November 30, 2009

NFL Athlete Takes Up Curling: "This is probably one of the craziest things I've ever done. I thought snowboarding was crazy. This is even crazier." -- San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis, who recently learned the sport of curling from members of the San Francisco Bay Area Curling Club. "I had no idea it would be this cold."

posted by rcade to olympics at 09:04 AM - 11 comments

On an actual curling rink, things aren't *that* cold. I often play in a long-sleeved shirt, track pants and jacket and that's it. I'd think catching passes in Buffalo in December would be worse.*

* Of course, Davis doesn't actually catch many passes in Buffalo, but still. Windchill is what is really cold.

Also, for anyone who missed it, there's a quote in there from Men with Brooms. That movie is hilarious.

posted by dfleming at 11:03 AM on November 30, 2009

That's a very cool article (no pun intended).

Hey dfleming, is here such a thing as pond curling?

posted by lil_brown_bat at 12:04 PM on November 30, 2009

Hey dfleming, is here such a thing as pond curling?

For a bunch of people who have beer bellies and wear a lot of sweatpants, they're actually incredibly picky when it comes to ice surface. I am sure somewhere, people throw rocks outdoors, but there's no organized game that I know of that's not played on pristine, perfect ice.

If you watch the Brier or the Tournament of Hearts (our big tourneys, men's and women's), they spend 1/4 of the time talking about frost and the ice and how it plays. It's really quite indicative of Canadians; even when indoors, we're talking about the weather conditions.

posted by dfleming at 01:19 PM on November 30, 2009

Now that he's tried snowboarding and curling, he might give playing football a try? Please?

posted by LostInDaJungle at 02:11 PM on November 30, 2009

That article is much more charming than it has any right to be. Good for Davis. Curlings already gotten a little more attentions because of this (hey, we're talking about it) but here's hoping they get a lot more this winter.

posted by Joey Michaels at 02:13 PM on November 30, 2009

Vernon Davis has nine touchdowns and is already having the best season for a tight end in franchise history. Why would you imply that he's not giving football his all?

posted by rcade at 02:14 PM on November 30, 2009

Yeah, I don't get that. I watched the SF-JAX game last night and he was everywhere, including catching another touchdown pass.

posted by dfleming at 02:44 PM on November 30, 2009

I'll third that. Vernon Davis has been a beast of a TE this season for the 49ers. If he only had a consistant QB throwing him the ball, he would be even more dangerous than he's showned he can be.

...is here such a thing as pond curling?

I've heard of pond scum.

posted by BornIcon at 02:51 PM on November 30, 2009

I saw that game too. Davis looks like a terrific player.

posted by rcade at 03:14 PM on November 30, 2009

I sincerely doubt that going curling was probably one of the craziest things Vernon Davis has ever done. My Mom goes curling. It's not crazy. It's shuffleboard in the winter.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 04:38 PM on December 01, 2009

It's not crazy. It's shuffleboard in the winter.

But they have brooms!

If his curling is crazier than his snowboarding, he's doing it wrong.

posted by tron7 at 07:23 PM on December 01, 2009

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