Olympic curlers have heard it all: that they are like janitors who “sweep” their granite rock over the ice, that they compete in a sport grandpa could easily play and that they wear dorky Teflon shoes and stretchy pants. But most of the world’s best curlers seem wholly unfazed by the mostly good-natured criticism — and that’s what makes the sport and its players oddly cool.
Although curling is played by a mere 16,000 Americans, it has attracted a legion of fans — who are no doubt disappointed that the US men’s Olympic team lost its opening match against Germany 7-5 Tuesday afternoon. Even a recent episode of The Simpsons featured Homer and Marge competing in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics as a part of a mixed doubles team with Principal Skinner and his sharp-tongued elderly mother.
“I learned a long time ago not to take it personal when someone makes fun of curling,” Rick Patzke, the chief operating officer for USA Curling, told CBC news. “If you look at Homer and Marge, I think they’re the quintessential curlers. That’s pretty much what curlers are, right? They make fun of themselves, drink beer, and eat doughnuts.”
Maybe so, but we can’t deny that Olympic curlers are also legit athletes who have mastered the science of curling and have a deep understanding of the nuances of the sport.
“People think this is a very simple game, but it’s not,” Chris Freeman, aunt of US team lead shooter John Shuster, told The Christian Science Monitor. “It’s a game that involves a lot of physics, a lot of precision; it’s like a game of chess where you try to place stones and set up shots that are difficult for your opponents to play.”
Perhaps that’s why fans find the sport so intriguing. Sure, they might wear weird outfits and look kinda bizarre sweeping the ice, but they do it with a certain panache, and you just have to admire the players — and the sport — for it.
Photo courtesy of Fab via Wikimedia Commons.
