Debunking (Or Not) The Myth of Sports Curses

#1: Curse of the Billy Goat

Perhaps the most (in)famous current curse in sports is that of the lovable losers, the Chicago Cubs. The Cubbies are now entering their 100th year of futility, which may or may not be the fault of a local tavern owner’s goat. The Cubs haven’t won a World Series since 1908 and haven’t so much as won the National League Pennant since 1945 (both are the longest championship droughts in the sport). The curse was allegedly the invention of Greek national Billy Sianis, whose goat was kicked out of Wrigley Field during the Cubs’ last trip to the Fall Classic.

Supporting Evidence:

   1. 99 years of baseball lore and legend.

   2. Repeated attempts to break- or reverse- “the curse.”

   3. The Black Cat during the 1969 pennant race.

   4. 1984 NLCS Games 3-5 (specifically, the ball through Durham’s legs).

   5. Bartman. ‘Nuff said.


Refuting Evidence:

   1. Seasons 1948-1962, 1964-1966, 1973-1983, 1985-1988, 1990-1992, 1994, 1996-1997, 1999-2000, 2002, 2005-2006. Not just bad, Los Angeles Clippers bad.

   2. Bad players, bad trades and transactions, bad managers, bad front office, bad team.

   3. The team actually benefits financially from the “Lovable Losers” label.

Verdict: CURSE

Whether the curse exists or whether the Cubs are just a profoundly terrible sports franchise doesn’t seem to matter in this case. The fact is the fans believe it exists, and that makes all the difference. If Cubs fans didn’t believe their fortunes could be improved by simply signing (or hanging on to) better players, hiring more competent managers, or making better business decisions, they wouldn’t spend so much time and effort to lift the curse of a billy goat.

#2 The Cleveland Sports Curse

This one makes an appearance every year, when a team from the lakeside is eliminated from postseason contention. When the Brownies, Indians, or Cavaliers finally bite the dust, we’re once again reminded of the unfortunate incidents which all begin with “The.” “The Catch,” “The Drive,” “The Fumble,” and “The Shot” are among the most memorable in this almost annual montage. Within the past year, the Cavaliers have given us “The Sweep” in last year’s Finals and the Indians succumbed to “The Collapse” last October. Cleveland’s last championship in anything was the 1964 NFL Title Game, preceding the Super Bowl. The Indians last won a World Series in 1948, and the Cavaliers are still looking for their first NBA title.

Supporting Evidence:

   1. Lake Effect snow, a depressed economy, the flaming river- God hates Cleveland.

   2. The Major League movie series.

   3. Browns win the Super Bowl (in Baltimore)!!!

   4. The Cleveland Barons (that was an NHL team, by the way).

   5. That year the Cavaliers had, like, four head coaches, traded the #1 draft pick (James Worthy) for nobody, traded Bill Laimbeer for nobody, and played in Richfield, Ohio.

   6. The 1995 and 1997 World Series.

Refuting Evidence:

   1. No single person, phenomenon, event, or circumstance can explain all three (or four) Cleveland teams losing.

   2. Cleveland’s last championship (1964) came AFTER Rocky Colavito was traded (1960).

   3. He was Michael Jordan!

   4. Cleveland’s rivals (in everything) were just better.


Verdict: NO CURSE

ESPN declared Cleveland to be the most cursed city in America, but cursed by what? Better players and better teams, it would seem. Teams from the AL East, NBA’s Central Divison, and AFC Central walked all over the Indians, Cavs, and Browns from the 1960’s well in to the 90’s. Just imagine how well your city would fare if it had the Yankees, Bulls, and Steelers in their teams’ divisions. If there is a curse, a commonality between the three teams, it’s that Cleveland is a small fish in a pond full of piranhas.

#3: The Curse of Billy Penn

The early 1980’s were a great time to be a sports fan in Philadelphia. The Phillies won their first World Series championship in 1980, the Eagles made their first Super Bowl the following January, Doctor J and company were leading the Sixers to the NBA Finals on a regular basis, and the Broad Street Bullies were perennial Stanley Cup contenders. Enter One Liberty Place in 1987, which exceeded the height

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