Not only did I watch curling, I was entertained by it.
Actually, I was enthralled by it.
And, when the Americans knocked three of Norway’s stones out of play with one throw, I stood up and cheered… even though I wasn’t quite sure what happened other than that it was impressive (Norway is the defending Olympic champion).
In the eighth end, we had six – SIX – stones in scoring position and Norway just gave up. They were totally pwned.
I was watching this off Tivo, though (Sarah has been Tivoing all the Olympics she can find; I told her no HD so it doesn’t knock off all our other shows), so, for all I know, the fate of the Team USA curling has already been decided, but, if not, I’m totally there for the championship. Curling is like a game of chess played by sliding stones across ice (and sweeping in front of them – though I still haven’t figured out what that does other than it can get pretty intense). It takes the skill of pool in making deflection shots combined with intense strategy (if you think a game this slow moving doesn’t need time outs, you’re wrong). Sure, it seems like glorified shuffleboard at times, but I’m just glad it wasn’t me out there making the decisions and trying to make those perfectly aligned shots (I think I could do the sweeping, though).
For some reason, the Nike swooshes on the collars and backs of the USA team’s shirts were blotted out. Was there some sort of falling out between Nike and the Olympic curling team? What could this mean for Nike’s future?!
NOTE TO BROADCASTERS: When there is no one in the stands other than the family of the players, you might want to avoid the long shots of the game.
No shame here Frank, throwing rocks is fun…100,000 Palestinians can’t be wrong…well, maybe they can, but throwing rocks is still FUN.
Throwing rocks with precision is even MORE fun!! Sliding the rock into place with a couple of broom pushers is even cooler, the more equipment the better!
PS: First and NOT embarassed
I’m glad I’m not the only person to find curling entertaining while not knowing a thing about the game 🙂
why does the person sliding the stone shout HARD, HARD, HARD! then back off?
and those sweepers, sweeping so fast and then to have to maneuver around the other stones already in the field so they don’t kick or bump them out of place.
It’s impressive.
Welcome to the club! Many people are hooked on curling, and many of those who are visit my site, InTheHack, to chat about it.
Its a great sport once you learn how its played. Everyone I know who has tried it has loved it.
Mike
i’m pretty sure the sweeping makes the stones go faster. clears the path. i guess it’s the opposite of a hockey goalie. when Marty Turco skates across his crease to rough up the ice, he’s trying to slow down the puck.
Mike,
Sport? If we start talking about curling as a sport before you know it soccer would be considered one. Its just too much of a slippery slope.
I worked for the Canadian sports broadcasting network (TSN) during the last Olympics in Salt Lake City. They are Canada’s curling network! They would speak of people in the Western provinces of Canada watching curling all day long. So I watched hours of curling. I never saw a minute of it before the olympics (being from Texas and all), and all the Canadians in the broadcast truck were trying to teach us about it, eh?
Short story long, I really got excited about curling, although it seems like I’ve forgotten most of it 4 years later. But I won’t forget how disappointed they were in the performance of the men’s team. I think the Canuck women won the gold though. Ah…good times.
You’re not alone, Frank. I found that I enjoyed watching it a few Olympics ago, too. I still can’t explain why, though.
“I think I could do the sweeping, though”
Except…
1) You live in Florida.
2) You won’t even sweep up at home.
3) The only experience you have with a stone is in the getting of it in the past tense.
So…let’s just say I wouldn’t be holding out for those lucrative curling endorsement deals.
sweeping harder means that the ice is polished more, allowing for less friction and thus a rock that goes further and/or faster.
Good sweeps can also force the path of travel to change slightly by polishing a path slightly to the side of the center of the current direction … at least that’s the theory … I don’t ever recall really altering the path no matter how hard I swept .. LOL.
It’s more fun on the ice than watching …. those chunks of polished granite really can whack each other!
Hi, Frank. Long time lurker, first time poster. I love the page.
Another thing the sweeping does is wear down the pebble. You don’t see it on TV, I think, but before a game a guy will put pebble (i.e. bumps) on the ice by waving a water-sprinkling thingy back and forth while walking backwards. This slows the rocks down. Wearing the pebble down by sweeping it therefore speeds the rock up. Sweeping also makes the rock travel straighter i.e. “curl” less.
I got hooked on curling during the Salt Lake games. I’m so glad to see others admitting to finding it rather addictive. The only thing that bothers me about the broadcasting is not having the game explained. Do they just assume “everyone” knows or what? Other sports go to great lengths to explain the scoring systems, what the various skills consist of, etc. Curling seems to have lots of terminolgy and a specific scoring system, yet not a word out of the announcers.
As to the brooming, I thought maybe sweeping caused some kind of reverse drafting that helped “pull” the stone along, although I may have just made that up.
Yes the sweepng melts the top of the ice letting the stones move faster and straiter. I have been trying to watch that and biatholon, but they are alwasy on at 3 in the morning. Come to think of it i think biatholon was on at 3 in the morning at Salt Lake. I think they should go back to high-power military rifle though. There’s just something about a 2 pound .22.
This might be interesting for some … US curling map http://www.kccurling.com/main/USClubs.asp
There is even one in Florida!
Of course you like curling. You live in Florida and it’s just shuffle-board on ice. All your neighbors are playing it.
On a bragging note, check out the US v Britain in curling on Sunday. If they show the fan in the stands, it’ll be me.
a.nonymoose, Florida has hockey teams!
Why not curling?
Frank, you are the second person I respect who’s told me how entertaining curling is. I may start to believe it if this keeps up.
Squiggler asked “The only thing that bothers me about the broadcasting is not having the game explained. Do they just assume “everyone” knows or what? ”
more likely they don’t have a clue how the game works themselves … LOL
Yay! Someone respects me!
You mean, someone besides your wife, right? 😉
I’ve always liked curling. Don’t know why. Don’t know the rules. Just looks a little silly, and certainly entertaining. Unfortunately, its popularity is slightly below bob sledding and luge, so I never get to see it during the Olympics.
Ya know, it’s kind of like bocce ball.
I was out at BW3’s last night, and found myself fascinated by the Curling they had on the big screen. The sound was down so I have no idea what was going on, but I couldn’t look away. It was that interesting.
It hit the point, where I started up making my own rules, so as to have every play be good for the US, even though I think they were losing to Japan. But it doesn’t matter because under my rules for Curling, the good guys won. ::channels “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan:: USA! USA! USA! HOOOOOOOOO!
I just found your site (It’s great). I have to admit, I have become addicted to Curling. I actually waited until the match with Norway was over to check my e-mail. Very frieghtening.
Have a nice day
ROFL @ NRA’s soccer comment!
curling is even gayer than losing points for shooting someone in the face!
boga boga go go
ass