Another Athlete Sidelined by Video Game

By: Frank D’Alessandro, Free Agent News Syndicate

(HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA) Lars Birkeland, a 12 year old curling prodigy from Oslo, Norway, pulled out of the world youth curling championship after straining his wrist while playing Guitar Hero II.

Norway was considered a huge favorite to win the championship going into the Canadian hosted competition. However with Birkeland out, they finished 8^th out of the 8 teams that entered the tournament (Canada, Russia, Iceland, Sweden, The Netherlands, Faroe Islands, China, & Norway).

“This is not what was supposed to happen. We were supposed to win the gold.,” says Hendrik Ibsen, the coach of the Norwegian Curling Youth Club. “It is a shame that a video game ruined our championship aspirations. A big shame.”

Birkeland arm strain will keep him away from curling, and Guitar Hero II, for quite some time. Doctors say the injury was serious enough to keep the young curler sidelined for 4-6 weeks.

“I like to play Guitar Hero. I want to be a rock star!”, says the young athlete.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: World Youth Curling Championships? Cool but still fictitious. You know what else would be cool yet still fictitious? John Madden, the namesake of the Madden video game cover curse, trying his hand at Guitar Hero II. Imagine the possibilities!]