Bon Jovi, the Boss considered for curling show: report
Last Updated: Monday, February 11, 2008 | 1:07 PM ET
CBC Sports
Sex, drugs, guitars — and curling?
The Toronto Star reported Monday that NBC has acquired exclusive rights to launch 10 episodes of a proposed television show called Rockstar Curling.
Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi, apparently closet curlers, are among the megastar rockers being courted to host it.
Citing unnamed sources, the Star said the two rock stars are among a group of entertainment types who rent arena time on occasion to pick up brooms instead of guitars.
Organizers are trying to negotiate a deal to get one of them involved in the proposed show, possibly as a host.
The series' winners could wind up with a berth at the U.S. championships and perhaps at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.
The concept was developed in partnership with a New York-based sports marketing firm, mktpartners, the newspaper said.
"The sport of curling is clutter-free compared to mainstream American sports sponsorship," Colin Campbell, Canadian president of mktpartners, told the Star. "Rockstar Curling is an excellent opportunity for brands to capture the attention of consumers, leading up to the Olympics."
Curling was a surprise hit for NBC during the last two Winter Olympics, once getting better ratings than an NHL playoff game at the same time the following day.
The show would begin with nationwide tryouts, continue with the 10 chosen contestants receiving six months of free training in Lake Placid, N.Y., and conclude with the Olympic trials in February 2009, according to the Star.
