{"product_id":"curling-rocks-chronicles-of-the-roaring-game-9781771624558","title":"Curling Rocks!: Chronicles of the Roaring Game","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDrawing on author John Cullen's years of experience as both a stand-up comic and an elite curler, \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cem\u003eCurling Rocks!\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cb\u003e offers a lighthearted, expertly detailed look at a unique sport and its history, from the most absurd curling fashions to the most sublime matches ever played.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eThe sport of curling continues to expand its global reach, attracting new players and fans far beyond traditional strongholds. Yet, even in Canada--a country with a long curling history and fifteen hundred clubs of its own--the game is often dismissed as an eccentric pastime. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAccording to author John Cullen, this is because curling is both inherently funny and chronically underestimated as a battle of skill and strategy. And Cullen is perfectly qualified to make this double-edged claim: not only is he a stand-up comic with many years of experience at the mic, but he's had years on the ice as an elite curler.\u003cp\u003eBecause most previous books on curling have been either how-to guides or standard biographies of prominent players, there has long been space for a reader-friendly overview of the \"roaring game\" (a nickname inspired by the sound of the forty-pound stone en route to its target). \u003cem\u003eCurling Rocks!\u003c\/em\u003e sets out to fill this gap with a lighthearted, expertly detailed account of the sport, ranging from the absurd to the sublime. Next to his observations on ill-fitting fashions and odd scandals--among them \"Broomgate,\" when controversial new sweeping technology almost took out the curling world--Cullen offers insights on everything from the greatest matches ever played to the peculiar heartbreak that comes with losing. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn these inviting, irreverent and often deeply personal essays, Cullen finally gives the perplexing, beloved game its due.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eCullen, John:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJohn Cullen\u003c\/strong\u003e has been a medal-winning semi-professional curler for more than twenty years. He has also worked as a teacher, writer, comedian and curling analyst, earning acclaim from such outlets as \u003cem\u003eVulture\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eForbes\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe Economist\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eEsquire\u003c\/em\u003e for hosting the highly popular podcast \u003cem\u003eBroomgate: A Curling Scandal\u003c\/em\u003e. He has made televised appearances as a stand-up comedian and is a returning guest on CBC Radio's \u003cem\u003eThe Debaters\u003c\/em\u003e. Cullen lives in Calgary, AB.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Douglas \u0026 McIntyre","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51986426003730,"sku":"9781771624558","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_98a6fc4f-d9df-4015-afaa-1fd819ed641d.jpg?v=1769591865","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/curling-rocks-chronicles-of-the-roaring-game-9781771624558","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}