On my recent trip I met a lady from Houston and in the course of our conversation congratulated her on the Astros winning the World Series. I asked her if she attended the post-Series parade to celebrate their win. “You bet I did” she said as she whipped out her cell phone and showed me several pictures of the event.
She also showed me a photo of the following and asked if I had seen it.
At first I thought it was Sports Illustrated’s post-Series cover. However, my Houston friend encouraged me to look at the date on the cover – June 2014.
Even more amazingly coincidental is that SI’s Cover boy George Springer was named this year’s World Series MVP. Now that’s some prognosticating! (For more info on how SI came to predict this so accurately 3 years ago (click here.))
In the past I have been one of those folks who has knocked SI for their cover jinx. I recall once seeing Maryland Men’s Basketball team listed as their pre-season pick for Number 1 and knew right away they (Maryland) would not be Number 1 that year. (They weren’t.)
Some years back SI even ran this clever cover when all of the NFL Playoff teams that year declined to be on their cover for the NFL Playoff issue.
However, because that 2014 cover accurately predicted Houston’s win in the 2017 World Series, I will now give SI a pass when their supposed jinx curse comes up again.
And speaking of curses, it is tough to beat Screaming Jay’s version of this tune (which I have played for you and discussed previously click here ) but Eric does come close.