When curling became an Olympic sport a few years ago, there was snickering from both fans and non-fans of this sport. (Substitute "game" for "sport" if you're one of those people who doesn't consider golf a sport, either.) Let's put it this way: when all the Olympic participants get together in the Olympic Village, nobody is going to mistake a curler for a figure skater or cross-country skier.

As things have turned out, however, this is a case where the International Olympic Committee did the right thing. Curling is an activity which has far more competitors than ski jumping, bobsledding, and freestyle skiing (just to name a few) and the competition starts at the grassroots level. It's a small-town friends and neighbours thing, and most competition is amateur. I'm arguing here that having curling in the Olympics is good because it makes them accessible to middle-age beer-drinking types.

So, I took notice when I saw a story in the newspaper that country music artist Toby Keith wants to compete for the USA in the 2010 curling competition. Keith's latest album is "White Trash With Money", and his hit records include "Good As I Once Was" and "Big Ol' Truck". He was on tour during the 2006 Olympics, and got interested in curling from watching it with his band on the tour bus. He started renting ice at the Nashville Curling
Club, and took some lessons.

Now, Keith was an above-average football player (defensive end) when he was younger, so it's not likely that he's one of those fools who woke up one morning and thought, "I'm going to be an Olympic champion." Reports so far indicate that he has some natural aptitude for the game. However, Keith will discover in the next few months that there are thousands of men in the US who would also like to represent the USA in the 2010 Olympic curling, have been developing their skills since they were teenagers, and compete in bonspiels every week. I'm sure Keith has come across lots of aspiring country singers who come up short in the essential "paying dues" department.

It's cool, however, that Keith has an opportunity to take a crack at this. He's been invited to a bonspiel in Chilliwack, BC in November, provided that he and his band bring their instruments with them and perform a set or two. Keith's rink might end up tripping over each others' brooms, but everyone involved will have some fun.

Story from canada.com: Is Toby Keith the next great curler?