Extra Extra End Podcast - TESN.US

S4:E2 - New Denver Curling for 2021

12/22/2020

A dynamic grassroots story highlights the second episode of season four.

Despite the pandemic and clubs temporarily shutting down, a brand new Denver-area curling facility is opening its doors in 2021. Price Atkinson, Joe Calabrese and Rebecca Andrew discuss along with guests Sean and Mimi Stevenson from the Rock Creek Curling Club.

S4:E1- U.S. Nationals Postponed, Korey Dropkin

12/16/2020

U.S. curling’s top podcast is back.

Episode one of season four blasts off with the latest U.S. curling news and opinions. Price Atkinson, Joe Calabrese and Dustin Tomasetti also speak with Young Bucks skip Korey Dropkin... and there’s the usual football chatter to wind things up.

S3:E20 - Two-time U.S. Olympian Jessica Schultz

6/1/2020

A quick break for the Memorial Day holiday and we're back with our guest and new USA Curling Women’s National Team & Juniors Director Jessica Schultz. The two-time U.S. Olympian joined us regarding her new role with the USCA.

And co-hosts Price Atkinson, "The Godfather" Joe Calabrese and Dustin "Specs" Tomasetti discuss the big changes announced for the U.S. Junior Program for the upcoming season and also how curling and sports will be different upon returning.

Listen to "E20: Two-time U.S. Olympian Jessica Schultz" on Spreaker.

S3:E19 - Emergency podcast with USA Curling team, staff announcements

5/8/2020

Two times in one week? Our Friday emergency podcast thanks to several big moves regarding USA Curling staff and teams, including the "new" Team Sinclair along with Joe Polo staying with the #YoungBucks.

TESN's "The Godfather" Joe Calabrese and Price Atkinson plus "Specs" Dustin Tomasetti talked about it all, as well as the hiring of two-time Olympian Jessica Schultz to lead the USCA's women's high performance and junior programs. And will we even have curling this fall with events beginning to get canceled?

Listen to "E19: Emergency podcast with USA Curling team, staff announcements" on Spreaker.

S3:E18 - All-Pro Curling Team's Jared Allen

5/5/2020

The top women's teams around USA Curling began to take shape last week with the announcements of Teams Peterson and Christensen. And more team announcements are expected this coming week. TESN's Joe Calabrese and Price Atkinson get into all the latest changes and how the COVID quarantine has played havoc at home.

And we welcome our guest former NFL defensive end, future NFL Hall of Fame and founder of the All-Pro Curling Team Jared Allen. He shared in their team's disappointment in coming up short of qualifying for U.S. Nationals this past February, continuing to pursue the highest level of the sport and preparing for next season with skip Jason Smith leading the way again and how dedicated ice in Nashville could help take them to the next level of improvement.

Listen to "E18: All-Pro Curling Team's Jared Allen" on Spreaker.

Bonus links mentioned in the podcast...

The Dangie Bros

The Big Show Show

S3:E17 - Comedian, coach and curler Dean Gemmell

4/23/2020

Team Ruohonen will no longer be quite so #OldIsGold next season with their new team change and addition plus TESN's Joe Calabrese and Price Atkinson share in the excitement of the newly announced Southern California Curling Center.

Joe also catches up with "Brush Like A Badass" himself Dean Gemmell about an array of topics including offseason training, physical fitness, his comedic career and dodging COVID-19 in New Jersey. The guys finish things off by looking forward to the first "sports" event in weeks with the NFL Draft starting tonight...and believe it or not Price (who has trashed the "boring" Draft for years) is actually looking forward to it!

Listen to "E17: Comedian, coach and curler Dean Gemmell" on Spreaker.

S3:E16 - Two-time Olympian Ann Swisshelm on her championship season, personal COVID-19 battle

4/17/2020

Take a curling break with us this week as TESN host Price Atkinson is joined again by The Pickwick executive chef and Duluth Curling Club's Dustin "Specs" Tomasetti. They covered a lot of ground including how much pressure is on Team USA next spring with just one World Championship that will now determine the six guaranteed Olympic spots. And what one U.S. curling "classic" game would they most like see replayed on TV?

Our guest this week is two-time U.S. Olympian and World Curling Federation analyst Ann Swisshelm who shared a powerful message opening up about her five-week battle with COVID-19. Ann also talked about what the struggle has been like battling the virus as an asthmatic, not leaving the house for over a month except to go to the doctor, how tough it's been for her family and husband Sean and also the outpouring of support she's received from the curling community.

And finally, Price and Specs on Netfix's hit series "Tiger King" and why they simply cannot stop watching the "train wreck."

Listen to "E16: Two-time Olympian Ann Swisshelm on her championship season, personal COVID-19 battle" on Spreaker.

