Sporting Integrity? How many tickets does that sell?

Why Curling? Is a question I was often asked in my prime by my peers whose dedication to other sports matched mine to curling.

I had two answers;

I don’t know any other team game where the whole team is involved in every shot. This is the ultimate team game

At the start of every season, every curler has exactly the same chance of becoming world champion – the anecdote I used to support this referred to the fabulous Al Hackner rink, whose defence of the world championship failed when they lost at his club the next year. Season over. This is sporting integrity in 80-point headlines, but an entertainment industry disaster. I’m on the side of integrity.

This has not aged well.