Dear Readers,
The 9th Winter Olympics is in full swing! With half of the multiverse's favourite competition already over, Electrum STILL does not have a medal yet. Fear not, we are making some progress here. Let us not forget that our first medal was won on Day 10 last year. Nonetheless, on Day 9, Mbutu Mandell/Tim Hader are favourites in the bobsleigh, where they have practised hard after last year's performance. DeeDee Quach and Samantha Amber will be competing in the Biathlon 12.5km mass start where DeeDee has been training very hard for that event.
Kenny Tyre and Tim Barrow will be competing in the second Nordic Combined event, which tests both their jumping ability and the speed. Then, on Day 12, James Milliner will compete in the Parallel Giant Slalom - after sustaining an injury just before the Olympics and pulling out of several events, he is back for this event only. Those are the to-be highlights for this half week. Finally, the Men's Curling team will be carrying the hopes of the nation as they get into the finals with spectacular wins over New North Amquland and Vettrera. This half week's magazine will be dedicated to the men's curling team.
From,
The Editor
Dynamo CC
Dynamo CC comes from the Eastern part of the conurbation in which we call Centralis. Dynamo CC is captained (or to use the curling term, skipped) by Janus Peters, is lead by Lead Peter Stein, 2nd is Mark Einarrson and 3rd is Conan Boyle. Dynamo CC is located in a town called Prescott, home to two million people, all four of these players are locals and also played in last year's Winter Olympics. Dynamo CC has recently received funding from the Electrum Department of Health, Wellbeing and Sports after their quarterfinalist berth last year. Being recently upgraded, it contains 6 curling sheets and a capacity of 20,000 spectators. It was recently used in the selection trials for the Electrum women's and men's curling team.
Lead Peter Stein
The lead in this curling team is Peter Stein. What leads usually do is to throw the first two stones in each end. This is an extremely pivotal role, especially if you are holding the hammer, as these stones are usually guard stones, defending what is to be in the house in the future. As the free-guard zone rule is in effect from the first four stones in an end: i.e. Stones that are left between the hog line (the line where stones are in play) to the line splitting the house in half can not be removed from play until the first four stones are played. Peter Stein was a former hurdler for Electrum, but after being rejected in the try outs, he decided to give curling a crack and has found a competitive streak in curling. Average Percentage: 90%
Second Mark Einarrson
Professional curler by day, professional rockstar at night, Mark Einarrson is a fan of metal and death metal. He has his own band of three called "Mark and Friends," where Mark is the lead singer and also a drummer. People on the street are surprised that such a hardcore person could do as tame as sport as Curling, but he actually started curling since the age of 5, his mum, Jane McCoy is a Curling Umpire in this Olympic Games. As second, he delivers the second pair of stones. As he comes directly after the lead, the free-guard zone rule is not in effect anymore, and therefore must try and remove as many opposing guard stones as possible. He is team-minded and very good at taking directions, especially from Conan and Janus. Average Percentage: 87%
Third Conan Boyle
Conan Boyle is a very silent person, usually keeping to himself. He is wary of the press and paparazzi, and is rarely seen in Electrum. Conan Boyle is reserved, but this makes it excellent for his role in third. He directs his attention and time to the issues that need his attention the most - strategy. As Third, he is by default, vice skip and therefore is second in command in terms of strategy. His role comes from the fact that he slides the third pair of stones (notice the pattern?). He needs to think fast and be very precise on how he curls his stones, as he is setting up for the final curler, the Skip. Not much else is known about Conan Boyle, but those are the basic facts. Average Percentage: 88%
Skip Janus Peters
The skip in curling usually stands near the house and is the one holding their broom out onto it. The position of the broom indicates where the team should aim their curling stone. In this so-called game called 'chess on ice,' the skip is the real mastermind. By placing the broom where he wants it, he indicates the strategic direction the team is to face. Janus Peters started competing in Curling 5 years ago after hearing from a mate about a game where it was basically 'sweeping stones.' Ever since that first taste, he quit his job to become a full-time curler. Janus is a real puzzle lover and is commonly seen around the rink, even in the bar after they win, playing sudoku or filling in crosswords. He is truly a genius at heart and usually chooses the best angles for the team to follow. This is evidenced by the spectacular stones that he slides in Electrum's win against New North Amquland and Vettrera. Average Percentage: 91%
The Opponents
In the Round of 16, Electrum will face Isula ge Ru in this round. Isula ĝe Ru (as it's officially known, but we'll skip the g for this section as it is very expensive to keep printing those hats on the g) is the winner of Group 9, having won all three of their matches. Isula ge Ru defeated Anditia, Renzynistan and Renoa in the group round. They won comfortably in all of their matches, having a points differential of +6. They are no easy feat to defeat. According to their official information on their roster, they are a nation of scholars, though unathletic. This means that their curling team will be very intelligent, but no amount of "hours spent poring over scrolls in high towers" does not prepare one for a winning performance in Curling. In this topsy turvy world, anything can happen with the slightest deviation of angle, the slightest overpush or whatever, it's not over until it's over.
Isula ge Ru is skipped by Siolæsĉigu Marĉi Œssu Saiĝudea, Vice is Siolæsĉigu Ato Maria Gutu Erea, Second is Siolæsĉigu Nicola Danhel Comacu Umora and Lead is Siolæsĉigu Iud Esĉelhu Maria. Let's hope the commentators can pronounce their name in tomorrow's match.
Curling Traditions
Here are some interesting factoids and traditions related to Curling:
*Sportsmanship is the number one priority in Curling. Curlers who inadvertently break the rules usually announce it to the skip of the opposing team. Any breakage of this rule is already considered a huge controversy. In Electrum's match against Kriegiersien, Janus accused their skip of cheating. Although it was unclear, as long as he didn't report it, it probably didn't happen.
*Winning teams usually buy drinks for the losing team in the local bar. Electrum is a country of proud drinkers (remember, in moderation). Therefore it fits in the Electrum tradition of drinking at the end of sporting matches.
*By End 8, if the result is clear then the losing team will probably forfeit the match and call it a day. This is a sign of respect from the losing team's skip acknowledging that an unlikely win/a win through lucky circumstances after being so far down is worse than an actual loss.
[Next page > Baptism of Fire]
