The Madden Curse: Fake or Legit?

I'm not the superstitious type. The side of the couch I am sitting on does not effect my team's chance of winning the game in my mind.

Dallas Mavs guard Jason Terry wears the next day's opponent's team shorts to bed every night, and he is coming off an NBA championship ring. So maybe these superstitious folks are onto something.

After all, the Curse of the Billy Goat is still going strong, isn't it?

But still, these two are just by chance, right? Probably. Here's another one that really grabs some attention: the Madden Curse. Not only do some of the players have a career-worst season while gracing the cover, but some seem to have their careers entirely derailed after appearing. It simply seems like too much to be a coincidence.

The fan vote for this year's game is down to Cam Newton and Calvin Johnson. Will the winner succumb to the curse? Let's take a look at previous cover boys to see their chances.

2012: Peyton Hillis, Cleveland Browns RB

To earn his place on the cover, Hillis came out of nowhere to rush for over 1,100 yards. Many claimed he would be a one-year wonder, and after his cover appearance, those people seem to be right. Last year he complained about a contract, had phony injuries and only rushed for 587 yards with just 3.6 yards per carry. Cleveland let him walk and he's now behind one of the most versatile backs in the league, Jamaal Charles, in Kansas City.

Curse: 1 Success: 0

2011: Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints QB

Brees played well individually, and even though the Saints got upset by Seattle in the first round after winning the Super Bowl, his stellar season warrants a pass.

Curse: 1 Success: 1

2010: Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Steelers S, and Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals WR

Before the fan vote idea (how Hillis won), the Madden franchise considered putting on a player from each Super Bowl team. How did the two fare? Fitzgerald had his typical productive season, but Polamalu wasn't so lucky. He played just five games due to lingering knee problems, and the Steelers missed the playoffs a year after winning the Super Bowl.

Curse: 2 Success: 2

2009: Brett Favre, Packers/Jets QB

I won't get into this.

Curse: 3 Success: 2

2008: Vince Young, Tennessee Titans QB

He led the Titans to a playoff berth, but had a fallout with the fans shortly after. His career has been a mess since. He's now also hated in Philly for the "Dream Team" remark.

Curse: 4 Success: 2

2007: Shaun Alexander, Seattle Seahawks RB

Alexander was the reigning MVP and a downright beast the year before the cover, rushing for 1,880 yards and 27 TDs. But then he fractured his foot, missed six games the cover season, and was never the same. He retired two years later.

Curse: 5 Success: 2

2006: Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles QB

He missed seven games due to a sports hernia, had the infamous clash with T.O., and missed the Pro Bowl for the first time in five seasons. And never went back.

Curse: 6 Success: 2

2005: Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens LB

Lewis broke his wrist his cover year, but only missed one game. It marked his first year without an interception, but he still had 146 tackles and a solid year overall.

Curse: 6 Success: 3

2004: Michael Vick, Atlanta Falcons QB

The day after the game was released, Vick broke his leg in the preseason and had to miss eleven games that season. We all know what happened after that.

Curse: 7 Success: 3

2003: Marshall Faulk, St. Louis Rams RB

Faulk was hampered by an ankle injury all season, but still rushed for 953 yards. The cover did mark the start of his decline though, as he never did rush for 1,000 yards again after accomplishing the feat seven out of the eight years prior. He rushed for 10 TDs the next season, however, and age was becoming a factor, so a generous no decision here.

Curse: 7 Success: 3

2002: Daunte Culpepper, Minnesota Vikings QB

He had a poor season, and had it cut short after eleven games, needing knee surgery. His Vikings were sitting at 4-7 when he left.

Curse: 8 Success: 3

2001: Eddie George, Tennessee Titans RB

He had a tremendous season, but did fumble the ball crucially in the playoffs, leading to his top-seeded Titans being upset in the first round. That being said, his numbers overall warrant a pass.

Curse: 8 Success: 4

2000: Barry Sanders

Retired, by fax, a week before training camp. John Madden appeared on the cover instead. Eddie George would be the first player to appear on the cover of the video game.

So there you have it. If you are a fan of Newton or Johnson, you might want to consider voting against them in the cover vote. History has spoken.

Larry Doby: The Second Pioneer

It pays to be first.

Today is Jackie Robinson Day in Major League Baseball, a terrific celebration in which baseball recognizes Robinson by having all of its players wear his number 42 in his honor.

I'm sure you've heard Robinson's story, and the courage and willpower he exhibited when facing constant hatred from the baseball community and beyond.

What we forget, though, is while Robinson was the first African-American in Major League history, other men had to go through essentially the same experience.

For example, if you are only a casual baseball fan, you might not have the slightest clue of who Larry Doby is.

On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson made his Major League debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Eleven weeks later, on June 5, Larry Doby stepped onto the field donning a Cleveland Indians uniform. Like Jackie Robinson, Larry Doby was an African-American - the second in Major League history, and the first to play in the American League.

During the 1997 season, when Robinson's number 42 was being retired throughout baseball, and the still-living Larry Doby was being virtually ignored by the media, an editorial in Sports Illustrated pointed out that Doby had to suffer the same indignities that Robinson did, with nowhere near the media attention and implicit support.

Doby was still recognized for his play on the field though: appearing in seven All-Star games, and being selected by the Veterans Committee in 1998 into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Instrumental to Doby's success was Bill Veeck, the Indians owner who signed him in 1947. Veeck signed Doby for a second time in 1959, where he finished his playing career with the White Sox, and again in 1978, to become the second African-American manager in MLB history (with the ChiSox. Frank Robinson was the first African-American manager, in 1975.) Veeck was for Doby was what Branch Rickey was for Jackie Robinson: the man who gave him a chance.

