by: Tony Papajohn
This was a slump of monumental proportions.
On October, 27, 2004, after 87 years (31,458 days, but who’s counting?), the Boston Red Sox finally won the World Series.
And, just for effect, the heavens cooperated with a total lunar eclipse.
Although I am hardly the world’s biggest baseball fan, the “Curse of the Bambino” has always fascinated me.
This refers to Red Sox owner Harry Frazee’s 1920 sale of Babe Ruth to the Yankees. Since then, the Yankees have won 26 World Series titles and the Red Sox have lost all 4 appearances in 7 games.
That is, until now.
Over the years (actually, generations), the “Red Sox Nation” has attributed a legion of misfortune to “The Curse.”
I’m surprised that Stephen King, a New Englander and Red Sox fan, has not turned this into one of his trademark supernatural thrillers.
On a more personal level, most of us are subject to “curses” of one kind or another. These are the collective beliefs of a group to which we belong by birth or affinity that we believe also.
Although far less dramatic than the ghost of Babe Ruth, thoughts like “No one in our family has ever done anything like that” or “None of the people I know ever amounted to much” certainly qualify as curses because they will haunt your success potential into oblivion.
An even scarier variation is “We’re always a day late and a dollar short.” Then you get close and blow it. That will sting and reinforce the belief.
If you think like that, the Babe’s ghost can rest in peace. You have all the curses you need.
Supernatural visitations are unnecessary.
Change your thinking or be very patient.
The next total lunar eclipse during a World Series is October 29, 2050.