Italy Coach “Helped” Jacobs Win Olympic Curling Gold

Brad Jacobs gets to say hi to his pal Soren Grahn today, when Canada takes on Italy at the Cortina Olympic Curling Stadium.

Before he left for the Olympic Winter Games, I asked Jacobs if he’d had a chance in recent months to say hi to Soren and, y’know, catch up.

Jacobs paused before answering.

“I don’t follow Soren Grahn,” Jacobs said. “I don’t know what he’s doing, where he is. I’d even have to look up a picture of him to see what he looks like, quite frankly. And that’s the God's honest truth.” 

By this time, Jacobs’ current teammates were trying to muffle some smiles.

Jacobs continued.

“I do think we ran into him at a Slam at some point this year and we smiled and said ‘Hi.’

“I have no ill feelings towards him whatsoever. And the reason why… is because he helped us win Olympic gold 12 years ago.

“So, love Soren Grahn.”

So, what on earth was this all about?

Grahn competed for Sweden at three world championships and two Olympic demonstration events. He went into coaching, and his buddy Marco Mariani brought him to Italy when Mariani took over the national program.

Grahn also coached Great Britain’s David Murdoch at Sochi 2014.

And just before the gold medal final between GBR and Canada, Grahn decided to say this to the media:

“They can be like spoiled brats if things don’t go their way… they think it’s them against the world and they behave accordingly. They behave as if someone is always out to get them.”

The coach also acknowledged Canada’s skill but criticized their on-ice intensity, labelling them “aggressive” and stating their behaviour was “not really what we are used to in curling.”

Team Jacobs laughed it off, with the skip responding “That’s actually quite funny... it’s clearly some sort of psychological warfare he’s trying to play. I think it’s hilarious.

“If people don’t like the way we play, then they’re going to have to deal with it, because we’re not going to change.”

As most readers know, Grahn’s plan backfired in spectacular fashion. The Canucks walloped the Scotsmen 9-3, building leads of 2-0, 6-1 and 8-2 before Murdoch’s lads conceded after eight ends.

I remember watching Grahn in the post-final media room, seated beside Murdoch. He didn’t talk much.

Twelve years later, Canada’s men are into the playoffs in Cortina at 6-1, behind Switzerland’s perfect 7-0 record.

Italy, under skip Joel Retornaz, is in a dogfight for the playoffs. The home team is currently tied with Norway at 4-3, and two 4-4 teams are nipping at their heels – Great Britain’s Bruce Mouat and USA’s Danny Casper.

You might be wondering how I finished writing this column… what’s the last thing I might’ve done before hitting publish?

That’s right – I poked around for any Soren Grahn quotes that might have dropped heading into today’s ITA vs CAN match.

Grahn called this new Team Jacobs the “most clinical” team in the field, and he emphasized that Italy can’t afford the “small tactical errors” that cost them earlier matches, particularly against Sweden and Switzerland.

He also stated “Against Canada, we don’t just play for a win; we play to keep the dream of a home medal alive.”

Well said, coach.