I am a bad luck charm, especially for athletes. It has taken me time to accept that it is not just random chance that has brought this about, nor just a fixation on the negative outcomes instead of positive ones. There is an eerie curse that follows my support.
I think the best way to elucidate my curse is to focus on my favourite sport; Basketball. I have been watching it intently since 2015 and have what most would consider 'very strong emotions' on the subject. Since 2020, I began attempting to predict the playoffs right before they started. Picking a 'winner' before the playoffs even commenced. What follows, is comical. Almost unbelievable.
2020 NBA Playoffs - My Pick: The LA Clippers
L.A Clippers eliminated in: Second Round Game 7
L.A Clippers Odds to win the series at the beginning: -1300
Championship Odds position (Out of 16 teams): 1st Biggest Upset in 2020 NBA Playoffs: This series
The Los Angeles Lakers won these playoffs pretty handily. They did not really look in trouble in any series and honestly, that wasn't particularly surprising to me. They were one of the best-looking teams in the regular season, and the extended break before the playoffs due to Covid, allowed their older superstar LeBron James enough time to recover for an extended run. However, in the few regular season outings that year that the Clippers faced the Lakers, it looked like a match-up nightmare for the Lakers to me. The Clippers were built to beat the Lakers. There really did not seem to be any talent in the West that was particularly threatening to these two teams at the time. I was certain that the Clippers would beat the Lakers if they faced them, and somehow, even though they were 3-1 up in the second round, with the Lakers waiting for them in the Conference Finals, They could not get there. If you do not have context, basketball series are played in 7-game series, with the first to 4 wins winning the series. A 3-1 lead is usually the end of a series. Usually. The Denver Nuggets, the LA Clipper's opponent, had actually just made the 12th ever 3-1 comeback in the first round of the playoffs against the Utah Jazz. They made the 13th ever against the Clippers.
To this day the record of a team after going 3-1 down is 13-267. There has not been a 3-1 comeback since. It was an all-time collapse from the Clippers. However, it will not be the only all-time collapse you see in this list.
2021 NBA Playoffs - My Pick: The Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers eliminated in: Second Round Game 7
Philadelphia 76ers Odds to win the series at the beginning: -175
Championship Odds position (Out of 16 teams): 5th
Biggest Upset in 2021 NBA Playoffs: The NBA Finals, this was a close second though
This was definitely my most 'out there' pick. Which makes these collapses even more painful. It's not like I'm picking teams that have zero chance to win. My 'bravest' pick in the last four years was the 1st seeded team in the Eastern Conference. Jesus. My thought process was simple, after watching the previous year's Miami Heat break down due to fighting through tougher matchups, I thought the East would be won by the team with the easiest road there. When the Philadelphia 76ers secured the 1 seed and had to go up against the very non-physical Atlanta Hawks, I thought they'd be a lock to win the championship against the West which I had perceived as considerably weaker. No matter which team of Philly, Milwaukee, and Brooklyn had got the one seed that year, that would have been my pick to win the championship. I was so wrong.
The team that did come out of the East did win the championship. The competition of the Milwaukee-Brooklyn series did result in Giannis Antetokounmpo being hurt for the Conference Finals. Yet, the fact that Atlanta would be an easy series just did not hold true for Philadelphia. Even though Philadelphia had a 3-2 lead and had a close game 7, they collapsed down the stretch. That collapse is so legendary, that it broke the team apart and Ben Simmons has not been the same player since.
2022 NBA Playoffs - My Pick: Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks eliminated in: Second Round Game 7
Milwaukee Bucks Odds to win the series at the beginning: +170
Championship Odds position (Out of 16 teams): 2nd
Biggest Upset in 2022 NBA Playoffs: The Dallas Mavericks beating the Utah Jazz
This was the only pick that was not technically an upset. Milwaukee lost their second-best player, Khris Middleton, right before this series to injury. They were not favourites to win after the loss, yet, they would've been before. Even without him, Giannis and the Bucks took this series to 7, where they proceeded to lose.
If you're following this closely, this is the 3rd season in a row where my pick to win lost in Game 7 in the second round. This was the first year it was not some shameful collapse, but the fact that the sports gods just seem to dangle the conference finals in front of me, just to snatch it away, year after year after year seems like it must be humorous for them.
I did not believe I was truly cursed, until this series ended. Having to accept that you picked three teams that lost in the exact same game, changes your perspective on logic, luck and how the world works in its entirety.
2023 NBA Playoffs - My Pick: Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks eliminated in: First Round Game 5
Milwaukee Bucks Odds to win the series at the beginning: -1200 Championship Odds position (Out of 16 teams): 1st Biggest Upset in 2022 NBA Playoffs: This Series
The good news, this was the first year that my pick to win was not eliminated in Game 7 in the Second Round.
The bad news? It was earlier, and it was still a collapse.
