Four Slice Toasters

I'm amazed by this sport.  Between my Cuisinart toaster oven reviews, I admit I've been watching the 2010 winter olympics, and whenever curling comes on... I can't turn away.  I don't know what it is.

It's not like it gets me up on the edge of my seat, like when I'm just ready for my toast to pop up out of an Oster digital toaster, but... I keep staring.  I think it's fascinating, and I just know there's more strategy behind it than I know about.

From an innocent Jane Toast bystander viewpoint, I feel like I'm watching a giant, slow game of shuffleboard, where the contestants are allowed to cheat the system by scrubbing the ice in front of the "puck".

(Excuse my ignorance... I'm sure I have the terminology all wrong here...)

How does this all work, and how have they build a sport around it?!?!  I just don't understand.

Can someone please explain? 

I want to shove a toaster down the ice and see how well it performs.  I think a red four slice toaster could beat this thing in a curling match any day of the week.

Well, hopefully someone has some insight they can share with me.  Otherwise, I'll just continue to watch and cheer when the other fans start cheering.  I'm a team player after all... even if I don't get it.

Start chanting - USA! USA! USA!