I try to be open-minded about things. That said, I watched a bit of curling the other night to try to understand it and maybe even appreciate it, given that I have made fun of this “sport” from the getgo.

I failed miserably. Of course I only gave it about 15 minutes. And that’s 15 minutes of my life I cannot get back.

Let me stop for a second in case some of you have never heard of curling. It’s an alleged sport. This thing that looks like a large smooth rock is pushed down a frozen track toward concentric circles. The best I can tell, something about those circles and where the stone stops indicates a level of skill and points earned.

As that stone-looking thing glides over the ice, a couple of guys glide along in front with what appear to be brooms. They sweep the ice ahead of the stone-thingy. I’m assuming that they are trying to slow it down, speed it up, change its direction or maybe the ice is just dirty and they are embarrassed.

I noticed that the cameras don’t pan the fans like they do in football and baseball. I think that’s because the audience is so small. I didn’t see any foam fingers, and I didn’t hear anyone yelling for their team. I’m not sure what  one would yell anyway. Maybe, “Sweep! Sweep! Sweep harder!

As I watched these few minutes, I couldn’t recall ever reading where a “curler” was injured during a competition. Nor have I heard where one was suspended for testing positive for performance enhancing drugs. If anything, this might be one of those sports where pot smoking might be encouraged … if not for the performers, then for the fan(s).

And I wonder if someone could go to college on a curling scholarship? If so, then I would like to lodge a protest because I was pretty good at watermelon seed spitting, which I think would rank right up there with curling. I never got to audition for some of that money. My guess is, someone skilled in hopscotch might feel the same way.

I did learn that in this “sport” they have mixed doubles. But when they first made that reference, I was sure they were talking about alcoholic drinks.

Apparently the stone is given a rotation or a curl as it is released, thus its namesake. The direction of the curl is  strategic to its course.

Curling originated way back in the 16th Century in Scotland. I would have guessed Iceland. Imagine men in plaid skirts sliding along that ice. Now there’s a new connotation for “brain freeze!”

I’m sure there are sports I haven’t observed. But so far, this one appears to be the silliest. It couldn’t hold my attention so I don’t know what would constitute a foul nor would I know what the penalty would be for committing such an error. Do they have unsportsmanlike conduct calls? Maybe for intentionally spilling someone’s hot chocolate?

Curling doesn’t sound much like a man’s sport. It sounds more like something girls would do on Friday nights. But then the Oregon Ducks and the Maryland Terrapins don’t sound very intimidating either.

Men’s curling became an Olympic sport in 1924. It was dropped and then picked up many years later. It’s described as a great sport because it doesn’t require much athletic skill, and it’s simple to learn, they say. Given that brooms are involved, I’m surprised every maid in a cold country hasn’t sought to qualify for a curling team.

There’s a book one can buy called “Curling for Dummies.” Well, that figures. My question though, does the dummy part come before or after reading it?

(Email: dwain.walden@gaflnews.com)