The Curse Of Madden

The legend continues to build regarding the Madden Curse. For those who are a little foggy when it comes to this term, let me jog your memory. It is a haunting trend that every time a player appears on the cover of the EA Sports game "John Madden Football", he proceeds to have a rough year to say the least. Let's take a quick glance at some past victims of the Madden Cover. You must understand that Madden "2000" would cover the 99-00 year of football.

1999 - Garrison Hearst - in 1998, Garrison had the best season of his career by rushing for over 1500 yards. The curse of Madden appears to be avoided until as Madden would say "Boom", he suffers an ankle break in the playoffs.

2000- Barry Sanders - He retired before the season started. I think he just didn't want what he knew was coming. In response, EA sports released a cover with Dorsey Levins. How did Dorsey perform? He gained less than 300 total yards from scrimmage. Ouch.

2002 - Daunte Culpepper - After a career year, the year of his Madden fame, Culpepper throws 13 interceptions in his first 11 games and then was sidelined the rest of the year with a back injury.

2004 - Michael Vick - Let's just say the cover came slamming down on Vick. He suffered a pre-season fracture to his right fibula. By the time he returned, the Falcons were out of the playoff hunt.

2006 - Donavan McNabb - By now, you would think people would have learned. McNabb's appearance on the cover earned him a hernia followed by season ending surgery.

2007 - Shaun Alexander - After one of the greatest statistical seasons from a running back, the "curse" breaks his foot, taking him out of 6 games and forcing his first sub 1,000 yard season.

2008 - Vince Young - Thank goodness it wasn't one of my New Orleans Saints. Seeing Drew Brees go down with a broken clavicle would have done me in. Is the curse true? Who knows, but I don't think you will see my drafting Vince in my fantasy league. Unfortunately with Jake Plummer retired, I don't know who I will gamble with this year. It was always exciting to get "Snake Bitten" towards the end of the year.

On a further note, the Madden Curse looks to carry over into more serious territory. Mike Vick appears to be pleading guilty and most likely will spend some time in jail. People will playfully blame it on the curse?. However, it should come as no surprise that so many of our cultural icons who appear to "have it all," seem never to be satisfied. Most would think that an endless supply of money along with national and worldwide fame would most certainly bring satisfaction. Yet, if that were the case, then the people of the United States would be the most joyful and content people in all of history. But, our culture is plagued with a bass note of discontent. It's not a new problem, Ecclesiastes reminds us that outside of Christ it is all "vanity of vanities! All is vanity." True satisfaction and joy is only found only as we live according to our Maker's design. Which at the end of Ecclesiastes is summed up with his conclusion "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man."

P.S. Look for Sweet Emotion's college football picks coming Monday or Tuesday. Yes men...it's that time.