OT: What's more potent - SI Cover Jinx or the Madden Curse

Submitted by jokenjin on
I'm starting this post to take away some of the stress that I've been feeling over the Tigers' loss, so just bear with me. A couple of weeks ago, SI featured Detroit on their cover just as they were entering the final ten games of the season (3 at the White Sox, 4 home against the Twins, 3 at home against the White Sox) and my friend texted me and said "well, there goes our season - SI put us on the cover." Sure enough, when I got home, there was the SI issue waiting for me. Oddly enough, the Time Magazine that I got that day ALSO had Detroit featured, though for a much more depressing reason. Wow, I thought - that's no good - a double whammy of bad luck cover jinxes. Anyways, it got me thinking as to what is worse - the SI Cover Jinx or the Madden Curse? Both are pretty well documented. The SI Cover curse is pretty dead on most times (it can't always work since it comes out 52 times a year) but if you think about it - this year it's been pretty potent. Oklahoma State was featured on it and then they promptly lost to Houston. Detroit was featured on it and then they went on their tailspin. I'm sure there are many more examples (SI even had a cover where all they had was a black cat and talked about said jinx). Meanwhile, everyone is well aware of the Madden Curse - once you are a featured athlete on the cover of Madden, you get bad stuff happen to you. It technically hasn't happened yet to Larry Fitzgerald yet but you can argue that if the Cards don't make the playoffs after last year's SuperBowl run, that's considered bad. Polamalu suffered a knee injury; Favre had the second half collapse last year and so on. Eddie George actually had a good year statistically after he was on the cover but then promptly lost to the Ravens in the playoffs. In fact, he couldn't catch a ball from McNair and that allowed Ray Lewis to come in and take the ball away from him and he scored a def touchdown on that play, which were the winning points for the Ravens. So, I ask you - which is worse (or more potent) - the Madden Curse or the SI Cover Jinx? Just something hopefully to let your minds wander off a tough week of sports.
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Engin77

October 7th, 2009 at 12:18 PM ^

The SI curse acts primarily on teams, the Madden on players. Golfers, tennis players and Olympians are on SI's cover all the time, with minimal effect; Teams are generally doomed. A player shows up on Madden and he's a lock to have a down year, which secondarily effects his team, but he feels it more.
Neither of these curses hold a candle to whatever has been inflicting pain on Cubs fans for 101 years running.

Joined: 07/02/2008

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NEPrep

October 7th, 2009 at 12:40 PM ^

The Curse of the Black Pearl, the Curse of the One Ring, The Curse on Sleeping Beauty, and Spilled Salt are more potent and real than these. Are you really discussing this seriously? Just look at your arguments, and you are trying to fit the evidence into a ridiculous theory. Eddie George had a good year statistically and he made the playoffs, there was a curse? If you look hard enough, you can make events say anything you want. Curses don't exist.

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turd sandwich

October 7th, 2009 at 1:37 PM ^

Has Michigan been featured in any positive SI covers since we beat OSU in 2003? I know there was the "Ultimate Upset" after the horror... In any case, we haven't won against OSU since that "Michigan gets it done" feature.

Joined: 01/04/2009

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Wide Open

October 8th, 2009 at 9:55 AM ^

Has Michigan been featured in any positive SI covers since we beat OSU in 2003?
Ummm...there's this:
Yikes. I'm thinking SI jinx is worse. It was a beautiful cover though.

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