The "Madden Curse" Strikes Again!!

A videogame and NFL injuries, how are they at all related? That is a question people have been asking for many years now, as NFL stars have become "cover-boys" for one of the biggest videogames out there today. There has to be some truth to the "curse," seeing that it dates all the way back to 2001. John Madden himself no was the man who graced the cover for the first few years of the games existence. After just a few years of being on the cover, Madden went another direction by putting players on the cover. In 2001, Titans Running Back Eddie George was the first athlete to dawn the cover, and while George did not suffer an injury like most on the cover, he fumbled in a playoff game which ended up being the deciding factor in the game. In 2002 Daunte Culpepper the Quarterback for the Vikings, threw 23 interceptions, set the single season fumble record, and later went on to blow out both knees. Hall of Fame Running Back Marshall Faulk was on the cover in '03 and fought knee injuries, later leading to reconstructive knee surgery. 2004 was no different, Michael Vick was on the cover and broke his leg in the pre-season. Ravens great Ray Lewis was the man in '05 and missed time due to a wrist injury. The list goes on and on with the likes of: McNabb, Shaun Alexander, Vince Young, Brett Favre, Troy Polamalu, Larry Fitzgerald, and Drew Brees in 2011. This year the curse was continued...


                                       

Cleveland Browns Running Back Peyton Hillis, was the first from the Browns franchise to ever be on the cover. It was a fan vote in the offseason that got him this honor. In interviews prior to the season Hillis said he would not let the curse get to him, he was wrong. Hillis has been unable to stay on the field this year with an array of injuries. It just goes to show that the Madden Curse has struck again.

NBA Players Association Rejects Latest Offer

With the 2011-12 NBA season already delayed, and the original start date has come and past, the owners offered up a new deal to the NBAPA just a few short days ago. The first few deals had already been rejected, and with no sign of the players backing off of their stance, many wondered what would come from this latest offer.

This latest offer, if accepted, would result in a 72 game season starting on December 15th. The All-Star break would still take place in February as it is normally scheduled, but the start of the play-offs and finals would both be delayed a week or so.

With every NBA fan sitting on the edge of their seat waiting for the NBAPA's decision, today we all heard what we had been dreading, the latest offer has been rejected. To make matters worse, after the news broke ESPN interviewed Commisioner David Stern who said, "It looks like the 2011-12 season is really in jeopardy."

It was estimated today by ESPN NBA analyst Ric Bucher, that if a deal is not in place by January 1, 2012, there will be no NBA at all this season in any capacity. Every fan is still hoping and praying some kind of agreement can be reached.

NBA Looking at Shortened Season?

After the world of sports was almost devastated by an NFL lockout, could another sport be headed for a season-long lockout? The NBA looks like it is heading towards a shortened season after it was announced the league has cancelled training camp and 43 pre-season games. The one big lingering question is will it be just a shortened season, or no season at all. Some NBA analysts such as Charles Barkley believe the league will have a year long lockout. The NFL will surely gain back all of their fans, but for a sport that is not as big as football, can the NBA afford to go an entire season without a single game being played?

2011 NFL Season to Kickoff Tonight!!

This day could not come soon enough for the NFL. The kickoff to the 2011 season has finally come around after there was once doubt that there would be a season at all. Tonight's game between the New Orleans Saints, and the reigning Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers is just the powerhouse match-up the NFL needs to draw fans back in.

Introduction

Hi my name is Jordan Sheckart, and I am a sophomore at Slippery Rock University. I am a Sport Management major, interested in marketing and facility management. I am from Lancaster, Pennsylvania and attended Warwick High School. A dream job of mine would be working as either the Head Marketing Director, or as a Facilities Manager for the Cincinnati Reds.

Have a great day,

Jordan Sheckart