Why Do I Like Curling?

Yes, seriously, I do like the sport of curling. I'm not just one of those people who like the sport because of one team's creative choice of attire, either. No, thanks to a handful of reasons, curling has been one of my favorite sports to watch during these Olympic Games.

Why, you may ask? Well, one of the main reasons I have taken an interest in the sport is that it's one of the few events that are actually live on NBC's many networks broadcasting the Olympics. Don't get me wrong, I am a fan of Bode Miller and Lindsey Vonn, but their events (like many others) are already completed by the time NBC shows them in primetime. I just don't have as much interest waiting to watch something in which I already know the result. (I am aware that ice skating is live as well, but as I stated in my previous entry, Tanith Belbin was the only reason I was watching ice dancing, and her event is over.)

I also have found that curling is one of the more interesting sports to watch because of the amount of strategy required. These athletes aren't just winging the stone down the ice; the skip (the player who delivers the stone down the ice) has to think about many different scenarios and how his or her next delivery could be played by the opposing team. The accuracy with which these athletes can place the stone inside the house (the ring on each end of the ice) is remarkable. Also, if you listen to the British or Canadian teams (the U.S. team finished 2-7 in Round Robin play, and didn't qualify for the tournament round), you'll find that the skip is actually yelling directions, not just for the amusement of viewers. Any sport that requires that amount of thinking and strategy is worth watching to me.

Sure, these individuals may not have the high flying ability of Shaun White, but they're athletes all the same. In addition, curling, unlike many Olympic sports, has a set guideline of rules, and there isn't any question on whether or not the scoring is fair (that being said, we won't have any athletes with self-proclaimed Platinum medals).

So, next time you sit down to watch the Olympics, switch to MSNBC or CNBC (both frequently broadcast curling matches) and give curling a chance. You may be surprised about how difficult it is to change the channel to something else.


Want to learn about curling, so you don't have to pretend to know all the rules? Visit this site.

Here's another interesting article about the Olympic curling stones.



- K. Becks

Hello, Quatchi and Friends!

Yesterday, the Winter Olympics officially opened, but not without some difficulties. One was obviously the death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, which prompted the Olympic officials to move the men's luge starting point to the women's in hopes of slowing down speeds. The second was one of the four pillars that were to help light the Olympic cauldron having mechanical difficulties. All in all though, I think everyone was pleased that this Opening Ceremony wasn't just an attempt to make the host country look perfect (ahem, Beijing...).

The Olympics are one of my favorite sporting spectacles to watch. I've decided to put together a list of five reasons why I love the Winter Olympics. Some of these reasons may surprise you, too.


5. Sports with Speed

Step aside, 100 meter dash. The Winter Olympics feature the bobsled, luge, and speed-skating events. If you like speed, then you've got lots of options with the Winter Games. Plus, when is the last time you saw a sprinter slip and fall 30 meters from winning a medal, as two South Korean speed-skaters did in the 1500 meter race? That's drama, ladies and gentlemen.


4. Special Interest Pieces

Okay, maybe NBC could cut down a little on the special interest pieces. For the most part though, I like hearing about how these Olympics are redemption for stars like Lindsey Jacobellis, and how Bode Miller goes all out so that he enjoys skiing, even if that means he doesn't win everything. These special interest stories inspire people, and make us want these athletes to do all the better because we feel like we know what they went through to get to where they are.


3. Tanith Belbin

Honestly, she's the only reason why I'll watch ice dancing. The only reason.


2. God is Back

No, I don't mean the big guy upstairs. I mean Morgan Freeman. Everyone knows that with the Olympics come the Visa "Go World" commercials. I love his voice, and his commercials are one of the reasons I don't like to channel surf when NBC goes on a commercial break. Some of those commercials give me the chills; they're that good.

1. Country Pride

It's fun to argue about which of our favorite professional sports teams are the best. During the Olympics, however, the whole nation rallies around one team. Nation pride is what it's all about, and that's what makes the Olympics so great. These are the best athletes in the world in their respective sports, and watching an athlete drape the stars and stripes around them is just as good as any of my favorite teams winning the World Series, NCAA tournament, or any other championship.


Love something else about the Olympics? Let me know by dropping me an email at aroundthecornsportsblog@gmail.com. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Also, thanks to anyone who is taking time out of their day to read my work. I really appreciate it.



- K. Becks