While racial slurs were being hollered at Robinson, Doby was serenaded with hatred as well. It would have been the proper gesture by baseball to recognize Doby in a similar fashion as Jackie Robinson, but what the two of them accomplished cannot be taken away.

Time to Panic?

We're only four games into this season. A four game stretch in a 162-game MLB marathon seems like nothing during the middle of the year. But this is Opening Week. So when a fan's team starts slowly, s/he usually does what is only natural: panic.

In most cases, panicking this early is premature. But a few teams that are projected to be playing in October have exposed some gaping holes early. Let's take a look.

Atlanta Braves: 0-4 start

The days of Smoltz, Glavine, and Maddux are long gone. If Braves fans should be worried about anything, it should not be the 0-4 start, but rather the roster holes in the starting pitching. That being said, this is a ballclub I didn't see doing much more than contending for one of the wild cards.

Their start doesn't reflect that projection. The opening should be viewed no differently than a four-game losing streak in the middle of the season. The class of their division, the Phillies, are only one game better, sitting at 1-3. And guess what NL East foe is 4-0? The Mets, who we all know will likely be mathematically eliminated from contention next week.

Atlanta possesses essentially the same offense that was in playoff position heading into the final day of last season, and then of course the collapse happened.... Maybe they headed into 2012 reminiscing about that fateful night, maybe not. But with the extra wild card a season ago, they would have been in the postseason anyway.

If Jason Heyward continues his struggles at the plate, however, the playoffs could elude this team...


Philadelphia Philles: 1-3 start

Philly has what Atlanta doesn't: a surefire ace. Three of them, in fact.

But through these first four games, and much of last season, no offense to help carry them. And that is worrisome.

These first four games should be a sign of things to come in Philadelphia, particularly until Chase Utley and Ryan Howard return: 3-2 and 2-1 games.

Thanks to the spectacular pitching, many of these close, low-scoring affairs will be won by the Phils. Duplicating last season's 102-win regular season? Not likely. But winning the NL East for a sixth straight season? You can still count on it.


San Francisco Giants: 1-3 start

Barry Zito just pulled them out of a ditch. Wow.

I won't even get into their past few games. Just a fluke is all. San Fran's starting pitching will be in tact for the season, despite being shelled to start. As has been the case the past few seasons, the offense will suffer. Melky Cabrera's acquisition will help....

But honestly, the optimism surrounding a fresh slated baseball season should end quickly for the Giants. Not because of the 1-3 start, but because this isn't a playoff team. And because the Diamondbacks show all the signs of a repeat. And because the Dodgers appear rejuvenated. I hope San Fran enjoyed that World Series run while it lasted.


New York Yankees: 1-3 start

No. No. No. Whatever the New York papers are saying, it is by no means time for panic, or even concern, in the Bronx.


Boston Red Sox: 1-3 start

Just like last year, on paper their star-studded roster looks fantastic. Their closer situation doesn't, but that's fixable...

No, it isn't the skill of the players that should be a cause for alarm.

It's the mindset.

Word on the street is the players are having a rough time adjusting to Bobby Valentine, and they haven't appeared to come out with any sense of urgency. If the first week of the season mattered most to one team, it's Boston. Because of how they finished. Because of Tito's departure. Because of the beer and wings in the clubhouse. Because of players throwing each other under the bus, questioning leadership, and generally feuding in the clubhouse.

They may say it's all behind them, but a nice start would certainly have been reassuring.

Prima Donna Battle

The NBA is turning itself into a joke.

The "superstars" are the main cause. And the fact that the league's paid officials treat some of them like their long-lost children.

The latest episode includes the air-headed DeMarcus Cousins, and a guy shoved down our throats: Blake Griffin.

See, basketball is supposed to be a physical game. In the days of Bill Russell and others, it was, to an extent. Nowadays, not so much. Some contact to role players goes unnoticed, but so much as blink an eyelash at a superstar; a foul is called.

Couple that with the fact that many players, particularly Griffin, routinely fake being fouled (number 2 in the video) to get calls. Now we have a problem. There's the saying, "If you don't cheat, you ain't trying," but NBA players take this to a whole new level.

Now, part of the reason that DeMarcus Cousins yesterday fouled out in eighteen minutes is because of his own play. But he was matched up with Griffin, a circumstance the NBA ensures will get you into foul trouble. After all, this is a league that rigged its dunk contest for him to win...

Following the game in which the two engaged in occasional pushing and shoving, Griffin, when asked about it by the media, said he would leave it all on the court. Probably because he got all the calls.

When Cousins was informed of Griffin's comments, he said what many other of the league's big men have probably wanted to all season: "Of course that's what Blake is going to say because he's in L.A., where actors belong."

Then, later, Cousins to Sports Illustrated: "He's babied. He's the poster child of the league. He sells tickets, but he's babied. Bottom line. The refs, the league -- period. He gets away with (everything). He taunts players. Nothing is done. He's babied."

Now, a lot of idiotic things have come out of Cousins' mouth. But his evaluation of Griffin is spot on.

And how are the rest of the league's superstars doing? I'm sure you remember: Deron Williams getting his Hall of Fame coach, Jerry Sloan, fired, only to leave the team anyway. Carmelo Anthony, after forcing his way out of Denver, coming into the season overweight and quitting on the team in New York to get the coach ousted. Dwight Howard and his ridiculous ongoing escapade...

The league is a mess.