Power Rankings - W5

#BetweenTheSheets: Season Debut Power Rankings

Welcome to the first mountain reveal of the new season

The curling season is officially underway.

And not just because we saw opening tour action last weekend in Switzerland and Scotland.

But because we have the season debut of the Power Rankings!!

Yes, you can cheer and be excited for this. You know you have been waiting for it...

And yes, technically we enter Week 5 of the season.

The question is, did the results from the Baden Masters and Euro Super Series shake up the mountain in the opening week?

Before we start climbing the mountain, a quick off road divergence to discuss a topic raised in the Men's Season Preview blog post.

Gambling in sports.

If one was paying attention to golf's Fed Ex Cup championship race over the weekend, one would have noticed the topic of gambling reared its ugly head at the BMW Championship.

Max Homa experienced a disruption from a fan when he went for a putt. All over a $3 bet!

For more information on what happened, including Homa's take on the incident, check out the ESPN story HERE.

Now you may be asking why this is being raised on a curling blog post. Let me explain.

We are seeing more and more examples of online sports betting rear its ugly head on the playing grounds of professional sports. And, more specifically, when related to online prop bets.

Golf. Tennis. Football. Soccer.

Prop betting can be fun for fans but when the wall is removed from online to real life, a problem arises.

Prop bets can be all over the map. From Over/Under scoring to individual player results to coin tosses and Gatorade colour. Prop bets can be fun, don't get me wrong. But keep the prop bet you make alive on your phone or computer, not onto the field of play.

Now you may be saying, well this will never be an issue in curling. And I hope you are correct.

But something as simple as an Over/Under prop bet on a curling match, whether at the Brier/Scotties or at a #gsoc for example, could be an issue.

Could drunk betting fans yell in the middle of a final stone toss to throw off a skip? We hope not.

But did Max Homa expect to be in the position he was in on Saturday too? Probably not.

And while the PGA did release a statement saying it does not believe there is an uptake in fans aiming to distract golfers (thank goodness!), it has now happened and, as such, the PGA needs to make a statement and start paying attention to its potential in the future.

Golf, similar to curling and tennis, thrive in a respectful playing environment for its athletes. Fans are generally quiet when play is on. 

But, as Homa stated, it is "one thing I am worried about." The potential growth of incidents like this happening.

We can hope it does not. We can hope fans continue to respect the game/sport they are watching. But money talks. Even for $3!

I hope this is an issue we never see in the sport of curling. Similar to how in the Season Preview post I noted hoping we never see an issue arise between sports betting and athletes/coaches.

But we cannot be ignorant to its potential either. Hope it never happens? Yes! Could it happen? YES!

Lets keep our keen eyes on this topic throughout the season, both on the ice with curling but also how it pops up in other professional sports. No one sport is immune to these issues. Sport is like family. When an issue affects one of us, it could affect all of us.

#TheRunback

🥌 Baden Masters - Team Retornaz (ITA) def. Team Bryce (SCO): Retornaz goes a perfect 7-0 to claim the title, including knocking off three straight Scottish teams in the playoffs: Team Waddell (QF), Team Craik (SF), Team Bryce (F). Bryce also entered the final undefeated, having posted an identical 4-0 RR record and playoff victories over Team Ramsfjell (QF) and Team Whyte (SF).

🥌 Euro Super Series - Team Strouse (USA) def. Team Constantini (ITA): Strouse goes 5-1 to win the championship and deny a weekend sweep for Italian curling. Strouse earned the SF bye, defeating Scotland's Team Munro to book their spot in the final. Constantini also eared the SF bye after going undefeated in the RR (4-0), knocking off last year's runner-up Norway's Team Roervik to reach the final. Constantini finished the weekend with an overall record of 5-1.

🥌 ARGO Graphics Cup - Team Morozumi (JPN) def. Team Hirata (JPN): This season it was announced the ARGO Graphics Cup would be a men's only event, with the men and women rotating hosting rights. Morozumi won their second consecutive event, having claimed the Challenge Cup last weekend. For Hirata, it is their second final of the season, having previously won the Hokkaido Bank Curling Classic at the start of August. Could a Japanese rivalry be building?

🥌 Summer Series Mixed Doubles - Team MacMillan / Middleton (CAN) def. Team Riley / Mullen (CAN): M&M reign supreme in St-Felicien, Quebec to kick off the mixed doubles circuit. Kayla MacMillan and Sterling Middleton were a perfect 7-0 on the weekend, going 4-0 in the RR before posting 3 playoff wins to claim the title. One playoff win even included bouncing 4-person teammates Clancy Grandy and Catlin Schneider in the QF. Emily Riley and Jason Mullen went 3-1 in the RR and finished the weekend with an overall record of 6-2. 

