Are Wisconsin sports teams cursed? An investigation
The Packers won the Super Bowl during the 2010-2011 season but since then, Wisconsin sports teams have looked like they’re cursed. So are they?
Flashback to Feb. 6, 2011. The 6th seeded Green Bay Packers go on a spectacular run in the playoffs and end up defeating the Pittsburg Steelers in the Super Bowl. Aaron Rodgers and companies delivered a championship to a state that has struggled to win.
Since then, Wisconsin sports teams in all leagues have been on the losing end of many heartbreaking moments and seasons. There have also been plenty of MVP’s, injuries and heartbreaking losses but no championships.
Are Wisconsin sports team cursed after that magical Super Bowl win?
2011 Milwaukee Brewers
After a great offseason, the Brewers were ready to make a run at the pennant and possibly a World Series title. The season went great. Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder both had one of the best seasons of their careers, and the Brewers secured their first National League Central title since 1982.
Everything seemed to be coming together. The Brewers went back and forth with the Diamondbacks and won a pivotal game 5 at Miller Park, the type of games that makes for a memorable championship run. After a miraculous comeback in Game 1 of the NLCS, the Brewers dropped game 5 and 6 in St. Louis, and just like that the magic was gone. They would miss the playoffs next year, and the next one.
Hey, but at least Ryan Braun won MVP. This quickly becomes a theme.
2011-2012 Green Bay Packers
This season hurt. The Green Bay Packers are coming off their magical Super Bowl run and are a clear favorite in the NFL. On their way to 13 straight wins and a 15-1 and overall record, smashing numerous individual and team records along the way. The Packers looked like a lock to repeat. Because they cursed themselves by winning the championship a year before, of course, it did not happen.
Then the Giants playoff game happened. Eli Manning (it’s always Eli) throws three touchdowns, and the Packers drop nine passes and have four turnovers in a game they should have dominated. The Packers prolific offense collapsed and they become the first team to win 15 games and not win a playoff game.
Rodgers, of course, had one of the best seasons a quarterback has ever had and won the MVP. Typical Wisconsin luck.
2013-2014 Badger Men’s Basketball
The Badger’s team was riding high behind Sam Dekker, Frank Kaminsky and a slew of talented role players. They ended up going 30-8 and ranked No. 4 in the rankings. After a thrilling win in OT vs the Wildcats in the Elite 8, the Badgers were ready to take on the Kentucky Wildcats.
The game was back and forth the whole time. Badgers drain three free throws in with 15 seconds left and look like they are going to the championship. Since they are a Wisconsin sports team, of course, Harrison hits a 3-pointer with six seconds left and the Badgers lost. We all saw it coming.
The next season they would lose in the Championship game and Kaminsky would win player of the year, and Bo Ryan would win coach of the year. Another year, another time a Wisconsin sports team had the best player but couldn’t finish the job.
2014 Milwaukee Brewers
Let’s keep this short and sweet. The Brewers were in 1st place for five of six months of the season. They were a mortal lock for the postseason. Until that Wisconsin curse kicked in, and next thing you know, they have an epic collapse for the ages and miss the playoffs.
2014-2015 Green Bay Packers
This season might win for the most heartbreaking moment on the list. After a great regular season after Rodgers had broken his collarbone last year, the Packers looked to reclaim their dominance in the NFC. Aaron Rodgers infamously told the fans to r-e-l-a-x after starting 1-2.
The playoffs were a rollercoaster of emotions. In the first game against the Cowboys, Dez Bryant streaks down the sidelines and make a miraculous catch on 4th down to give the Cowboys great field position. but wait! It is not a catch, or is it? Packers challenge it, and it is not a catch.
In the next game, it happened. The Wisconsin curse reared its ugly head. The Packers lead 16-0 at the half against the Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game. Unfortunately, the Packers decided to blow it.
With 2:07 left and the Seahawks down five, they went for an onside kick. Brandon Bostic went to get it, and ultimately missed the onside kick and Seahawks recovered. They would go on to score, get the 2-point conversion and win in overtime.
But hey, at least Rodgers won another MVP!
2016-2017 Green Bay Packers
The Packers had a rough start to the season, they ended up at 4-6 through ten games, then Aaron Rodgers uttered those magic words ” I think we can run the table”. And run the table they did. Again, a miraculous win against the Cowboys after a brilliant Rodgers throw and a Mason Crosby kick.
However, the curse kicked in against the Falcons. The Packers were down 31-0 and all hope of another Super Bowl run was lost. Surprise, the Packers lost another NFC championship game.
The next season Rodgers breaks his collarbone, and then in 2018 Aaron Rodgers almost loses his leg against the Bears (which ended up being one of the greatest comebacks in sports history), and they end up 7-8-1.
2017-2018 Badger Football
Three years after losing 0-59 against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Big 10 Championship, the Badgers had a chance to redeem themselves. After a 12-0 season, they came into this game ranked No. 3 in the nation. Win this game and they go to the college football playoffs. After a hard-fought game, the Badgers ended up losing and missing the playoff. Hey, at least they beat Miami in the Orange Bowl.
2018 Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers season started off great. In the offseason they traded for Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich, which paid dividends immediately. Yelich was an MVP favorite after a spectacular season. There was a fierce battle with the Cubs all the down to the last game. The Brewers beat the Cubs and end up going to the postseason.
The made quick work of the Rockies and faced the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS with a trip to the world series on the line. The series was back and forth the whole time, and it all came down to a game 7 at Miller Park. After six innings it was 1-5 and the LA Dodgers were winning. The Brewers limped out of the series and the LA Dodgers went to the World Series.
You will never guess what happened. Yelich won the MVP.
This year, Yelich is playing even better. Maybe this is the year?
2018-2019 Milwaukee Bucks
After a rough 20 years as a franchise, things started to turn around when the Bucks drafted Giannis Antetokounmpo. This season was when all of those years came to fruition. The Bucks rolled to 60 wins and the best record in the NBA. Giannis was unstoppable and the MVP favorite all season.
The Bucks dominated the Pistons in the first round. In the second round, they lost Game 1 to the Celtics but ended up giving them a gentleman’s sweep.
It all seemed to fall apart against the Raptors. The Bucks lead the Raptors 2-0. In game three the Bucks barely lost in OT, and then after that, they just fell apart. Kawhi played out his mind, and Fred Van Vleet, yes he hits almost every 3 that left his hands. They ended up losing in six all while everyone but Giannis disappeared.
in true Wisconsin fashion, Giannis ended up winning MVP and gave an emotional speech about family.
That makes six MVP’s (including a player of the year) for Wisconsin sports team since 2011 and five losses in the round before the championship and two championship losses. Cursed.
Curse confirmed
This is all proof that Wisconsin sports teams are cursed. Year after year something just seems to go wrong when it matters the most.
If those moments, injuries and those stats do not mean Wisconsin is cursed, then I don’t know what a curse is.
“There is always next year!” has become the state motto. With players like Giannis, Yelich, and Rodgers, maybe next year will be the year.