Giannis is my favourite player in the league. Some will say their reason for losing this series was because he got injured in Game 1 and missed Game 2 and 3 after. I have no excuses for him, however. While the injury definitely played a part. Giannis and the Bucks had a lead in both Game 4 and Game 5, with Game 5 being some of the worst play and strategy down the stretch I have ever seen. Miami took their heart with Jimmy Butler hitting one of the most ridiculous shots I have seen to send a game that should've been over, to Overtime. Where Miami handily sent the Bucks home
My Conclusion? While I finally may have broken the streak of picking teams that have gotten eliminated in Game 7 of the second round, it still has not stopped a very disturbing history of having not picked a single team that has made the conference finals in 4 years. It's even more disturbing when you take into account I have picked TWO championship favourites and one runner-up. Over the last 4 years, I have probably picked 3 of the 4 biggest disappointments (With Phoenix losing to Dallas being the only one I missed). I am really not one to believe in curses, but at some point, the data does suggest it has something to do with me causing these teams to meet their lowest moments.
Here are some additional anecdotes about my curse with stories from a multitude of sports:
- Claimed Kyrie Irving would win a ring on the Celtics, move to another team and win another. He became weird.
- Advocated for Ben Simmons and his lack of a need for a shot, he has never been the same since.
- I own ONE NBA jersey, it's Ja Morant. He's acting crazy nowadays.
- Was a big fan of Manchester United player Eric Bailly, was loaned away and has not played for United since. (Do not want to even mention my other favourite player on this team who is now out of the league)
- As soon as I walked into the room for the FA Cup finals of Manchester United vs Manchester City, Gundogan scores his second and the game-winning goal.
- I was a fan of Pakistani cricket player, Khushdil Shah, he proceeded to be dropped from the national team and his career prospects have halted
- In a Football World Cup game between Portugal and Ghana, I declared support for Ghana on a group chat, they conceded seconds later.
- In the Cricket world cup, did not watch a game all tournament until the finals, Pakistan proceeded to lose that match.
- Last week in Game 6 of the Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics conference finals game. Placed two bets, Miami to win the game, and both Tatum/Butler to score 25. Miami lost by one point, and Butler scored 24.
Among many many others.
So why now? Why write this post now, when this has obviously been going on for a long long time?
The Miami Heat
Currently, I am watching Game 1 of the NBA finals. The Miami Heat vs. The Denver Nuggets. While I did not pick Miami to win this year, Jimmy Butler is one of my all-time favourite athletes. His grit, determination and dedication to winning without being sidetracked by other goals, makes him the perfect player for me to put my support behind. I am frustrated by the number of NBA players today who seem to be focused on statistical numbers instead of winning basketball, but Butler does whatever it takes to win. His style of play is just brilliant, he fills up whatever role is needed and does it at a high level, from playmaking to scoring and even shooting at times. He does this all while playing incredible defence. He's not the most talented player in the league, but he understands basketball and does all the right things to win games. He proves a point I always wished to be true with basketball, that strategy and grit can beat pure talent if applied correctly.
When the Bucks got eliminated by the Heat, I was sure my curse would pass onto him.
The first game after the Bucks got eliminated, Butler got injured. I was sure it had passed. Yet, he came back, beat the New York Knicks and went to the Conference finals.
He proceeded to face the Boston Celtics (Fuck Boston) in the Conference Finals. They were up 3-0. A lead that has NEVER been blown. Boston fought back however and tied the series up 3-3. I was sure I had cursed him. Yet, they won Game 7 and proceeded to the NBA finals.
I have been sure the curse would affect the Heat by now, but they keep overcoming adversity. And that is what is beautiful about this team. They are constructed of just straight warriors. A lot has been said about how they're undrafted, but beyond that, their team culture just creates an insane amount of effort on every play. They have had less talent in every series they've played. It does not matter though, cause they play hard, they play with heart and they play to win.
The answer to 'Why now?' is simple. You know the way you're not supposed to tell anyone your birthday wish or it won't come true?
well.
I hope the same logic applies to curses.
I hope if I talk about the curse instead of hiding from it, and put it in the eye of the public that somehow its effect will be voided.
Is that delusionally hopeful? Probably. But it is all I can do to help the Heat at this point. I am sorry to all the athletes I've cursed over the years, every single one of you. Hopefully, Jimmy Butler will not join your ranks. Jimmy is different, the Heat are different and I hope that right now in the pantheon of Sport's gods, there is one benevolent power who could tip the scales, reverse my curse and allow the Heat to take home the championship. My heart are with the Heat, I identify with their energy, I want Jimmy to get his ring, I want Spoelstra to get his flowers, I want all these undrafted hard working players to get their money and I want basketball to move away from individual stars and more towards a team-centric game. There is so much riding on the Heat winning this championship for the culture of basketball, and it will forever be proof, that hard work trumps all.
Come on Jimmy, get it done, bring it home, make your point.
Edit: They lost
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