(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
The Chicago Fire has done it again. After a long unbeaten streak, they have lost three consecutive games, including a must-win in DC on Saturday that they should have, and could have, won.
That loss knocks them out of first place in the East. It may be the last time they see first place this season.
Why so negative? Because this has become a trend. Since the departure of inaugural coach Bob Bradley, who went on from Chicago to build Chivas into a contender and is now the head coach of the US Men's National Team, the Fire has started strong for a half season then fallen apart, or they have started weak, had an unbeaten streak in the middle of the season and appeared poised to take it all, then fallen apart by the end of the season.
This has occurred literally, on annual basis, under two head coaches: Dave Sarachin and now Dennis Hamlet. This has occurred with a variety of lineups. Few of the current roster members were around for more than one or two such debacles and several weren't even on the club last year.
So how does one explain it? Is it the Fire's version of the curse of the Billy Goat?
If we are doing a jinx analysis, perhaps we should not trace the onset to the departure of Bradley. Perhaps we should trace it to a nearly concurrent departure in the front office: that of Peter Wilt.
Peter Wilt was the club's brilliant General Manager who put together the expansion team (including Bradley) that won the Double in 1998, and two years later was unjustly dismissed.
I'm beginning to think it is Wilt's curse. Not that Peter Wilt is a vengeful man. I'm sure he did not consult a practitioner of the dark arts for vengeance. But I do believe in Karma. I believe the Universe could be acting on Wilt's behalf.
What other rationale can one suggest for a team that year after year is among the most talented clubs in the league and year after year is unable to sustain its momentum when it counts?
If this is the case, what is the cure? Should we assume there is a cure? Ask the Cubs about that. It could be a very long 102 years for the Chicago Fire.
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