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Is There A Madden Curse?
Linda writes "GamerDad looks at the 'Madden Curse' for those featured on the front cover of the videogame, year by year, and talks about how it might have come a bit early this year: 'Sports fans know about the Sports Illustrated cover curse (athletes that grace the cover tend to get hurt, really bad, a lot) but a lesser known curse is the one caused by EA Sports' powerhouse Madden franchise. It began just a few years ago when EA took the big lug himself off the cover.'" There's another good synopsis of previous cover stars' woes at the AJC.com site, after Mike Vick of the Atlanta Falcons, this year's star, broke his leg at the weekend.
Troy Brown was the top offensive player on the Patriots, who won the Super Bowl in 2002. He should have been on the cover instead of Marshall Faulk. He set records for receiving, and had some plays on punt return that propelled them into the Super Bowl. He allowed Brady to open up his passing game.
And then, in 2002-2003 season, he got injured, and missed a bunch of games, all without being on the cover of Madden! The curse extends even to players who SHOULD have been on the cover! IT IS THAT POWERFUL.
I think the same thing may very well go for the EA Sports NHL series as well. Off the top of my head:
2003: Jerome Iginla - awful 02-03 season (by his standards).
2002: Mario Lemieux - awful Penguins 02-03 season, plus injury-plagued.
2001: Owen Nolan - injury-plagued, trapped on also-ran Sharks for years. Unable to save Maple Leafs' during playoffs last year.
2000: Chris Pronger - out with injuries for most of 02-03.
1999: Eric Lindros - Concussion Boy; also, Lung Filling With Blood Boy.
1998: Peter Forsberg - Had to have spleen removed last year.
I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate.
Short answer: No.
Long answer: No, you superstitious fool!
This space intentionally left blank.
In Soviet Russia, Boris Yeltsin looks like you!
(with apologies, comrades)
I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate.
No. It appears as though this is a classic example of regression.
:)
Players who make the Madden cover have amazing, exceptional years. The next year, we look at their play to see that (most of the time) it isn't as good as the previous year. Why?
Well, these players have an average performance. The year before they made the cover, they were way above their average performance. The next year, it should follow that their performance isn't as good as this amazing season (two of these incredible seasons in a row is unlikely). Whether we claim it's because of injury, bad luck, or the Madden cover, either way, it's usually just a decent example of Regression.
We could point out that players who perform extremely poorly and therefore have terrible stats in Madden games go on to improve wildly in their next year. This is the same statistical phenomenon.
Super Tecmo Bowl - 1991
Bo Jackson hip injury - 1991
'nuff said
Yes, I'm an agent of Satan, but my duties are largely ceremonial.
If you play a dangerous sport, you WILL get hurt.
One future, two choices. Oppose them or let them destroy us.