inquiry Posted May 19, 2005 Report Share Posted May 19, 2005 Team Ekeblad Russ Ekeblad Ron Rubin Geoff Hampson Eric Greco Fred Gitelman Brad Moss Team Ekeblad has made it to the semi-finals of the 2005 United States Bridge Championships. Of course, almiost all have at least a passiing interest in this because Fred is our host here and on the BBO gaming site. It was a shame we didn't get to watch the last two segments of this match because of technical snafu in Houston. But the match today and tomorrow (and after they win that, the match on the weekend) should be of great interest. Maybe I should take some credit in building up Team Ekeblad confidence. On Feb 10th of this year, Fred asked me to fill in for Brad Moss so Fred/Ron, and Russ could practice for this event. Fred didn't get any useful practice with me as a partner, but the 27 hands resulted in me being SOUNDLY thashied and no doubt built up Russ and Ron's confidence so much that Ekeblad is now an unstoppable force. But serioiusly, Go Fred!!!!! We should all try to find time to wacth on line some the next two days. Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
han Posted May 19, 2005 Report Share Posted May 19, 2005 Hup Ekeblad! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenberg Posted May 19, 2005 Report Share Posted May 19, 2005 I wish the team the very best. I have watched much of the Vugraph presentation. The fact that I can sit at home drinking coffee, watching expert commentary on expert play, is extraordinary. Thanks, and very best wishes to Fred and his team in the competition, and to all who are part of this. Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double ! Posted May 20, 2005 Report Share Posted May 20, 2005 GOooooooooooooooooooo TEAM FIGHT RAH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jlall Posted May 20, 2005 Report Share Posted May 20, 2005 i got 50 bucks on them too, so please win :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whereagles Posted May 20, 2005 Report Share Posted May 20, 2005 What happened to the Nickell team? I didn't see them in the rosters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joker_gib Posted May 20, 2005 Report Share Posted May 20, 2005 What happened to the Nickell team? I didn't see them in the rosters. Already qualified ! They decided not to go to Istambul and to keep the qualification for Bermuda Bowl. Alain P.S. : Good luck Fred and others :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whereagles Posted May 20, 2005 Report Share Posted May 20, 2005 Ahhh.. that makes sense.. lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerben42 Posted May 20, 2005 Report Share Posted May 20, 2005 Well the fact that they are USA 1 makes sense, that they did not go to Istanbul did not.Just my 2 cents. Cheers for Team Ekeblad, hope to see them against Welland in the final. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helene_t Posted May 20, 2005 Report Share Posted May 20, 2005 Did they decide not to go to Istanbul? I thought they lost the selection match. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
han Posted May 20, 2005 Report Share Posted May 20, 2005 Did they decide not to go to Istanbul? I thought they lost the selection match. No, they won, but thought Turkey was too dangerous at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MickyB Posted May 20, 2005 Report Share Posted May 20, 2005 Did they decide not to go to Istanbul? I thought they lost the selection match. No, they won, but thought Turkey was too dangerous at the time. Yup, they beat Welland by 100 IMPs in the final IIRC, so Welland went to Istanbul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenberg Posted May 21, 2005 Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 Amazing semi-final. May you win it all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inquiry Posted May 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 Amazing semi-final. May you win it all. Omg, overtime, last board, Fred pulls it out. Whew, tooooo exciting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jlall Posted May 21, 2005 Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 holy !@& that was dramatic...both matches...wow, im still comin down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jillybean Posted May 21, 2005 Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 Wow!!!!!! I would never have believed I would be on the edge of my seat rooting for a pair playing a card game. AmazingCongratulations :P jillybean2 Most exciting vugraph since the Bermuda Bowl ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keylime Posted May 21, 2005 Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 I got good karma about this - it just feels right for Fred to win it all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoeless Posted May 21, 2005 Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 I think this whole thing is rigged as a promotional ploy for BBO by Fred. Surely to goodness what we witnessed in both matches a few hours ago can't be real. Like he is setting us to pay in the future - and who wouldn't after that. This is like some kind of amazing magic show - go Freddie go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MickyB Posted May 21, 2005 Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 And I went to bed when they had just a few boards to play :P Can't believe they were that close over 120 boards, makes me feel better about losing a huge (for me) match by 2 IMPs! And now we get the final the kibitzers wanted, Fred vs Zia, awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke warm Posted May 21, 2005 Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 like most of you, i was wowed by the bridge i saw... i'd guess we all were pulling for fred's team, and i hate to bring a downer into the conversation, but is it possible that some of the commentary was a little too biased? now i'm not against bias per se, i just don't know that i'd liked to have been, for example, debrose watching those last few hands and reading some of the comments... any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pclayton Posted May 21, 2005 Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 It must have been tough for Deb watching her husband's team in OT, when just about every commentator was pulling for Ekeblad. I don't blame her if some things she said reflected her frustration. I just can't believe Drewsky didn't crack 4♠ - FP or not. Where's pard's points? he must have a couple of minor tricks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike777 Posted May 21, 2005 Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 I think this whole thing is rigged as a promotional ploy for BBO by Fred. Surely to goodness what we witnessed in both matches a few hours ago can't be real. Like he is setting us to pay in the future - and who wouldn't after that. This is like some kind of amazing magic show - go Freddie go. Well said. Jimmy the only bias I really noticed was the rooting for exciting hands, rooting for close match and the usual "the team behind needs to do such and such to pull into the lead" stuff. Wow, what matches and fun, thanks Players and BBO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanrover Posted May 21, 2005 Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 Can't grumble about the semi-finals! Even the technical problems were beautifully timed to add to the excitement. Gl to Fred against his old team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke warm Posted May 21, 2005 Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 Jimmy the only bias I really noticed was the rooting for exciting hands, rooting for close match and the usual "the team behind needs to do such and such to pull into the lead" stuff. now don't get me wrong, if it's acceptable for the commentators, almost en masse, to obviously show their preference, that's fine... otoh, if they should be like keith jackson, giving a 'whoa nellie' to both teams, then this wasn't that yes, there was a whole lot of objective commentary... but there was a whole lot of no-doubt-who-we're-for commentary also... again, that is only wrong in my view when one takes into account the totality of the audience i've seen debbie work as a commentator when her husband is one of the players... you'd not know who she was pulling for by her comments Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenberg Posted May 21, 2005 Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 If I am confused it won't be the first or last time, but debrose is Debra Rosenberg, is she not, and her husband Michael was playing on Welland against Robinson not on the Ekeland team in OT. Luke may well be looking into the future here, as Welland meets Ekeland. Being from the DC area and a great fan of Robinson and Boyd, I watched a lot of that extraordinary match. Debra was a commentator and while she no doubt had a preference for how the match came out she was not only gracious but also a wonderful addition to the group. She knew in detail the systemic agreements, knew their styles, could contribute personal stories and so on. Perhaps it will be tough for her commenting in the finals with many BBO folks cheering on Ekeblad against her husband's team, but I'm betting she will be there. I sure hope so. Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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