Who is John Shuster?

We've been Olympic nerds since the infamous Munich games in 1972. We graduated from college in May of 1972, and our TV was a 13" black and white with built in rabbit ears. (If you are too young to know what rabbit ears are, you can look it up. Your pocket computer will tell you.) We decided it was TIME to see the Olympics in color, so we bought a new television based solely on the criteria of seeing the Olympics in color. Color TV was relatively new, so in 1972 a 21" color televison cost about $500, or $3300 in today's dollars. Major investment since our monthly salary (combined) was $1000. We kept this television for a LONG time, and it was eventually replaced because we wanted a bigger screen on which to watch the Olympics.

Now, I like everything in the Olympics with the exception of the LOOOOOOOONG races. I do have a complete favorite in the Olympics, and no, it's not figure skating:  It's curling.  We have been watching since it was a demonstration sport, and it just sends me.  I can watch the men.  I can watch the women.  I can even watch the mixed doubles.  What I've discovered is there are more and more people who are secret curling fans.  I've never even seen the inside of a curling ring much less watched a game live.  One of my few disappointments in our Canadian trip was all the curling rinks were closed for the summer.  I had fantasies of actually seeing a game.  Here's why I like curling:

1)  Big time curling looks like it's played by regular people.  Yes, yes, I know they do physical conditioning, and they all have big biceps, but beyond a slightly higher level of cardio fitness, curling in the Olympics could be played by your Uncle Bob and Aunt Mildred.  The USA men's team looks like guys who bowl in the Wednesday night league.  Psst - there's even a little jelly belly on one of those USA guys.  Thank heaven he has divinely long hair, or it would just be embarrassing. 

2)  If you pay attention, there are some really, really hot men curling.  Check out the Swiss skip, or the Canadian third.  Oh my.  It's a pity they don't play 'shirts' and 'skins' in this game.  The Scandinavian teams have divinely blue eyes.

3)  Curling is easy to understand.  You can watch one half of one game and you can know all the rules.  I've spent YEARS (not exaggerating here, people) learning the rules of baseball, and I STILL don't know them all.  Just try explaining baseball or football or basketball to someone who's never seen a game, and you will quickly get the gist of what I'm talking about.  Curling:  Get your colored rocks closest to the bullseye and score a point for each one that's closer to the bullseye than the other color of rock.  BOOM - that's it.  Oh, and you take turns pushing the 14 pound rocks down a sheet of pebbled ice.  See?  

4)  Curling is relaxing.  Enough said.

5)  Sportsmanship is a big deal in curling.  Not lip service as in most other sports.  

6)  The number of games is not overwhelming.  Curling is kind of like watching March Madness.  It's played in tournament form instead of over a 'season'.  Baseball:  162 games plus the play-offs plus the World Series.   Curling:  Each team plays 9 games to get into the medal round in the Olympics.  And, this happens once every four years.  What a deal!  

7)  There's no merchandise.  No hats; no jerseys; no dolls; no video games.  Refreshing.  Speaking of clothing, curling lends itself to WILD SOX!!!!

If you haven't tuned it yet to a curling match, time to tune in.  I guarantee you'll be a fan after watching just one game.  Becoming a curling fanatic takes a little longer.