Canadian skip Cheryl Bernard feels she could still compete at an elite level for the next year or two.
Swingman Willis Reed Jersey . Shes just unsure whether she could still do it for a four-year Olympic cycle. That was one
of the reasons why she announced her retirement from competitive curling on
Tuesday, ending a career highlighted by four appearances at the national
championships and an Olympic silver medal at the Vancouver Games in 2010. "When
youve been there, thats really all you want is to get back," she said from her
hometown of Calgary. "Its a funny thing, so I realize that." Bernard, 47, said
she started to seriously consider retirement after losing the Alberta provincial
final to Val Sweeting last January. "I really had to sit down and think," she
said. "We came so close and that was a heartbreaker. Funny, Ive lost a few of
them. And that one was without a doubt the worst because it would have just been
a really neat way to maybe end the year and at least have a couple more years to
look forward to." Bernard skipped Team Alberta at the Scotties Tournament of
Hearts in 1992, 1996, 2007 and 2009. The best result for the Grande Prairie
native was a runner-up finish in 1996 at Thunder Bay, Ont. One of her most
memorable victories came over a decade later as she defeated Shannon Kleibrink
in the final of the Olympic Trials in 2009 at Edmonton. At the Games, Bernard
and her team of third Susan OConnor, second Carolyn Darbyshire (now McRorie),
lead Cori Bartel (now Morris) and alternate Kristie Moore took top spot in the
round robin at 8-1. They defeated Switzerland in the semifinal before dropping a
7-6 decision to defending champion Anette Norberg of Sweden in the final.
Bernard had the final throw in the extra end but couldnt knock the two Swedish
rocks out of the house and settled for second place. "I tried to really look at
the positive that came out of that," Bernard said. "I really wanted to go
through my life looking at it like our team won a silver and we didnt lose a
gold." Both competitions provided lasting memories. "(The Trials) are kind of
the pinnacle for Canada because its all the Canadian teams and its all your
peers," she said. "Theyre both so up there in my memory and in my mind. Being
able to stand on the (Olympic) podium in your own country. Ill never forget
that, that was pretty neat." Now that shes retired, Bernard plans to spend more
time with her family and continue her charity work and public speaking
endeavours. She usually brings her silver medal along during her talks and the
gold-medal game is a frequent discussion subject. "I relive it a lot," she said.
"I talk about that and I have realized that sometimes youre lucky enough to win
and sometimes youre lucky enough not to win. Because I think the things you get
from a loss can sometimes be more educational, they can be more life-changing
than the things when you win. "I think you look at a lot of different things
after a loss and I think you can actually do a lot of good with that knowledge
and see some really great life lessons. I really try to look at that as some
great lessons I learned. I learned some amazing things about my teammates and
about my family. You learn a lot when something doesnt maybe go exactly like you
hoped." Bernard is excited to tackle some new challenges. She recently completed
her first marathon and plans to work with World Vision and climb Mount
Kilimanjaro to help children in Third World countries. "The marathon was
something I really wanted to do and I trained the last five months for it," she
said. "I absolutely loved focusing on a different sport. It felt so amazing to
win a (participation) medal at a marathon. It was a nothing medal -- it was a
completion medal, and it just felt so good. "I just thought, You know, Im
missing trying to push myself at other things. So thats the next step." After a
run of over two decades in the sport, Bernard is also quite proud of the friends
she made along the way. "I always look back so much at the players," she said.
"I look at the accomplishments of course and the highlights of winning the
Trials and winning a silver medal and playing in an Olympics in Canada. I dont
know if you can ever beat playing in an Olympics in your home country. "But I
really look back at the people and the relationships that youve developed and
the people youve influenced. I think those things maybe more make my career than
the hardware."
Swingman Carmelo Anthony Jersey .C. - The housecleaning continues for the B.
Patrick Ewing Knicks Jersey .C. -- Carter Ashton had a pair of goals and added an assist as the Toronto Marlies downed the
Charlotte Checkers 5-2 on Saturday in the American Hockey League. BARCELONA,
Spain -- Cristiano Ronaldo scored two long-range goals to help Real Madrid rout
Osasuna 4-0 on Saturday and stay in the Spanish league title chase while resting
several first-choice players for its European clash at Bayern Munich. With
Gareth Bale recovering from the flu and Karim Benzema on the bench, all of
Madrids attack went through Ronaldo on the left flank. And the Ballon dOr winner
didnt disappoint by unleashing two similar blasts after cutting inside to put
the ball on his right boot and lift his league-leading tally to 30 goals through
35 rounds. Madrid provisionally closed to within three points of leader Atletico
Madrid before it visits Valencia on Sunday, when Barcelona, one point behind
Madrid, hosts Villarreal. Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti also gave valuable rest
to defender Pepe and midfielder Xavi Alonso to prepare for its visit to Bayern
on Tuesday in the second leg of their Champions League semifinal. Madrid won the
first leg 1-0. "Everything he tried turned out well for us," Ancelotti said
about Ronaldo. "We could rest some players and played a good game, even if it
wasnt a very intense one." Elsewhere, Getafes 1-0 win over Malaga condemned
last-place Real Betis to relegation even before it fell 1-0 at home to Real
Sociedad, while Rayo Vallecano scored three times in the second half for a 3-0
win at 10-man Granada. Osasuna lined up to provide Madrid a guard of honour
before the match as the hosts paraded their recently won Copa del Rey trophy at
the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Ronaldo then went to work chalking up his 29th
league goal in the sixth minute when he unleashed a trademark blast from outside
the area that took a slight deflection off defender Damia Abella before falling
just inside the far upright. He looked to get his teammates involved, and set up
scoring chances for Sergio Ramos, Marcelo and Alvaro Morata. But it fell to
Ronaldo to start the seconnd half as he had the first, with Osasunas outclassed
defence letting him again dribble to near the elbow of the area before he
launched a shot into the top corner of the net in the 52nd.
Willis Reed Jersey. "Both goals came at the start of each half and that complicated things for us," Osasuna coach Javi
Gracia said. "They are both more merit of Ronaldo than my defences fault. Its
true Damia touches the first strike and that gives it an effect, but the second
shot is unstoppable." Sergio Ramos headed in a third goal in the 60th and
Ronaldo went to the bench seconds later to an ovation from the crowd. Dani
Carvajal headed home Isco Alarcons lobbed pass to cap the lopsided victory in
the 83rd. Osasuna, which lost Raoul Loe and Emiliano Armenteros to injuries,
remained three points above the relegation zone along with Getafe. Forward
Adrian Colunga scored what proved to be the winner seven minutes into the game
at Getafe from a pass by Ciprian Marica, who left his side a man down from the
37th for a second yellow card. But Malaga couldnt take advantage of the extra
man and itself lost a player when Marcos Angeleri was sent off for a second
booking in the 76th. "This victory is huge," Getafe coach Cosmin Contra said.
"You saw team spirit today. We are still alive." Sociedad added to Betis misery
by winning thanks to Carlo Velas 54th-minute penalty kick after Juan Carlos
Perez fouled him in the area. Sociedad strengthen its hold on sixth place and
cemented its Europa League berth for next season. Rayo rose into ninth place
with only one loss in its last 10 matches. Rayo held Granada in check in the
first half before Yacine Brahimis dismissal for a second yellow card in the 51st
turned the match in the visitors favour. All the matches observed a minute of
silence before kickoff for Barcelonas former coach, Tito Vilanova, who died on
Friday after a battle with cancer.
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