortons Brier! Even though there were few surprising results, there were a lot of great games to watch. As much as everyone agreed that there was a big gap between the top and bottom teams, the games have been close and haven't always leaned toward the favourites.

Much of that has to do with the ice conditions stabilizing over the opening weekend and teams getting used to what they are working with. There appears to be plenty of movement in the ice, but air-flow issues in the building have made draw weight a little patchy at times.

Five draws are in the books, so now is a good time to look at who’s hot and who’s not:

You gotta love the tag line for the 2008 Tim Hortons Brier in Winnipeg: Legends of Rock.

The tradition and prestige of the Brier is second to none in the world of curling. There is something about that province vs. province competition that never gets old. The Brier legend is all about traditional rivalries, provincial pride, individual expectations, media spotlights, nightly entertainment, patch parties, crazy fans and a big prize package for only one winning team.

There are a few living "legends of rock" that are the clear pre-event favourites. These two skips are not in the category of "Will they make the playoffs," but rather the category of "Most likely to win." I'm talking about reigning Canadian and world champion Glenn Howard of Ontario, and reigning king of the Grand Slams Kevin Martin of Alberta.

These two teams are a cut above the rest of the field. So the bigger question at this year’s Brier is which other teams will make the playoffs. That’s where the debate is in the pre-event pool. For all of you placing your bets after tonight’s league game, here is my cheat sheet.

I went to work today with a sense of dread – the semi-final was too good, the final game can’t be near as thrilling. I am happy to report that I was wrong!

In a true testament to the great curling all week, the final was a nail-biter and too close to call until the final rock came to rest. Congratulations to Manitoba’s Jennifer Jones, Cathy Overton-Clapham, Jill Officer and Dawn Askin for a gritty, hard-fought Canadian championship. Go get 'em at the world championships in March!

What I loved about watching Manitoba in this final match was how they seemed so calm and relaxed. They did not over-react to missed shots or difficult situations. They spoke intelligently to each other and faced difficult situations with better shot-making. They pulled their weight as a team, each playing their roles and positions perfectly. They showed comfort, poise and positive thinking under pressure situations. In other words, they played like the champions they became and not like the underdogs that they were.

I am just home from the Brandt Centre after watching Jennifer Jones’s Manitoba squad edge out Sherry Middaugh’s Ontario team in perhaps the best-ever women’s semifinal game. And I'm exhausted because I don’t think I ever left the edge of my seat!

It was the perfect storm of curling - great teams with past Scotties experience, wonderful ice and rocks with great movement and consistency, fantastic shot-making, and even the odd crucial miss to keep the spectators guessing as to who had the advantage.