The Olympics have been going on since Friday, but if you're like those of us at RSS Nation, you know the real Olympics start today with the first matches of curling! But why has curling become such a cult classic among Olympic Sports? In our latest RSS Top 10, here are 10 reasons why curling is taking over the Olympics!
1) What other sport, or where else in the world, is it cool for a man to so vigorously sweep something? Perhaps doing unwanted housework could be a second job for these Olympians.
2) Only in curling is it acceptable for men and women to yell "HARD" at the top of their lungs in public. Somehow I feel a "that's what she said joke" coming on...hey, get your mind out of the gutter!
3) The scoring system is so simple and familiar to American viewers. Closest stones to the middle (or button) get scored in the end, high score after 10 ends (think innings) wins. And not a trace of instant replay or pitchers scratching themselves anywhere in sight!
4) Where else could the term "hog line" be appropriate?
5) Each team has only about 70 minutes to complete their turns, or else they are forced to forfeit. This provides for high drama in the closing ends as teams are fighting the scoreboard and the clock. Come to think of it, maybe NASCAR should consider a time limit after their 7 hour Daytona 500 last Sunday.
6) These aren't pompous billion dollar athletes checking into sex rehab clinics or shooting themselves in the leg. The US team is made up of a bartender, substitute teacher, construction worker, and IT technicican. Regular Joes sliding stones on ice, the American dream!
7) The charming Canadian accent of Don Duguid. It's like listening to your grandpa talk you through your first baseball game.
8) The strategy in an end of curling is exciting to watch, but easy to understand. Most viewers have played shuffleboard or marbles (ok, so maybe kids under 30 have never played marbles, lousy video games). But, it is interesting to watch so much strategy unfold, only to lead to blasting 5 rocks out of the house!
9) What else are you going to watch at the Olympics, pairs figure skating? Curling's so cool, even the Simpsons made an episode all about curling! Granted, the Simpsons haven't been on top of their game since 1998, but still, it's a start to mainstream curling in the U.S.!
10) Curling is something unlike any other sport Americans watch on a regular basis, and it only comes around every 4 years. In other words, it's the only sport that ESPN doesn't shove down our throats on a regular basis! It's almost like that whole less is more saying might actually be right...
What are your thoughts on the most niche of all the Winter Olympic Sports? Any reasons we left out, or any other sports we should consider following? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment below or giving us a tweet @RSS_Sports! We'll be back later this week with our thoughts on more Olympics and happenings on the hardwood. Until then, it's bye for now!
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