HAIL TO THE VICTORS

[Double !]

SUPER

Fantastic

Excellent

and

Well Done

[pclayton]

Fred, Brad, Geoff, Eric, Ron and Russ:

 

You have certainly earned the right to represent the greatest country in the world (with apologies to others :D ). I watched most of the matches and I am impressed with the way you played, although I missed the last two segments :rolleyes: .

 

But now the work begins. If we are to beat the Italians (or you to beat Nickell), we need all the partnerships on the team to perform at their best. We can't be languishing in 3N when 7♠ is cold.

 

I know that all of you had been playing for 10 days straight, but Estoril won't be any different. I hope that all the pairs get in many many practice sessions and work out their sequences between now and November. This is no such thing as overpreparing for an event like this. We all have our other priorities: family, work, professional commitments, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime venture.

 

Understand that you are representing the United States. Feel any pressure? GOOD! You are no different that someone that qualifies for our Olympic Team. The training does not stop when one makes the team. The training begins after you qualify.

 

Use this pressure to motivate you to prepare for what may be the most important tournament of your careers. Not many can say they have represented their country.

 

But even fewer can say they won a world championship either.

 

GO TEAM EKEBLAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rain]

........................

[Gerben42]

You have certainly earned the right to represent the greatest country in the world

 

<puke> Rooting for your country is okay, but this is just, well... I need to throw up. First step is to realize that there IS no greatest country. There are things like "the greatest country for playing bridge" (Poland? Australia?) but no overall greatest country. But enough politics.

 

If we are to beat the Italians (or you to beat Nickell)

 

Although these 2 teams are favorite many other teams will be of similar calibre.

To quote your fearless leader: "You forgot about Poland"

 

But other than that - CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK!

[csdenmark]

Congratulations to team Ekeblad

 

I really like to see USA2 now also will be emphasized in strong systems. The team composition for USA1 and USA2 will now be similar.

 

- Rodwell/Meckstroth + Greco/Hampson - playing Meckwell Club

- Hamman/Soloway(Hamway Club) + Ekeblad/Rubin(Hamway Club(modified))

- Nickell/Freeman + Gitelmann/Moss playing SAYC/2o1

 

Hamway Club is a derivation from Orange Club employed by The Dallas Aces. I think many americans have much to thank Mr. Ira G. Corn Jr.

 

-----------------------------------------------------

 

Anybody who knows why Team Welland was only 4 handed?

[hrothgar]

It was an enjoyable series to watch, however, I'm still trying to make up my mind why...

 

There was definitely some great bridge and the commentary was very well done. [From my perspective, the most interesting hand was the 6♠ contract at the end of the event where Fred lead the 9 of hearts hold KQx in trump and threatening a ruff] It was a very interesting hand and the commentators did a nice job explaining it.

 

With this said and done, I think that some of the attraction was more a function of the see-saw lead than anything else.

 

Still, good way to spend a rainy Sunday

[Fluffy]

But now the work begins. If we are to beat the Italians (or you to beat Nickell), we need all the partnerships on the team to perform at their best. We can't be languishing in 3N when 7♠ is cold.

Dome of us don't want them to beat anyone outside US :ph34r:

[Guest Jlall]

You have certainly earned the right to represent the greatest country in the world

 

I'm sure they're glad you think so.

 

But now the work begins. If we are to beat the Italians (or you to beat Nickell), we need all the partnerships on the team to perform at their best. We can't be languishing in 3N when 7♠ is cold.

 

Is there some reason you keep saying "we"? You know, you weren't on their team and you aren't their coach or captain despite this post. And yes, clearly they can't have a bad result if they are going to beat Nickell or the Italians because neither of those teams EVER has a bad result.

 

I know that all of you had been playing for 10 days straight, but Estoril won't be any different. I hope that all the pairs get in many many practice sessions and work out their sequences between now and November.

 

Again, I think you might need to be informed you are not their coach. These pairs practice quite often (especially ekeblad/rubin). Greco/Hampson have one of the best partnerships I have ever seen and rarely have a misunderstanding. I'm not sure why you think you are in a position to tell them to practice. How much high level bridge have you played compared to them?

