4 Minnesotans Hope For Curling Gold At Sochi

DULUTH (AP) - Four regular guys from northern Minnesota are hoping for curling gold in Sochi.

They've been toiling far from the spotlight of more glamorous Olympic sports such as skiing or figure skating.  They leave for Russia Saturday and hope to erase memories of Team USA's disastrous finish in Vancouver four years ago.

As the "skip" of Team USA, John Shuster of Duluth determines the group's strategy. He's making his third Olympic appearance. He won bronze in 2006, but took a lot of heat for their poor play in Vancouver, where they won only two out of nine games.

To pay their way, the team pieces together modest tournament winnings with sponsorships, some funding from the U.S. Olympic Committee, and proceeds from selling Team USA gear online.