Martin Should Cut Through Competition At Grand Forks Shootout

Twelve teams from around the globe have won the right to travel to Grand Forks, North Dakota to battle for the 2008 World Men's Curling Championship beginning this Saturday, April 5.
The event, being held at the Ralph Engelstad Arena, will allow Kevin Martin to put the exclamation mark on an incredibly successful year of curling. Let's hope that's how it all unfolds.
Despite a history of falling short on the world stage, Martin and his mates John Morris, Marc Kennedy, Ben Hebert and fifth Adam Enright head into the competition as the overwhelming favourites. Their perfect 13-0 record at the Winnipeg Brier should send shivers down the spines of those who would stand in their way.
There will be some semblance of competition arising from the presence of Scotland's David Murdoch who won it all in 2006. This year he's supported by Graeme Connal, Peter Smith and Euan Byers. They have all been well tested and proven their mettle on the international stage.
After the embarrasing late week team malfunction at this year's World Women's event, you can be sure that management at the Royal Caledonian Curling Club would like nothing better than to be able to claim some small victory in North Dakota.
If the men are as true to form as the women, we should be looking closely at the teams which have survived through the Pacific Curling Championships to provide some top-notch competition. China will make their first trip to the global shootout after Fengchun Wang captured the Pacific title last November. Hugh Millikin will make a return trip representing Australia with Ontario coaching legend Earl Morris on hand to help steer their fortunes.
The Swiss team, skipped by Claudio Pescia, has Patrick Huerlimann on board and that should be good for an extra win or two in itself. Andy Kapp has been competitive at this level in the past and is capable of getting on a roll at the right time, as evidenced by his German team's silver medal at the 2007 world finale. He returns with Andreas Lang and Andreas Kempf in tow, but has added Holger Hohne to this year's squad.
Craig Brown's United States team has the potential to contest and could be the event's dark horse. Sweden sends Anders Kraupp while Denmark's Johnny Frederickson, France's Thomas Dufour and Norway's Thomas Ulsrud have all been there before.
The Czech Republic will be represnted by their version of the Richardsons, with Jiri and Martin Snitil anchoring things on that team's back end. I wouldn't bet the farm on these boys taking down Canada in next Sunday's final.
Here's How Things Could Shake Out in The Round Robin:

Canada 10-1 Martin and Morris will be leading the Chorus
Scotland 8-3 Experience pays dividends
Germany 7-4 Andy is handy against this field
U.S.A. 7-4 Local support will motivate the Yanks
Switzerland 6-5 Will be "cheesed" with getting so close to a playoff
China 6-5 An impressive debut - He's got to be good with a name like Wang!
Norway 6-5 Have you driven a Fjord lately?
Australia 5-6 Good on ya Mates!
Sweden 5-6 What's Swedish for mediocre?
Denmark 3-8 Thanks for coming
France 3-8 Whatever became of Dominique Dupont Roc?
Czech Republic 0-11 These guys will "Czech" out early