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You can write pretty much anything on Wikipedia nowadays. That's the first thought that came to my head when I stumbled upon it. The San Diego Sports Curse...

The San Diego Sports Curse: Apathy

by Eric Gomez [HUMOR]

17

298 reads

Humor

October 25, 2008


You can write pretty much anything on Wikipedia nowadays.

That's the first thought that came to my head when I stumbled upon it. The San Diego Sports Curse. The explanation—or cop-out, if you will—presented to cover up a much more plausible theory that William of Ockham himself would be proud of.

We just don't care.

Maybe it's the beaches, the vibrant nightlife, the zoo, Sea World, the proximity to Los Angeles, and so many other things to do in light of beautiful weather nearly year round.

The article will tell you what you most likely know after you put your mind to it a few moments.

A major San Diego sports franchise has never won a championship.

After a second, when that truly sinks in, we might not pity Cubs or Red Sox fans so much, because they have had the Bulls, the Bears, and the Blackhawks in the Windy City; and the Celtics, Bruins, and Patriots in Boston winning championships during those droughts.

Even while Billy Goats and the ghost of the Bambino (what's our curse mascot, Shamu?) haunt or haunted fans for so long, you could count on a parade down Main Street once every few years or so.

Someone, at the top of a bus, would be hoisting a large trophy over his head while thousands cheered on.

We have parades, too. Just not for champions.

And that's fine, apparently. Because we don't really seem to care.

Sure, thousands will flood swanky PETCO Park in downtown San Diego every night from April to September, but they'll most likely be there to talk about the city's budget crisis, new releases at the movies, and to glare at you when you decide to cheer or heckle.

We've all seen the crowds at Qualcomm Stadium cheering for the Chargers, right? They seem downright crazy at times when it comes to supporting their team.

So crazy and so involved...that the TV station carrying the team's games had to wait  until Friday before a playoff game could sell enough tickets so that the TV blackout could be lifted.

Lambeau Field has waiting lists for preseason-game tickets. We have Legoland.

You might also have heard that San Diego had a couple of NBA franchises go through here at some time.

Not much can be said for the now Los Angeles Clippers, as they're so horrible they'd probably draw the same amount of people in San Diego than they would in Kabul, but what about the Rockets?

We had Elvin Hayes and Calvin Murphy suiting up every night!

Now we're lucky to see Kobe Bryant on the floor for a preseason game long enough for him to crack his knee open.

Even the phrasing behind this whole thing is awkward: "Curse" would denote a malicious spell on the city, trapping fans in a spiral of deception and sadness, year after year.

It can't be a curse if no one really cares.

This buildup of apathy has the potential to come to a boil in the coming months, potentially leaving the city with one team (and without that team's biggest star).

With the Chargers' lease on Qualcomm ending in the very near future, will San Diegans so much as bat an eyelash if they move away?

If Jake Peavy wears a Braves, Cubs, or Dodgers uniform next year, will anyone even notice when he comes back to PETCO Park in '09?

When the Aztecs play a football game in the woods, and no one's around to watch it, did it actually happen?

My fervent desire to edit Wikipedia articles notwithstanding, I instead come to the conclusion, as I look around and find myself way more worried about this city's teams than most anyone else, that "curses" are becoming far more selective with their victims these days.

Author Poll

Will San Diego ever enjoy a championship?

  • Yes
  • No
vote to see results
Author Poll Results

Will San Diego ever enjoy a championship?

  • Yes

    63.2%

  • No

    36.8%
  • Total votes: 19
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17 comments Last one added 8 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. L.J. Burgess 8 months ago

    Well done Eric.

    It's not like you've had no success, you just can't clear that last hump.

    Bring back the Big Mac Padres uniforms and the curse will end.

    Bring back the baby blue Bolts unis too, I loved those.

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    • Eric Gomez 8 months ago

      I kinda wish we could bring Jason Bay back, that would make a curse end sooner for the Padres. And the Pow(d)er Blue unis are around for special occasions. Like trouncing the Patriots.

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  2. Shane H. 8 months ago

    lol, I hear no one cares about the sports teams because they leave the events and say, "well we lost but the weather here is so damn perfect." lol. ya'll eventually win something, hopefully you'll be around for it when it does.

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  3. Rory Davis 8 months ago

    Eric

    I really liked your article man..Great take and very nice writing style..San Diego must be rough for sports fans, true sports fans I mean..I witnessed a Petco crowd first hand last year at a Cardinals/Padres game...Pretty soft and nobody cared, but it kind of reminded me of my home stadium AT&T Park with the Giants..Not too many people care here either...But like you said, we HAD, and this is a big HAD, the 49ers for all those years.

    Great writing and this is really what we're looking for out of Community Leaders..Good job!

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  4. Dave Morrison 8 months ago

    I could not agree more. Great article, I'm looking forward to your next one!

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  5. Brian Smith 8 months ago

    Good article. I think one of the biggest contributors to no championships is the fact that whoever owns a team here, refuses to spend money where/when needed, to push the team over the hump.

    I'm tired of hearing that San Diego is a small market and that's why owners don't pay players here in this town. San Diego is the 8th largest city in America (by population) and that, to me, doesn't qualify as small market.

    Keep up the good articles man.

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    • Eric Gomez 8 months ago

      Yeah.

      And John Moores did it sporadically in 15 years, there was the lead-up to the '98 World Series which in turn financed PETCO Park and a couple of good seasons in the mid-00's.

      The NFL's parity has also made it possible for the Chargers to field a competitive team for most of the last decade, but it seems to me that the "small market" excuse is applied to the fans and their appalling apathy. It's them basically covering their asses by blaming us. I'm no scientist, but I'm sure that if the Padres spent more money on quality players and not guys who were quality players 10 years ago, they'd attract a bigger crowd.

      Thanks for your comments.

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    • Brian Smith 8 months ago

      "I'm no scientist, but I'm sure that if the Padres spent more money on quality players and not guys who were quality players 10 years ago, they'd attract a bigger crowd." You nailed it right there.

      Each off season, I always wonder what 40+ former All-Star the Padres will sign or if they are going to let Willie Nelson give it a go like they let Garth Brooks that one year. Heck, I would not be surprised if they signed Ricky Henderson again. Oh I know, why don't they sign Woody Williams one more time. The list just goes on and on.

      I'm not really sure if the NFL has truely reached parity yet. Barring any future expansion, I think it will hit the NFL very soon though.

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    • Eric Gomez 8 months ago

      Yeah, it's definitely a running joke. I'll just about keel over when the Padres sign a guy under 35. Kevin Towers is a bargain hunter, no doubt - but I feel his forte is trades and not necessarily free agent signings.

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    • Brian Smith 8 months ago

      So true! It's like he goes to Pic n Save to find free agents. Heck, the Padres need a catcher, I wouldn't surprised if he tried to bring back Terry Kennedy or Gene Tennace.

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  6. Raider Card Addict 8 months ago

    So, by your estimates, the chargers could move to LA, the Padres to Las Vegas, and the Aztecs go to play in Carlsbad, there wouldn't be a dry eye in town?

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  7. Eric Gomez 8 months ago

    Well, I'd cry.

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