PINEROLO, Italy – You know curling has made it in the States when President Bush watches for a half hour while flying on Air Force One (and actually admits it), or when a streaker advertising an Internet casino hops on the ice during yesterday's NBC telecast with a strategically-placed rubber chicken strapped across his midsection, or when Shawn Rojeski gets fan e-mail saying: “Marry me.”
Rojeski didn't respond to the e-mail – “It didn't come with a picture,” he said – but forgive him for big-timing the lady. He and his American teammates beat Great Britain 8-6 yesterday at the Pinerolo Palaghiaccio and now are proud owners of an Olympic bronze medal, the first of any color by any gender in U.S. curling history.
“I think we have some more interviews to do,” John Shuster said, “and then I guess we'll go and do whatever medalists do.”
They wouldn't know, having finished fourth in curling's Olympic debut in 1998 and seventh in 2002. The last time they won the World Championships was 1978. The last time they even finished in the top three at worlds was 1993.
“The drought's finally over,” U.S. coach Ed Lukowich said. “Bronze for the U.S. is like winning gold.”
Curling etiquette limited the on-ice celebrations to a few high-fives and raised brooms, but rest assured, USA Curling officials were tipping a few glasses of Chianti last night. Two years ago it drafted a “Strategic Plan” to shed the sport of its anonymity in the United States, and No. 1 on the five-point plan was success at the Olympics.
“This will lead to better overall television coverage which leads to better curling awareness,” the plan read. “This is a proven method for growing the sport in the USA.”
Translation: Americans are the ultimate fair-weather sports fans and only give a damn if you win a medal.
The men delivered yesterday and did it against the founder of the sport, no less. They took a 4-1 lead in the third end (think innings in baseball) when U.S. skip Pete Fenson, a pizzeria owner from Bemidji, Minn., perfectly executed the difficult double take-out – knocking two British stones out of the four-foot scoring circle and leaving three U.S. stones there.
The Brits, urged on by a small knot of singing fans and unrattled by the streaker in the sixth end, surged back and pulled within 7-6 entering the 10th and final end. In it, they positioned a stone in the scoring area and set up a block in front of it.
But the Americans had the hammer, or last stone, leaving Fenson with the task of trying to curve it around the block and bump the British stone away to clinch the historic victory.
Which he did.
Even before the stone had stopped, giving the Americans a point and the 8-6 win, the normally stoic Fenson allowed himself to crack a slight smile.
“That was our goal when we left home,” he said, “to come here and get a medal. And now we've got one ... Our job's done here.”
They have been receiving hundreds of e-mails as they progressed through the tournament, overcoming an embarrassing early loss to Italy and reaching the medal round. Some urged them on. Others asked about getting started in the sport.
“We've got a pile of them looking for the closest curling club,” Rojeski said.
Curling advocates have said all along that the sport would sell itself if only people would give it a chance.
Consider International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge a convert. Asked by Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport which sport particularly struck him at these Games, he said: “I'd have to say curling has become quite intriguing.”
In Italy, the telecast of the semifinals reportedly outdrew a European soccer match.
“It's a sport the public can identify with,” Rogge said. “You don't have to be Venus or Adonis to play or even to excel. But that doesn't mean it doesn't require great skill. I tried it once, here in Turin in fact, and I can assure you that it's not easy.”
The U.S. men finished their interviews yesterday, exchanged hugs with friends and family who had made the trip to Italy, then went and did whatever medalists do.
Canada wins gold
The Canadian men routed Finland 10-4 to win their first gold medal.
The Canadians, silver medalists in 1998 and 2002, left no doubt this time around. Canada (8-3) broke it open with six points in the sixth end, and Finland conceded after eight. A regulation curling match is 10 ends, but a team will concede earlier if it has no chance to come back. Olympic rules require the gold medal game to go at least eight ends.
Mark Zeigler: (619) 293-2205; mark.zeigler@uniontrib.com
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
