By John Hartley
So last week I alluded to several sports curses. When it comes to sports superstition, I am indeed a believer. When I broadcast games for WONB, I try not to bring up big stats like no-hitters or shutouts, because as soon as I do, the worst possible thing happens, someone gets a hit, points are scored. I figured it was only fair for me to let you into the world of what I believe to be the biggest sports curses out there at this time.
Let’s start with curses I discussed last week, like “The Curse of the Billy Goat.” The Chicago Cubs have been under this curse since 1945 when during a World Series game William Sianis, owner of Billy Goat Tavern in Chicago, brought his goat in to watch the game. Both animal and owner were eventually ejected due to the goat’s stench. Rumor has it that Sianis sent Mr. Wrigley, owner of Wrigley Field a telegram that stated “You are going to lose this World Series, and you will never go to another World Series again. You are never going to win a World Series again because you have insulted my goat.” After the Cubs lost that World Series, Sianis is said to have sent Mr. Wrigley another telegram that said, “Who smells now?”
Since then, the Cubs have yet to go back to the World Series and several miscues have caused that, the most recent being that of Steve Bartman in 2004. That ball was later ceremonially destroyed in an attempt to reverse the curse. No such luck thus far, and as I write this the Cubs, who I predicted will win the World Series, trail the Dodgers 2 games to none.
Another great curse is that of Rocky Colavito. Yeah sure, so Cleveland in general is cursed, I mean the Browns have gone through double digit QB’s in the last decade, and the Cavs have arguably the best player in basketball but choke in the playoffs. But, the Curse of Rocky Colavito, born of Cleveland writer Terry Pluto, has been one of the most dangerous curses ever.
It started with a trade between Detroit and Cleveland, sending slugger Colavito to the Tigers for an average hitter. Some of the effects of this curse include the following: a numerous amount of chokes (‘95, ’97 World Series; 2007 ALCS, etc.), and injuries to good players once they have been acquired (Juan Gonzalez, Wayne Garland). One of the most gruesome parts of the curse came in 1993 during spring training, when a boating accident killed two Indians relief pitchers. This accident traumatized two other players so much, that they were never again at the top of their game. So thanks Rocky Colavito, Indians administration, you have created one of the most devastating curses on record.
And then there is the Madden Cover curse. The curse goes that whoever is on the cover of the game will die, well, at least suck the next year. Let’s have a look shall we? 2001, Eddie George appears on the cover, a Heisman winner at OSU, and a star for the Titans. The next year his numbers dwindled, he eventually went to the Cowboys and then retired early. 2002, Daunte Culpepper, suffers a season ending knee injury, is never the same again. 2004, Mike Vick, the next season he breaks his leg, and later on is sent to jail for dog fighting. 2008, Vince Young, numbers went down, he went loco, so on and so forth. So here’s to the Madden curse, able to make a player worse and possibly injure them, merely by applying their picture onto a video game.
So there are a few examples of the biggest curses in sports to this day. I’m sure over time more will come up, probably half of them in Cleveland, and more lives will be ruined. Until then, don’t step under black cats, break mirrors with ladders, or pour salt into open wounds. By the way, Favre was on the cover of Madden 09…when they thought he had retired, oops.