Wondering how the #TourLifePredictions went?

The blog predicted 5 of the 8 qualifiers in Baden, including Retornaz reaching the championship final.

The blog went 5 of 6 for qualifiers in Stirling but missed the boat with both finalists.

Overall, an opening weekend grade of "B" on the predictions?

Ok, bring on the Power Rankings mountain! The parenthesis number behind each team is where they were ranked in the preseason Power Rankings, as revealed in the Season Preview blog posts.

#PowerRankings

Men

1. Team Mouat (Preseason Ranking: 1)

Last Week: Did Not Compete (DNC)

No play, no problem. Enjoy that spot atop the mountain lads.

2. Team Gushue (2)

Last Week: DNC

The Goo sticks...to the mountain at #2.

3. Team Retornaz (6)

Last Week: Winner - Baden Masters (def. Team Bryce in the final)

The Baden Masters field was a strong one, featuring 4 teams in the Top 10 and 8 teams in the Top 20 heading into the event. Retornaz not only won the event but did so in convincing fashion, going 7-0 to claim the championship. A strong start to the season for the Italian Stallion.

4. Team Dunstone (3)

Last Week: DNC

5. Team Bottcher (4)

Last Week: DNC

6. Team Edin (5)

Last Week: DNC

Teams Dunstone, Bottcher and Edin take a small slip down the mountain only due to the strong season opening result from fellow Top 10er Team Retornaz. Strong play, undefeated results and winning a spiel with a tough field earns a reward up the rankings.

7. Team Whyte (10)

Last Week: SF - Baden Masters

Now that was the type of season opening result Team Whyte needed. A strong opening weekend of play with a deep playoff run. Sure they slipped up in the SF, losing to fellow Scot Team Bryce, but it was still a solid weekend. A SF run against a strong field earns a bump up the rankings.

8. Team Schwaller (8)

Last Week: QF - Baden Masters

This one might be a bit contested. Schwaller did reach the playoffs, as expected out of a #8 team on the Power Rankings. But, as discussed in the Season Preview post, they fall short in the playoff round where it matters most. A special consideration should be given as the team did play with 3 players this weekend though. As was subtly mentioned on the livestream, one player may have been enjoying a nuptial?!?

9. Team Bryce (NR)

Last Week: Final - Baden Masters

Entering the weekend ranked #20, Scotland's Team Bryce was expected to make a push for the playoffs. But going undefeated in the RR, including a victory over Top 10 Team Dropkin, followed up by wins over higher ranked Team Ramsfjell and Team Whyte in the playoffs was unexpected by some. The results speak for themselves though and Team Bryce is rewarded for their opening season play with a debut in the Top 10. We now have 3 Scottish teams in the Top 10 folks (compared to 4 for Canada). Watch out!

10. Team Koe (7)

Last Week: DNC

Don't fret Koe Kingdom, this drop in the rankings is out of respect for the results of those teams who competed in Baden and not a reflection of your Alberta boys.

Honourable Mention: Team Dropkin, Team Ramsfjell, Team Craik, Team Brunner, Team Waddell 

Women

1. Team Einarson (Preseason Ranking: 1)

Last Week: Did Not Compete (DNC)

No play, no problem, no movement.

Enjoy your stay atop the mountain and enjoy the view.

2. Team Homan (2)

Last Week: DNC

3. Team Gim (3)

Last Week: DNC

4. Team Fujisawa (4)

Last Week: DNC

5. Team Hasselborg (5)

Last Week: DNC

6. Team Wrana (6)

Last Week: DNC

7. Team Lawes (7)

Last Week: DNC

8. Team Tirinzoni (8)

Last Week: DNC

9. Team Grandy (9)

Last Week: DNC

As with #1 ranked Team Einarson, teams ranked #2 - #9 did not compete last weekend and do not see movement up or down the mountain. We look forward to seeing these teams start their seasons over the next few weeks.

10. Team Strouse (NR)

Last Week: Won Euro Super Series (def. Team Constantini in the final)

Well a few curling fans called out the blog for not listing USA's Team Strouse in the Season Preview #TeamUpset Top 5. Even Team Strouse responded on social media. And the team went out and responded on the ice as well in Stirling. The blog sees you Team Strouse and takes notice. Welcome to the Top 10!

Honourable Mention: Team Constantini, Team Jones, Team Roervik, Team Munro, Team Jaeggi

Agree? Disagree? What would YOUR Top 10 look like?

Share your thoughts with the #PowerRankings and reveal your Top 10 mountain on social media or in the comment section below.

#StayTuned

Tour action returns to the ice this upcoming weekend with events in Canada, Scotland and Japan.

The blog will return later in the week to preview all the action.

Until then, enjoy the last full week of August folks. September is right around the corner.