Wikipedia defines a curse as any expressed wish that some form of adversity or misfortune will befall or attach to one or more persons, a place, or an object. A demand from higher powers that halts one's success. We see them in movies and other forms of entertainment in order for the plot of the story to progress. In sports, they act as an obstacle in the way of championship glory.
Curses have to have an origin story. Where did this misfortune begin? The Boston Red Sox traded away the greatest home run hitter of all time for a broadway musical. A goat ran onto the diamond at Wrigley Field for the Cubs drought to start. It seemed to be ending, until a fan reach over the railing making him the most infamous in the city of Chicago for the next 15+ years. Luck turned around for these two organizations in 2004 and 2016 when the Red Sox and Cubs won the World Series. Curses can be broken. It just takes a little bit of talent mixed with some opportunity.
Not all curses are meant to broken. Let's talk about one team who's curse has not had any chance of being broken anytime soon. The Detroit Lions are professional sports most cursed franchise. After relocating from Ohio, when they were the Portsmouth Spartans, to Detroit, The Lions had some success capturing four NFL titles in the early 1950s. Their last title win being in 1957. It was thanks to one man, Bobby Layne. Bobby Layne was Joe Namath before it was cool. He was a womanizing, partying, athletic specimen. He showed up hungover. He played drunk. He became a champion.
The Lions had enough. They were done with Layne's antics and attitude. They shipped him to Pittsburgh, which upset Layne. He threw a temper tantrum and vowed, "The Lions will not win another championship for 50 years." A humorous claim back then because of the consistent success of the Lions. A home run prediction in 2019. The Lions fought their way back to their past glory, but came up short year in and year out. They even drafted two of the potential greatest players at their positions in Barry Sanders and Calvin "Megatron" Johnson. Both brought the Lions back into the spotlight, but couldn't do enough to keep them there. Since Sanders was drafted in 1989, the Lions have not won a playoff game since 1992. Both superstars retired early in their careers and the Lions even did the unthinkable and went 0-16 on the 50 year anniversary of the Bobby Layne trade.
So why does Bobby Layne have to do with my own fantasy football luck? Simple. I am the Detroit Lions.
I started playing fantasy football in fifth grade. My brother asked my dad and I to control a team in a family league with my best friend, his dad, and grandfather. After an auto draft, because I was nine, my dad and I's roster became my team. I became obsessed with the ability to have my own players and try to trade for different players with my best friend at the time. I had some success winning one year out of the four years we had the league. But, the league disbanded when I was a freshmen in high school. Maybe that is why that was my worst year of high school? I didn't have my one true love with me and I became lost. Well that, or my learning disability. Tomato, Potato.
Sophomore year became the first year of "The League." Seven of my closest friends and I decided to finally create our own fantasy league. We watched, "The League on FX," so we decided to mimic them. Naming our teams after references from the show down to naming our trophy Shiva, we had every detail. Except, I forgot one thing; preparation. I have been out of the league for a year. Out of touch with the minor details I once knew like the back of my hand. On draft day, we picked our order. I did not obtain the first overall pick, but plotted to attain it. I chatted with my friend who had it. After a long discussion over swapping picks, he questioned me over who to take over Aaron Rodgers. I could not give him an answer. He looked at me like a laser eye to eye and said, "Yup, that's right. That is why I'm winning Shiva this year while you forever be the Sacko." It has been almost eight years since this sentence was uttered to me. I am still the Sacko.
After poor drafting, even worse trading, and roster adjustments Hue Jackson would have been proud of, I finished dead last in the league. I earned my first of three sackos in four seasons. The Sacko dynasty was born. However, this dynasty almost did not happen. One trade made in an MBTA train station on a hot, summer's day changed the course of my fantasy career.
The second year of the league was Pat Pitts' year. It was my year to have my own worst to first story. I spent the summer working at my dad's restaurant as a busboy. Before my shifts, I brought my iPad with me and researched my draft strategy. I studied player after player writing my own analysis on them. I did my homework. I was ready to ace the Draft Day test. Drafting Calvin Johnson, Julio Jones, Doug Martin, Desean Jackson, Demarco Murray, and Peyton Manning, it was my time. I did it. I drafted a team that should have led me to a Shiva Bowl. Should have led me to a Shiva Bowl. Should have.
After trading away my entire team before week one in year one, I realized I had an addiction. Trading. It is so thrilling to try and conduct a successful trade in fantasy football. Debating on which player will outshine the other for the rest of the season pumps blood through the veins amping us up for a season full of victories. In year two, I took things slowly. I listened to every trade offer, then proceeded to recline back in chair basking in the glory of drafting what could have been a Shiva Bowl winning team. What could have been a Shiva Bowl winning team. Could have been.
One team owner approached me one day while attending a virtual party. We chatted about our drafts and applauded each other on how well we both did. He grabbed Cam Newton in the eighth round, who was the number one fantasy quarterback from a year prior. I grabbed Julio Jones and Megatron back to back. Both unheard of. He asked me if I wanted to upgrade my running back depth. He said he would give me Cam Newton and a running back of my choice for Peyton Manning. I didn't want to give up Peyton, but for any tier 3 running back and Cam Newton, it seemed too good to be true. Cam Newton paired with a healthy Doug Martin, Julio Jones, Calvin Johnson, and Desean Jackson would have led me to a Shiva Bowl. Would have led me to a Shiva Bowl. Would have.
Should have. Could have. Would have. Three phrases we say when something did not go our way. It did not go how we planned it. It was suppose to go another way. All have one thing in common, excuses. They are all excuses for mistakes that were made during a time of success and prosperity. Three phrases I ask myself constantly when I ask, why did I make that trade?
As I sat, sweating in a Downtown Crossing Red Line platform, I hit accept to the worst trade in fantasy football history. Peyton Manning for Cam Newton and Deangelo Williams. Why is this the worst trade in fantasy football history? The year is 2013. This is what happened during the 2013 NFL season.
Yeah.
The Detroit Lions and Pat Pitts have one thing in common, cursed franchises. Since that trade, I have made one playoff appearance in "The League," and have missed playoffs every year due to final week miscues and misfortunes. The Lions have not won a playoff game since 1992 and when they make the playoffs, they lose on unfortunate calls and miscues on both sides of the ball. No luck between the two of us.
So, why am I telling you about my failures in my most important league? To entertain the masses with misfortunes from my life, but to also inspire. I may have this terrible luck in one league, but this league is the most competitive out of every league I have played in. I have two championships in two leagues, along with multiple playoff appearances. My knowledge about the game has grown to new levels due to my obsessive nature of consuming any sort of NFL content daily. My advice works better when I share it with others.
Curses are real. They stink. They cause emotional pain to an organization and its fanbase for what feels like an eternity. There is a positive note to curses. There is always light at the end of the tunnel. From someone who has experienced curses, the reward is worth the wait.