Garth McQueen/CTAL/CTC 12/17/2004 11:13 AM Subject Pioli Papers - December 15th - Christmas Edition Here comes Santa Claus! Here comes Santa Claus! Right down sheet number 5! Mauro and Bruce and the fab front end are pulling out all the reindeer horse shoes. A nick to the button, a bounce for the double; All is merry and bright. Hang your stockings and say your prayers, 'Cause C Flight champions are coming tonight. Here comes Santa Claus! Here comes Santa Claus! Right down sheet number 5! He's got a bag that is filled with bad luck for the hapless Good Timers. Hear those oohs and aahs that jingle jangle, What a beautiful sight. Jump in bed, cover up your head, 'Cause the dream can't last forever... Ok Mark: there's your Christmas Carol, now an annual part of the Papers. Wasn't it a wonderful sight last night. Not a bad bounce was seen for the entire 8 ends. Sober curling isn't that bad after all. I was most inspired by the way the back end stepped up their game. They were able to adjust to not having to throw guards all night. Both Mauro and Bruce had zip in their shots while everyone was on the broom. I don't think we will see this again so I suggest we enjoy the memory. Stats: CTFS 12 Good Timers 2 Ends CTFS 7 Good Timers 2 Lead 99% Second 99% Third 100% Skip 100% The team was very focused right from the start. We lost the coin toss but it didn't seem to matter as we proceeded to steal 1 & 2. I could tell right away that their team was inflicted with the "eye of the dead fish" syndrome. I think the word has got out about the C flight champs as they appeared nervous and hesitant. With defeat in their eyes, we jumped on every miscue they made so needless to say, we were jumping quite a bit. We donated #3 to keep them in the game but proceeded to take 4,5,6,7 and 8. Impressive to say the least. The team knows how to go for the kill, which is critical when playing at the elite level. The effort was strong that's for sure... I heard Italian crying all night..."my back, my knee, my arm...". Despite the pain they played on. Why Mauro was so enthralled with sweeping, he started sweeping my rock in the eighth while I was picking it out of the hack. What a sight...I had tears in my eyes. On a sobering thought, we are starting to understand the mess we are creating for ourselves. "A" flight is not the place to be but damned, the thoughts of beating Remax in January is a rush. Team, we must be prepared for the landing. Circling in these lofty heights should not impair our vision of reality. The runway awaits, let's not cry when we get there. We are Men with Brooms going through a temporary spell of success. Throw off your rose colored glasses and replace them with brown bottles. Merry Christmas to all and to all our opponents to date, a big thank you for lying down. Mark Pioli/CTAL/CTC 12/20/2004 09:53 AM We four curlers of CTFS are, Bearing wins we traverse afar, Ice and rocks, peanuts and beer, Following yonder Star. Chorus: O, curlers of wonder, curlers of might, Curlers who drink through the night, Northward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to the perfect Flight.