Is Curling "Sweeping the Nation"?

Some years ago, I saw a survey showing that out of 104 sports, curling ranked 101st in popularity.

Since that time, the rules have changed a bit, with the effect that the games are no longer boring 2-1 or 1-0 defensive games. By instituting a time clock and the "free guard" rule, whereby curlers are not allowed to knock opponents rocks off the ice for the first few throws, the game has more offense now and is more interesting to television viewers. [further evidence that "people respond to incentives"]

I've been watching curling, off and on, for about twenty years. It's an interesting mix of strategy and skill. But until last week, I had never tried curling. It isn't easy, and all that sweeping is pretty good exercise. For those who'd like to know more about the sport, here's a good primer.