S3:E15 - The 2020 TESN.US USA Curling Draft Episode

4/3/2020

This week we switched things up and held our first-ever Team USA fantasy curling draft! TESN's "The Godfather" Joe Calabrese & Price Atkinson along with CurlingZone's Gerry Geurts and The Wick's executive chef/Duluth Curling Club member Dustin "Specks" Tomasetti each drafted their own women's and men's team.

Each women's and men's fantasy team were comprised of four active players plus one wild card/retired player. It was a lot of fun and you can vote at TESN.us on who you think built the best fantasy teams! Price also talked with Specks about the ongoing coronavirus situation and the harsh reality and effect it's having on local small businesses like his restaurant (Pickwick Restaurant & Pub) in downtown Duluth, Minn.

So who had the best drafts. Vote below...

Listen to "E15: Team USA fantasy curling draft" on Spreaker.

Who had the best TESN.US USA Curling Women's team draft? (Pick # in parentheses)

Created with Quiz Maker

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Who had the best TESN.US USA Curling Men's team draft? (Pick # in parentheses)

Created with Quiz Maker

Rules of the draft

- Each team is made up of 4 active players (players who played either the challenge round, USA Curing Nationals or on tour), and one "retired" player who did not play 4 person teams this year.
- Each player must be eligible to play in the US.
- Draft was serpentine #1 pick gets #8 pick, #2 pick gets #7 pick, etc.
- Don't have to pick by position
- Next game is played soon (no time for long development of a player)

Full Draft Order


Women's Draft	Pick #	Player
Price	1	Becca Hamilton
Specs	2	Tabitha Peterson
Joe	3	Cory Christensen
Gerry	4	Cassie Potter
Gerry	5	Nina Roth
Joe	6	Vicky Persinger
Specs	7	Tara Peterson
Price	8	Jamie Sinclair
Price	9	Sara Anderson
Specs	10	Taylor Anderson
Joe	11	Aileen Geving
Gerry	12	Courtney George
Gerry	13	Madison Bear
Joe	14	Stephanie Senneker
Specs	15	Lexi Lanigan
Price	16	Delaney Strouse
Price	17	Deb McCormick
Specs	18	Allison Pottinger
Joe	19	Erika Brown
Gerry	20	Natalie Nicholson

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Men's Draft	Pick #	Player
Gerry	1	John Shuster
Joe	2	Korey Dropkin
Specs	3	Chris Plys
Price	4	Jason Smith
Price	5	Rich Ruohonen
Specs	6	Colin Hufman
Joe	7	John Landsteiner
Gerry	8	Joe Polo
Gerry	9	Dominik Märki
Joe	10	Matt Hamilton
Specs	11	Kroy Nernberger
Price	12	Tom Howell
Price	13	Steven Birklid
Specs	14	Alex Fenson
Joe	15	Luc Violette
Gerry	16	Mark Fenner
Gerry	17	Andy Roza
Joe	18	Heath McCormick
Specs	19	Bob Nichols
Price	20	Tyler George

S3:E14 - New USA Curling CEO Jeff Plush

3/26/2020

The curling season might be over but we're far from done. "The Godfather" Joe Calabrese returns this week to co-host with Price Atkinson and they get into about the latest and state of things in with the novel coronavirus worsening by the day, including the Summer Olympics now postponed until 2021. Could the start of next season also be in jeopardy?

New USA Curling CEO Jeff Plush joins us for the first time, as he's approaching almost two months on the job since starting the week of US Nationals. He shared what he told and heard from Team Peterson and Shuster upon the cancelation of the World Championships, could the WCF be formulating a plan to play both in the fall, his priorities for the coming months and much more.

Listen to "E14: New USA Curling CEO Jeff Plush" on Spreaker.

S3:E13 - Denver Curling Club's Aaron Johnston after winning the 2020 USA Curling Club Nationals

3/23/2020

CurlingZone's Gerry Geurts returns to co-host with Price Atkinson and they hop right into the fluid nature of the COVID-19 epidemic that is wreaking havoc across the world. And that includes the curling world with event cancelations, postponements and more.

Our guest this week is Denver Curling Club's Aaron Johnston, fresh off winning the 2020 USA Curling Club Nationals men's title last weekend at the Potomac Curling Club outside of Washington, DC. Aaron shares everything about the event and how it compares to past Nationals he has competed in. And he also talks about the positive coronavirus test by a player who played in the event as well as how they were coping last week with everything changing around them in regarding to the crisis.

Price and Gerry wrap it up and promise we WILL have more episodes the rest of the season. Just because the curling action may be done on the ice, it doesn't mean we are! Stay safe, healthy and be smart out there. And we're thinking about everybody navigating thru this turbulent and uncertain time.

Listen to "E13: Denver Curling Club's Aaron Johnston after winning the 2020 USA Curling Club Nationals" on Spreaker.