 

but this is a once-in-a-lifetime venture.

 

Fred has already had a silver medal in the Bermuda Bowl. Greco is not even 30 yet I don't think. This is definitely not a once in a lifetime opportunity for most of this team which is a very young team.

 

I have no idea where you get off making a post like that. What are your qualifications? Your relationships with the players? This is analogous to me giving the Mavericks advice on how to prepare for the playoffs because I played high school basketball.

[mike777]

This is analogous to me giving the Mavericks advice on how to prepare for the playoffs because I played high school basketball.

 

 

Justin, I assume you were being humorous here.

 

This is the very essence of fandom.

I know a Million Cub and Bear fans who offer up a lifetime of advice simply because we played high school baseball or football. We call them "my team" and in the case of the Cubs and Da Bears I think we have more "invested" in them than the "owners".

 

BTW seems the Mavericks and their owner could use your insights. At least they try and play defense now.

[cherdano]

Congratulations Ekeblad indeed!

 

While I technically agree with all Justin wrote, I think some dose of armchair quarterback advice is a good sign that bridge has indeed become a spectator sport :) And since I am sure Fred and Bred need my advice in particular, I will add that they should stop opening 1NT on 5-4-2-2 hands -- my aunt recently got a very bad result doing so!

 

B)

[kenberg]

Enjoy your victory, all of us watching certainly did. In assessing the play I recall the story of the football player who received the opening kickoff and ran it back for a touchdown. When he got to the bench the coach told him he cut left when he should have cut right, kept his head down when he should have kept it up, held the ball wrong and so on. The player thanked the coach for his advice and asked "How was it for yardage?"

 

There were many many hands that will make for lively discussion. For now, congratulations both on the wonderful win and the superb online show. Not all of vugraph connections were perfect at all times either. But it was very very good.

 

Cheers,

Ken

 

By the way, is there a way to do spell check on this? I'm a so-so speller and an incompetent typist.

[Elianna]

By the way, is there a way to do spell check on this? I'm a so-so speller and an incompetent typist.

You could first type what you want to say in a word processing program that has spell-check, then copy and paste it here (after running the afore-mentioned spellcheck, of course).

[pclayton]

Justin - did I ever say or even imply that I'm qualified to be their coach? I think you are taking the term "we" a bit too seriously.

 

Even then, Is anything I'm saying BAD advice?

 

I think everything in the post is rather generic. Maybe I'm not even qualified to say that though - sheesh!

[luis]

Bridge is a game with many facets.

Things involved in a team match go far beyond reaching 7♠ or 3NT or whatever, the fact is that Ek's team won a big match and earned the right to go to Portugal and now a new journey begins. Good luck and thanks for a well fought match that we were happy to watch for free in a very nice vugraph broadcast.

[glen1]

I think Justin has got this all wrong. Not only should the BBO general membership adopt the Ekeblad team as their own, but BBO members should be organized for preparing the team.

 

First a group of BBO members involved with physical fitness will be relocated to Vegas where they will put Fred on a rigorous training program (as a former programmer he will like this). This will involve the same activities as Sylvester Stallone had to do while training in the movie Rocky, and to the very same uplifting music. He will be fully primed to deliver the knock out punch in the final rounds of the event.

 

Meanwhile Mr. Moss has semi-retired after quite the past in futures, and idleness will leave him poorly prepared for Portugal. Thus the BBO membership team needs to arrange Brad a spot on the Apprentice filming this summer, where working with The Donald will help him later deal with WBF directors and drawing Trump out.

 

Since this will be a collaborative BBO effort, I’ll leave it up to other three readers of this thread to suggest appropriate assignments for the rest of our team. I wonder if Russ has given up smoking or if we need the BBO membership team to put that out?

[Guest Jlall]

lol...yeah sorry you're right, that's the best plan glen.

