Support for LAist comes from
Made of L.A.
Stay Connected

Share This

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

Arts and Entertainment

The Most Dangerous Position in Pro Football Remains To Be The Box Cover of the Madden Game

Support your source for local news!
The local news you read here every day is crafted for you, but right now, we need your help to keep it going. In these uncertain times, your support is even more important. Today, put a dollar value on the trustworthy reporting you rely on all year long. We can't hold those in power accountable and uplift voices from the community without your partnership. Thank you.

Q. Other than being big black football players, what do Garrison Hearst, Barry Sanders, Eddie George, Daunte Culpepper, Marshall Faulk, Michael Vick, Ray Lewis, Donovan McNabb, Shaun Alexander all have in common?

A. They were all on the cover of Madden football when they met tragedy and had to leave the game that year.

The phenomenon is called The Madden Curse and yesterday when Madden '08 coverboy Vince Young was pulled for a "strained right quadriceps" sports fans began to mumble "Madden".

Support for LAist comes from

USC fans remember Young as the unstoppable Texas quarterback who almost singlehandedly beat the Trojans in the Rose Bowl a few years ago.

After Tennessee started playing their #1 draft pick regularly last year they only lost one game. This year, with Young as the starter, they only met their second loss of the season yesterday after he left the game, thanks to the curse.

At this point would anyone object if we put Osama Bin Laden on the cover of Madden '09?

Most Read