By Stephen Cooney

The curse of the Great Bambino haunted the Red Sox for almost 100 years. Every time they seemed like they were going to win the championship something terrible happened and the Sox had to settle for the loser’s purse.

Yes, the curse was eventually broken, and, no, the Red Sox are not playing in a championship this year, but, a team from Philadelphia is. Now I am sure you do not know how a Philly team relates to a curse but think about it. No Philly team can win the big dance in any of their sports and I think I know why-Rocky.

That’s right the fictional boxing world champion that fought Soviet power, battled old age and dominated opponents through sheer will. The hard working everyman that became a god in the ring and an even more epic film icon; a symbol of hope for everyone who might not have all the gifts but gives more effort than anyone.

The only problem is that when all things are considered Rocky is just a fictional character.

Not a single one of those events in the movie actually happened. Rocky never existed and the second Philly decided to build a statue of him instead of one of the greatest boxers of all time Joe Frazier-who happens to be from Philly-they damned their sports teams to terrible tragedy and disgruntled fandom.

Also, they pelted Santa Claus with snowballs, booed Michael Jack Schmidt and cheered when Michael Irvin got hurt, but, yeah, I am still going with the Joe Frazier thing.