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

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".
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?
-
Donald Trump was a fading TV presence when the WGA strike put a dent in network schedules.
-
Pickets are being held outside at movie and TV studios across the city
-
For some critics, this feels less like a momentous departure and more like a footnote.
-
Disneyland's famous "Fantasmic!" show came to a sudden end when its 45-foot animatronic dragon — Maleficent — burst into flames.
-
Leads Ali Wong and Steven Yeun issue a joint statement along with show creator Lee Sung Jin.
-
Every two years, Desert X presents site-specific outdoor installations throughout the Coachella Valley. Two Los Angeles artists have new work on display.