Page 23 - ARUBA TODAY

A23
SPORTS Saturday 5 January 2019
CURLING a converted hockey rink in some extremely athletic in-
Continued from Page 17 Nashville. "We were serious. dividuals who respect sport
"Our short term goals are We didn't want it to seem but have a need to com-
continually to get better: like it was just some media pete in their blood. Can't
Fundamentals, strategy, hype, or just trying to stay disrespect that!"
sweeping. We know if we relevant." All four football players
master these little things, it The first test was in No- agreed the reception
will take us a long way." vember, when Allen and they've received from life-
A 12-year NFL veteran who Bulger — with two "regu- time curlers is decidedly
spent most of his career lar" curlers — competed in different from a curler try-
with the Chiefs and Vi- the Curl Mesabi Classic in ing to break into the hyper-
kings, Allen was lamenting Northern Minnesota. Their competitive NFL.
the end of his playing days first opponent: The gold "Oh, he'd get smashed,"
when a friend dared him medal-winning team from Allen said. "We'd go out of
to try an Olympic sport. Al- Pyeongchang led by four- In this Jan. 3, 2019 photo, former Minnesota Vikings football our way to test his mettle,
player Jared Allen, second from left, stands with his three curl-
len toyed with the idea of time Olympian John Shus- ing teammates, from left, Michael Roos, Keith Bullock and Marc for sure."
badminton but rejected it ter. Bulger after practice for a competition in Blaine, Minn. Instead, they found the
as too taxing. They lost 11-3, giving up five Associated Press tight-knit but friendly com-
"We thought about curling. points in the sixth end. munity of curlers was eager
It was chill, and the win- "Honestly, they were a little we just kept playing with the sport early in the Olym- to accept them. In their
ners have to buy the losers better than I had expect- them. We just wanted to pic cycle, they have al- match against the Olympi-
beer," he said. "We thought ed," said Matt Hamilton, be a sponge," Bulger said. most three more years be- ans, there was trash-talking
it was a win-win." the second on that team. "The key was they knew we fore the team for the 2022 — or banter, depending on
He rounded up former "All in all, Jared was tech- were taking it seriously. It Games is chosen. whom you ask — and Ham-
Rams quarterback Marc nically pretty sound. But wasn't just us saying 'We're Hamilton confessed he was ilton even gave them some
Bulger and Titans lineback- at the end of the day, I've going to take over curling,' put off at first about new- of his old curling gear."I
er Keith Bulluck and tackle seen thousands of curling kind of as a gimmick. comers thinking they could looked at their broom
Michael Roos to form a shots and situations and "We hope to play them reach the Olympics in a heads and I was disgusted.
team; all were Pro Bowl se- that is ultimately going to again," he said, "when sport he'd worked a life- I was wondering why these
lections during their NFL ca- win us more games." we're better." time to master. But he also former pro football play-
reer, and living near Nash- Although curling matches The All-Pros are back at realized the publicity will be ers couldn't afford new
ville, Tennessee. are often conceded when it at the USA Men's Chal- good for curling, which has broom heads," he said. "So
Adopting the name All-Pro they are out of reach, the lenge Round this weekend struggled to break out of I went into my curling bag
Curling Team, they start- Olympians kept playing in Blaine, Minnesota, where its niche as an every-four- and gave them some gen-
ed from scratch in March through the eighth (of 10) they are competing for years curiosity. tly used ones before the
and kept their plans under ends, to help the football one of four remaining spots "If I really think I'm that game. That really surprised
wraps until they felt like players gain the experi- in next month's national good, I should be like Jared, claiming nothing like
they had made enough ence they'll need if they championships. (Top teams 'Bring it on!'" Hamilton said that would ever fly in foot-
progress. are going to be more com- like Shuster's have already in an email to The Associ- ball." Like many of those
"We wanted the reaction petitive. (If it's any consola- qualified.) ated Press from a compe- who only experience curl-
when we got on the ice to tion for Allen's crew, Shus- They got off to a rough start tition in Japan. "How much ing every four years on TV,
be 'Oh, how long have you ter's rink also scored a five- in their first match, falling they respected the game, the football players saw the
guys been doing this?" Al- ender against Sweden in 10-1 to Steve Birklid's Seat- though, is what made me sweeping and the shouting
len said in a telephone in- the gold-medal match.) tle-based rink on Thursday realize they aren't making and underestimated how
terview after practicing on "We had one bad end, and night. But, by hopping into a mockery. We just have hard it is. q

SS Troy Tulowitzki, Yankees

finalize 1-year deal

NEW YORK (AP) — Troy Tu- of a hamstring and right after the 2010 season to
lowitzki and the New York ankle injury. The ankle re- a $157.75 million, 10-year
Yankees have finalized a quired surgery last spring contract that added $132
one-year contract for the and he missed the entire million over seven seasons.
major league minimum season. Gregorius had Colorado dealt him in July
$555,000, giving the team right elbow surgery on Oct. 2015 to Toronto in a deal
a low-cost option at short- 17 and is not expected to that brought shortstop
stop while Didi Gregorius return until summer. New Jose Reyes to the Rockies.
recovers from Tommy John York also has been talk- While Tulowitzki helped the
surgery. ing with Manny Machado, Blue Jays reach that year's
Tulowitzki idolized retired one of the top available AL Championship Series,
Yankees captain Derek free agents. Tulowitzki he slumped the next year
Jeter and has worn No. could slot in at shortstop, and then was derailed by
2 in his honor. A five-time allowing Gleyber Tor- injuries. Tulowitzki is owed
All-Star who turned 34 in res to remain at second $20 million for next year,
October, Tulowitzki has base and Miguel Andujar $14 million for 2020 and a
not played in the major to stay at third. Tulowit- $4 million buyout of a 2021
leagues since July 2017 zki was taken by Colorado team option. Toronto pays
and was released by the with the seventh overall all but the big league mini- In this July 20, 2016, file photo, Toronto Blue Jays' Troy Tulow-
Toronto Blue Jays last pick in the 2005 amateur mum in the Yankees deal, itzki throws out Arizona Diamondbacks' Brandon Drury during
month. He was limited to draft, became a star with which would be offset the fourth inning of an interleague baseball game, in Phoenix.
66 games in 2017 because the Rockies, and agreed against his 2019 salary.q Associated Press