[uday]

as a former programmer he will like this

 

All this bridge has made him our most important former programmer. Guess I'd better dive into that client code now ;)

[luke warm]

a word about phil's post... i took it, i'm sure, exactly as he meant it... as congratulations on a job well done and encouragement to stay the path... knowing phil as i do, he was just trying to pump up "bbo's team" (i would say america's team but i don't feel like getting flamed ;))

[shoeless]

Glen - think you are on the right track here - seems to me a team physician, nutritionist, sports psychologist, meditation coach and image consultant might also step forward to help the boys out. A public relations consultant might be advisable as Fred's silver in the Bowl in 95 seems to have gone unnoticed - so punching up awareness can never hurt. A crash course in Italian language may also serve well. Even though much of this could be volunteer there will be some costs involved in trimming the fat and nullifying the atrophy, so if we all dig deep and send Ekeblad $10 BBO - i think we can all rest easy that we have done our part. The one area I am not concerned about is their bridge skill so no coaching is necessary. What a relief - who could we find to do that?

[shoeless]

Uday not sure you should be too hasty - Fred is just peaking on his 10 year cycle - after he wins the Bowl he should be back for a significant period. yeah right!

[hrothgar]

Of course the REALLY interesting question is why Fred is being so quiet?

 

Fred is rumored to be somewhat shy... Its entirely possible that he is embarassed by all the attention. Then again, he might have gone on the mother of all benders on Sunday night.

 

Oh well, regardless how amusing (sadistic) it might be to picture Fred incapacitated by bed spins, he's probably "just" travelling...

[fred]

Of course the REALLY interesting question is why Fred is being so quiet?

 

Fred is rumored to be somewhat shy...  Its entirely possible that he is embarassed by all the attention.  Then again, he might have gone on the mother of all benders on Sunday night.

 

Oh well, regardless how amusing (sadistic) it might be to picture Fred incapacitated by bed spins, he's probably "just" travelling...

I guess the main reason I am being quiet is that I got home today around noon and I am leaving for another tournament early tomorrow morning. I had to spend most of today catching up on phone messages and e-mail so I have not had much time for making noise.

 

However, I would like to take a moment to say how touched I was by all the supportive forums posts, e-mails, and BBO mail messages I received during the past week or so. Knowing that so many BBO members were cheering for our team just might have made a difference.

 

I should also mention that I agree with Hrothgar that the hand near the end where Rosenberg made 6♠ was a GREAT hand. I suspect I will always remember it.

 

For the record, our team tried to do some serious partying Sunday night, but most of us (including me) were too exhausted to really get into the spirit of things.

 

Probably I won't be making any more posts during the next week as I will be busy playing 3 sessions a day in the Colorado Springs Regional (groan). If people have questions about some of the hands from the Team Trials I will try to answer them some time next week.

 

Thanks again everyone for your support of our team!

 

Fred Gitelman

Bridge Base Inc.

www.bridgebase.com

[Aberlour10]

 

To quote your fearless leader: "You forgot about Poland"

 

 

 

Unfortunately, the strongest polish pair Balicki-Zmudzinski cancelled their

start in the national trials, Jacek Pszczola will not represent Poland in the Bermuda Bowl too.

Without those players the chances to get into top 4 are rather small.

 

But there are a very strong generation of polish juniors,

maybe they will be able to achive the same successes during

the next ten years...

[keylime]

I don't think the Poles are going to do anything this year. I eagerly await WJ2005 in competition however.

 

As much as I will enjoy seeing both USA teams in competition, I don't know if they will necessarily be the most "exciting" team. That distinction (yes this will be contested) might go to Team Canada, with two juniors leading the way (Wolpert-Demuy). We're also starting to see other juniors up here in the True North coming out of the woodwork which is heartwarming.

 

I also like the karma of the Australians as well.

 

All in all, a nice drama building. Seeing Fred (and team) win it can't but help the growing popularity of BBO, but more importantly, the bridge community feels that we've won one collectively. It's a nice feeling in this age of sharpness and occasional intolerance that for a few minutes, most everyone was of one mind: that being Fred finishing the deal. After all that Fred has invested in the game, he was long overdue to reap the rewards. Well done.

[Guest Jlall]

seeing pepsi in the trials was really funny... I was joking with him that he needs to change his name to Jack to sound like a real American ;)

 

Gavin/Vince aren't on the Canadian open team as far as I know.