Tomlinson Jukes Madden Curse

Tomlinson Jukes Madden Curse

After a season that dashed the hopes of Chargers fans everywhere only one thing could put the fear of a losing season into Chargers Nation, the loss of the best running back in the NFL.  That may have been averted when league MVP LaDanian Tomlinson declined the cover of Madden 2008 and avoided the perennial Madden Curse.  Tomlinson’s actions in electing not to be the cover boy of the best selling game series left the door open for 2006 Rookie of the Year Vince Young to tempt fate.   

Known to strike down every player since Eddie George started the trend in 2001, The Curse has grown into a genuine pop-culture urban legend.  With significant injuries to past cover icons Marshall Faulk, Michael Vick, Shaun Alexander and Donovan McNabb, as well as sub-par seasons by Ray Lewis and Daunte Culpepper, The Curse seemingly lies in wait for the next victim that discounts these injuries as mere statistical anomalies.

A fan even started a petition asking the Tomlinson be removed from consideration for the cover out of fear of the Curse.  Getting 1,845 signatures, the petition demonstrates the level of belief that the public has for the events associated with the Madden videogame cover. 

The game, released August 14th, will garner huge media attention as the release date draws long lines of rabid fans attempting to be the first to take the new version home and get to work mastering the game.  The franchise that holds exclusive rights to depict NFL players, teams and stadiums in videogame form has effectively stifled the competition and become the football game to which all others are compared.  The monopoly gained by the Madden franchise now means that there is no way for the Curse to be broken except by the actions on the field.  LaDanian Tomlinson has decided that he would rather not try.  His record-breaking 2006 aside, the running back has decided to opt out of the tricks of fate and perhaps ensure his own health and successful future in the NFL, let’s just hope that Vince Young doesn’t succumb to the double whammy of a sophomore jinx on top of the Madden Curse.  The young QB might need to sacrifice a chicken like Serrano in Major League to rid himself of the bad juju.    

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