Rough around the edges? Canada's new reality sensation

Up to the north of us, there's a reality show that's got the country rallying around their TV sets.

What's more, it takes two of that country's favorite things and pairs them together. Literally!

In the CBC's "Battle of the Blades," which premiered in late September, former Canadian hockey greats team up with Canada's female figure skating stars and compete against each other, "Dancing With the Stars"-style.

What's not to love? (Full disclosure: I used to skate, I used to write about skating, and I covered the Canadian National Figure Skating Championships back in the Elvis Stojko era. So I guess I have kind of an advantage in the who's-who-of-Canadian-skaters department.)


As if that isn't reason enough to check this out, Canada's most famous hockey commentator and former Canadian figure skating champ Kurt Browning act as the Tom Bergeron-Samantha Harris hosts, while on the judge's panel sits none other than....

Dick Button!

NPR did a feature story on this show today, which made me think:

What two sports can the USA mash up to create the same kind of hoopla?

Here's some suggestions:

Basketball and tennis?
Football and, well, I guess they're already dancing with the stars....
Golf and...um, what would possibly go with golf?

Canada's got the ice thing covered, despite my recent post about a possible ice-related "Dancing" spinoff in the works. (Here's hoping, ABC!)

Let's give a collective round of applause to our neighbors to the north as they revel in their frozen frenzy and jack their ratings up, up, up.

My only question: Would any of those hockey dudes attempt a quad?