Monday, February 18, 2002
Carey keen on cappuccino, Danish
By GREG Di CRESCE -- Winnipeg Sun
Olympic curling coach Bill Carey finished his cappuccino while he listened to an American band, whose name he didn't know, play to an audience of three.
The Winnipegger and a former Canadian national champ was taking a break yesterday from schooling his Danish squad, who face Carey's home and native land today.
"You know, when we came here we hoped to medal. Now we're looking to try and take something positive from the Games," the North Kildonan resident said. "Now, will it salvage our Olympics if we defeat Canada? No. But will beating them help? Yes, most definitely."
The Danes skipped by Ulrik Schmidt have not exactly eaten up their opposition at The Ice Sheet at Ogden, just north of Salt Lake City.
However, Schmidt comes into today's game (3 p.m.) on a bit of a roll, having won their last two. They beat Britain 6-5 on Friday and defeated the U.S. 9-7 in an extra end Saturday to scratch to a 3-5 record for the tourney.
And Carey felt confident that with Ulrik's knee seemingly recovered from tendon damage a few months ago, his team had a decent shot against the tournament leaders.
MISFIRING
"In first games he was firing on maybe four of eight cylinders and the other guys on maybe six of eight. If he's firing on most of his cylinders like he has been lately we'll make a game of it against (Kevin) Martin's rink," the coach said of the Edmonton foursome, who lead with a 7-1 record.
"There is no doubt in all the curlers minds here that the best team here is Canada. But with inconsistent ice anything is possible," said Carey. "And, you know, the ice isn't the only thing that's less than optimum here. The fans can be pretty rude at times too as we found out when we played the U.S."
Carey said many spectators heckled Schmidt when he stepped into the hack to make the final shot of the extra end.
"The Americans here treat this like they're at a baseball game, which at times I don't have a problem with," he said. "But what they were doing to Ulrik was just plain rude. They definitely don't have the same respect for this sport as they do for golf."
Despite the curve balls, Carey insisted the 2002 Games has been a great experience.
"Even though it's been disappointing that Ulrik didn't come here at 100% and we've been left with a lot of what ifs, I have to say that on the whole I've had a wonderful time," he said. "This Olympic experience I wouldn't trade for anything, especially the cappuccinos."
2002 Games Curling Coverage
