‘Just ridiculous’: Still furious over Olympics, Brad Jacobs faces Oskar Eriksson in 1st rematch at Rock League

For the first time since the Olympics, Brad Jacobs opposed Oskar Eriksson in a curling match on Monday.

Competing on sheets next to each other in the inaugural Rock League Draw at Toronto’s Mattamy Athletic Centre, Jacobs and Eriksson — rivals dating back to the hog-line controversy in Cortina — did not interact as their 10-person teams went head-to-head.

“I have nothing good to say about Oscar Eriksson or that entire team or the Swedish curling federation right now. So I'm not going to say anything at all,” Canada’s Jacobs said moments after his Shield Curling Club beat Eriksson’s Alpine Curling Club 2-1.

The beef began at the Olympics, when Sweden’s Eriksson accused Jacobs third Marc Kennedy of touching the rock beyond the hog line.

It led to a heated argument between Kennedy and Eriksson. The Canadians have stoutly denied cheating ever since, while accusing the Swedes of illegally setting up a hog-line camera. Jacobs and the Canadians went on to win the gold medal.

On Sunday, CBC released video from Swedish TV in which Eriksson demonstrates double-touching in an instructional offering. He then mentions the Canadians, and says “evil unfortunately wins sometimes.”

Jacobs, the 40-year-old from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., said it’s clear that “this whole thing is far from over.”

“There was never any infractions of any kind. There was zero cheating at the Olympics. And this is all just ridiculous,” he said.

Eriksson, meanwhile, stood by his story — though his tone was much lighter than Jacobs’.

“We called out that we thought they were doing something wrong. I think everyone's seen videos and photos and everyone can think what they want. For me, it's quite clear and obvious what was happening,” Eriksson said.

One twist at Rock