Curling's John Shuster Is No Mariano Rivera

I said earlier today that one of the sports I like the most in the Winter Olympics is Curling. Part of the appeal is that it's much like baseball in the innings (called ends, and there's 10 of them), the turned-based progression, the relaxed feel and the idea of last licks (called "the hammer" in Curling) with some elements of other sports weaved in and out. With the ability of the teams able to qualify for these Olympic games, the hammer usually becomes the most important person as the closer of the group. And the hammer is the "skip" on the team; the guy who calls the shots. And the skip for the United States team is John Shuster, who probably had the worst 24 hours of his life as he was unable to close out two matches on three separate occasions.

Mariano Rivera is the best closer in baseball history. Robert Horry was known as "Big Shot Rob" because of his late-game heroics in big spots. When the Los Angeles Lakers needed a big shot at the end of their championship run last season, Kobe Bryant was given the ball the Lakers had confidence he could get it done. John Shuster said he wanted to be that man for the US Olympic Curling Team, said that he wanted to be the guy to throw during crunch time, said that he wanted the pressure. He said that if he got the chance, he would win it for the United States.

He was wrong.

The United States had plenty of chances to win in their opener against Germany but ended up falling 7-5, thanks to a few errant throws by Shuster and company. In their second game against Norway, according to ESPN.com "Shuster had put his team ahead after the ninth end on a clutch deuce, but Norway evened the match at 5 on the final stone of the 10th to force another end." Shuster had a chance to win it in the extra 11th end (as Michael Kay would say "bonus cantos") but his shot at a wide open spot was too hard and the United States team fell to 0-2.

Less than 24 hours later, the United States team was back in action playing the Swiss. The Americans knew that three losses was probably too much to make the semifinals so they needed a win. But after falling behind 4-0, it looked pretty bleak. The United States team rallied back behind Shuster and some sloppy Swiss play to take the lead going into the 10th. The United States seemed on the verge of victory with Shuster just having to seal the deal against the Swiss. This time, he was too short. A measurement confirmed it and we were going to the extra end.

Once again, Shuster had a chance to win it. A big, wide open spot. He had a chance to redeem himself for all those missed shots so far at the Olympics. This was a chance that Scott Norwood never had. John Stark's missed shots killed the Knicks finals chances in 1994 and he never got back. The Knicks' Charles Smith is famous for missing the shot--four times. What did Shuster do?

He missed...he choked...he failed when he said he would succeed.

When Shuster was asked if it was possible for the United States to advance he answered: "'It is, absolutely (possible),' Shuster said. 'We're a great curling team, and we've won six in a row before. And six in a row, it will be good enough. You can mark my words at 6-3 we will get into the medal round.'"

Mark your words? John, you're not exactly Joe Namath or Mark Messier with the predictions here so far. Let's start with making a big shot first to close a game so you don't fall into the category of "Greg Norman in the 1996 Masters" or "Bill Buckner in the 1986 World Series" or "Chris Webber in the 1993 NCAA Championships" as a short list of guys who singlehandedly choked away victory. I understand that Shuster and the Americans won bronze four years ago, but this year, he's not making people mistake him for Mariano Rivera.