Was zum schmunzeln "The Madden Curse"
Verfasst: Di Apr 17, 2007 16:19
Tuesday, 04/17/07
Young on Madden game cover
Agent says Titans QB doesn't believe in jinx
By JIM WYATT
Staff Writer
Vince Young has survived the so-called Sports Illustrated jinx — three times to be exact. Can he escape the Madden curse? It looks like everyone will get a chance to find out this fall.
Young's agent said the Titans quarterback has been told he'll appear on the cover of Madden '08, the popular football video game that features one NFL star on its package each year. Whether it's a coincidence or a curse, however, recent players have been injured the year they appeared on the cover.
"We don't believe in no jinx,'' agent Major Adams said. "People said when they put Vince on the cover of Sports Illustrated (that) it was going to jinx him in the Rose Bowl game, and (Texas) won the national championship.
"We don't believe in stuff like that. In the unfortunate event he gets hurt, it is just a part of the game, not because you have the cover.''
Officials from EA Sports wouldn't confirm Young is this year's choice for the cover, which will be announced officially on Jimmy Kimmel Live. The show airs at 11 tonight on ABC.
The past six cover players have been injured. Seattle running back Shaun Alexander was on the cover of Madden '07, and he broke a bone in his left foot early in the season. Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb suffered a sports hernia the season he was on the cover of Madden '06.
Before that, it was Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis (wrist) and Madden '05, Falcons quarterback Michael Vick (broken leg in exhibition game) and Madden '04, Marshall Faulk (ankle) and Madden '03, and Dante Culpepper (knee) and Madden '02.
The last player to not be injured was former Titan Eddie George, who appeared on the cover of Madden '01. In fact, that season (2000-01) was George's best as a pro.
"Being on the cover of Madden is such a big honor nowadays; no one ever turns us down because of (the so-called curse), that's for sure,'' said Chris Erb, director of marketing for EA Sports.
On Internet sites, there's been plenty of speculation about who might be on this year's cover for weeks.
On Tuesday, Young's marketing manager, Mike Mu, said Young is scheduled to be in Los Angeles for the taping on the Jimmy Kimmel Show but wouldn't reveal for what reason. On abc.com, Kimmel's guests are listed as actor Paul Reubens, the fourth eliminated contestant from Dancing with the Stars, musical guest Silversun Pickups and the Madden video game cover athlete (to be revealed on the show).
Young was the NFL's offensive rookie of the year in 2006, when he guided the Titans to six straight wins at the end of the season.
"Everyone wants to be the Madden guy," Erb said. "The issue is the guys that have been on the cover tend to be the guys that are around the football more often, and football is a rough sport.
"We've had a string of unfortunate incidents I guess you could say … but we really don't believe in the jinx.''
Young on Madden game cover
Agent says Titans QB doesn't believe in jinx
By JIM WYATT
Staff Writer
Vince Young has survived the so-called Sports Illustrated jinx — three times to be exact. Can he escape the Madden curse? It looks like everyone will get a chance to find out this fall.
Young's agent said the Titans quarterback has been told he'll appear on the cover of Madden '08, the popular football video game that features one NFL star on its package each year. Whether it's a coincidence or a curse, however, recent players have been injured the year they appeared on the cover.
"We don't believe in no jinx,'' agent Major Adams said. "People said when they put Vince on the cover of Sports Illustrated (that) it was going to jinx him in the Rose Bowl game, and (Texas) won the national championship.
"We don't believe in stuff like that. In the unfortunate event he gets hurt, it is just a part of the game, not because you have the cover.''
Officials from EA Sports wouldn't confirm Young is this year's choice for the cover, which will be announced officially on Jimmy Kimmel Live. The show airs at 11 tonight on ABC.
The past six cover players have been injured. Seattle running back Shaun Alexander was on the cover of Madden '07, and he broke a bone in his left foot early in the season. Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb suffered a sports hernia the season he was on the cover of Madden '06.
Before that, it was Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis (wrist) and Madden '05, Falcons quarterback Michael Vick (broken leg in exhibition game) and Madden '04, Marshall Faulk (ankle) and Madden '03, and Dante Culpepper (knee) and Madden '02.
The last player to not be injured was former Titan Eddie George, who appeared on the cover of Madden '01. In fact, that season (2000-01) was George's best as a pro.
"Being on the cover of Madden is such a big honor nowadays; no one ever turns us down because of (the so-called curse), that's for sure,'' said Chris Erb, director of marketing for EA Sports.
On Internet sites, there's been plenty of speculation about who might be on this year's cover for weeks.
On Tuesday, Young's marketing manager, Mike Mu, said Young is scheduled to be in Los Angeles for the taping on the Jimmy Kimmel Show but wouldn't reveal for what reason. On abc.com, Kimmel's guests are listed as actor Paul Reubens, the fourth eliminated contestant from Dancing with the Stars, musical guest Silversun Pickups and the Madden video game cover athlete (to be revealed on the show).
Young was the NFL's offensive rookie of the year in 2006, when he guided the Titans to six straight wins at the end of the season.
"Everyone wants to be the Madden guy," Erb said. "The issue is the guys that have been on the cover tend to be the guys that are around the football more often, and football is a rough sport.
"We've had a string of unfortunate incidents I guess you could say … but we really don't believe in the jinx.''
