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Now mind you, this article is from 2007, but it still holds true today! I'm talking to you, Joe Johnson and Mike Bibby!
We all know about the Madden Curse. Each year, EA Sports selects a promising superstar player for the cover of John Madden football game. But by the end of that year, that player has almost always suffered some kind of setback. Michael Vick, the cover of 2003, was on a roll. Having set four NFL records in the 2002 season and established a reputation as one of the games' most electrifying players, the league was expecting Vick to break out into the best in the game. Except one problem, he didn't even make it to game 1. Early in the 2003 pre-season, Vick broke his leg in the first quarter of a game against the Ravens and missed most of the season as the Falcons struggled. Since then, Falcons has missed playoffs and Vick found himself in hot waters in the dog fighting accusations that could lead him to suspension from the NFL and even jail time. 2002's cover Marshall Faulk of the St. Louis Rams didn't do much better. Coming off his seventh 1,000 yard season, Faulk and the Rams were untouchable at the time. Faulk injured his ankle, missed six games and the Rams didn't last long in the playoffs and would never again be the dominant power that they were till even today.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper? He made Madden in 2001 and was just as much out of luck. His cover-gracing season ended early, with a knee injury against Chicago. The curse started four years ago with Tennessee running back Eddie George. Coming into the season, he was one of the leading forces in the Titans lineup and many expected him to lead the team to its second straight Super Bowl. Instead, he had his worst season ever, averaging just three yards per carry while being injured several times in during the season and the Titans would never again be the same. These days, he is looking to be released by Miami with no team or starting QB job to be had. In 2006, the bug struck Donavan McNabb. His season ending injury knocked them out of the playoff chase - just 1 season after they made it to the Super Bowl.
That is just some of the examples of the Madden Curse. Below are some of those that we shall list for the Jordan Curse:
Eddie George - injury. Since making it to the Jordan Brand team, he has completely disappeared from the NFL!
Warren Sapp - he went from the top defensive pass rushers to a has been. Tampa Bay - a team that he's been with his entire life, didn't even want to resign him as a free agent. These days, Sapp is stuck in Oakland - barely a shadow of his former self.
D-Miles & Q-Rich - remember that head tapping duo from LA? Miles was arguably the most sought after pick in his draft. He and Q-Rich bopped their way to the XVII's and were one of the most exciting young tandems in the league. Since being signed by JB? They went their own ways, Miles got traded TWICE,,, and got dumped to Reebok after his failure to live up to expectations. Q-Rich now landed in NYC, now a jump shooting specialist in the likes of Steve Kerr. How far have we come in just a few short years. They went from Generation Next in ESPN magazine to a present of has-beens.
Terrel Owens - woo wee, do we even need to bring TO up? The SF wide out had a fall out w/ the 49ers. Feuded with coach Steve M. and QB Garcia, got traded to Baltimore, got the trade nullified, landed on the Eagles, only to create a circus like atmosphere that tore that super bowl team apart (Philly had made 4 straight NFC Championships, then after the Jordan Curse, they are out of playoff run by mid-season). Don't even get us started on the Dallas fiasco with the suicide attempt.
Vin Baker - remember when this guy was actually good? Signed to JB, Vin disappeared from his all star form. He gained more weight than he made baskets in Seattle. The man had some Jumpman team shoes that are now one of the least sought after shoes to adorn a Jumpman symbol. MJ himself was so pissed off at Baker's disappearance, when he unretired to play for the Wizards. Jordan would guard Baker himself (Guard vs PF?) and completely dominate him. Vin also struggled with alcoholism and recently was arrested on DUI charges.
Ray Allen - okay, out of all the players signed by JB, Ray didn't do so badly. But before JB, Ray was JESUS! or at the very least, the next MJ in waiting. Since then, Allen has declined in value and popular in Seattle and makes the news these days by feuding with Kobe and Bruce Bowen.
Derek Jeter - Can the JB curse stop the big bad Yankees? You betcha. B4 JB, the Yankees were World Series bound every year. Jeter, the best player on the best team was the pretty boy of New York City. Since then, Jeter has fallen off, Red Sox won the pennant. And he's not even the best player OR the pretty boy of his own team anymore. Yikes.
Eddie Jones - Jerry West used to love EJ. The Quick 6 were a hot shoe on the market. Yes, he even started over Kobe! Since joining JB, Eddie disappeared in Charlotte and Miami. Even w/ Shaq's return, they missed the Finals and EJ got traded to Memphis who couldn't make up their minds and traded him back to the Heat. Oh, what could have been...
Carmelo - Shortly after JB, Melo got in trouble with the law with drug possession. Got on the bad side of the police department after appearing in a drug video talking about snitches. And remember those Magic vs Bird comparison with Lebron during their rookie years? What about the brawl that got Melo suspended for 15 games?
Gary Payton - by the time GP joined the Brand, he's less the Glove and more in need of some love. Seattle ditched on him, so did the Bucks, Lakers and the Celtics. Now that he's in Miami, it's easy to see he's washed up and badly in need to retire.
Jason Kidd - he was the best point guard in the league at the time of his signing with Jordan. Since then, he has barely played due to injury. Even w/ Vince on his team, Kidd has not returned to his former self. The Nets went from NBA Finals to a team that post kidney transplant Alonzo Mourning doesn't even want to play for. Ouch.
Randy Moss - he was the man. The best receiver in the NFL period. Signed to JB, he got ran out of Minnesota and became a Raider who doesn't even get balls thrown at him.
Roy Jones - was the Michael Jordan of boxing. He owned the ring. Knocked down opponents at will and ridiculed them at will. Since the Jordan Brand signing, Roy has been knocked down and knocked out. Slowed by age, he continues to fight, rap and tarnish a legacy that was once thought untouchable.
There are many others to name, who else has been affected by the Jordan Curse? Feel free to discuss!
